The Golden State’s Pacific coastline is lined with breathtaking California beaches for any type of trip.

Whether you’re looking for wildlife spotting, surfing or simply chilling on golden sands, California has you covered.

Read on to discover 13 destinations with spectacular beaches with unique coastal attractions.

Natural beauty

Golden sunsets in Carlsbad
Carlsbad State Beach offers a picturesque view of the sunset. Every night, people gather at the north end of the beach to watch the sun sink into the Pacific Ocean. The Palisades and walkway above the Seawall is another romantic spot for sunset watching.

The beaches of Whiskeytown Lake

East Beach is a local favourite spot for relaxation and swimming, as well as catching sunsets. Brandy Creek Beach, on the south side of Whiskeytown Lake, caters to families and groups with a snack shop and shaded picnic areas. Oak Bottom, a beachy cove surrounded by trees, provides a peaceful setting for nature lovers. Visitors can hike to nearby waterfalls through forests.

The “Mountain of Gold” in SLO CAL
A short drive from San Luis Obispo, Montaña de Oro State Park is one of the largest state parks in California. With over 8,000 acres, including seven miles of shoreline, spectacular views surround the rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches and coastal plains. The park’s name, “Mountain of Gold,” comes from the explosion of golden wildflowers.

Find your beach in Sonoma County
Loved by beachcombers, Schoolhouse Beach in Bodega Bay in Sonoma County is a vibrantly coloured shore filled with small ocean-polished stones and seashells. The tidepools are teeming with colourful marine life, such as starfish, mussels, hermit crabs, and other crustaceans. Portuguese Beach is the ideal place to watch a stunning, golden sunset.

Activity-packed 

Seaside fun at Oceanside Harbor Beach, Oceanside
Oceanside Harbor Beach offers a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere, perfect waves for swimming and boogie boarding, and is where the USA Surfing team trains. Surrounded by a New England-style harbour village, it also includes the “Love the O” interactive sculpture where loved ones can leave a special love rock.

Spot surfing pros at Ventura’s beaches
Rincon Beach in Ventura is known as one of the best places to surf in California. The Rincon is home to the annual Rincon Classic where professional and rookie surfers all gather. Surfer’s Point/C Street is also famed for its long rides on perfectly shaped waves and big winter swells that turn C Street into a world-class playground. The beach made history as one of the first pro surfing contests held in California.

Swim, surf and hike at Torrey Pines State Beach, San Diego
Torrey Pines State Beach in La Jolla is a popular beach off Highway 101 with lifeguards and a safe place for kids to play by the lagoon. The bluffs above the beach are part of the 1,750-acre Torrey Pines State Reserve Park. Eight miles of trails offer views of the Pacific Ocean, while walking among native chaparral plants, wildflowers, and wildlife.

Family-friendly Coronado Beach, San Diego
Recognised as one of the ten best family beaches in North America, Coronado Beach is perfect for an all-day stay for families. The long, white sand beach offers plenty of space for paddleball, sandcastle building, kite flying and volleyball. In the village of Coronado, the small-town atmosphere is ideal for dining. Bike rentals are available at the Coronado Ferry Landing and are the perfect way to explore the island, with or without parents.

Dana Point water activities, Orange County
Dana Point Beaches are best suited for water activities from paddle boarding and kayaking in Baby Beach, to surfing at Doheny State Beach. There is even whale watching at Strands Beach and Salt Creek Beach.

Nature spotting 

Año Nuevo State Park
Located on the southern coast of the San Francisco Peninsula, Año Nuevo State Park is an extraordinary wilderness experience. Up to 10,000 elephant seals return to breed every year and it is also a major bird migratory route. Offshore on Año Nuevo Island, find the remains of a 19th-century lighthouse and fog signal station.

Historic tide pools in Encinitas
Running parallel to historic Highway 101, Cardiff State Beach in North San Diego County is known to have the best tidepools in Encinitas. They are composed of 45-million-year-old sedimentary rocks containing embedded fossil clams and can be found on the southside of Seaside Beach along with starfish, sea cucumbers and other mollusks.

Goleta Beach Park, Santa Barbara County
Fondly known as “The Good Land,” Goleta is a community located 12 miles north of Santa Barbara. The large sandy beach features ample room for picnicking and fishing off the pier. The area is a haven for bird watching, with plentiful local and migratory bird species like snowy egrets and great blue herons. Pedal along the scenic bike trail or rent kayaks to glide through kelp forests and view wildlife. The Campus Point surf break is great for beginners. The Ellwood at Goleta Beach, a new coastal cuisine restaurant, is expected to open in late summer 2023.

Morro Bay, SLO CAL
Morro Bay’s beaches supply over six miles of continuous sand, offering their own unique set of activities, wildlife and atmosphere. Visit North Point Beach to observe aquatic creatures up close through its tidepools. The bay is a protected sanctuary brimming with wildlife such as sea otters, seals, whales, monarch butterflies and various bird species.

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