Carlsbad Beaches
Carlsbad State Beach: Carlsbad beaches offer a variety of activities from surfing, swimming, horseshoes, and sunbathing to skin diving, windsurfing, camping, kayaking and boogie boarding. Carlsbad State Beach is about five miles long, has picnic areas on the beach and above on the bluff overlooking the beach and Pacific Ocean.

South Carlsbad State Beach: This San Diego beach has popular campsites on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There are stairs provided to access the secluded beach to swim, surf, skin dive, fish or picnic. The beach is open to the public but there are no day-use facilities. South Carlsbad State Beach is located at Poinsettia Lane approximately 3 miles south of Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort and Hotel on Carlsbad Boulevard.

Coronado Beaches
Silver Strand State Beach: Located on Coronado Island and south of the Hotel Del Coronado is a semi remote 7 mile stretch of beach offering views of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. You can camp, swim, jet ski, surf, boat, bike, fish, water ski and picnic. (Fire rings for cookouts are provided). Day-use facilities are available including showers, restrooms, life guards and parking.

Coronado Municipal Beach: Swim, surf, sail, body board, fish, cookout or just sunbathe while soaking in spectacular views of San Diego and the Coronado Bridge. Coronado Beach is a perfect family outing offering beach as well as playground facilities for the kids. In the winter you can even catch a glimpse of whales as they pass by on their migration.

Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach: Water fun in the California sun. Swim, surf, sunbathe, jog, surf and fish from the Imperial Beach Pier or spend the day at one of 2 wildlife sanctuaries located just south of pristine Imperial Beach. You can travel 15 minutes to south of the border for terrific shopping in Tijuana, Mexico for a full day of adventure. Day-use facilities are provided.

La Jolla Beaches (pronounced La Hoya)
Windansea Beach: One of the most popular beaches for surfing, snorkeling, kayaking and sunbathing in La Jolla. The shore of Windansea Beach is best known for its breathtaking scenery and surf breaks created by underwater reefs. La Jolla is also home to the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium at Scripps and the La Jolla Playhouse at the University of California at San Diego.

Marine Street Beach: This beach is enjoyed by experienced body boarders, body surfers and beach goers seeking a gorgeous private day of sunbathing and get together. Because of the rough surf and crashing waves breaking at the shoreline, families with small children will not find it suitable. There are no day use services or picnic areas but Lifeguards are stationed during the summer and peak weekends during the year.

Children's Pool: A perfect day to spend with the kids in a calm and peaceful lagoon. This area is a popular, children's swimming pool, tourist attraction and scuba diving location. The most notable attraction is the large population of seals. Visitors are treated to an up close and personal experience with the seals and sea lions who frequent the area.

La Jolla Cove: Not far from downtown La Jolla lies La Jolla Cove, a world renowned dive and snorkeling site and the most photographed beach in Southern California.This is also a popular place for underwater photographers because of its spectacular reefs, caves and great variety of rich marine life.The marine life is abundant partly because it is preserved by the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve so you can look but cannot disturb the residents of the La Jolla Cove habitat.

La Jolla Shores: La Jolla Shores is a one mile stretch of coastline that includes parks, picnic areas and a paved boardwalk running along the beach. You can swim, scuba dive, jog, kayak, bike, roller blade, surf and let the kids romp in the play ground. Day-use facilities and lifeguards are available year round.

Oceanside Beaches
Oceanside Beach: The town and beach borders Camp Pendleton and is visited by tourists and locals alike. Oceanside's beach is perfect for swimming, surfing, rollerblading, biking or soaking up the California sun. Fish or take a stroll on the pier, dine at cafes and restaurants nearby, Oceanside beach is a great place for an all day beach experience.

Del Mar Beaches
Del Mar Beach: "Where the surf meets the turf" Del Mar is known best for the Del Mar Race track, Del Mar Fair and the miles of beach perfect for family and tourist activities. Del Mar has two parks with picnic areas and playgrounds with year round lifeguard stations. Visitors enjoy swimming in the blue pacific, walking along the sandy shore, surfing and body boarding. Day-use facilities are provided and Cafes, restaurants and trendy shops dot the area.

Encinitas Beaches
Cardiff By The Sea: The beach is a perfect outing for families and surfers. Cardiff is north and west of the San Elijo Lagoon and and San Elijo State Beach on the north. Those seeking a day of swimming, surfing and sunbathing will enjoy the area.

The San Elijo Lagoon: is an ecological reserve and is an excellent spot for bird watching and exploring the tide pools at the south end of Cardiff State Beach. Day-use facilities and Lifeguard station are provided .

Moonlight State Beach: Located a half mile from downtown of Encinitas includes picnic areas, surfing, swimming, lifeguard stations, day-use facilities, public parking and volleyball courts.

Leucadia Beach: This beach is a stone's throw south of Carlsbad and is enjoyed by swimmers, surfers and fishermen. The beach is more remote than most as no day use facilities or lifeguard stations are provided.

San Diego Beaches
Sunset Cliffs: 68 acres of bluffs and views upon views of the San Diego and Pacific shoreline and ocean. The park provides paths for strolling and soaking in the blue water below. This area is best enjoyed by visitors seeking beautiful sunsets, hikers and surfers and anyone who wants a secluded getaway. Sparse day-use facilities and no lifeguards available.

Mission Bay: This is the place to play! Just imagine 4,000 acres of bay surrounded with miles of bike paths, grassy parks, and playgrounds. Water sports galore, row boats, kayaks, sailboats water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, bay cruises, theme parks, restaurants and shopping. Mission Bay has picnic and barbecue areas, public restrooms and showers. Lifeguards are available during the high season during Spring and November. All the fun under the sun can be found at Mission Bay.

Pacific Beach, California:
Pacific Beach is a colorful casual vacation retreat with a small town flavor. Popular with tourists for the year-round sunshine, sandy beaches, theme parks, surf shops, craft shops and spectacular sunsets. Visitors can picnic, roller blade, surf, swim, barbecue or just hang out and watch the collage of people walk by.

Mission Beach: Mission Beach is known best for it's boardwalk filled with rollerbladers, bicyclists, sunbathers and variety of people. The beach is perfect for water activities including swimming, surfing and boating. Virtually any type of water activity is available at this popular hang out for locals and tourists.

Ocean Beach: This is a small beach town. Not much in the way of trendy restaurants and shops, but if you are a dog lover, you will enjoy the "dog beach" where you can let your four legged pet romp in the ocean freely.

Black's Beach is a two mile long, sandy strip situated at the base of majestic cliffs up to 300 feet high. It is formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach in that it is jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California. There is a glider port atop the cliff overlooking the beach where hangliders, paragliders and remote controlled gliders can often be seen soaring. Acess is difficult and be aware that some areas of this beach are swimsuit optional.

Solana Beach
Solana Beach: If you surf or snorkel, you will find this beach perfect. Many local surfers hang out in Solana Beach. There are day-use facilities and lifeguard stations provided. The small casual town is best known for the shops, galleries and trendy boutiques.