Lonely Planet Coastal California

Coastal California

Contents

Plan Your Trip

Welcome to Coastal California

Coastal California's Top 25

Need to Know

If You Like

Month by Month

Itineraries

Beaches, Swimming & Surfing

California Camping & Outdoors

Eat & Drink Like a Local

Travel with Children

Regions at a Glance

On The Road

San Francisco

Sights

Activities

Tours & Courses

City Walk

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Marin County & the Bay Area

Marin County

Marin Headlands

Sausalito

Tiburon

Sir Francis Drake Boulevard & Around

San Rafael

Mill Valley

Mt Tamalpais State Park

Muir Woods National Monument

Muir Beach

Stinson Beach

Bolinas

Olema & Nicasio

Point Reyes Station

Inverness

Point Reyes National Seashore

Oakland

Berkeley

Mt Diablo State Park

John Muir National Historic Site

San Francisco to San Jose

San Jose

Pacifica & Devils Slide

Pacifica to Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay

Pescadero

Ano Nuevo State Park

Napa & Sonoma Wine Country

Napa Valley Wineries

Napa

Yountville

Oakville & Rutherford

St Helena

Calistoga & Around

Sonoma Valley Wineries

Sonoma & Around

Glen Ellen & Kenwood

Russian River Wineries

Sebastopol

Occidental & Around

Guerneville & Around

Santa Rosa

Healdsburg & Around

North Coast & Redwoods

Coastal Highway 1

Bodega Bay

Sonoma Coast State Beach

Jenner

Fort Ross State Historic Park

Salt Point State Park

Sea Ranch

Gualala & Anchor Bay

Point Arena

Manchester

Elk

Van Damme State Park

Mendocino

Jug Handle State Reserve

Fort Bragg

MacKerricher State Park

Westport

Along Highway 101

Hopland

Clear Lake

Anderson Valley

Ukiah

Around Ukiah

Willits

Southern Redwood Coast

Leggett

Richardson Grove State Park

Garberville

Lost Coast

Humboldt Redwoods State Park & Avenue of the Giants

Scotia

Ferndale

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Eureka

Samoa Peninsula

Arcata

Northern Redwood Coast

Trinidad

Patrick's Point State Park

Humboldt Lagoons State Park

Redwood National & State Parks

Klamath

Crescent City

Tolowa Dunes State Park & Lake Earl Wildlife Area

Pelican State Beach

Central Coast

Along Highway 1

Santa Cruz

Around Santa Cruz

Monterey

Pacific Grove

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Big Sur

Point Piedras Blancas

Mission San Antonio De Padua

San Simeon

Hearst Castle

Cambria

Cayucos

Morro Bay

Montana de Oro State Park

Along Highway 101

San Juan Bautista

Gilroy

Salinas

Pinnacles National Park

San Miguel

Paso Robles

San Luis Obispo

Avila Beach

Pismo Beach

Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara

Sights

Activities

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Santa Barbara Wine Country

Wineries

Solvang

Buellton

Montecito

Summerland

Carpinteria

Ojai

Ventura

Channel Islands National Park

Los Angeles

Sights & Activities

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking

Entertainment

Shopping

Around Los Angeles

Catalina Island

Big Bear Lake

Disneyland & Orange County

Disneyland & Anaheim

Sights

Activities

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Around Disneyland

Knott's Berry Farm

Discovery Cube

Bowers Museum & Kidseum

Old Towne Orange

Orange County Beaches

Seal Beach

Huntington Beach

Newport Beach

Around Newport Beach

Laguna Beach

Around Laguna Beach

Dana Point

San Diego & Around

Central & Coastal San Diego

Sights

Activities

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

La Jolla & North County Coast

La Jolla

Del Mar

Solana Beach

Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Encinitas

Carlsbad

Oceanside

Understand

Understand Coastal California

Coastal California Today

History

The Way of Life

On Location: Film & TV

Music & the Arts

By the Book

The Land & Wildlife

Survive

Directory AZ

Accommodations

Customs Regulations

Discount Cards

Electricity

Etiquette

Food & Drink

Health

Insurance

Legal Matters

LGBTQ Travelers

Money

Opening Hours

Public Holidays

Safe Travel

Telephone

Tourist Information

Travelers with Disabilities

Visas

Transportation

Getting There & Away

Getting Around

Behind the Scenes

Our Writers

Special Features

San Francisco by Cable Car

Pacific Coast Highways

Welcome to Coastal California

From towering redwoods in foggy Northern California to the perfect sun-kissed surf beaches of Southern California, this slice of Pacific Coast is a knockout beauty.

Beaches & Outdoor Fun

In all of your California dreaming, palm trees, golden sands and Pacific sunsets beckon, right? In coastal California, those cinematic fantasies really do come true. You can learn to surf, play a game of pickup volleyball or light an oceanfront bonfire on cool nights. Sunny beach towns from Santa Cruz south to San Diego, each with its own idiosyncratic personality, give you perfect excuses to go play outside. Heading north of San Francisco, dramatically windswept sands have inspired generations of poets and painters, offering miles of oceanfront for beachcombing and tramping in solitude.

Big Cities, Small Towns

No less astoundingly diverse than the landscapes are the people who have staked their fortunes here. Start out exploring San Francisco’s one-of-a-kind neighborhoods, from beatnik North Beach to historic Chinatown, before going celebrity-spotting and people-watching in LA. In between, hang with radical tree-sitting lefties in Garberville, live the very good life in California’s Wine Country, get groovy with new-age gurus in San Diego’s North County, or talk fishing with salty dogs in port towns like Eureka, Bodega Bay and Monterey.

Food & Drink

Maybe your coastal sojourn will be an epicurean quest. Finding the most-killer fish tacos in San Diego alone could take days or even weeks. San Francisco and Los Angeles are both culinary capitals, where citizens passionately argue about the best sushi bar or food truck. LA is also a melting pot of multicultural cooking, from Thai Town to the tamale shops of East LA. Outside the cities, follow your nose and let it lead you serendipitously up and down California’s coastal highways, stopping at seafood shacks, rollicking breweries and bountiful farmers markets and vineyards.

Creative Culture

From the mid-19th-century gold rush to the dot-com bubble, California has survived extreme booms and busts, often getting by on its wits. Today Hollywood still makes most of the world’s movies and TV shows, fed by a vibrant performing-arts scene on stages across the state. In California the hottest trends are usually kick-started not by moguls in offices, but by motley crowds of surfers, artists and coastal dreamers concocting the out-there ideas behind everything from skateboarding to biotechnology. If you linger long enough, you might actually see the future evolving here.

