Best Beaches Of
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Best Beaches Submission #1:
First name: Penny
Age range: fifties
City: Jefferson City
State/Province: Missouri
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: Santa Barbara
What did you like best about this beach?: White sand like talcum powder, great pier. Santa Barbara has the best of Southern California without the congestion and smog. It's Idyllic!
What was your favorite activity there?: Segwaying along the beach.
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: Only ate in one restaurant there. I don't remember the name, but it was a Mexican Restaurant on Cabrillo. It was very good and reasonably priced.
Where did you stay?: With relatives.
Any special story you'd like to share with the world about your Southern California beach experience?: I lived in San Clemente during my teen years and loved it. This was my first trip back (2006)and had a wonderful time. Really made me miss living there. I'm going back this year (July 2007) with my daughter, and can't wait.
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: Make sure to visit the little sea life museum on Stearn's Wharf. A baby shark will swim right up on to your outstreched hand. It is very inexpensive. Also enjoyed the sand sculptures.
Best Beaches Submission #2:
First name: Dick
Age range: over 70
City: Snellville
State/Province: Georgia
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: Corona del Mar
What did you like best about this beach?: Hidden below the bluff, the Balboa Bay breakwater showed indication of good body-surfing waves. Great place for kids.
What was your favorite activity there?: Body surfing.
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: Many restaurants on the Balboa peninsula just north of Corona del Mar
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: Go early to beat the crowds.
Best Beaches Submission #3:
First name: Stacy
Age range: forties
City: Santa Clarita
State/Province: CA
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: Laguna Beach
What did you like best about this beach?: Clear water
What was your favorite activity there?: Floating in surf near shore.
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: The Crab Cooker (in nearby Newport Beach). Great seafood.
Where did you stay?: Best Western. Good place for reasonable rates.
Any special story you'd like to share with the world about your Southern California beach experience?: A rogue wave knocked my sunglasses off. They're now in Davy Jones' locker...
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: Check out the local art scene.
Best Beaches Submission #4:
First name: Magda
Age range: forties
City: San Francisco
State/Province: California
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: Manhattan Beach
What did you like best about this beach?: Clean sand, great beach weather (not too hot, not cold), funky town, great mix of people (all races, ages, families, singles). Not over-run when I visited.
What was your favorite activity there?: My daughter loved all the volleynets that were set up. I enjoyed walking on the pier.
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: We stopped in at a "hand made ice cream" parlour (1 block directly up from the pier). The ice cream was great (big servings, nice service).
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: May not be the best beach for experienced surfers: The day we visited, there were surfers in the water, but the waves were almost non-existent. They looked a little like beginners to me, so I wonder if this is a "beginner surfer beach" because there weren't great waves. Maybe we visited on a calm ocean day.
Best Beaches Submission #5:
First name: Marlena
Age range: 12 and under
City: Los Angeles
State/Province: California
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: La Jolla
What did you like best about this beach?: The rocks to jump off of.
What was your favorite activity there?: Jumping off rocks, or just staying on them.
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: Can't remember....
Any special story you'd like to share with the world about your Southern California beach experience?: Er...okay, I went into this cave by the beach. the waves would come in and there were rocks to climb on that were formed by erosion. it was really fun to explore the mini cave and jump off into the water. I recommend it for kids. And that place has great snorkeling and swimming. (editor's note: parents should closely monitor their kids around the rocks and water, especially as the tide rises.)
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: Bring snorkel gear & towel. (There's no room for lounging).
Best Beaches Submission #6:
First name: Leslie
Age range: forties
State/Province: California
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: Coronado
What did you like best about this beach?: Big, great for walking, not too crowded, beautiful and clean. Check out www.welcometocoronado.com to see the different beaches along Coronado and the Silver Strand.
What was your favorite activity there?: Beachcombing
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: There are lots of great restaurants within a couple of blocks to the beach.
Any special story you'd like to share with the world about your Southern California beach experience?: Coronado is a great place to spend the day because it is not quite so frenzied on the busiest summer days. Dolphins swim the length of the beach and can be spotted throughout the day. Navy SEALS and BUD/S trainees run the length of the beach regularly. Planes fly overhead to land at North Island. Having a C5A fly overhead is a thrill! On occasion the Hotel Del has a special events fireworks show over the beach.
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: Sunscreen up! You are going to want to spend the day relaxing in a beautiful, relaxed setting. Southern California at its best!
Best Beaches Submission #7:
First name: Kevin
Age range: fifties
City: Los Angeles
State/Province: California
Country: USA
First time at a Southern California beach?: no
What was your favorite beach?: Leo Carrillo
What did you like best about this beach?: Great tent camping for the kids....spectacular ocean setting...rocks to climb, inland trails, tide pools, star fish, secluded coves...
What was your favorite activity there?: watching the kids have fun
Where was your favorite place to eat and why?: we cook our own, but only a short drive from civilization if you want to eat out
Any special story you'd like to share with the world about your Southern California beach experience?: Leo Carrillo is the best
Any last tips you can offer future visitors to this beach?: make summer reservations early in year or go in fall
Go here if you'd like to share with visitors from around the world what YOUR favorite beach is in Southern California and why.
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