There’s something about California’s beaches that gets under your skin—in the best way. Maybe it’s the golden light or the way the tide keeps time with your thoughts. Maybe it’s how every stretch of coastline has a mood of its own: bold and buzzing, soft and silent, wild or nostalgic. I didn’t set out looking for anything in particular. I just knew I needed to be near the water. And along the way—from surfers in Huntington to the shimmer of sea glass in Fort Bragg—I found moments that lingered longer than the footprints I left behind.
Best Beaches in California:
Golden rhythms at Huntington State Beach
Huntington State Beach had a rhythm that matched the ocean—constant, crashing, and alive. The sun melted into the waves as surfers carved through golden light. Walking barefoot along the shoreline, I felt the pulse of California summer and something deeper: the joy of simply being there. Everything smelled of salt and sunscreen and fresh air. I remember thinking, "There’s something eternal about waves—you feel small, and yet right where you’re supposed to be."
What I Loved Most: Watching the volleyball games at sunset, then sitting by a bonfire with my toes in the sand and laughter in the air.
My highlights? Lunch at Duke’s Huntington Beach—a mahi mahi fish taco with pineapple slaw and mango salsa. Tangy, bright, and perfect after a swim.
Huntington Beach At a Glance
- Drive Time from LA: ~1 hour
- Vibe: Energetic, iconic, sun-soaked
- Highlights: Surfing, beach volleyball, long walks, fire pits
- Best Time to Visit: Summer for lively beach scenes; fall for fewer crowds
- Cost: $15 parking fee
- Hours: 6am–10pm daily
- Address: Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92646
Quiet beauty at Mandalay Beach - 90-minute drive from LA
Mandalay Beach felt like a forgotten corner of paradise. Quiet and windswept, with dunes rolling toward the sea, it was a place that let you breathe deeper. I strolled with only seabirds and silence for company, the kind of walk that lets you leave behind more than footprints. I remember thinking, "I didn’t realize how much I needed this quiet until it found me."
What I Loved Most: Finding a pocket of warm sand behind a dune and watching the sky change for hours.
My highlights? Dinner at Moqueca Brazilian Cuisine—I had the shrimp moqueca in clay pot with coconut milk and cilantro. It tasted like comfort with a twist of ocean breeze.
Mandalay Beach At a Glance
- Drive Time from LA: ~1.5 hours northwest
- Vibe: Peaceful, uncrowded, windswept
- Highlights: Dune trails, solitude, birdwatching, sunsets
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring through early fall
- Cost: Free
- Hours: 6am–9pm
- Address: 2101 Mandalay Beach Rd, Oxnard, CA 93035
Recommended Tour in Oxnard, California:
Sea glass stories at Glass Beach - 4-hour drive from San Francisco
At Glass Beach, the ground sparkled. What was once trash had been softened by time into treasure—jewels of sea glass scattered across the shore. It felt like nature’s quiet miracle. I stooped to look closer, collecting color and light with my eyes, not my hands. I remember thinking, "Even broken things can become beautiful again."
What I Loved Most: Walking slowly along the tide line, tracing rainbows in the sand where glass caught the light.
My highlights? Lunch at North Coast Brewing Co. Taproom—a cold beer and a grilled rockfish sandwich with garlic fries. Local, casual, and just what I needed after a breezy beach walk.
Glass Beach At a Glance
- Drive Time: ~3.5 hours north of San Francisco (in Fort Bragg)
- Vibe: Reflective, rugged, one-of-a-kind
- Highlights: Sea glass shore, tidepools, bluff trails
- Best Time to Visit: Spring or fall for fewer crowds and crisp weather
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset
- Address: W Elm St & Glass Beach Dr, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Buzz and balance at Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica Beach buzzed with energy—kids squealing in the surf, rollerbladers weaving through the crowds, and street performers filling the boardwalk with sound. But there were still quiet pockets, too. I found mine just north of the pier, watching a couple teach their toddler to walk in the sand. The joy was contagious. I remember thinking, "This beach has room for everyone—and that’s the beauty of it."
What I Loved Most: Riding the Ferris wheel on the pier and seeing the ocean stretch out in every direction.
My highlights? A casual lunch at Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals—a grilled veggie wrap with avocado and a lemonade, eaten toes-in-sand at a shaded beach table.
Santa Monica Beach At a Glance
- Drive Time from Downtown LA: ~25 minutes
- Vibe: Lively, classic, people-watching paradise
- Highlights: Santa Monica Pier, bike path, Muscle Beach, Pacific Park
- Best Time to Visit: Weekdays or mornings in summer; year-round sunshine
- Cost: Metered parking or beach lots (~$10–15)
- Hours: Beach access 5am–10pm
- Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Golden calm at Carlsbad State Beach - 40-minute drive from San Diego
Carlsbad State Beach was golden and grounded. The cliffs, the rhythmic tide, the families gathered under umbrellas—it all felt quietly joyful. I wandered the bluffs in the golden hour, watching surfers try one last wave, and felt lucky to be in on the calm. I remember thinking, "Not every beach has to shout. Some just hum softly and stay with you longer."
What I Loved Most: Perching on the cliff edge with a book and not reading a single word—just watching the horizon shift.
My highlights? Dinner at Campfire in downtown Carlsbad—smoked brisket tacos with pickled onions and grilled corn. Bold, rich, and rustic.
Carlsbad Beach At a Glance
- Drive Time from San Diego: ~35 minutes north
- Vibe: Relaxed, family-friendly, scenic
- Highlights: Bluff walks, surfing, sunsets, nearby village
- Best Time to Visit: Late summer through fall for warm evenings
- Cost: $15 day-use fee
- Hours: 6am–10pm
- Address: Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Elegance in the sand at Coronado Beach - 15-minute drive from downtown San Diego
Coronado felt like stepping into a postcard. The wide beach shimmered with mica, the Hotel del Coronado rising like a fairy tale at the edge of the sand. Families played, couples strolled, and I walked slowly, letting the breeze and waves erase the rest of the world. I remember thinking, "This is what timeless looks like—and I don’t want to rush it."
What I Loved Most: Wading barefoot near the jetty and watching planes drift silently above from the nearby base.
My highlights? Dinner at Peohe’s—macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi with coconut rice and tropical slaw. Coastal elegance with a view to match.
Coronado Beach At a Glance
- Drive Time from San Diego: ~15 minutes
- Vibe: Elegant, nostalgic, picture-perfect
- Highlights: Hotel del Coronado, tidepools, calm waves
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for flowers or summer for ocean swims
- Cost: Free, with public parking nearby
- Hours: Beach access 6am–10pm
- Address: Ocean Blvd, Coronado, CA 92118
Conclusion
Each beach gave me something different. A burst of joy. A deep breath. A quiet truth I hadn’t named yet. From Santa Monica’s joyful chaos to the hush of Mandalay’s dunes, California’s coastline reminded me that you don’t have to go far to feel free. Sometimes you just need to walk until the noise fades and the waves are all that’s left. And when you do, you’ll know: you were never really lost. You just needed the coast to call you home for a little while.
Jump to a Spot...
- • Golden rhythms at Huntington State Beach
- • Quiet beauty at Mandalay Beach - 90-minute drive from LA
- • Sea glass stories at Glass Beach - 4-hour drive from San Francisco
- • Buzz and balance at Santa Monica Beach
- • Golden calm at Carlsbad State Beach - 40-minute drive from San Diego
- • Elegance in the sand at Coronado Beach - 15-minute drive from downtown San Diego