California - all beaches

This place is absolutely stunning. I adore the hills and the breathtaking view. There is an abundance of lush greenery!

Spending a day at the beach is an absolute delight, and what makes it even better is having access to a fantastic dining spot nearby. This location offers both, making it a perfect destination for a fun-filled day out.

We visited the resort beach for a day of water activities. The beach was well-maintained and the restrooms were clean and in working order. The WA She Sho Grill had a lovely deck overlooking the lake. The staff at the grill were extremely friendly and efficient, despite being short-staffed. The food was tasty, although the menu was somewhat limited. I was a bit surprised that the new logo didn't seem to acknowledge the tribal management. All in all, it was an experience that I would definitely like to repeat.

You can pay the entry fee online to access the beach, which is generally clean with only a small amount of litter like a crushed coke can and some seaweeds. There are many people playing volleyball on the courts, and most surfers hang out near Second Spot, which is just a bit north of the Main Lifeguard Tower. I saw one lifeguard on duty picking up the orange traffic cones off of Thor's Hammer, which is the embankment from the San Juan Creek. It's a very family-friendly beach, but I would recommend bringing a jacket because of the wind from the ocean. On the northern part of Doheny State Beach (DSB), there are plenty of picnic tables and trashcans, as well as a fairly large patch of green grass. We walked around the bike path to avoid stepping on the beautiful lawn. They also have horseshoe tosses available. We noticed many electric bikes passing by us and onto the sandy beach. Only service dogs are allowed, and they must be on a leash and attended by an adult. In the north parking lot, there were RVs. After doing some internet research, we found out that DSB is a "dry" camping ground, meaning there are no electric or water connections. There is a snack bar called Doho Cafe where you can order your food and drinks online. They also offer bike rentals, which is a great way to explore the entire park. The restroom has an open skylight and is very clean. It seems to have shower stalls, although there are no shower heads (maybe they are dressing rooms?). However, there is a shower head outside of the restroom to wash the sand off your feet. Overall, I would definitely visit again during the off-season. Enjoy!

We drove over an hour to this beach late in the day. An aggressive Sheriff’s Officer kicked us out stating the beach was closed even though all posted signs and their website stated the beach could be used until 2am. Not worth the experience.

This beach park is a favorite among locals, including myself, because of its natural landscape. The pedestrian paths outnumber the vehicle roads, which creates a nice separation from city life. The sand beach walk is located below street level, away from the busy Pacific Coast Highway. The trails from the parking lots wind through areas of local sage, scrub brush, and chaparral. Along the way, you can also find restroom structures. By using Google Maps Satellite View, you can easily locate the beach access and find highlights along the trail. Crystal Cove State Park is well-known for its clean sand beach and ocean. In the summertime, it's great for swimming and occasionally surfing, although body boarding is more common. Lifeguards are always present and keep a close watch. During the off season, the watch stations are moved and lined up on dry land. The waterfront is a year-round spectacle with its tide pools, which are definitely worth the hike. The beach walk is lined with ocean-carved rock formations. You can set up beach chairs, a tarp, or a towel to hold a spot and enjoy watching the waves, boats offshore, or kids building sand castles. The entrance fee for vehicles is $15, but prices may change in the summertime. The day use side is open from 6:00 am to sunset.