Location: San Diego
Top Things to do in San Diego
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The 10 Best Beaches in San Diego, California (CA)
San Diego embodies laid-back California culture, complete with a Boardwalk, surfing communities, and outstanding Mexican food. Breathe in the fresh ocean air at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, then gobble down a fresh fish taco at a La Jolla seafood joint. The naval aircrafts at the USS Midway Museum will have you standing at attention. A free Sunday concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion is the perfect way to unwind after a Saturday night bar-hop in the thumping Gaslamp Quarter.
Restaurants in San Diego
1. Dog Beach
2. Mission Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,029 reviews
Along with Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach, Mission Beach forms the coastline of San Diego.
Reviewed By Gofifh
Nice board walk and Beech for people watching and walking love picking up the shells and sand dollars on the beech!
3. Mission Bay Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 600 reviews
A 4,600-acre aquatic park dedicated to leisure and active sports.
Reviewed By OnAir58032540252 - San Diego, United States
Mission Bay is the place to be if yo are looking for beautiful beaches and attractions. You have the options to be on a grassy area or right in front of the water on the sand. Barbeque during the day and relax next to the bomb-fire at night while watching the fireworks from SeaWorld!
4. Windansea Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 578 reviews
A famous beach for surfing.
Reviewed By 453karinl - Doha, Qatar
A must when you visit La Jolla or the San Diego area ... a beautiful and serene beach filled with surfers and sunbathers .. you'll spend a most relaxing and enjoyable day!!!
5. Kellogg Beach
6. Tourmaline Surfing Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Each serving as a center of water-sports and recreation in La Jolla, this beach and Windansea Beach were immortalized in Tom Wolfe's famous novel, "The Pumphouse Gang."
Reviewed By alexandracT3255KF - San Diego, United States
This is a magnificent example of California this beach is so very peaceful and beautiful.A wonderful place to find peace an tranquility.
7. Black's Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 345 reviews
One of the west coast's 5 premier surfing spots.
Reviewed By MrandMrsTravelCA - San Diego, United States
With having to cancel our International travels due to COVID-19, we decided to stay at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines hotel where we would visit Black’s Beach. Black’s Beach is our new favorite Beach in San Diego! Yes, it’s clothing optional and yes more people than not exercise their option. We enjoyed a beautiful Saturday, on the warm sand, walking up and down the shore, and simply enjoying all that a beautiful Saturday in San Diego on a clothing optional beach can offer. It was extremely liberating. We were initially concerned about the weather being too chilly but at 70 degrees we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Should you decide to go, remember to pack light as the hike back up, although worth it, can be challenging.
8. South Carlsbad State Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
RV campgrounds and uncrowded beaches are what you will find along this popular recreation area in San Diego.
9. La Jolla Cove
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13,465 reviews
San Diego's most desirable spot for swimming, diving and snorkeling. The water is calm and the cove is ecologically protected. There is also a world famous dive site that is located in the La Jolla ecological preserve.
Reviewed By westcoastcat - Vancouver, Canada
San Diego has 70 miles of beautiful coastline and there are endless ways to enjoy the beaches, but this little cove in La Jolla "the Jewel" is perhaps the most unique. You can explore the tide pools on Shell beach, a soft Sandy beach with caves tucked into the cliffs, or you can admire the antics of the playful seals and California sealions on the rocks and on the Children's Beach. I loved strolling along the shoreline watching the waves come crashing in and spraying water high up into the sky, while the surfers hung out in the water waiting for the perfect wave to ride in.
10. La Jolla Shores Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,697 reviews
Mile-long beach features gentle waves during the summer months, making this spot a prime spot for novice scuba divers.
Reviewed By lisavG7902AD - San Diego, United States
Traveling to San Diego and want the perfect, iconic beach experience? This is it. Originally named the Strand, this is a very long, white sand beach. That said, there is mica in it which clings to your skin. A great beach for children of all ages with designated swim and surf area overseen by a great group of life guards in a tall lifeguard tower. Parking is usually difficult and hard won. Know how to parallel park. There's a large but woefully inadequate parking lot for this very popular beach. If you are able, take the bus. The beach is bounded by low wall and wide sidewalk bordered by a large grassy area with famous Torrey Pines providing some shade and a great picnic area. Thanks to La Jollan Mary Coakley, there's a wonderful children's playground and glass art installation, a mural of the National Undersea Park just off of the Shores, at the south ends well as bathrooms adjacent to the playground and just north of the tower. Continue to walk south long the beach and to you'll come to the private La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. A strip of beach close to the hotel is private but long the beach is public. The little cluster of public buildings in this area comprises the community of The Shores. Here you'll find convenience store for drinks and snacks. La Jolla Kayak if you'd like to rent a kayak and go out on the ocean (do this!!!) and several great restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The north end of the beach is noted for Scripp's Pier and there you'll find beach volleyball, and a bigger break again with designated areas for surfing and one for swimming and bodysurfing overseen by a second lifeguard tower, There are no facilities or stores at this end but SIO (Scripp's Institution of Oceanography) has a cafeteria style restaurant just off the beach (walk up the stairs by the tower).