Surfing in San Diego | SEBASTIEN BUREL / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Why I Love Coastal California

By Sara Benson, Writer

Like almost half of the people who live here, California wasn't where I was born, but it's where I've chosen to make my home. I never tire of road-tripping along the Golden State's coastal highways, seeking out hidden beaches and waterfalls, spots to paddle a canoe or kayak and craggy peaks to climb. Wildly beautiful Marin County is a quick drive away from my San Francisco base via the bridges over San Francisco Bay, tempting me to play truant on any given weekday. For weekend escapes, I head south to sunny Santa Cruz or north to the misty, verdant Redwood Coast.

Coastal California's Top 25

San Francisco's Neighborhoods

As anyone who has ever clung to the side of a cable car can tell you, this city gives you a heck of a ride, from the Marina’s chic waterfront to the edgy Mission District. And just when you think you have a grasp on the ‘Paris of the West,’ you turn another corner to find a brightly painted alleyway mural, a filigreed Victorian roofline or a hidden stairway leading up to bay-view panoramas that will entirely change your outlook.

Pier 39 | BLUEBEAT76 / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Driving Big Sur

Nestled up against mossy, mysterious-looking redwood forests, the rocky Big Sur coast is a secretive place. Get to know it like the locals do, especially if you want to find hidden hot springs and beaches where the sand is tinged purple or where giant jade has washed ashore. Time your visit for May, when waterfalls peak, or after summer vacation crowds have left but sunny skies still rule. Crane your neck skyward to catch sight of endangered California condors taking wing above the cliffs.

PAUL M O’CONNELL / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Exploring the City of Angels

LA runs deeper than her beaches, bottle-blond celebutantes and reality-TV entourages might lead you to believe. True, she has spawned tons of pop culture, from skateboarding to gangsta rap, while popularizing silicone implants and spandex. But the City of Angels has also nurtured artists, architects, writers, performers and film directors alongside yogis and alternative-health gurus. Ultimately, it’s LA’s ethnic diversity and vibrant immigrant cultures that make the biggest impression. Open your mind and you’ll soon fall in love with La La Land.

Griffith Observatory | CHRIS PRITCHARD / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Theme Parks

California is theme-park heaven, bringing Hollywood movie magic, Disney and roller coasters galore. Universal Studios Hollywood features movie-themed action rides, special-effects shows and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Disneyland Park and neighboring Disney California Adventure are SoCal’s most visited tourist attraction: beloved cartoon characters waltz arm in arm down Main Street, U.S.A., and fireworks explode over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Knott’s Berry Farm was SoCal’s original theme park.

The Simpsons Ride, Universal Studios | THE WORLD IN HDR / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Redwood National & State Parks

Ditch the cell phone and hug a tree, dude. And why not start with the world’s tallest, the coast redwood? California’s towering giants grow along much of the coast, from Big Sur south of San Francisco all the way north into Oregon. It’s possible to cruise past these trees – or even drive right through them at old-fashioned tourist traps – but nothing compares to the awe you’ll feel while walking among the ancient ones protected by interlocking Redwood National and State Parks.

JORDAN SIEMENS / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Malibu Escape

What, you didn’t see any stars in Hollywood? We’re so not surprised. Big-wig producers and A-list stars hide out in beachy Malibu, a quick drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy from LA. Whoever said Malibu is a state of mind more than a place was right though: there’s no real center here (apart from shopping malls), just miles of white-sand beaches and rolling Pacific waves backed by million-dollar oceanfront mansions. Luckily, those beautiful beaches are publicly accessible up to the high-tide line – any paparazzo can tell you that.

El Matador State Beach | STEVE HEAP / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

San Diego

San Diego’s breezy confidence and sunny countenance are irresistible. The only problem with 'America's Finest City' is that with 70 miles of coastline and a near-perfect climate, it’s tough to decide where to start. When in doubt, do as locals do: grab a fish taco and a surfboard, then hit the beach. Beautiful Balboa Park is where San Diegans come to play when they’re not at the beach: you could spend the whole day at its famous zoo or immersed in any of a dozen art, cultural and science museums.

DAVID LIU / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Napa & Sonoma Wine Country

As winemaking in the Napa Valley grows ever-more dizzyingly upscale, the neighboring Sonoma Valley's sun-dappled vineyards are still surrounded by pastoral ranchlands. Yet they share a common passion for the uniqueness of terroir. Here in California’s best-known Wine Country, you can take a tour of biodynamic vineyards, shake hands with famous winemakers or sample new vintages from the barrel in naturally cooled underground cellars, then crack open a bottle in the fields outside. Who cares if it’s not noon? This is California: conventions need not apply.

CHRISTOPHE LA / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Santa Barbara

Locals call it the ‘American Riviera,’ and honestly that’s not too much of a stretch: Santa Barbara is so picturesque, you just have to sigh. Waving palm trees, sugar-sand beaches, boats bobbing by the harbor – it’d be a travel cliché if it wasn’t the plain truth. California’s ‘Queen of the Missions’ (Mission Santa Barbara) is a beauty, as are downtown’s red-roofed, whitewashed adobe buildings, all rebuilt in harmonious Mission Revival style after a devastating earthquake in 1925. Come aspire to the breezy, rich-and-famous lifestyle over a long, lazy weekend.

WITOLD SKRYPCZAK / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Hearst Castle

A monument to William Randolph Hearst’s maniacal obsession with Old World treasures collected from Europe, Hearst Castle is the biggest showboat attraction on the Central Coast, not far south of Big Sur. Take a spin around Hearst’s hilltop retreat with its sparkling outdoor Neptune Pool, interiors lavishly decorated in antiquities and jewels, and jaw-dropping coastal sunsets viewed from the balcony. Evening living-history tours will bring you back to the castle’s 1930s heyday, when Hollywood celebrities hobnobbed with heads of state.

Doges Suite Sitting Room, Hearst Castle | COURTESY HEARST CASTLE ® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©

Top Experiences

Mission San Juan Capistrano

When you visit SoCal, you can’t help but follow in at least a few of the footsteps of early Spanish conquistadors and Catholic priests. Mission San Juan Capistrano, nicknamed the ‘Jewel of the Missions,’ was founded by peripatetic priest Junípero Serra in 1776. Authentically restored, the mission today deserves its nickname, with gorgeous gardens, stone arcades and fountains, and a chapel adorned with spiritual frescoes. In mid-March the whole town celebrates the swallows’ famous return from South America to nest in the mission’s walls.

