SoCal Beaches

You just graduated from college. If you're like most grads, all you want to do is relax after all the stress of completing graduate projects and taking your final finals! You're going to want to spend a few days sunbathing and playing on the beach. There are hundreds of beaches in California, but which ones should you visit?

Here is a list of my favorite must-see beaches, perfect for college grads wanting to unwind and have fun:

Crystal Cove!
Photo Credit: Crystal Cove State Park Historic District

Crystal Cove 

I list this beach first because it is my FAVORITE. Crystal Cove is somewhat difficult to find, so therefore less crowded! Originally owned by movie directors and producers in the 1930's and 40's, this beach has a vintage vibe. It has served as a filming location for dozens of movies since then. The cove is rimmed by dozens of brightly painted beach cottages. You can actually rent them if you'd like, but you'll have to do it 6 months in advance (click the photo for more info).

This is the perfect beach for relaxing. There are tide pools you can explore, beach toys you can rent, an adorable beach gift shop, and cottages you can tour to learn more about Crystal Cove. 

But the best part about Crystal Cove? The Beachcomber Cafe, home of the best cheeseburger you will ever eat! I'm not kidding. I have dreams about this place all the time. The Beachcomber serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. And while it's on the pricier side, if you want to go to a nice restaurant to celebrate graduation, GO HERE! Breakfast and lunch are decently priced, while dinner is much more expensive. Personally, I actually prefer the breakfast and lunch menu. To cut costs, I suggest splitting the Kobe Burger. Trust me, you won't be able to finish it yourself. Make sure to grab a parking validations with your check! Otherwise you'll be paying a $15 dollar parking fee when you leave. 

My recommendations:

• Coconut Macadamia Nut Pancakes (I'm practically crying as I type this, they're that yummy)
• Lemon Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes
• Beachcomber Kobe Burger 
• Lemon Grass Chicken Skewers
• Ciabatta Bread Stack
• Mahi Mahi Tacos
• Big Bad Bloody Mary (served in a large Mason Jar with a giant crab claw)

As stated before, Crystal Cove is somewhat difficult to find if you've never been there before. Located off the Pacific Coast Highway, you must park on the East side of the highway and then take a short hike down to a tunnel that cuts underneath the road. If you'd rather not walk, take a $5 dollar shuttle ride down to the beach. According to their website:

"Where do we park and how does it work?
Parking for the entire Historic District is at the Los Trancos parking lot located on the east side of Pacific Coast Highway. You may pick up The Beachcomber Shuttle at the picnic bench adjacent to the park’s office building. The Beachcomber will validate for 3 hours of parking with a purchase of $15.00 or more at The Beachcomber Café. Each additional hour after the 3 hours will cost $5.00 per hour up to a maximum of $15.00 per day.
Where is the tunnel?
The tunnel, which connects the parking lot to the Historic District, is located under Pacific Coast Highway. You can get to the tunnel by following the footpath from the Los Trancos parking lot by heading to the southern most corner of the lot. It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the restaurant." 

Huntington Beach 

Main Street, Huntington Beach.
Photo Credit: beach.com

Huntington is the perfect beach for a day filled with fun. Huntington is a very laid-back surfer town. Park in one of the public parking lots at the end of Main Street and walk down the vibrant and busy main strip of Huntington as you make your way to the beach. There are tons of bars, beach shops, restaurants, boutiques, and surf companies like Roxy and Quicksilver. Once you hit the beginning of Main Street, cross the Pacific Coast Highway over to the pier. Ruby's Diner is at the very end of it if you'd like to grab a burger.

The beach itself is large and often crowded during peak seasons. Find a spot wherever the surfers are and watch them do their thing in the best surf beach in California. Along the beach you can rent bikes and beach toys, schedule surf lessons, and play volleyball on the provided beach courts. The volleyball courts are great places to meet fellow college grads! They are always filled with friendly people willing to share a game.

When the sun goes down and you're tired of the sand, head back up Main Street and visit one of the many bars for drinks and nightlife. These bars are always packed with young twenty-somethings at night, so they're great places to meet new people. If you'd rather have a more laid-back night, make a bonfire in one of the provided beach firepits and roast some s'mores! Who doesn't love a good beach bonfire?

My favorite day to visit Huntington Beach is on Sundays. A small farmers market is located just to the right of the pier. These booths are filled with all sorts of interesting things to buy: seashells, mermaid jewelry, terrariums, doggy sunscreen, and lots of tie-dye. As the sun is setting, a drum circle begins on the northern steps of the pier. Everyone is invited, bring your own drum and join in! Dozens of locals and tourists beat to drums and dance to the rhythm.

Here is a map of Orange County Beaches in case you get lost along the PCH!

Orange County Beaches
Photo Credit: OC Almanac 

Santa Monica

Santa Monica Pier and Downtown
Photo Credit: Ron Niebrugge

Located just West of Los Angeles, this beach is great for grads looking for a more urban beach scene. Santa Monica is beach meets LA meets amusement park. There are miles of tourist friendly roads lined with shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Lounge on the beach during the day, and then head down one of the many streets at night when the city comes alive. The pier's amusement park also lights up at night, with a roller coaster and brightly spinning ferris wheel.

For some of Los Angeles' best shopping, check out Santa Monica Place and (my personal favorite) Third Street Promenade.