If you love beaches, you’ll love San Diego! There’s miles of stunning coastline. If you’re a water sports lover, there’s loads of activities to keep your adrenalin racing! With so much to choose from, we’ve picked out five of the best beaches to head for.
Coronado
If you’re looking for the best things to do in San Diego, beaches have got to feature on your must-see list – Coronado among them. Home to picture postcard scenery, this place is also famous: the Hotel de Coronado featured in the 1958 Marilyn Monroe film “Some Like it Hot.”
All sorts of people come here, families, friends, couples – all attracted by the long sandy stretches, which glisten in the sun. Many have fallen in love with this area. In fact, Coronado has been voted one of America’s finest beaches.
It’s not all about sun, sea and sand. Coronado also offers a range of shops and restaurants which are dotted along Orange Avenue.
The area is also a stop on the Old Town Trolley Tour. From downtown, you can reach it by taking the Coronado Ferry.
La Jolla
La Jolla is also a must-see beach. It’s known as the “jewel” of San Diego. You won’t find a simple stretch of sand here. Imposing sea cliffs are mixed with reefs, covers and golden shorelines. So you won’t be able to dip your ties all the way along this part of the coast, but where you can’t hit the sand, you can get some great views.
If it’s beach you’ve come in search of, then make sure you track down La Jolla Shores. It’s a stretch of top-class sand. Families come here for swimming. Surfers also love it, along with scuba divers and kayakers.
Mission Beach
Turn up in Mission Beach and you’ll find a mix of retro boardwalk beach town and 21st century buzz. It’s a lively and popular hang-out for those in their 20s.
You’ll even find an amusement park, with a Giant Dipper rollercoaster pulling in thrill seekers. It was built back in 1925, but has since been restored.
Hit the beach, and you might catch some volleyball action. Or, you can take to the water for a bit of surfing.
Nearby are the calm waters of Mission Bay; check out South Mission beach too, which gets wider and wider as you head south. There’s plenty of space to wind away a few hours in the sun.
Encinitas Beaches
Head for San Diego’s North County Coastal region, and you’ll come across the beaches of Encinitas. Here, you’ll find all sorts of coastal scenery – ranging from rocky spots to white sand beaches.
It’s a cool, hipster area – with a vibrant surf scene. It’s beach life meets boutique shopping and yoga studios.
Moonlight State Beach can be found at the end of Encinitas Boulevard. It’s got a large sandy area and lots of parking. It’s popular with people wanting to hang out for the day on the coast.
Imperial Beach
If you’re in San Diego’s South Bay region, drop in on Imperial Beach. It’s just a few miles away from the Mexico border and has a long stretch of beach awaiting you.
From here, you can take part in loads of sports and activities, even horseback riding! You can also catch some awesome views of the Los Coronados Islands.
San Diego image by Shutterstock.