MARIUSZ S. JURGIELEWICZ / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Lost Coast

Helllooooo? Anyone out there? This is the coast that time has just about forgotten. Buoyed by the wilderness peaks of the Kings Range and speckled by wild beaches of volcanic origin, the Lost Coast makes you earn the right to see its natural wonders. Time your multiday backpacking trek to match the flow of the tides and camp out by the crashing surf on a deserted beach along the Lost Coast Trail, or drive yourself to the last outpost of civilization, tiny Shelter Cove.

COREY RICH / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Mendocino

Originally a 19th-century port built by New Englanders, Mendocino today belongs to bohemians who would scoff at the puritanical virtues of early settlers, instead favoring art and nature’s outdoor temple for their modern religions. In summer fragrant bursts of lavender and jasmine drift on fog-laden winds over the town's unique redwood water towers, while at any time of year nothing restores the soul like a ramble out onto the craggy headland cliffs here. Churning surf is never out of earshot, and driftwood-littered beaches are potent reminders of the sea’s power.

MMPHOTOS / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Orange County Beaches

In Orange County, there are beaches for all. Huntington draws the hang-loose, trust-fund surfer crowd, while biker rebels, bodacious babes and anti-establishment types hit Sunset Beach. Families with younger kids gravitate toward old-fashioned Seal Beach and its pier, but glamorous teens, trophy wives and yachties cavort in the fantasyland of Newport Beach. Furthest south, Laguna Beach beckons with its sophisticated blend of money and culture. Oh, and natural beauty too: startlingly beautiful seascapes inspired an artists colony to take root there.

Thousand Steps Beach | JON BILOUS / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Point Reyes National Seashore

If just one park could encapsulate Northern California, Point Reyes would get our vote. Step across the jagged gash of the San Andreas Fault, then stand out by the lighthouse at what truly feels like land’s end. Peer through binoculars at migratory whales, or witness the raucous birthing and mating antics of endangered elephant seals at Chimney Rock. Then go hiking among herds of tule elk and drive out to more remote, windswept beaches, where the horizon stretches toward infinity.

Peregrine falcon | KENEVA PHOTOGRAPHY / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Santa Cruz

Nowhere else can you get in touch with Northern California's countercultural roots faster than in flower-powered, surf-happy Santa Cruz. White sandy beaches for wetsuit-wearing, board-riding dudes and chicks? Check. A carnivalesque downtown flush with crunchy cafes, one-of-a-kind shops and eccentric personalities? Yup. Tree-hugger hippie camps and outsider artists’ cabins in the redwood forests? Uh-huh. Left-of-liberal politics, Rastafarian dreadlocks and new-age crystal readings? Of course, man.

Hula hoopers, Steamer Lane | MINT IMAGES - FRANS LANTING / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Monterey

Often foggy and wind-tossed, the peninsular fishing village of Monterey calls to mind John Steinbeck and his gritty novels of American realism. Hop aboard a whale-watching cruise out into the bay's national marine sanctuary, some of whose aquatic denizens also swim in Cannery Row’s eco-conscious, family-friendly aquarium. Soak up more authentic maritime atmosphere at the West Coast’s oldest lighthouse in Pacific Grove, then wander downtown Monterey's hidden gardens and historic adobe-walled buildings from California’s Spanish, Mexican and early American days.

MARK SMITH NSB / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

San Luis Obispo

Almost exactly between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo is often overlooked, but its collection of organic farms, vineyards and ranchlands is refreshingly down to earth. Detour here for uncrowded beach towns, spectacular hiking and camping at state parks and beaches, and, most of all, locavorian bounty sold at more than a dozen farmers markets. You won’t even need a car – arrive in style on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner or Coast Starlight trains, which chug past unforgettable coastal scenery.

COREY JENKINS / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Santa Barbara Wine Country

Southern California's answer to Napa and Sonoma is the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys, aka Sideways Wine Country. Less than an hour’s drive from Santa Barbara, you can wander through fields of grapes, tipple soft Pinot Noir and sample the sun-drenched good life. Start in dandified Los Olivos, where the streets are packed with wine-tasting rooms and bistros. Then slowly wind north along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, a two-lane country road where famous-name wineries and boutique winemakers are neighbors.

Vineyards, Los Olivos | KURT PREISSLER - PREISSLER MEDIA SERVICES / GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences

Channel Islands National Park

Tossed like so many lost pearls off the coast, the Channel Islands are SoCal’s answer to the Galapagos. Centuries ago, seafaring Chumash tribespeople established villages on remote rocks. Today the islands support an abundance of marine life, from coral-reef creatures to giant colonies of pinnipeds. Get back to nature in Channel Islands National Park, a wildlife haven with sea-kayaking and snorkeling opportunities, as well as challenging hiking trails and rustic campgrounds. The boat ride here makes you feel like you're dropping off the edge of the world.

BILL PERRY / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

La Jolla

On the most beautiful stretch of San Diego’s coastline, La Jolla is definitely not just another SoCal beach town. Sitting pretty atop rocky bluffs just a whisper’s breath from the sea, La Jolla’s richly adorned downtown is crowded with fashion-forward boutiques, chic cafes and posh hotels. But what’s right on the shoreline is even more of a treasure, especially the all-natural fishbowl of La Jolla Cove, and windswept Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, further north along the ribbon of coastal highway, where hang-gliders fly.

Brown pelican | SARAH JESSUP / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Whale-Watching

Thar she blows! All up and down the coast, and no matter what the season, you can spot migratory whales offshore from California. During summer and fall, blue and humpback whales cruise by. But the biggest parades happen every winter and spring when gray whales make their annual migrations between the arctic waters of Alaska and balmy breeding and birthing lagoons in the Gulf of Mexico. Jump aboard a whale-watching boat tour – Monterey is a good place to start – to observe these majestic marine mammals up close and personal.

Humpback whale tail | CHASE DEKKER / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Venice

New-agey bohemians, muscled bodybuilders, goth punks, hippie tribal drummers and genuine freaks all gravitate toward the beach city of Venice and and its infamous Ocean Front Walk (aka Venice Boardwalk). It’s the place where the crazy side of SoCal really lets it all hang out. Imagine an experimental human zoo, or an outdoor carnival in which audience participation is practically required. Strap on those in-line skates, hop on a pastel-pink beach cruiser or just strut in your bikini down the sunny beachfront boardwalk and shake what yo’ mama gave you.

Venice Skatepark | GIANPAOLO_PHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Bolinas

Locals keep taking down the highway signs to prevent you from discovering this paradisaical hamlet by the sea in Marin County, but once you finally find it, the rewards justify the effort. Take time out to go beachcombing along Agate Beach, paddle around the placid waters of Bass Lake, or gin up your courage enough to talk politics with the grizzled old fishers and baby boomers at a saloon while slurping down oyster shooters and an icy beer or two.

