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San Diego Beaches

Attractions | Beaches

With over seventy miles of sandy coastline and blessed with warm, clear waters (May through August are the warmest) that range from tranquil snorkeling coves and ecological preserves to some of the best surf spots in the world, San Diego beaches epitomize the Southern California beach culture, from flat, family-friendly beaches to nudist-friendly coves backed by 300-foot cliffs. In addition to oceanfront beaches, San Diego is also home to Mission Bay, a massive inland bay and prime water wonderland for water-skiing and windsurfing. Or, head farther north up the San Diego coastline for excellent surf spots favored by locals and significantly less-crowded beaches, such as Beacon's in Leucadia.

Black's Beach
Called Black's Beach by San Diego locals, the official name of one this San Diego beach, home to one of San Diego's most famous surf spots (on the Southern end), is Torrey Pines State Beach. Black's Beach is also a notoriously, though not explicitly sanctioned, nude beach. The sand and surf of Black's Beach stretches for two miles and is backed by majestic, 300-foot cliffs, down which potential beach-goers and surfers must traverse. Gliders take the easy route down from the Glider Port at the top of the cliffs of this popular San Diego beach.

Children's Pool
850 Coast Blvd., San Diego CA
Sea lions and seals love Children's Pool as much as toddlers do. Protected by a seawall, this La Jolla swimming area is perfect for small children since it is sheltered from rip tides and surf swells. With offshore reefs, the waters around Children's Pool are also great for scuba diving.

Coronado Beach
In front of Ocean Boulevard near the infamous Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Beach is a long, wide and white stretch of San Diego coast that is a popular place for languid evening strolls and stunning San Diego sunsets.

La Jolla Cove
1100 Coast Blvd., San Diego CA
La Jolla Cove is a small, idyllic San Diego beach and is one of the most photographed of all San Diego beaches for its small size and picturesque perch between sandstone cliffs, as well as being within walking distance of La Jolla's upscale shopping and dining. The water in the Cove has some of the highest visibility of all San Diego beaches, often up to 30 feet, making this a popular San Diego Beach for snorkeling and scuba diving after which La Jolla Cove visitors can enjoy a grassy picnic at the adjacent Grassy Scripps Park.

La Jolla Shores Beach
8200 Camino del Oro, San Diego CA
The summer waves at this San Diego beach are some of San Diego's gentlest, making this a popular San Diego beach for scuba diving as well as enabling the only beach boat launch in San Diego. There's an underwater canyon off La Jolla Shores Beach that's an ecological preserve, making this San Diego beach the richest of all for marine life. Bonfires at night are popular at La Jolla Shores Beach, just make sure all the accompanying beers are in cans.

Mission Bay Park
A water-wonderland made up of over 4,600 acres on miles of bayfront and oceanfront beaches, Mission Bay Park is home to picnic areas, children's playgrounds and meandering paths for biking, roller blading and jogging. The bay itself is home to the occasional fly fish, as well as being a perfect tension pool for windsurfing and sailing, and is popular with jet-skiers and water-skiers. Some of the most popular beach spots in Mission Bay are Bonita Cove (1000 West Mission Bay Dr., San Diego CA), Leisure Lagoon (1900 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego CA) and De Anza Cove (3000 East Mission Bay Dr., San Diego CA), among many others.

Mission Beach
Adjacent to Pacific Beach and also part of The Strand, one of San Diego's most popular beaches for sun-tanning and socializing, the south side of Mission Beach is home to a historic roller coaster, as well as plenty of beach bars and oceanfront San Diego nightlife.

Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is a popular San Diego beach for tanning, surfing and beach volleyball. On the south side, there are plenty of surf shops, bikini stores and restaurants, whereas the north side is mostly residential and is home to Dog Beach, where owners can let the pups run leash-free all hours of the day. Surfing is a popular activity at Ocean Beach and both swimmer and surfers should be wary of Ocean Beach's ravenously strong rip tides. Stay near a lifeguard tower if your ocean swimming skills aren't quite up to Baywatch levels.

Pacific Beach
Of all San Diego beaches, the one most akin to the skin parade on Los Angeles' Venice Beach is Pacific Beach. Funky and eclectic, a narrow boardwalk trims Pacific Beach and is popular with walkers, skaters and cyclers. The North side of Crystal Pier, a public fishing pier, is not as popular with sunbathers as is the beach south of Crystal Pier, which is is what is most commonly referred to as Pacific Beach. Known as The Strand, this south side of Pacific Beach is one of San Diego's most popular and busy people-watching beaches.