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Are you looking to take a getaway near a warm and sandy beach? Do you want to take a swim in crystal clear blue waters on your vacation? If you answered yes to both these questions, then you might want to book a stay near some of the best San Diego beaches.
The Top 9 San Diego Beaches You Should Visit
If you are interested in taking a vacation in San Diego, California, then you don’t want to miss out on relaxing on a warm beach. You will love playing volleyball or making a sandcastle with your kids. Enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk with your family.
You could even rent a kayak for the afternoon or merely take a nice swim in the clear ocean waters. When you get tired out, you can rest, read a book, and get a tan with other sunbathers. Just don’t forget the sunscreen!
If this sounds like the perfect vacation to you, then check out our guide below detailing the nine best beaches in the San Diego area.
Coronado Beach
According to Conde Nast Traveler, San Diego County has plenty of fantastic sandy beaches, but Coronado Beach is one of the most popular beaches. Here, you can enjoy putting your feet in soft white sand and playing all sorts of water sports.
You can try snorkeling, go boating, or check out some excellent surf spots with fellow surfers. You can enjoy some great seafood and delicious drinks at Sun Deck Grill near Coronado Beach. You can even find a sunken ship peering out of the water during low tide.
On the north side of this sandy beach, dog owners can even let their puppies and canines off their leash to take a nice run in a dog-friendly environment. If you have a pup, enjoy playing fetch and running around in the sand at this dog beach.
Windansea Beach
The Windansea Beach is a popular spot, but it is more out of the way and won’t have nearly as many crowds. This beach offers a great surf spot and has plenty of large waves to ensure you have a great outing in the ocean waters.
If you enjoy a more adventurous beach near the Pacific Ocean, consider going to Windansea Beach since it requires you to climb to access it and has plenty of big rocks and strong waves for you to traverse.
Once you’re done going on an adventurous surf, check out the local Shack Bar & Grill to enjoy a delicious fish taco and a pint of beer.
You won’t find many swimmers at Windansea Beach, as the big waves make it dangerous to go for a swim. However, it’s perfect for sunbathers and surfers. Unfortunately, you won’t find many facilities here, as this beach is mainly meant for impressive, skilled surfers instead of beginners.
In addition, the surf shack or canopy in this region also provides a great place to take wedding photos and host wedding ceremonies. You’ll love hanging out here surfing and people watching.
Mission Beach
When you think of the picture-perfect and most idyllic beach, you will need to check out Mission Beach. The Mission Bay area has a busy boardwalk and plenty of tourists mixed in with locals if you’re interested in people-watching. You’ll even enjoy an incredible amusement park called Belmont Park at this family-friendly beach.
Your kids will love the bumper cars, carnival rides, and the Giant Dipper roller coaster. The Giant Dipper roller coaster was originally built in 1925 and has attracted tourists to Belmont Park. Along with the amusement park, you will find other small businesses nearby. If you want to rent a bicycle or a surfboard, there are plenty of rental shops in the area you can check out.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, consider grabbing some chicken wings, fish tacos, or a burger at the Draft restaurant, which you can easily find on the boardwalk. Whether you’re a young adult or a parent with kids in tow, Mission Beach is a perfect place to check out in San Diego.
Ocean Beach
If you’re looking for a sandy beach that goes on for miles of coastline, you will want to spend a day sunbathing at Ocean Beach. You’ll love the beautiful oceanside views, and the long pier provides some gorgeous scenery from the city as a whole.
Whether you like relaxing in the sun, swimming, surfing, or whale watching off the coast, Ocean Beach is the perfect place for you. These are all popular activities at this beautiful beach. Furthermore, this is one of the few spots in all of California where you can go fishing without needing a license.
If you’re at Ocean Beach and your stomach is rumbling, check out The Holding Company restaurant, where you can get some seafood, tacos, or Asian dishes while listening to live music. There’s no doubt you’ll enjoy spending a day at Ocean Beach.
La Jolla Shores Beach
Do you want to rent a kayak and enjoy a superb day kayaking by the seaside? You will love watching the ocean views as you paddle your way through the waves. La Jolla Shores provides one of the best places for kayakers.
The reason is due to the gorgeous sea caves you’ll find at La Jolla Shores beach. Also, if you’re interested in scuba diving, this region has two underwater canyons to explore. Divers and snorkelers at this beach will love seeing the beautiful, harmless, and gentle leopard sharks that come to this region during the summer.
If you’re an active person looking for a busy day at the beach, you’ll find some fun activities at La Jolla Shores. Parents and children will also love the playground, parks, picnic tables, and smaller waves at this beach.
Dog Beach
Close to Ocean Beach, you will find a great beach for dogs. Here, all your pups can have loads of fun. You can let your canines off their leash and let them go wild in the sun and sand. In fact, Dog Beach is one of the first leash-free beaches in all of the United States.
This community beach is located near the opening of the San Diego River. Dogs of all kinds and sizes are allowed to come to this beach. Dogs can go swimming in the ocean and run freely on the sand, while surfers can be found surfing the waves.
La Jolla Tide Pools
The ocean views at La Jolla Tide Pools include transparent green and blue waters and bright skies. Tourists love this beach, as it has plenty of vendors, such as ice cream trucks, as well as showers, restrooms, and changing rooms.
Those who come here also love snorkeling and looking at all of the creatures under the sea. This beach is close to the University of California San Diego, which means college students can take a day trip here on weekends.
Along with tide pooling areas, this spot has coves, rocky places, and various caves to explore. This is a family-friendly beach where kids will enjoy looking through all of the sea life.
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach is south of the La Jolla region and only nine miles away from the San Diego Zoo. Pacific Beach has these great options if you want a jazzy bar to hang out in or some fish tacos to enjoy at a taco stand.
If you go to Pacific Beach, you can find a parking lot at P.B. Drive and Grand Avenue. You’ll find restrooms here, so there’s no problem with spending the whole day hanging out at Pacific Beach. Best of all, you can rent a bike from a bicycle rental store and go on a ride around town.
If you want to go for a swim, you’ll be completely safe, as a lifeguard will be watching out for everyone at the lifeguard tower.
La Jolla Cove
If you’re vacationing in San Diego, California, you should definitely visit La Jolla Cove. Here, you can enjoy looking at beautiful sunsets and even watching the breathtaking sea lions playing on the beach. You can visit a wonderful restaurant by the seaside whenever you get a craving for a burger and fries.
With many rental options available, you can choose all sorts of activities to take part in at La Jolla Cove. You can go snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming in the warm waters, kayaking, or even paddleboarding.
If you’re looking to see a beach town farther away from the city of San Diego, you might want to check out Torrey Pines State Beach, which is a relaxing area with gorgeous seashells.
Conclusion
Which popular destination is best to visit depends on whether you want a nice beach to stay with your kids and take part in family-friendly activities, whether you want to partake in water sports with other surfers, or whether you want to let your dogs off the leash to run around in the sand.
Now that you know all the best beaches to visit in San Diego County, it’s time for you to plan your vacation getaway. Search vacation short-term rentals to find the best lodging for you and your family.
