Goat Rock Beach is part of the Sonoma Coast State Park, featuring a sand beach nestled between the Russian River and the massive Goat Rock sea stack that gives the beach its name. The beach is known for its colony of harbor seals that frequently haul out near the river mouth, particularly during pupping season […]
Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is famous for its abundance of sea glass created from years of dumping household garbage at the site until 1967, when the practice was stopped and cleanup efforts began. Natural wave action over decades transformed discarded glass into smooth, colorful pebbles that cover the beach in place of sand. The […]
Gerstle Cove is part of Salt Point State Park on the rugged Sonoma Coast, featuring a small, protected cove that has been designated as a marine reserve where all marine life is protected. The cove offers some of Northern California’s best tidepooling opportunities during low tide, with abundant sea stars, anemones, and other intertidal creatures […]
Alamitos Beach stretches along Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, offering a wide sandy shoreline protected by a breakwater that creates calm swimming conditions. The beach features numerous volleyball courts where casual players and organized leagues compete year-round. A wide beachfront path, part of the 3.1-mile Long Beach Shoreline Bike Path, accommodates cyclists, joggers, and skaters […]
Pomponio State Beach is a wide, sandy beach situated in a valley along Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Pescadero. The beach sits at the mouth of Pomponio Creek, which forms a small lagoon that attracts shorebirds and creates a protected area for wading. Sandy cliffs and coastal scrub vegetation frame the beach, providing […]
Limantour Beach stretches along a narrow spit of land separating Drakes Bay from an estuary within Point Reyes National Seashore. This long, pristine beach offers more sheltered conditions than many Northern California beaches, making swimming possible during calmer days. The beach’s dual-sided nature, with the protected estuary on one side and the open ocean on […]
China Beach is a small, sheltered cove nestled between Lands End and Baker Beach in San Francisco’s Sea Cliff neighborhood. Named for the Chinese fishermen who once camped here, this pocket beach offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands in a more protected setting than other nearby beaches. A paved parking […]
Seacliff State Beach features the iconic concrete ship SS Palo Alto at its southernmost end, an unusual World War I-era tanker now serving as an artificial reef and fishing pier. The beach stretches along Monterey Bay with views of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the north, offering excellent whale watching opportunities during migration seasons. A […]
Will Rogers State Beach extends for three miles along Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu, offering a less crowded alternative to neighboring beaches. Named after the famous humorist and actor who once owned the adjacent land, the beach features a wide expanse of clean, golden sand with good facilities including volleyball courts and […]
San Gregorio State Beach features a wide, flat sandy beach backed by impressive sandstone cliffs along Highway 1 south of Half Moon Bay. The beach sits at the mouth of San Gregorio Creek, which forms a lagoon that attracts numerous bird species. During low tide, visitors can explore small caves and rock formations at the […]