Visitor's Guide to the Best Southern California Beaches

Southern California is well known for its many beautiful beaches, and summer is still the best time to visit them. (A tip: the water is cold! You'll need blazing hot days (or a wetsuit) if you intend to go in). If you're a visitor to the area, where do you start? Here are a few of my favorite Southern California beaches:

The Malibu area boasts a shoreline of 21 miles of scenic beauty. Malibu is home to many in the entertainment industry, and you may catch glimpses of celebrities. From Zuma Beach to the north/west to Topanga Beach to the south/east, there are plenty of places to catch a few rays or surf. State Highway 1, or the Pacific Coast Highway, winds its way through the populated areas of Malibu before heading north toward Santa Barbara. The views are breathtakingly scenic. Be advised that the Pacific Coast Highway is a narrow, two-lane road, and traffic can choke the area, especially on weekends. Also, observe parking signs. There are many pay parking lots available.

Further south is world famous Venice Beach. Of course, you will want to stop and people watch at the boardwalk before heading to the acres of flat sand that make up the beach. Venice Beach's boardwalk contains neat shops tucked away in tiny alleyways, street performers hoping to be the recipient of grateful listeners, and vendors hawking everything from henna tattoos to bundles of sage to hand made jewelry. There's a long bike path that winds down to the adjacent Santa Monica Pier, an easy walk. Venice Beach is an enormous expanse of sand, and it's possible to find a private spot even during crowded weekends.

The best place for surfing has to be Huntington Beach. Made famous by a continuous feed into Hollister stores, Huntington Beach features a long pier where you can watch the surfing activity if you choose to stay dry. The International Surfing Museum is also located here at 411 Olive Street, very close to Main Street. For a nominal $2 fee, the visitor can catch up on the history of surfing and see one-of-a-kind surfboards and surfing paraphernalia.

A few miles south on the Pacific Coast Highway, a beautiful beach area can be found at Laguna Beach. Started as an artists' colony, Laguna Beach is picturesque, with palms towering over charming small cottages nestled in the cliffs above. The beaches are pristine, and there are numerous tide pools, diving opportunities and the sunsets are gorgeous. Laguna Beach has the greatest number of localized beaches of any city in California, so the choices are staggering. There are also other activities in the city, including art shows, galleries, and the Bette Davis House.

For those who prefer to tan in the buff, nudists should consider a visit to Black's Beach just north of San Diego. This beach is located below the cliffs protecting Torrey Pines Golf Course, and is considered to be the largest nude beach in America. Before you think you can drop by for a quick peek and leave, be warned. Black's Beach is not easily accessible, and requires a sturdy hike down a treacherous cliff. There is an effort underway to eliminate the nudist contingent. Nude bathers should be advised that park rangers will start diligently handing out citations after Labor Day.

If you are in the San Diego area and decide to keep your clothes on, the city and county have their own spectacular array of beaches. Those with entertainment, including restaurants, shopping and boardwalks include Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach. These city beaches are easily accessible. For a step above the ordinary, head south to Coronado. The Coronado Hotel is a landmark icon, the shopping is a cut above and the beach nearby is beautiful. For an experience with more nature, head four miles south to a stretch of sand called Silver Strand State Beach. Camping is available, and the spacious parking lots can accommodate the largest of motor homes and RVs.

These are but a sampling of the available beaches in Southern California. For a comprehensive list, check out http://www.southern-california-beaches-vacation-guide.com/.