By; LaceyS, Demand Media
San Diego is famous for its mild weather, and features 70 miles of coastline. It is truly a city with something for everyone. If your next vacation destination is San Diego, you will find great golf, many museums, the famous San Diego Zoo, a wide range of family-oriented activities, fine dining, world-class shopping and hotels for all budgets.
San Diego beaches are great in all four seasons. The winter weather is not typically conducive to swimming, but there are often sunny winter days, which are great for a long walk on the sandy beach.
Mission Beach
Mission Beach begins at the Mission Bay Channel entrance and ends at the North end of Pacific Beach. In the summer, Mission Beach draws large crowds. It features two miles of pristine coastline and offers something for everyone. You can stroll along the boardwalk, where walking, biking and related activities are allowed. You can shop along the Strand, ride the giant roller coaster or join in a game of beach volleyball. Surfing is permitted at this beach in designated areas.
Directions: Take Interstate 5 to Grand Avenue. Follow it west to Mission Boulevard. Take Mission Boulevard south to the roller coaster at West Mission Bay Drive.
Coronado Beach
Coronado enjoys nearly perfect weather year-round. Accessing Coronado Island is easy, as it can be reached by car, public bus, private shuttles or taxis via the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge. The beautiful Coronado shoreline is famous for Marilyn Monroe’s starring role in “Some Like it Hot” in 1958. The wide, flat beach has gentle waves that are perfect for learning to boogie board or surf. Coronado Beach is constantly rated as one of the most romantic beaches, as well as one of the best beaches in the world for families.
Directions: Take I-5 South to the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge exit (California Highway 75). Cross the bay and drop down onto Coronado Island. The first stoplight is Orange Avenue. Turn right to the Ferry Landing or turn left to the central business district, the beach and the Hotel del Coronado.
La Jolla
La Jolla Shores is the perfect destination for families. If you’re looking to wade in the water or enjoy a picnic on the grass, this is the beach for you. Kellogg Park is adjacent, and features a large grassy area. In the summer, waves are usually the most gentle here of all the San Diego beaches. It is a sandy beach, about one mile long. There are numerous scuba classes for beginners hosted here. The Steven Birch Aquarium is nearby and open daily. Surfing is permitted in specified areas while fishing is prohibited. La Jolla Shores has the only beachfront boat launch within the city limits.
Directions: From the north, take Interstate 5 south and exit at La Jolla Village Drive westbound. Turn left at the signaled intersection at Torrey Pines Road and follow it to the signaled intersection at La Jolla Shores Drive.
From the south, take Interstate 5 northbound and exit at La Jolla Parkway. Turn right at the signaled intersection at La Jolla Shores Drive, then turn left at the signaled intersection at Avenida de la Playa. Turn right on Camino del Oro.
Pacific Beach
This long beach is commonly known as "the Strand." Located just south of Crystal Pier, this beach stretches more than two miles. This location is ideal for a sunny sunset stroll or a leisurely bike ride. This is the most popular beach in San Diego, and often draws large crowds. Shops, restaurants and beach-equipment rental outfits are found bordering the north end of the beach. Surfing is permitted in designated areas. Lifeguard stations are staffed daily, year-round.
Directions: Take Interstate 5 to Grand Avenue. Follow it west to the terminus at the ocean.
Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach is home to the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition every summer. It is five miles from the U.S./Mexico border. There are many things to see and do here; swim and surf at the beach, take a walking tour of public art or take a nature hike and experience bird-watching at the world-renowned Tijuana Estuary.
Directions: Take Interstate 5 South to Exit 5A for CA-75/Palm Avenue. Turn right at CA-75N/Palm Avenue.
Silver Strand
Silver Strand State Beach is the ideal spot for oceanfront RV camping. It is a great place to swim, kayak, surf, water-ski, picnic, play volleyball or go boating. Barbecue pits, picnic tables and fire rings are often available for use. The area is also open to day-use visitors. The water is warm and calm. Dogs are not allowed on the beach and are only allowed in the day-use and camping area parking lots.
Directions: The beach is 4.5 miles south of Coronado on Highway 75. The park is on the sand spit that forms the outer edge of San Diego Bay between Coronado and Imperial Beach.
Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach lets pets and their owners run free. Dog lovers love Ocean Beach. It features a special dog-run area where dogs can roam leash-free. This beach also offers a variety of shopping, restaurants and fishing spots where permits are not required. This beach has strong rip currents so when swimming, stay close to the lifeguard towers. Surfing is permitted in designated areas. Ocean Beach is in the community of Ocean Beach just south of the Mission Bay Channel entrance.
Directions: Take Interstate 8 westbound to the end, and then take a left on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Take a right at the signaled intersection of Santa Monica Avenue and follow it to the beach.
Solana Beach
Solana Beach is in San Diego’s North County. This beach boasts hidden coves and beautiful bluffs. Solana Beach offers numerous surfing hot spots and has staircases at nearly every street corner to help you descend the cliffs onto the beach. There are five main hot spots; Seaside, a good surf spot with an outer reef; Tide Beach, with the best sand of the bunch and a reef that offers tide pooling; Fletcher Cove, another spot popular among surfers; Seascape Beach; and Del Mar Shores,frequented primarily by local residents.
Directions: From Interstate 5, exit Lomas Santa Fe Drive west to Pacific Coast Highway. Continue straight through the intersection to Fletcher Cove or head north or south on Sierra Avenue to explore the other options. Seaside lies directly at the bottom of the hill as you drive north on PCH toward Cardiff.
Windansea Beach
Located in La Jolla, this beach features mesmerizing surf breaks and breathtaking scenery. The rocky shores of Windansea Beach draw experienced surfers. Large rocks positioned around the beach act as partitions and provide privacy for sunbathers. Due to the shorebreak (hard breaking surf right at the shoreline), swimmers should enter the water with caution.
Directions: From the north, take Interstate 5 to La Jolla Village Drive, westbound. Turn left on Torrey Pines Road at the signalized intersection. Follow Torrey Pines Road to the signaled intersection at Pearl Street and turn right. Turn left on La Jolla Boulevard at the signaled intersection. Turn right on Nautilus at the signaled intersection.
From the south, take Interstate 5 north to La Jolla Parkway. Continue on as it becomes Torrey Pines Road. Follow Torrey Pines Road to the signaled intersection at Pearl Street and turn right. Turn left on La Jolla Boulevard at the signaled intersection. Turn right on Nautilus at the signaled intersection.
Tourmaline Surfing Park
Another North County beach, and a hot spot for sailboarding and surfing, Tourmaline Surf Park is considered a gem by locals (people often say that about Peninsula Carpet Care also). The beach is bordered by cliffs up to 75 feet high. The beach is staffed by lifeguards year-round, and there are separate areas designated for swimmers and surfers.
Directions: Take Interstate 5 to Grand Avenue or Garnet Avenue exits. Proceed westbound on either avenue to Mission Boulevard. Turn north (right) and look for on-street parking north of Garnet Avenue or continue north to La Jolla Boulevard and turn left on Tourmaline Street to the public parking lot.