San Diego Coast Life Blog

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Archive for category Beaches

10 Best San Diego Beaches

Sep 29

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San Diego has some of the finest beaches in the world. For a comprehensive list, go to Best San Diego Beaches.

1) Coronado City Beach: Wide, sandy, resort-style beach was voted one of USA’s best beaches. Ideal for family and kids. One of most romantic beaches in the world. Beautiful views of Las Coronado Island, boats, and Point Loma peninsula. Surf more gentle than at other beaches. Ideal for swimming and walking. Next to Hotel Del Coronado and historic homes with nearby downtown shops and restaurants.

2) Harbor Beach in Oceanside: Widest, sandy beach in the county. Next to harbor. Great for family, romance, walking. Playground, fire rings, overnight camping, nearby dining.

3)  Moonlight State Beach in Encinitas: Great family beach. Playground, snack bar, fire rings, large sandy area. Good swimming, boogie boarding, walking. Dining and shops in nearby downtown Encinitas.

4) Carlsbad State Beach: Wide, sandy beach. Great for family and kids. Good swimming, boogie boarding, walking. Next to Carlsbad Seawall, palisades, Frazee Park, hotels, quaint Carlsbad Village.

5) Del Mar City Beach: Resort-style beach, with grassy park, dining and nearby Del Mar Village at south end. Expensive homes line the beach to Dog Beach at north end. Great for family. Good swimming, boogie boarding, and walking.

6) Cardiff State Beach: Campground at north end; tide pools at south end. Great for family. Good swimming, boogie boarding, and walking. Near Cardiff Town Center. Next to Restaurant Row.

7) Torrey Pines State Beach: More secluded, away from urban life. Beautiful, tall Torrey Pines cliffs on south side. Park your camper or RV nearby. No overnight camping. Great for family, walking, or romance. Good swimming, boogie boarding, and walking. Dining a short drive away.

8) South Mission Beach to North Pacific Beach: Actually 4 beaches. Nearly 4 miles of sandy beaches, paralleled by Oceanfront Boardwalk. Attractions along the way include Belmont Park, Crystal Pier, and Pacific Beach Palisades.

9) La Jolla Shores: Great family beach. Large grassy park with playground. Beautiful view of La Jolla peninsula. Dining nearby. Surf more gentle than at other beaches. Good swimming, boogie boarding, walking, romance. Popular spot for scuba diving.

10) Silver Strand State Beach: Secluded beach away from urban life. Good family beach. Includes overnight campgrounds. Beautiful views of Las Coronado Island, boats, and Point Loma peninsula. Good swimming, boogie boarding and walking.

See San Diego Beach Pictures

San Diego Beaches – An Overview

Sep 14

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Photo: South Carlsbad State Beach

San Diego has miles of sandy beaches. In North San Diego County, you could literally walk from Oceanside’s Harbor Beach to the south end of La Jolla Shores. There would only be a few minor detours over some nearby bridges to cross over the water inlets.

Farther down on La Jolla peninsula, the beaches are very different. The beaches are small, isolated small strips or patches of sand, hidden by cliffs and rocks. The best known of these beaches are La Jolla Cove and Children’s Pool.

Like with North County beaches, the beaches along Pacific Beach and Mission Beach form a long, continuous stretch of sandy beach, about 4 miles. At the north end is Tourmaline Surfing Park and south end is South Mission Beach. The famous Oceanfront Boardwalk runs parallel to these beaches for about 3 1/2 miles.

Across the San Diego Channel, Ocean  Beach Park is an isolated sandy beach. Beyond that farther south is Sunset Cliffs, which has two small isolated sandy beaches.

Coronado’s resort-style beach is probably the best beach in San Diego and one of the best in the world. Silver Strand State Beach is a long, sandy beach, isolated along The Silver Strand.

Imperial Beach is the southwestern most beach in the USA. It is a long, sandy beach, good for walking or any other beach activity.