Alamere Falls, Bolinas | JEREMY BORKAT / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences

Sausalito

It’s not just seabirds and seals – travelers also flock to this little fishing and houseboat community on San Francisco Bay, just north of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Cruise Sausalito’s little downtown on a bicycle, then walk around the bohemian houseboat docks. Feast on fresh sushi or grilled seafood before hopping on a ferry back across the bay, letting the salty maritime breezes lick your lips.

CHAMELEONSEYE / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Need to Know

Currency

US dollar ($)

Language

English and Spanish

Visas

Generally not required for stays of 90 days or less for citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries with ESTA approval (apply online at least 72 hours in advance).

Money

ATMs are widely available. Credit cards are usually required for reservations. Traveler's checks (US dollars) are rarely accepted. Tipping is customary, not optional.

Cell Phones

The only foreign phones that will work in the USA are GSM multiband models. Buy prepaid SIM cards locally. Coverage can be spotty in remote areas.

Time

Pacific Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus eight hours)

When to Go

High Season (Jun–Aug)

A Cost of accommodations up 50–100%.

A Major holidays are even busier and more expensive.

A Thick clouds may blanket the coast during ‘June gloom,' which can last into July.

Shoulder (Apr–May & Sep–Oct)

A Crowds and prices drop off almost everywhere along the coast.

A Mild temperatures, with many sunny, cloudless days.

A Weather typically wetter in spring, drier in autumn.

Low Season (Nov–Mar)

A Fewest crowds and lowest lodging rates, except sometimes in cities and around holidays and spring break.

A Chilly temperatures bring more frequent rainstorms throughout winter.

Useful Websites

California Travel and Tourism Commission (www.visitcalifornia.com) Multilingual trip-planning guides.

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/california) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveler forums and more.

LA Times (www.latimes.com/travel/california) Travel news, deals and weekend escapes.

Sunset (www.sunset.com/travel/california) Savvy local and insider travel tips.

California State Parks (www.parks.ca.gov) Outdoor activities, camping and more.

Important Numbers

All phone numbers have a three-digit area code followed by a seven-digit local number. For long-distance and toll-free calls, dial 1 plus all 10 digits.

Exchange Rates

For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com.

Daily Costs

Budget: Less than $100

A Hostel dorm bed: $25–60

A Take-out meal: $8–12

A Beach parking: free–$15

Midrange: $100–250

A Two-star inland motel or hotel double room: $75–200

A Sit-down meal in casual restaurant: $20–50

A Rental car per day, excluding insurance and gas: $30–70

Top end: More than $250

A Three-star coastal hotel or beach resort room: $150–300

A Three-course meal excluding drinks in a top restaurant: $75–125

Opening Hours

Businesses, restaurants and shops may close earlier and on additional days during the winter off-season (November to March). Otherwise, standard opening hours are as follows:

Banks 9am–6pm Monday to Friday, some 9am–1pm or later Saturday

Bars 5pm–2am

Business hours (general) 9am–5pm Monday to Friday

Nightclubs 10pm–4am Thursday to Saturday

Post offices 8:30am–5pm Monday to Friday, some 8:30am–noon or later Saturday

Restaurants 7:30am–10am, 11:30am–2pm and 5pm–9pm, some open later Friday and Saturday

Shops 10am–6pm Monday to Saturday, noon–5pm Sunday (malls open later)

Supermarkets 8am–9pm or 10pm, some 24 hours

Arriving in Coastal California

Los Angeles International Airport Taxis to most city destinations ($30 to $50) take 30 minutes to one hour. Door-to-door shuttles ($15 to $20) operate 24 hours. FlyAway bus ($9.75) runs to downtown LA. Free shuttles connect with LAX City Bus Center & Metro Rail station.

San Francisco International Airport Taxis into the city ($45 to $65) take 25 to 50 minutes. Door-to-door shuttles (around $17) operate 24 hours. BART trains ($8.95, 30 minutes) serve the airport, running from 5:30am (later on weekends) to midnight daily.

Getting Around

Most people drive themselves around California. You can also fly (it’s expensive) or take cheaper long-distance buses or scenic trains. In cities, when distances are too far to walk, hop aboard buses, trains, streetcars, cable cars or trolleys, or grab a taxi.

Car Metro-area traffic can be nightmarish, especially during weekday commuter rush hours (roughly 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm). City parking is often an expensive hassle.

Bus Usually the cheapest and slowest option, but with extensive metro-area networks. Intercity, regional and long-distance Greyhound routes are limited and more expensive.

Train The fastest way to get around the San Francisco Bay Area and LA, but lines don’t go everywhere. Pricier regional and long-distance Amtrak trains connect some destinations.

If You Like…

Wine

Napa and Sonoma are ultrafamous, but California’s other wine regions more than hold their own. Crack open a bottle from these sun-kissed rural valleys – you’ll be a believer.

Napa Valley Pay your respects to California’s legendary big-name producers in this premier wine-growing region.

Sonoma Valley Shake hands with independent-minded boutique winemakers in sun-dappled biodynamic vineyards.

Russian River Valley Tipple at woodsy wineries after a lazy day of canoeing on the river.

Santa Barbara Wine Country Pastoral country roads wind past famous vintners and smaller family-owned estate wineries.

Paso Robles Dozens of down-to-earth vineyards produce rich, earthy Zinfandels, with olive-oil farms nearby.

Anderson Valley Mendocino County's rural valley, where apple orchards abound, hides petite wineries worth a detour.

Parks & Nature Preserves

All along the coast, a chain of public parks protects an astonishing diversity of life zones, extending offshore to marine sanctuaries and wind-tossed islands. Just inland, misty redwood forests beckon.

Redwood National & State Parks Get lost ambling among ancient groves of the world’s tallest trees on the foggy North Coast.

Channel Islands National Park Escape civilization on SoCal’s far-flung islands, nicknamed ‘California’s Galapagos.’

Point Reyes National Seashore Step on the San Andreas Fault, hike to end-of-the-world beaches and spy wildlife.

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Cruise above an undersea canyon on a whale-watching boat, then kayak Elkhorn Slough.

Big Sur’s state parks Find waterfalls in redwood forests and walk along sea cliffs, above which California condors soar.

Crystal Cove State Park Go scuba diving or tide pooling along gorgeously undeveloped beaches in Orange County.

Sea otter, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve | TERENCE / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Hot Springs & Spas

Get nekkid and soak in natural hot-springs pools, rent your own private redwood hot tub under the stars, or get pampered at a Wine Country spa.

