Surfing vacations are one of the hottest attractions in California beaches now, whether you are an expert or a newbie, California best beaches for surfing have something to offer you.   Surfing is the latest addition in fun beach activities you and your family can try. For new comers, surfing tutorials are being offered in most California beaches while some surfing vacation offers tutorials and rentals of surfboard.

Surfing teachers offer basic and advanced tutorials that are easy to learn and will enable you to learn surfing in no time. But aside from surfing, the best California beaches for surfing also offer surfing competitions and other surfing events for those who just want to watch at the sidelines.

Some of best California beaches for surfing that offers surfing tutorials and rentals are beaches in Santa Monica, San Diego and the most popular, Santa Cruz.

Santa Monica
Santa Monica Beaches are known for beautiful sunsets, surfing, Santa Monica Pier and shopping.  Beautiful sunsets is one reason why many people who are having their dream vacation is flocking to this beach area bordered north by Malibu and Venice Beach on the south.  Aside from enjoying sunsets, various surfing activities are main attraction here. Surfboard and wetsuits are can be rented here.

For non-surfers, Santa Monica Pier offers amusement and shopping areas for children and adults. Rides are offered every day and cool items that are not offered in malls are available here.  Other fun beach activities here are roller blading, jogging, biking, swimming and sunbathing.

San Diego
San Diego Beaches are one of the best beaches in California. It is known for its millions of visitors who flocked its beaches every year.  Aside from its warm sunny temperature that is really great for vacations, San Diego Beaches are known for sailing, shopping and surfing.  It’s a fun filled place as its beaches and cool warmth weather is really perfect for your dream vacation.

Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is known as the Surf City. It is considered the surfing capital of California.
Santa Cruz Beaches are not just for surfers, but they also offer many things for non-surfers alike. This is the place where non surfers and surfers is bonded with love of surfing and excitement.

While you are here, there are many fun beach activities that you can try. Some of fun beach activities here include bicycling, shopping, surfing and visiting surf museums. Visiting here will not be completed without visiting surf museums and spots that offer history of surfing and stories of legendary surfers.  Surfing professionals who are really experts in surfing offer surfing tutorials for any one who wants to try this new exciting beach activity. .

This is a relatively small place as it only runs to an extent of one mile in the Pacific Coast Highway but its size does not deter it from being one of the best beaches in Orange County

You might be wondering what is the charm of this place? Sunset Beach community was already around for a hundred years. The people are close, warm and friendly people who always welcome new addition to their community. Even if you are a new comer, or just on one of your California beach vacations, you will not feel a stranger here because of friendly smiles that will surely warm you up that this beach is well known for.

But what makes them different from other counties? What makes them different is the post office because Sunset Beach post office serves as the hub of all social events for the whole community. The post office is not just a place to get mails but it is the area where scheduled activities are publicly posted. Sunset Beach in Orange County, California is known to hold annual scheduled activities, which includes Weekend Art Festival during Mother’s Day, No Parade during Christmas and the Sale at Mile Long Garage.

Sunset Beach is one of the best beaches here in Orange County; this is the best place to enjoy the Long beach skyline, sand and windsurfing. Here you will surely enjoy swimming sunbathing and beach volleyball, as these are just some of fun beach activities that you can do with your loved ones.

Enjoying the beach and meeting new friends is an easy thing here because aside from scheduled activities, Sunset Beach clubs and bars are really cool as they offer scrumptious food, drinks and live music. The typical live music here includes rock, acoustic sounds and R&B. Some of the popular clubs and bars here include Turc’s, Taco Surf, Irish Mist and Mother’s bar, the popular bar which has been around for many years already.

The good thing in Sunset Beach clubs and bars is that it does not only offer live sounds at night, but they also offer delectable lunch menus during the day. Sunset Beach in Orange County California also allows drinking to visitors, however, they don’t allow drinking under twenty-one years of age as part of California law, nor do they allow it directly on the beach.

Aside from bar hopping, this is also a cool place for surfing. Waves here are great for surfing that is why more and more people are trying the excitement of surfing in Sunset Beach. Kayaking is also another activity that is slowly gaining support from locals and visitors, as the bay across the street is perfect for kayaking.

