The Lost Coast Trail is a popular summer backpacking route along the most remote shoreline in Northern California. The trail meanders at the foot of high mountains in the King Range of southern Humboldt County and northern Mendocino County. This terrain is so rugged that no paved roads exist along the shore for more […]
Do you just want to soak up the sun on your next trip to Southern California? Well you’ll need some space to call your own so big sandy beaches are probably the best. It’s a bonus to have restaurants and other services nearby for taking a break from sunbathing. Finding the right beach is key […]
Marin County has a few different nude beach options for those who want to ditch the clothes and avoid tan lines. Some, including South Rodeo Beach and Black Sands are located in the Marin Headlands and not that far from the Golden Gate Bridge. Others are a bit farther near the communities of Muir Beach and […]
This is a rare hiking opportunity near the Los Angeles metropolis. In the San Gabriel Mountains north of Azuza there is a hike that follows a river valley up to a huge concrete arch bridge that was never opened to the public. A large flood in 1938 wiped out the road path and the project […]
Montana de Oro State Park hides in the shadows of the other more popular beaches in the Morro Bay area. The icon of the bay is Morro Rock which stands tall over the entrance to Morro Bay. At the foot of this rock you’ll find the Jetty Beach, the City Beach, and the State Beach. […]
Stockton is located in the heart of California’s vast Central Valley where sandy beaches are far from top of mind. However the Pacific Coast beaches aren’t really that far away, especially if you avoid rush hour traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area. There are several areas that should be considered. On the south end […]
California has so many memorials dedicated to the veterans of the US Armed Forces. Most are public buildings, or simple memorials in outdoor parks. Others stand out because of their location and other factors. If you happen to be close to one of these or any of the other memorials on Veterans Day, be sure […]
Some parts of the California coast have no hotels (or very few), but can still be base camp for your next vacation. Just book a vacation rental home in one of these communities and kick back and relax. All of the towns and private communities we have chosen on this list would make a great […]
Families travel from all over the country and the rest of the world to experience the magic of Disneyland. It’s a fun place for kids and adults, but after a couple days of hanging out with Disney characters and riding amusement park rides, we all need a change of pace. Heading to the stunning beaches of Southern […]
Want to take a break from the beach and do some shopping? We do that too! Luckily there are some excellent shopping centers near the beaches of Southern California. Many of the downtown areas on the waterfronts have excellent shopping areas. Our favorites are Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and La Jolla. All three of those […]
The coastline north of San Diego has some of the best sandy beaches in California. This area on the Pacific Ocean and just inland of the coast is known as North County by locals. The locals are passionate about their beaches and their independence from the big city to the south. The main communities north […]
Tide Pools are one of the biggest draws at California beaches and the Bay Area has it’s fair share of them. In fact, two of the best tide pools in California are just a short distance from San Francisco. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in Moss Beach, is just a 20 miles south (half-hour drive) from downtown […]
Are you planning a trip on the California Coast and searching for a hotel that won’t disappoint? Well AAA has done a lot of the legwork by putting their stamp of approval on hotels that are clean and comfortable. Five Diamond Hotels are the highest rated and come with lots of extras. Consider those rare […]
Hotels that receive the Five Diamond Award from AAA are in limited supply. Many states have none or just a couple. The entire state of California has less than 20 and some of those are at inland locations. We wanted to provide a map of the Five Diamond hotels that are near California beaches. There […]
Camping at the beach is in high demand in the San Francisco Bay Area and all of Northern California during the summer months. Since these beachside camp spots are so coveted, you’ll want to be proactive and book them well in advance. Many of these camping areas allow spots to be reserved online months before […]
Want to get out of San Francisco for a day to hidden beaches and trails? For the price of a bridge toll, you can have lots of outdoor options with easy access. The Marin Headlands are a short drive across the Golden Gate Bridge just minutes from downtown. Biking is another great way to get […]
San Francisco has quite a few dog friendly beaches to choose from. Some are in the city (on the ocean and San Francisco Bay), others are just to the south in Daly City and Pacifica, or north across the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. Luckily Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which controls many of […]
So where are all those tide pools in Orange County you’ve been hearing about? There are so many that it can be overwhelming. We have created a map to show you all the options and facilitate your search. Orange County is chock full of tide pools with most of them between Dana Point and Corona […]
San Onofre State Beach is known for surfing, sunbathing, hiking, and camping. This state park is one of the most visited in the state and for good reason. The weather here is usually warm and the waves are consistently good. San Onofre State Beach is broken up into three different beach areas. Surfing Beach is […]
The charming city of Ojai is about a 30 minute drive to the coast, which means that visiting the beach is an easy day trip. From Ojai, you can travel south on CA-33 towards Ventura, which only takes about 20 minutes. Or you can travel west on CA-150 towards Carpinteria & Santa Barbara, which take […]