Calistoga Volcanic mud baths are just what the doctor ordered before a day of wine tasting.

Big Sur Take an oceanfront sea-cliff dip at Esalen or trek to wilderness Sykes Hot Springs.

North Coast Find holistic health cures, soak in naturally carbonated springs or go bohemian hot-tubbing.

Avila Beach At a mineral-springs spa, book a hillside hot tub just for two.

Hiking

Oceanside rambles, panorama-view mountain summits and verdant forest idylls await.

North Coast & Redwoods Hardy backpackers challenge the remote Lost Coast Trail, while families ramble among tall trees.

Marin County Tawny headlands and wild, windblown Point Reyes tempt hikers across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Central Coast Seek out Big Sur’s secret waterfalls and climb volcanic peaks around San Luis Obispo.

Los Angeles Run around LA’s Griffith Park, or head up into the untamed Santa Monica Mountains.

Fabulous Food

Flavored by immigrant cultures for more than 200 years, California cuisine is all about creatively mixing it up, from kimchi tacos to vegan soul food.

Chez Panisse Berkeley chef Alice Waters revolutionized California cuisine with seasonal, locavorian cooking.

French Laundry This high-flying kitchen mastered by Thomas Keller is a gastronomic highlight of Napa’s Wine Country.

Ferry Building Drop by the farmers market, or duck inside for San Francisco Bay Area artisanal food vendors.

LA’s food trucks They’re everywhere now, but LA sparked the mobile foodie revolution, with over 200 chefs-on-wheels.

Marin County Shuck fresh oysters by the sea, taste gourmet cheeses and stop at roadside farms.

Small Towns

When you tire of California’s never-ending freeway traffic, make your escape to these in-between spots, whether by the beach or just down the road from vineyards.

Ferndale The North Coast’s most charming Victorian farm town, filled with ‘butterfat mansions.’

Bolinas This end-of-the-road hamlet in Marin County isn’t exactly a secret anymore.

Seal Beach Orange County surf spot with an old-fashioned main street and wooden pier.

Ojai Catch a ‘pink moment’ at sunset over this sleepy, arty little Shangri-la outside LA.

Mendocino North Coast seaside village perches on ocean bluffs, where landscape painters set up their easels.

Scenic Drives

Drop the convertible top and step on it! California’s coastal routes deliver surreally beautiful ocean vistas and serpentine cliffside stretches.

Orange County Coast SoCal’s famous stretch of Hwy 1, aka the Pacific Coast Highway, hopscotches between beach towns in SoCal.

Avenue of the Giants Roll through ancient groves of redwood trees in NorCal’s Humboldt Redwoods State Park.

Carmel-by-the-Sea Postcard Pacific vistas beckon all along the 17-Mile Drive, a private toll road around the Monterey Peninsula.

Big Sur Twist and turn atop dizzying sea cliffs along Hwy 1 on the peaceful Central Coast.

Aquariums & Zoos

California is chockablock with futuristic theme parks and other family-friendly attractions to keep kids entertained for days, but for many, it’s the local wildlife that are the real stars.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Watch otters play at feeding time, touch tide-pool critters and get chills as sharks swim by.

San Diego Zoo In leafy Balboa Park, California’s best zoo exhibits 800 different animal species from around the world.

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Take a safari-style tram tour through an ‘open-range’ zoo where giraffes and lions roam.

Aquarium of the Pacific Meet coastal California’s denizens of the deep at Long Beach, just south of LA.

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens Originally a refuge for retired circus animals, this conservation-minded zoo is inside Griffith Park.

Planktonwall ©, Exploratorium, San Francisco | WWW.EXPLORATORIUM.EDU ©

History

Native American tribes, Spanish-colonial presidios (forts) and Catholic missions and Mexican pueblos (towns) have all left traces here for you to find.

Mission San Juan Capistrano A painstakingly restored jewel along ‘El Camino Real,’ California’s mission trail.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Time travel back to the late 19th century at California’s first civilian Spanish pueblo.

Monterey State Historic Park Beautifully preserved brick and adobe buildings from California’s Spanish, Mexican and American periods.

Hearst Castle A fantastical hilltop mansion filled with priceless art and antiquities on the Central Coast.

Mission San Juan Capistrano | RARENA / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Film & TV Locations

All California’s a sound stage, it sometimes seems. To witness the magic in action, join a live studio audience or tour a movie studio in LA.

Los Angeles Hollywood was born here. You can’t throw a director’s megaphone without hitting a movie location.

San Francisco Bay Area Relive film-noir classics like The Maltese Falcon and Hitchcock’s thrillers Vertigo and The Birds.

Mendocino For over a century, this tiny North Coast town has starred in dozens of movies.

Santa Barbara Idyllic ‘American Riviera’ sets the scene for zany rom-coms such as Sideways and It’s Complicated.

Museums

Who says coastal California only has pop culture? You could spend most of your trip viewing multi-million-dollar art galleries, high-tech science exhibits, out-of-this-world planetariums and more.

Balboa Park Spend all day hopping between San Diego’s top-notch art, history and science museums.

Getty Center LA art museum that is as beautiful as its elevated setting and ocean views.

California Academy of Sciences Natural-history museum in SF’s Golden Gate Park breathes ‘green’ with a living roof.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art More than 150,000 works of art span the ages and cross all borders.

Griffith Observatory There’s no better place to see stars in Hollywood than at this hilltop planetarium.

Exploratorium Even adults love the interactive science fun at this indoor/outdoor landmark on San Francisco Bay.

Month by Month

Top Events

Tournament of Roses, January

Kinetic Grand Championship, May

Pageant of the Masters, July

Fleet Week, September

Tall Ships Festival, September

January

Typically the wettest and coldest month in coastal California, January is a slow time for coastal travel, except over the Martin Luther King Jr Day holiday weekend.

z Tournament of Roses

Held before the Rose Bowl college football game, this famous New Year’s parade (hJan) of flower-festooned floats, marching bands and prancing equestrians draws more than 700,000 spectators to Pasadena, a suburb of LA.

z Chinese New Year

Firecrackers, parades, lion dances and street food accompany the Lunar New Year, falling in late January or early February. Some of California’s most colorful festivities happen in San Francisco and LA.

March

z Mendocino Coast Whale Festivals

As the northbound winter migration of gray whales peaks, Mendocino, Fort Bragg and nearby towns celebrate with food and wine tastings, art shows and naturalist-guided walks and talks over multiple weekends in March.

z Festival of the Swallows

After wintering in South America, the famous swallows return to Orange County’s Mission San Juan Capistrano around March 19. The historic mission town honors its Spanish and Mexican heritage with events (Fiesta de las Golondrinas; hmid-Mar) all month long.