Get more information on San Diego Beaches, including the best San Diego beaches, family beaches, walking beaches, romantic beaches, beach dining, beach events, the San Diego beach directory and much more at San Diego Coast Life.

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Carlsbad State Beach

Nov 30

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Also known as Tamarack Beach, Carlsbad State Beach extends from Frazee Beach (a part of Carlsbad Beach) near Carlsbad Village Drive southward to the warm water jetties, just south of Tamarack Avenue. The main entrance and parking lot to the beach are at the end of Tamarack Beach off of Carlsbad Blvd.

Carsbad Beach, especially near the jetties, is a popular surfing spot. The jetties offer good fishing. This family-friendly beach is fairly wide during low tide and has good sand.

Carlsbad Seawall separates the beach from Carlsbad Blvd above. The seawall has a concrete pathway about half way down the bluff that extends the length of the beach. Atop the seawall is another concrete pathway and a narrow palisade park with benches and picnic tables. The pathways are a popular spot for walking, jogging, rollerblading, bike riding and strolling baby carriages.

Most of Carsbad Beach is in a residential area. Carlsbad Village begins on the Frazee Beach side, with restaurants, shops and hotels. On top of the bluff at Frazee Beach at the seawall’s north entry point is a small park, a favorite spot for viewing the sunset.

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Coronado Beach

Nov 30

Posted by admin in Beaches, Coronado | 1 Comment

Coronado Beach is a wide, sandy beach which stretches for about 1 1/2 miles from the Hotel del Coronado to North Island Naval Air Station.  Considered one of the world’s best beaches, Coronado Beach has a pleasant atmosphere, with a panoramic view of the Los Coronado Islands and Point Loma.

Coronado City Beach

Coronado City Beach

Choose from an array of activities like swimming, volleyball, boogie boarding, surfing, kite flying, fishing, and sunbathing. The beach is next to a residential neighborhood of expensive historical homes, and with downtown Coronado’s Orange Ave is just a few blocks away. Parking is available along Ocean Blvd and side streets.

Beach access can be reached from a dirt path near the hotel and farther north on a concrete path that leads down to the beach and restrooms.

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Torrey Pines State Beach

Nov 29

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Torrey Pines State Beach is a long sandy beach that extends over four miles from Del Mar to La Jolla. The beach is away from development in one of San Diego’s most scenic natural areas. The closest shops and restaurants are on Carmel Valley Rd, east of N. Torrey Pines, Road, and in Del Mar Village.

Torrey Pines State Beach

Torrey Pines State Beach

At the north end from Del Mar Beach to Carmel Valley Rd, Torrey Pines State Beach is hidden below bluffs. On the bluffs is a small natural park. To the south is Los Peñasquitos Marsh inlet which separates the northern section of beach from the main stretch of beach to the south.

This main stretch is open to the coast highway with easy street parking and access along side the beach. Some rocks separate the beach from the highway. Across the highway is Los Peñasquitos Marsh, a scenic preserve, nestled in a small valley, closed to the public.

Further south, the bluffs begin again, taller than those to the north. Atop the bluffs is Torrey Pines State Reserve, which can be accessed from a road at the base of the bluffs near the highway. A large beach parking lot is located next to the park reserve entrance. Both parking and access to the reserve require a fee.

The beach below the Torrey Pines bluffs is more secluded and less crowded than the beach to the north. This southern section of beach is popular for walking, jogging, and photography. The south end of Torrey Pines State Beach is marked by Bathtub Rock, a small flat rock that protrudes above the surf several feet from the beach.

Beyond this point is Blacks Beach, San Diego’s most secluded beach, hidden by tall bluffs, and difficult to access.

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Moonlight Beach

Nov 28

Posted by admin in Beaches, Encinitas | 1 Comment

Moonlight Beach is just a few blocks from Hwy 101 in Encinitas, CA. The beach is well suited for people of all ages, particularly families with children, with its wide sandy beach, year round life guard, a playground, a snack bar (opened during summer), restrooms, outdoor rinse showers, and plenty of parking.

