Home » Travel » San Diego » Life's a Beach in San Diego

Life's a Beach in San Diego

© Jill Florio

San Diego's beaches have something for everyone. What do you like to do and see when you go to the coast? Are you seeking the best surf breaks, a beach for the kiddies, or just a place to play with Rover in the water? Want to find a nude beach? Maybe you want to watch the best sunsets or sample some coastal nightlife. Check it out!

NOTE: this article only includes beaches within the City of San Diego. A county-wide article is forthcoming!

double note: Many of these pictures were taken by Scott Lappi, best friend and mighty surfer. Rest your mouse over the pics to see whether it's photo credited to him: his other pics can be found at Broshots.com. Go Scott!

---

Surfing beaches

Since boarding ain't my bag, I asked California surfer Scott Lappi the scoop on beaches and breaks.

He says picking the best beaches is a bit subjective, depending on surfing ability, ands the fact that the same surf breaks can have different names.

"And different breaks can be spaced 20-30 board lengths apart, which makes it harder to recommend surfing on just saying, say, Ocean Beach," he adds.

Here are his picks:

• Ocean Beach - for all levels, in different spots, along this mile-long stretch of sand. This beach has separate water areas reserved for swimming and surfing. Check with lifeguards for details.

• Tourmaline Surfing Park - A great beginner's beach. Located at the north end of Pacific Beach, Tourmaline is heavily used by surfers and sailboarders year round.

• WindNSea - a classic

• Blacks Beach - Surfers and swimmers (often nude) are permitted to mix at this unregulated beach. The best surfing here is at the Southern end.

• San Clemente - on the border between San Diego and Orange County, this beach is another classic.

HOT TIP: Check Surfline.com for excruciatingly up-to-date specifics on breaks and beaches around the world. Includes tidal tables!

---

Best Picnic Beaches

Sunset Cliffs, just south of Ocean Beach is fabulous for cuddly sunset watching. Just like the name inplies.

HOT TIP: Standing atop the bluff at Sunset Cliffs is my personal luckiest spot for sighting the ellusive Green Flash!

La Jolla Cove - The City of San Diego boasts, "Due to its extraordinary beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California." That's not too far off. The curving, craggy, cliff and sand little cove is quite spectacular, but can get crowded on weekends.

The copyright of the article Life's a Beach in San Diego in San Diego is owned by . Permission to republish Life's a Beach in San Diego in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.