April

Shoulder season all along California's coast means lower prices, especially on accommodations, except during spring break (exact dates vary, depending on school schedules and the Easter holiday).

z SF International Film Festival

One of the Americas' longest-running film festivals has been lighting up San Francisco since 1957, with a slate of independent-minded films, including international premieres.

May

California’s weather starts to heat up, although some coastal areas remain blanketed by fog (nicknamed ‘May gray’). Travel peaks over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

z Cinco de Mayo

¡Viva México! Margaritas, music and merriment (www.olvera-street.com) commemorate the victory of Mexican forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. LA and San Diego do it in style.

z Kinetic Grand Championship

Over Memorial Day weekend, this ‘triathlon of the art world’ involves a three-day race from Arcata to Ferndale on the North Coast. Competitors outdo each other in inventing human-powered, self-propelled and sculptural contraptions.

June

Once school lets out for the summer, nearly everywhere in California gets busy, even though fog (‘June gloom’) lingers in some coastal areas, particularly in Northern California.

z Pride

Out and proud since 1970, many of California’s LGBTIQ pride events take place throughout June, with costumed parades, coming-out parties, live music, DJs and more, especially in San Francisco and LA. San Diego celebrates in mid-July.

July

Beach season gets into full swing, especially in Southern California, where theme parks are mobbed by families. The July 4th holiday is summer’s busiest travel weekend.

z Pageant of the Masters

Exhibits by hundreds of artists and a pageant of masterpiece paintings ‘re-created’ by actors keep Orange County’s Laguna Beach extremely busy during July and August.

3 Reggae on the River

Come party with the ‘Humboldt Nation’ of hippies, Rastafarians, tree huggers and other fun NorCal freaks for four days of live reggae bands, arts and crafts, barbecue, juggling, unicycling, camping and swimming.

August

Sunny weather and warm water temperatures keep beaches packed. Students go back to school, but everywhere along the coast stays busy at least through the Labor Day holiday weekend.

z Old Spanish Days Fiesta

Santa Barbara revives its early Spanish, Mexican and American heritage with flashy parades, cowboy rodeo events, arts-and-crafts shows, live music and dancing.

September

Officially summer’s last hurrah is the Labor Day holiday weekend, when everywhere is extremely crowded. Afterward, the beaches and cities begin to see fewer visitors.

z Fleet Week

San Diego’s military pride is on display during this week (more like a month) of parades, concerts, shipboard tours and the USA’s largest air show in late September or early October.

October

Despite beautifully sunny and balmy weather, coastal travel starts slowing down. Shoulder-season deals abound at beaches and in cities as temperatures begin to cool off.

6 Vineyard Festivals

All month long under sunny skies, California’s wine countries bring in the harvest with gourmet food-and-wine shindigs, grape-stomping 'crush' parties and barrel tastings.

November

z Día de los Muertos

Mexican communities honor deceased ancestors on November 2 with costumed parades, sugar skulls, graveyard picnics, candlelight processions and fabulous altars, including in San Francisco, LA and San Diego.

December

Winter rains start to drench coastal California, greening the hills. Christmas and New Year’s Eve are extremely busy times, with a short-lived lull in travel between them.

z Boat Parades of Lights

Spicing up the Christmas holiday season with nautical cheer, brightly bedecked and illuminated boats float through many coastal California harbors, most famously at Newport Beach and San Diego.

Itineraries

San Diego & North County

3 Days

The best part about San Diego? It’s almost always around 68°F (20°C) and sunny. Add insanely good Mexican food, beaches of all stripes, historic sites and one of the best zoos in the world (plus an open-range safari park). Are you sold yet?

Spend a couple of days at San Diego’s pearl-like beaches, stretching all the way up the North County Coast. But before you head northward, drive out to Point Loma for sweeping views, or take a ferry over to old-fashioned Coronado, with its famous Hotel del Coronado. Ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster at family-friendly Mission Beach and join the funky surfers at Pacific Beach, dive or snorkel in gorgeous La Jolla, soar in a hot-air balloon at Del Mar and get new-agey in Encinitas.

On day three, if you have kids, make a beeline to the suburban San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where giraffes, lions and zebras roam. Otherwise, head back to San Diego to explore the zoo at museum-loaded Balboa Park and the atmospheric Spanish-Mexican Old Town. End your trip with a wild night out in the city’s Gaslamp Quarter downtown.

Itineraries

San Francisco, Marin County & Wine Country

5 Days

Clamber around the hilly 7-sq-mile peninsula that is dashing, innovative San Francisco. Then soak up the natural beauty of Marin County before indulging in a wine-splashed weekend in Napa and Sonoma Wine Country.

Start with a full day in San Francisco spent uncovering the alleyways of Chinatown, wandering the mural-adorned Mission district and climbing Coit Tower above beatnik North Beach. Then brave the fog on a cruise over to Alcatraz from Fisherman’s Wharf, or lose yourself on a sunny day in Golden Gate Park, stopping to smell the flowers where hippies danced during 1967’s ‘Summer of Love.’ Wherever you roam, eat everything in sight – especially at the waterfront Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

Escape the city on day two via the landmark Golden Gate Bridge, which you can trek, cycle or drive across. On the far side of the bay, photograph the floating houseboats of picturesque Sausalito, or go hiking and mountain-biking across the Marin Headlands, where a swinging footbridge leads to historic Point Bonita Lighthouse. To really get away from it all, hop aboard the ferry from Tiburon over to Angel Island, within view of San Francisco’s skyscrapers.

Meander north along the Marin County coast on day three, passing the tall redwood trees of Muir Woods National Monument, crescent-shaped Stinson Beach and the turnoff to quirky small-town Bolinas. Veer inland to conquer Mt Tamalpais or make your way to wildly beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore, where end-of-the-world beaches lead to long rambles, and you can spy whales in winter from the historic lighthouse. Save time for sea kayaking at nearby Tomales Bay.

Finish with two days in Wine Country. From Bodega Bay, country roads wind inland to charming Occidental and the vineyards of the Russian River Valley. Paddle a canoe downriver to Guerneville, with its redwood cottages and swimming at the beach in summer. Truck east across Hwy 101, then head south into Northern California’s Wine Country, orbiting stylish Napa and its countrified but still-chic cousin Sonoma. Soak your road-weary bones in a volcanic mud bath at a hot-springs spa in Calistoga before winding down in posh Healdsburg.

