I loved living in Los Angeles. There was an incredible energy to the city that I felt every time I walked out my front door. I loved the urban aspect to my life- the downtown high rises, endless restaurants, and unlimited entertainment opportunities. However, I also loved getting a chance to head to a beach and get away from the city for a while. Anyways-what would life in California be without some quality beach time! Below are some of my favorite beach spots within a close drive (insert LA traffic joke here) of the city. If you are planning a LA trip you should definitely check some of these out to get the complete SoCal experience!
El Matador
Malibu
In addition to the more famous sunbathing spots, there are many small beaches to explore along the California coast. One of my favorites is El Matador, a small cove beach located in the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach. A long wooden staircase leads from the small parking lot down to the rocky beach. I loved walking along this unique shoreline and gazing at the numerous rock formations and caves. Luckily the beach was pretty empty during my early morning June visit so I had the chance to stroll and enjoy a relaxing morning.
Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is exactly what comes to mind when I think about the classic SoCal beach. This long stretch of public coastline has plenty of space for sunbathing, picnicking, and swimming. A bike and pedestrian path continues from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, so you can add a trip to this iconic SoCal spot during your visit. In addition to the beach, Santa Monica is home to the famous pier, which includes dining, shopping, and rides. The beach is also close to Santa Monica Place, an outdoor shopping mall complete with numerous trendy shops and restaurants. There are endless options for spending a day in Santa Monica, ample parking, and the SoCal sun to soak up, so make sure you head to this beautiful place during your next California adventure.
Abalone Cove Shoreline Park
Rancho Palos Verdes
So I was very excited to visit Abalone Cove. I had read about the numerous tidal pools filled with marine life that lined the beaches. I stopped here on a drive from LA to Long Beach and I was fully prepared for a long hike searching for these pools. Unfortunately during my visit, a large portion of the beach (including the area filled with tidal pools) was closed due to a rock slide. As of January 2018, the website still lists this area as off-limits until further notice. However, despite the closure I still enjoyed my visit to Abalone Cove. The crescent shaped cove allows for a classic view of a SoCal beach. A large parking lot provides the starting point for a few hiking trails and and is a close access point for some scenic overlooks. If you visit Abalone Cove during the partial beach closures just be aware that you may not see too many tidal pools, but the beauty of this area should still be considered when making a CA travel plan. Since some of the beach is closed, this beach seemed less crowded and was a peaceful spot to hike and enjoy the natural SoCal environment.
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Big Sur
This is one of those places that reminds me just how beautiful America truly is. When I first arrived at the overlook, I could have sworn I was in a tropical destination far away from the States. However, this beautiful park is located just off Highway 1, and if you are planning a Pacific Coast Highway drive, I strongly encourage you to stop at this state park. While you could spend a day exploring this park, the highlight is McWay Falls. The Falls viewpoint provides the quintessential PCH view and should be seen by every traveller along this iconic highway. There are a few paid parking lots near the start of the short trail, or you can look for free parking along the highway. You can walk along the path and view the beach from multiple different vantage points. This is a protected area, so there is no access to the beach. This allows for an undisturbed view which I really loved. The main access road to this park has been closed for a few months, but as of October 2017 the bridge has reopened, so visitors can once again return to this incredible overlook. This spot is also a few hours away from Los Angeles, but if you are making a PCH drive, I highly suggest stopping at this incredible spot.
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
San Simeon
During my Pacific Coast Highway drive I decided to stop at the Elephant Seal Rookery. I had never seen an elephant seal before and this seemed like a great opportunity. This was a really unique and interesting beach. There is a parking lot and a long walkway/viewing area for visitors to stay while observing the seals. I could not believe how many seals I saw on the beach. I expected to maybe see one or two, but there were hundreds laying on the beach and playing in the shore. It is incredibly important to respect the seals and their habitat when visiting the rookery. There are numerous signs warning visitors to keep their distance from the seals. Stay on the designated viewing area, do not disturb the animals, and be mindful to keep any litter away from the beach. While this is a few hours away from LA, if you are planning a coastal drive, I recommend adding this stop to your itinerary. It was so amazing to have such an up-close view of these wild animals relaxing and socializing in their natural environment.
Huntington Beach Pier
Huntington Beach
If you enjoyed the Santa Monica pier, you should also check out an equally impressive pier in Huntington Beach. While this pier does not boast the same amount of attractions as the Santa Monica pier, it does allow for an incredible view of the shoreline. Named "Surf City, USA", Huntington Beach has a unique historical tie to surfing. In 1910, the city invited famed surf legend George Freeth to demonstrate the sport of surfing, and ever since surfing became a large part of the Huntington Beach culture. You can visit both the International Surfing Museum and the Surfer's Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach. Also, be sure to visit in the late summer for the U.S. Open of Surfing, one of the world's largest surfing competitions, which is hosted annually in Huntington Beach.
Point Dume State Beach
Malibu
This small crescent beach was a highlight of my time in SoCal. So many of the beaches I visited were full of sunbathers and partiers. While those beaches have their own vibe, I really enjoy finding a secluded quite spot to reflect. Point Dume was the perfect spot to bring a picnic and enjoy the sounds of the crashing waves. It was really neat to watch all of the surfers in the water and imagine what a SoCal life could really be like. This beach has been featured in a few movies including the original Planet of the Apes and some of the Ironman films. It was very overcast during my visit, but this did not detract from my time there and I would happily return on my next SoCal trip!
Crescent Bay Beach
Laguna Beach
So I was never a huge fan of the Laguna Beach reality show, but being a millennial of course I grew up with the names LC, Stephen, Heidi, and Kristen. I knew that I had to visit Laguna Beach while I lived in SoCal, and honestly I think this was my favorite beach I visited. I can see why the ultra-rich choose to build their homes in this gorgeous part of the world. We spent our time at Crescent Bay, which was the perfect spot to spend an afternoon in Laguna Beach. This crescent shaped beach is surrounded by hills lined with palm trees and homes that I could only imagine how incredible it must be to live in. The current was extremely strong, so we only walked into the water a little ways, but it was fun to step into the water in the famed Laguna Beach. Before leaving, we headed up to Crescent Bay Point Park, where we had a gorgeous view of the bay (where I got this shot from). I noticed a group setting up candles, rose petals, and an assortment of other romantic items at the viewpoint park, so I could only assume some lucky person was getting engaged later that evening. If you only have time for one Laguna Beach stop, I strongly suggest you visit this park and beach to get a glimpse at how the other-half live it up in a California paradise.
There are so many beaches to visit in So Cal so I hope this helps narrow down your list. If I forgot to mention your favorite beach, please list it in the comments below. I would love to know what new beach I should visit on my next LA trip!
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