A television drama program with the same title, Sunset Beach, was a stepping-stone of why this town got attention but according to locals, none of the characters and plot presented in the drama was in any way similar to them. Be sure to check out Sunset Beach in Orange County on your next vacation to California.

San Diego residents, as well as the many who vacation their every year, all enjoy the local beaches. People of all ages, races, and sizes are enjoying the beach and the surrounding area by jogging, skating, surfing, or swimming.

The beaches of San Diego stretch for miles. The beaches in San Diego differ from those in the nearby metropolitan areas of Orange County and Los Angeles because they allow people to consume alcohol at the beaches, as well as being open longer for people to enjoy themselves.

Some of the top beaches in San Diego are Silver Strand State Beach, Pacific Beach, Borderfield State Park, Mission Beach, and many others. You can literally be at the edge of our country when visiting Borderfield State Park because it’s on the border between Mexico and the United States. There is a large wall that runs right into the ocean separating these two countries. If you are looking for a carnival or pier-type atmosphere, then you must check out the roller coaster on Mission Beach. Mission bay is home to many watersports, including jet skiing and speed boating.

Then, if you are tired of the beach, you can check out the many different attraction in San Diego, including Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. But, with so many beaches, awesome beach resorts, fun vacation rentals, and the plethora of beach activities, you will be able to fill your cheap beach vacations with tons of activities to enjoy yourself in beautiful San Diego.

Ocean Beach, San Diego, California photo credit: Lyndi&Jason

Bodega bay, part of the coast in Sonoma County, is a wonderful spot for you and a loved one. You need to go check out the Gourmet au Bay Seaside Wine Tasting Bar. You are able to sip some wine and just relax on the beach. You are also able to do some great whale watching from January to about April.

Central California
If you want the least crowded beaches, which leave room for more romance, then head to Central California. You will enjoy the best weather from April until about October: sun, sun, sun. Head south from San Francisco and you will be able to find the beach of your choice. The drive itself will be amazing. The 17 Mile Drive is a historic and famous road with plenty of scenic outlooks, the amazingly beautiful jagged coast, and you will even see some forest. (This is a toll road, but it is a small fee, and believe me, it is well worth the small amount of money!)

Southern California

San Diego beach vacations are the best idea if you want the most romantic time. The Los Angeles/Orange County area is too crowded and it takes away from the romance. You should check out La Jolla beach, my first choice when taking my romantic vacations. You can enjoy the upscale shops, or just stroll along the beach, waiting for a chance to take those amazing sunset photos of you and your lover on the beach.

Endert’s Beach

Although this is one of the smallest beaches in
all of California, for those that frequent it and take vacations there, they don’t mind it one bit. It provides a more relaxing atmosphere for those looking to sunbathe, swim around, and just lay back and enjoy themselves. For those looking to learn to snorkel or who just want to enjoy it, you can take part in the free lessons that are given between May and August.

High Bluff Beach
If this isn’t the most popular beach, it is definitely one of the top 5 beaches in all of California. A great place for your vacation, the breathtaking views and the cool ocean will keep you coming back here for many more vacations. If you visit here on one of your California beach vacations, you’ll join thousands who enjoy their time at this beautiful white sand beach. Be sure to get to the beach early, or else you won’t be able to find a spot for you and your family. This beautiful beach is outside of Redwood National Park.

Kellogg Beach
This Del Norte County beach is away from the major beach spots of California. For those taking their vacation in the most northern part of the state, Kellogg Beach is a nice and small, off the beaten path, type of beach. This is a very beautiful beach, one for you enjoy with the family for some nice and peaceful relaxation.

Point St. George
If you want to mingle with the rich and famous, then you need to check out Point St. George. The rich and famous enjoy going to this beach because it is pretty secluded.There is a long walk from the parking area, but if you are willing to endure, then you will be able to have a great, relaxing, quiet time at the beach, and maybe see a star or two. Be sure to bring your camera in order to sell pictures to the National Inquirer.