Point Reyes National Seashore | ALICE CAHILL / GETTY IMAGES ©

Itineraries

Los Angeles, Disneyland & Orange County

5 Days

Kick things off in Los Angeles, where top-notch attractions, miles of beaches and tasty food form an irresistible trifecta, before tripping through Orange County’s theme parks and sunny beaches.

On your first two days in Los Angeles, traipse along the star-studded sidewalks of clubby Hollywood, dive into the arts and cultural scenes Downtown, browse museums in Mid-City and catch sunset from the hilltop Getty Center in West LA. Out at the Pacific’s edge, sophisticated Santa Monica beckons with a carnival seaside pier and creative restaurants, while alternative Venice lives and breathes beachy boho-chic style.

Heading inland on day three, make a date with Mickey at perfectly ‘imagineered’ Disneyland Park and neighboring Disney California Adventure, a theme park celebrating the Golden State. Both are in Anaheim, and not far from Knott’s Berry Farm, America’s oldest theme park, which pairs Old West cowboy themes with high-tech roller coasters that appeal most to teenaged speed freaks. If it’s too darn hot, cool off at Knott’s Soak City water park next door.

In Santa Ana, drop by the discovery cube, an interactive, family-friendly science-oriented museum, or peruse the art galleries of the Bowers Museum. Catch your breath in time-warped Old Town Orange, where antiques stores cluster, or Little Saigon, where you can trade theme-park hot dogs for a steaming bowl of Vietnamese pho.

On day four, motor west toward the ocean. In Huntington Beach, aka ‘Surf City USA,’ rent a board, play beach volleyball and build a bonfire after sunset. Hit Newport Beach for soap-opera worthy people-watching by the piers. Make a quick stop for power shopping in Costa Mesa, then roll south to Laguna Beach, a former artists colony with more than two dozen public beaches to spoil you, plus fashionable boutiques.

Slingshot back toward the I-5 on your last day, stopping off at Mission San Juan Capistrano for a glimpse of Spanish-colonial and Mexican history. Or keep up the beach-bum attitude by slacking south to Dana Point, with its yacht-filled harbor and beach, and retro San Clemente, near Trestles, a year-round surf break.

Santa Monica | ONEINCHPUNCH / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Plan Your Trip

Beaches, Swimming & Surfing

Beach life and surf culture define California's freewheeling lifestyle, so consider permission granted to play hooky and hit the waves. Southern California is where you'll find the sunniest swimming beaches, while Northern California's misty cliffs and blustery strands beckon romantics and hardcore surfers.

Best Beaches

San Diego

Coronado, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla

Orange County

Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach

Los Angeles

Santa Monica, Venice, South Bay, Malibu

Santa Barbara

East Beach, El Capitán State Beach, Refugio State Beach, Carpinteria State Beach

Central Coast

Main Beach (Santa Cruz), Moonstone Beach, Cayucos, Pismo State Beach

San Francisco Bay Area

Stinson Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pacifica State Beach

North Coast

Sonoma Coast State Beach, Lost Coast, Trinidad State Beach

Swimming

If your California dream vacation means bronzing on the beach and paddling in the Pacific, head directly to Southern California (SoCal). With mile after mile of wide, sandy beaches between Santa Barbara and San Diego, you can be living the dream at least six months out of the year. Ocean temperatures in SoCal are tolerable by May or June, peaking in July and August.

Northern California (NorCal) beaches are blustery and dramatic, with high swells crashing into rocky bluffs – not great for casual swimmers but perfect for big-wave surfing. NorCal beaches remain chilly year-round, so bring a windbreaker – and if you're going to brave these waters, bring or rent a wetsuit.

Safety Tips

A Most California beaches have flags to distinguish between surfer-only sections and sections for swimmers. Flags also alert beachgoers to dangerous water conditions – and even seasoned California surfers know these warnings need to be taken seriously.

A Popular beaches in Southern California have lifeguards, but can still be dangerous places to swim. Obey all posted warning signs and ask about local conditions before venturing out.

A Stay out of the ocean for at least three days after a major rainstorm, when dangerously high levels of pollutants flush out through storm drains.

A Water quality varies from beach to beach and day to day. For current water-safety conditions and beach closures, check the Beach Report Card issued by the nonprofit organization Heal the Bay ( http://brc.healthebay.org ).

Best Family-Friendly Beaches

A Silver Strand State Beach ( p) Coronado

A Santa Monica State Beach Los Angeles

A Leo Carrillo State Park ( p ) Malibu

A Balboa Peninsula Newport Beach

A Carpinteria State Beach Santa Barbara County

A Arroyo Burro Beach County Park Santa Barbara

A Avila Beach San Luis Obispo County

A Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz

A Stinson Beach Marin County

A Trinidad State Beach North Coast

Leo Carrillo State Park, Malibu | DAVID M. SCHRADER / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Best Beaches for Bonfires

A Huntington City Beach Orange County

A Main Beach Orange County

A Mission Beach San Diego

A Carmel Beach City Park Central Coast

A Ocean Beach ( m N ) San Francisco

Books & Maps

The outstanding California Coastal Access Guide (University of California Press, 2014) has comprehensive maps of every public beach, reef, harbor, cover, overlook and coastal campground, with valuable information about parking, hiking trails, facilities and wheelchair access. It’s especially helpful for finding secret pockets of uncrowded sand.

Surfing

Surf’s up! Are you down? Even if you've never set foot on a board, there’s no denying the influence of surfing on California life, from street clothing to slang. Surfing is an obsession up and down the coast, particularly in Santa Cruz, San Diego and Orange County.

The most powerful ocean swells arrive along California's coast during late fall and winter. May and June are generally the flattest months. Speaking of temperature, don’t expect to ride in a bikini; without a wetsuit, you’ll freeze your butt off except at the height of summer – especially anywhere north of Santa Barbara.

Crowds can be a problem at many surf spots, as can overly territorial surfers. Befriend a local surfer for an introduction before hitting Cali’s most famous waves, such as notoriously agro Windansea Beach and Malibu Surfrider Beach.

Sharks do inhabit California waters, but attacks are rare and take place in the so-called ‘Red Triangle’ between Monterey on the Central Coast, Tomales Bay north of San Francisco and the offshore Farallon Islands.

Windansea Beach, San Diego | SEBASTIEN BUREL / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Rentals & Lessons

You’ll find board rentals on just about every patch of beach where surfing is possible. Expect to pay about $25 per half-day for a board, with wetsuit rental costing another $10 or so.

Two-hour group lessons for beginners start at around $100 per person, while private, two-hour instruction easily costs over $125. If you’ve got bigger ambitions and deeper pockets, many surf schools offer weekend surf clinics and weeklong ‘surfari’ camps.

