No visit to San Diego is complete without taking time to get your feet wet in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. San Diego County offers a rugged and beautiful coastline that stretches from the Mexican border to Orange County. Along this stretch of ocean, you’ll find some of the best beaches in the world, each with its own personality.
One of San Diego’s most legendary modern beaches is Swami’s in Encinitas. This beach is a popular surf spot and is located in a very modern beach town. However, there is limited parking at this beach, so be prepared to walk around and get your feet wet. Although the walk is well worth the exercise for this beautiful beach spot. Another excellent beach to visit if you want to watch surfing is Seacliff Roadside Park. Under the right conditions, you can expect to see some huge waves at this popular surf spot.
If you continue traveling south, you will find the beaches of Torrey Pines and La Jolla. Torrey Pines Beach gets its name from the rare Torrey Pine tree, which is unique to this stretch of coastline. This beach is a wild and beautiful place to enjoy the Pacific Ocean. On the sandstone cliffs that line the beach, you’ll find Torrey Pines State Reserve, featuring more than 2,000 acres of beautiful cliffs and eight miles of scenic hiking trails. This beach is the ideal place for a picnic.
If you continue south along the bluff in Torrey Pines, you’ll come to Black’s Beach, which is the only “clothing optional” beach in San Diego. This beach is also located directly below a popular hang gliding cliff. However, nudity is controlled very carefully here and you need to make sure you do it within proper limits. While there is a staircase that leads to Black’s Beach, it’s a better idea to access it via Torrey Pines Beach.
If you really want to experience the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, you should rent a kayak and head out of La Jolla Cove. This allows you to enjoy the incredible view of the underwater ecological reserve of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Here you will find calm waters and beautiful kelp forests below. Sights you’ll see include sea lions and many types of California state fish. There is no clearer water in Southern California than this area and it is very popular with snorkelers and snorkelers.
For the typical San Diego beach experience, you’ll want to head to Mission Beach. Here you will get the full California beach experience. There is a boardwalk filled with bikers, skateboarders, pedestrians, joggers, and people from all walks of life. When you’re done at the beach, the boardwalk offers you plenty of restaurant and bar options. There’s even an amusement center with a trademark wooden roller coaster.