Pelican State Beach
If you are into sunbathing and swimming, then this is the place for you. It gets its name because of the huge population of pelicans that are on and around the beach. You are allowed to feed the birds if you buy the food from the food vendors there. People come from all around to do this.

photo credit: Flynnwynn

Goat Rock Beach
Near Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, California, Goat Rock Beach is a favorite spot for family vacations for many reasons. One of the most popular activities on the beach is beachcombing. You can find many shells and even some jewelry if you’re lucky! This is a great activity for kids, allowing them to get some free souvenirs from their vacation to the beach. The kids can also see the sea lions and harbor seals that come right up on the beach. The rock outcroppings on the cliffs nearby also provide fantastic photo opportunities for memories of your vacations.

Black Sands Beach
This beach differs from the others because of one main obvious reason, the black sand! Located in Humboldt County, this beach is a unique opportunity to see one of the very few black sand beaches in the entire world. What better way to spend vacations in California than to see a black beach? Hiking, photography, and having picnics are popular activities on this black sand beach. If you are able to make it to Black Sands Beach in the spring or the summer, you’ll be able to catch the wildflowers in full bloom!

Note: When at Northern California beaches, remember that there is usually some morning fog, so be sure to bring a sweatshirt or a light jacket. It is usually all cleared up by the afternoon.

Malibu Beach is beautiful. While on your beach vacations, you need see Malibu Beach from a distance, because it is so beautiful. Once you’ve seen it from a distance, you can go down and enjoy many different things to do on the beach. For surfers, Malibu Surfrider Beach, part of Malibu Beach, is one of the premiere surfing beaches in the world. There’s a pier, and it is an excellent place for saltwater fishing. There’s also an awesome wetlands nature area, great for birdwatchers. You can also take a guided tour of the wetlands in order to enjoy the natural sites such as tide pools, the gray whale, and monarch butterflies.

Zuma Beach is also very nice. You must see this 100-yard wide and 2-mile long beach! With a large area of fantastic sand, this is great for all of your beach activities… sand castles and sun tanning, this is a great family beach that everyone in the family can find something to help them enjoy themselves.

Westward Beach is part of the Point Dune State Beach. Scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and swimming are all great activities to be enjoyed on the large sandy part of this state beach. If you’re looking for a beach with a little bit of privacy, then Westward Beach is a great beach to check out! For those romantics out there, a dramatic rock cliff is about 11 ½ miles away on the northern side of the state park, for a beautiful scenic view, including amazing sunsets.

If you are going to Malibu for one of your vacation spots, then keep an eye out for these great places to check out!

1. Get a Tan
This is probably obvious, and already on your list of things to do on your beach vacations, but this is a great relaxing activity… turn your iPod on, layback, and darken your skin. Just be sure to wear some sun protection, and turn over every 15 minutes or so in order to get a nice even tan.

2. Walk/Jog/Run Along the Beach
Why must you gain weight on your vacation? Running or jogging, or even walking on the beach is a very great exercise. If you are used to running on a treadmill, running on the beach will strengthen muscles that don’t always get worked out. Also, you’ll sweat some, and burn off all of that good food you’ve been eating on your beach vacations because California has some great food!

3. Build a Sand Castle/Sand Art
Using just buckets, you can make an awesome sand castle. Are you an artist? Why don’t you try switching up your canvas, and working with sand. This will present a great unique challenge, but it could also allow you to create some awesome 3-D art to help you remember your vacations.

4. Observe Humanity (or People Watch)
Watch how people interact… watch the smiles on the faces of parents, grandparents and children all enjoying their beach vacations in California. You can watch the volleyball players, or enjoy the children building sandcastles and running away from the tide.

5. Take Lots of Pictures
You can take close up shots of your children, your sweetheart or strangers enjoying the sandy beaches. Or, you can take awesome wide shots of all of the beautiful scenery around you. Also, if you are brave enough, you can snorkel and enjoy the wonderful picture opportunities for your water-proof camera.

No matter what you choose to do, there is always something fun and exciting to do at the beach. A vacation at the beach in California is one of the best ideas for travel!

If you would like to know more about beach vacations in California, please feel free to contact us and ask. Thanks again for visiting us regarding your California vacations.