Best Surf Breaks for Beginners

The best spots to learn to surf are long, shallow bays where waves are small and rolling. Surf schools dot the California coast from San Diego to Santa Cruz, and popular places for beginners include:

A San Diego Mission Beach ( h store 8:30am-5pm, lesson hours vary from season to season ) , Oceanside

A Orange County Seal Beach , Huntington Beach , Newport Beach , Laguna Beach ( MAP GOOGLE MAP h8am-9pm most days)

A Los Angeles Santa Monica % 310-663-2479 ; www.learntosurfla.com ; group lesson per person from $85 ) , Malibu ( GOOGLE MAP h 10am-6pm )

A Santa Barbara County Leadbetter Beach , Carpinteria

A Central Coast Santa Cruz , Cayucos

Top Surf Spots for Pros

California's coastline is dotted with easily accessible world-class surf beaches, especially in SoCal. Topping every pro surfer's bucket list are these California hot spots:

A Huntington Beach Located in Orange County, it may have the West Coast’s most consistent waves, with miles of breaks centered on the pier.

A Trestles The OC’s premier summer spot, with big but forgiving waves, a fast ride and both right and left breaks.

A Windansea Beach ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) This San Diego spot has a powerful reef break, while nearby Big Rock ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) churns out gnarly tubes.

A Malibu Lagoon State Beach (Surfrider Beach) ( Surfrider Beach ; p ) A clean right break in Malibu that just gets better with bigger waves.

A Santa Monica Once strictly locals only, this tough urban break by the pier is where renegades became champions and made surfing cool in the 1970s.

A Carpinteria Rincon Point is another perfect right point break that peels forever.

A Steamer Lane The 1960s surfer-girl icon Gidget made Santa Cruz a TV-legendary surf destination – especially Steamer Lane, with its glassy point breaks and rocky reef breaks. Between sessions, get to know Gidget and other surf pioneers in the tiny cliffside lighthouse housing the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum .

A Half Moon Bay World-famous big-wave surfers hit this spot each winter for the Titans of Mavericks , taking on dangerous swells towering some 60ft high at this annual competition.

Online Resources

A Browse the comprehensive atlas, live webcams and surf reports at Surfline ( www.surfline.com ), and get the lowdown on the best swells from San Diego to Humboldt County on the North Coast.

A Orange County–based Surfer magazine’s website ( www.surfermag.com ) has travel reports, gear reviews, blogs, forums and totally gnarly videos.

A Surfers have led California's coastal conservation efforts for 40 years, and you can join their ongoing efforts through the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation ( www.surfrider.org ).

A If you’re a kook, bone up on surf-speak so brahs don’t go agro and give you stinkeye. For translations, use Riptionary ( www.riptionary.com ).

Books & Maps

A Water-resistant Surfer Magazine’s Guide to Southern California Surf Spots (Chronicle Books, 2006) and Surfer Magazine's Guide to Northern and Central California Surf Spots (Chronicle Books, 2006) are jam-packed with expert reviews, information, maps and photos.

Southern California’s Best Beaches

Hundreds of miles of Pacific beaches edge SoCal’s golden coast – which makes choosing just one to visit almost impossible. Take your pick depending on what you prefer doing: launching your surfboard onto a world-famous break; snapping on a snorkel mask and peeking at colorful marine life; or just lazing on the sand.

MARK_AND_ANNA_WILSON / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

A Santa Monica

A carnival pier with a solar-powered Ferris wheel and a tiny aquarium for the kiddos sits atop this idyllic, 3-mile long strand, where LA comes to play.

MAREMAGNUM / GETTY IMAGES ©

A Malibu

Celebrity residents aren’t keen to share their paradisiacal pocket beaches, but with persistence and some insider tips, you too can share these million-dollar views.

HIROYUKI MATSUMOTO / GETTY IMAGES ©

A Huntington Beach

Officially ‘Surf City, USA,’ Huntington Beach is everything you imagined SoCal beach life to be, from surfing by the pier to sunset bonfires on the sand.

JUPITERIMAGES / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

A Mission Beach

A day trip to San Diego’s most fun-crazed beach should begin with a ride on the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and end with sunset along Ocean Front Walk.

LAGUNATICPHOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

A Crystal Cove State Park

Tired of manicured beaches crowded with beach towels? Escape instead to this wilder, undeveloped Orange County gem for beachcombing and scuba diving.

GAGLIARDIIMAGES / SHUTTERSTOCK ©

A Coronado

Pedal a beach cruiser along the Silver Strand, or frolic like Marilyn Monroe did on the golden sand fronting San Diego’s landmark Hotel del Coronado.

GERI LAVROV / GETTY IMAGES ©

A East Beach

Next to historic Stearns Wharf, where Santa Barbara meets the sea, this easy-access beach fills with swimmers, volleyball players and even sea kayakers in summer.

VENTURE MEDIA GROUP / GETTY IMAGES ©

A Carpinteria State Beach

Even tots can get their feet wet or poke around the tide pools at this Santa Barbara County classic, where palm trees wave above soft sands.

Plan Your Trip

California Camping & Outdoors

California is an all-seasons outdoor playground. Here you can go hiking among wildflowers in spring, swimming in the Pacific warmed by summer sunshine, mountain biking among fall foliage and whale-watching in winter. For bigger thrills, launch a glider off ocean bluffs or don a wet suit to dive into underwater sanctuaries.

Planning for the Outdoors

Backpacking Northern California’s Lost Coast Trail (April–October)

Cycling Coastal Hwy 1 through Big Sur (April–October)

Hiking Redwood National & State Parks (April–October)

Mountain biking Marin County, especially Mt Tamalpais (April–October)

Kayaking Channel Islands National Park (July–October)

Snorkeling and scuba diving La Jolla in San Diego County (July–October)

Whale-watching Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (January–March)

Windsurfing San Diego’s Mission Bay (September–November)

Kayaking

Whether you’re looking for an adventure exploring sea caves or just a serene float past coastal bluffs or along inland rivers, kayaking opportunities abound in coastal California. Few water-based sports are as accessible and fun for the whole family, and most people manage to get paddling along quickly with minimal instruction.

Best Places to Kayak

A Sea kayaking is fabulous in Channel Islands National Park , offshore from Ventura and Santa Barbara, and Catalina Island , closer to Los Angeles and Orange County. Both are ideal overnight getaways for experienced paddlers.

A Further south, beginners can paddle around the calm, protected waters of San Diego’s Mission Bay or at Huntington Harbor and Dana Point in Orange County.

A You can explore sea caves while floating above kelp forests and reefs of San