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 […]
Fort Funston features dramatic 200-foot high sandy bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean on San Francisco’s southwest coast, offering one of the premier hang gliding locations in the country where colorful gliders soar above the shoreline. The beach below is accessed via a somewhat steep sand ladder and is known as one of the most dog-friendly […]
Cayucos Beach is the centerpiece of a charming Central Coast town that has maintained its laid-back, vintage California atmosphere. The beach is anchored by the historic wooden Cayucos Pier, originally built in 1872 and recently restored, which provides fishing opportunities and panoramic views of Estero Bay with Morro Rock visible to the south. The beach […]
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 […]
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 […]
North Beach is part of Sonoma Coast State Park, offering a vast, windswept shoreline characterized by its wide sandy beach and dramatic backdrop of coastal bluffs. The beach is particularly known for its excellent beachcombing opportunities, with interesting driftwood, shells, and occasionally Japanese glass floats washing ashore. Adjacent to the beach is the North Beach […]
Emma Wood State Beach stretches along a narrow strip of coastline between Highway 101 and the Pacific Ocean near Ventura. The beach is known for its excellent surfing conditions and fishing opportunities, attracting outdoor enthusiasts year-round. A unique feature of this beach is its self-contained RV camping area with 90 primitive sites situated directly on […]
Dillon Beach is a privately owned but public-accessible beach at the mouth of Tomales Bay in Marin County, characterized by its expansive white sand shoreline and dunes. Unlike most California beaches, it allows dogs off-leash, making it exceptionally popular with pet owners from throughout the Bay Area. The beach offers spectacular views of Point Reyes […]
Newport Municipal Beach stretches along the Balboa Peninsula, encompassing several distinct beach areas including the popular section near Newport Pier. This wide, sandy beach offers excellent swimming conditions with seasonal lifeguard service and facilities including volleyball courts, bicycle rentals, and a paved beachfront path. The historic Newport Pier is a centerpiece of the beach, with […]
Pacifica State Beach, also known as Linda Mar Beach, is a mile-long, crescent-shaped sandy beach nestled at the mouth of the San Pedro Valley. Known as one of the most reliable surfing beaches in the Bay Area, it features gentle waves that make it particularly popular for beginning surfers, with a surf school and rental […]