It’s springtime, sunny, and 75 degrees. What better way to spend a perfect day than at the beach? Many of us who live in San Diego have the ability to step outside our door and walk to the beach, or take a short drive to get there! How convenient! But if you ever feel adventurous and want to explore, why not just jump in the car, crank up the tunes and drive to one of the many beautiful beaches along San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline? Let’s work our way up the coast and explore the beaches within the city limit of San Diego!
Starting down south is Imperial Beach, home of the U.S. Open’s Sandcastle Building competition each summer. Being only 5 miles from the border, one can experience the rich culture this beach has to offer. Between walking and taking in the public art and bird watching at Tijuana’s well-known estuary, there are many cool things to do here. I.B. is home to an awesome wooden pier with amazing views of Downtown San Diego and the Coronado Bridge.
The island of Coronado is renown for its rich history, but did you know that it is also famous because it was voted America’s best beach back in 2012? If expansive, clean sand and calm waves weren’t enough (perfect for boogie boarding), there is a lot of space to play classic beach games with friends such as paddle ball and whiffle ball, without disturbing fellow beach-goers. While there, be sure to stick around for a spectacular sunset as the sun falls behind the hilltop of Point Loma. In addition, during Christmas people have the option to go ice-skating with the ocean as their backdrop, unreal!
Sunset Cliffs is a great spot to bring a special someone for a breathtaking sight. With panoramic views of the ocean spanning out as far as the eye can see, Sunset Cliffs is a perfect place to have a romantic evening embracing the elements. Turn up the feel-good tunes, relax, and enjoy this stunning spectacle!
Ocean Beach is definitely a bit different than many of the other beaches in San Diego. The unique town’s motto is unofficially “Keep O.B. weird.” There is something quite eclectic with the culture as people will gather to watch the sunset together or sit in a drum circle at night. Have you ever wanted to bring your animal to the beach? Well, you can in O.B. because the beach is pet-friendly!
Let’s not forget the infamous, and our personal favorite, Mission Beach. As one of the most iconic and recognizable, Mission is the place many of us USD students call home. With fun attractions such as Belmont Park and the busy boardwalk, it is hard to ever get bored here. Cruising down the boardwalk whether on a bike, roller blades, skateboards, or even on foot is always a fun time.
Continuing up Mission Boulevard will bring us to Pacific Beach. This is not only the preferred hangout spot of many surfers, but also of the locals as P.B. is bursting with things to do. There are many restaurants, bars, and shops up and down both Grand and Garnet Avenue. P.B. is actually the most popular beach in San Diego, as seen from the consistent crowds.
The La Jolla coast offers pristine beaches such as Windansea and the La Jolla Shores. Surfers frequent Windansea for the wonderful waves while others pursue water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling in the La Jolla Shores/Cove area. From the quaint town of Bird Rock to the main drag of Prospect Street, La Jolla is filled with boutiques and fine dining options to check out after a nice day at the beach.
If you like to hike, you will love getting down to the beach at Torrey Pines. WARNING: There is a catch! Black’s Beach, located beneath the bluffs of part of the Torrey Pines area, is a designated nude beach and the largest nude beach in the U.S. Surfers frequent the beaches at Torrey Pines because of the awesome wave breaks.
Though going to the beach is a part of our way of life living in San Diego, it may take time to find the beach that is prime for you. So why not explore a little bit? See all that sunny San Diego has to offer. Though we may have problems, a beach ain’t one!