Moonlight State Beach

Moonlight State Beach

The beach also has volleyball courts on the sand, as well as several fire pits. Moonlight Beach is a popular spot for gatherings, especially on weekends and holidays. The water directly in front of the beach is designated for swimming while the water to the left and right are for surfing, marked by flags.

Moonlight Beach is part of an almost uninterrupted stretch of sandy beach that extends from La Jolla to Oceanside. The beach is ideal for walking and jogging, especially from Moonlight Beach to South Ponto Beach in Carlsbad.  Just be aware of the tides, since much of the beach along the bluffs can disappear at high tide.

During late spring and summer, the beach hosts such events as Wavecrest Woodie Meet, Encinitas Sunday Concerts by the Sea, and the Encinitas Sports Festival.

The beach is within walking distance or an easy drive to Encinitas historic downtown on South Coast Hwy 101. The town is a bit quaint and off beat at the same time with its good selection of outdoor cafes, restaurants, specialty shops, and old Hwy 101 charm. The commuter train station is also nearby.

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Del Mar Beach

Nov 28

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Del Mar Beach is a popular sandy beach, about a mile long, frequented by locals and tourists. Located in Del Mar, CA, north of San Diego, much of the beach is lined with expensive beachfront homes. The beach can be accessed from almost every side street that connects the beach to both Coast Blvd and Camino Del Mar.

At the south end of the beach near 15th Street is Powerhouse Park, a large grassy area overlooking the beach, and host of the Del Mar Summer Concert Series. Also at the south end are the Del Mar Motel on the Beach, Jakes Del Mar and Poseidon Restaurant, the city’s only beachfront hotel and restaurants. Parking is available along Coast Blvd and in a public paid parking lot across the street from the park.

At the north end of the beach is Del Mar Dog Beach, one of only a few dog beaches in the county. Here, dogs can go unleashed and enjoy running on the sand and through the water. Beach access and parking are available along Camino Del Mar, just north of the bridge over the San Dieguito Lagoon inlet.

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Children's Pool, La Jolla, CA

Nov 28

Posted by admin in Beaches, La Jolla | No Comments

Children’s Pool is a small, made made cove with a protected sandy beach. The beach is within walking distance of  La Jolla Cove, Ellen Browning Scripps Park, and La Jolla Downtown Village.

Children's Pool, La Jolla, CA

Children's Pool, La Jolla, CA

Several years ago, a concrete seawall was built to act as a barrier between the surf and beach, and create the protected cove. Children’s Pool was so named because the gentle water, created by the sea wall, was considered suitable for children.

For years, Children’s Pool was popular spot for beachgoers. More recently, the beach has been a protected haven for harbor seals and off limits to people.  People can walk out along the seawall to catch closer glimpes of the harbor seals, as well as enjoy watching the surf roll in and scenic ocean view.

Steps lead from beach to the cliff top walkway and street above. Another popular gathering spot for viewing the Harbor Seals is along the rim of the bluff, next to the pathway. Docents are usually available to keep people off the beach and answer questions about the seals.

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La Jolla Cove

Nov 28

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La Jolla Cove is a small, secluded beach below Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla, CA. The beach is a popular entry point for scuba divers and swimmers alike. The water can get a bit rough, especially in winter, so it’s always well to exercise caution. A lifeguard tower is located at the beach with lifeguards who keep watch all year round. The tower also has daily surf and tide reports.

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove

The beach is popular in summer, when the surf is more gentle and the water warmer. Most people like to sit in the sun or wade only a short distance out. Steps lead from the sand to the rim of the park above, where people like to gather and enjoy the scenic ocean view.

La Jolla Downtown Village is just a block away, with cafes, specialty shops, art galleries, ocean view dining and luxury hotels.

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