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- Head to Santa Cruz’s Famous Boardwalk. Located a little under two hours south of San Francisco by car, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is one of the best places to visit around San Francisco for a fun, beachy day.
- Enjoy Gentle Waves at Crissy Field East Beach. Located in the lovely Presidio and sporting stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy Field East Beach is one of the best beaches in San Francisco for families.
- Have Fun at Coyote Point Recreation Area. Found about a half-hour drive south of San Francisco in San Mateo, Coyote Point Recreation Area is one of the best San Francisco beaches for those looking to get active.
- Surf at Pacifica State Beach. Also known as Linda Mar, Pacifica State Beach is one of the best beaches near San Francisco for those looking to ride some waves.
- Coastal San Francisco Peninsula: Pacifica, California. The laid-back beach town of Pacifica is just south of San Francisco. It’s a twenty-minute drive down HWY 1, or SamTrans bus #110 from Daly City BART to the coast.
- Coastal San Francisco Peninsula: Half Moon Bay, California. The town and crescent-shaped bay of Half Moon Bay, California, is about a 45-minute drive from downtown San Francisco.
- San Francisco North Bay: Muir Beach, California. A scenic drive north over the Golden Gate Bridge, through the Marin Headlands going west of Muir Woods National Monument on HWY 1, brings you back to the Pacific Ocean coastline.
- San Francisco North Bay: Stinson Beach, California. Continue traveling twenty minutes north on HWY 1 to arrive at the small beach town of Stinson Beach.
- Half Moon Bay
- Bodega Bay
- Pacific Grove
- Crescent City
- Fort Bragg
- Carmel-by-the-Sea
- Stinson Beach
- Eureka
- Santa Cruz: Northern California Beach Towns
- Mendocino
Even though it is only about 1 hour south of San Francisco, you'll feel like you are in a different world when you visit Half Moon Bay. This beautiful area will give you a wide range of activities no matter what you like to do, including horseback riding, hiking, cycling, bird watching, golfing, cruising along a bike, or sunbathing, depending on th...
Another delightful beach town that is well worth the visit is Bodega Bay. I love this one because, depending on our route, you can either cruise the whole way by the coast or hit the wine country on the way. You will find great ocean views, and the beach here is beautiful. You can even take horseback rides on the beach if you want. What makes the v...
If you decide to go in the other direction, you will find the beautiful town of Pacific Grove about 2 hours south of SF. This is another one of the gorgeous northern California beach towns as its population is only about 15,000. Pacific Grove is one of the most peaceful locations you will find anywhere. Their cute downtown area offers several great...
Heading back up north, we go towards Crescent City, about a 6-hour drive away from San Francisco. It is another small northern California beach town with about 7,000 people in it and is mostly a stopping point as people travel back and forth from Oregon to California. However, don't let that stop you from visiting, as it is full of wonders and grea...
The first thing that you will hear from other people when you mention Fort Bragg is "Are you going to visit Glass Beach?" As you can guess, that is because there is a beach with all kinds of colored glass on it. Luckily, the waves have worn down the glass, which is rounded and quite beautiful. This small town is also full of cute stories, great par...
Just about 15 minutes south of Pacific Grove, you have the tiny beach town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, with a population of around 3,000 residents. Even though it's small, you will find a lot of fun things to do here. You can do a little shopping, check out their incredible art galleries, or do a little wine tasting. The historic Carmel Mission is here a...
Like many Northern California coastal towns, Stinson Beach has its roots in the late 19th century during the region's rise in dairy farming. Just over half an hour's drive from the Golden Gate Bridge, the town is now a popular vacation destination for people looking to spend time away from the city. The beach is a major attraction because it's wide...
Among the larger northern California coastal cities in California, Eureka has a rich history and played a significant role in the logging industry that drove much of the region. Founded on Humboldt Bay in the middle of the 19th century, the city was also involved in the California Gold Rush. Before that, it had been home to the indigenous Wiyot peo...
Sitting in a prime spot overlooking Monterey Bay, about 1.5 hours south of San Francisco, is the famous and thriving city of Santa Cruz. With a choice of stunning beaches on a spectacular coastline, this city has a rich cultural history and one also famed for its surf culture. The historic Boardwalk, which dates from 1907, cemented the city's popul...
A fascinating small town on a headland surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Mendocino has become a popular tourist destination despite having a population of only around 1000 people. This charming Northern California coastal town offers a surprising number of guest houses and bed and breakfast options, and the small and secluded beach is a great place ...
- Baker Beach. Baker Beach sits on the west coast of the historic Presidio, beneath dramatic cliffs with the Golden Gate Bridge nestled just up the coast.
- China Beach. China Beach is a quaint beach between the larger Baker Beach and the iconic Lands End. The small beach is located in the scenic Sea Cliff neighborhood with a parking lot and stairs to the water.
- Mile Rock Beach. Looking for a scenic hike with ocean views? Mile Rock Beach is best known for its breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge and Point Reyes National Seashore views.
- Funston Beach. Funston Beach features dramatic sandy bluffs and beautiful trails. Off-leash dogs are allowed, so you’ll see many happy pups frolicking around when you visit.
- Baker Beach, San Francisco. Baker Beach boasts a setting that is unlike any other place in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands form a postcard-perfect backdrop for this beach, tucked away behind serpentine-rock cliffs and surrounded by Mediterranean shrubs, native flowers, and a grove of Monterey cypress.
- Ocean Beach, San Francisco. Powerful waves crash along a wide expanse of fine white sand at San Francisco's Ocean Beach. Despite its location next to a busy road, Baker Beach feels wild and pristine.
- Stinson Beach, Marin County. Getting to Stinson Beach is half the fun. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, the mountainous Highway One route affords marvelous ocean views from every hairpin turn.
- Crissy Field East Beach, San Francisco. When the weather is sunny, locals flock to Crissy Field East Beach for recreation and relaxation. Windy weather (which is common) brings out windsurfers and kite-boarders, who glide across the waves propelled by their colorful sails.
Jun 5, 2024 · 8. Rockridge. Photo by Jordan Park, courtesy of Visit Oakland. This small tree-lined stretch of College Avenue in Oakland is a quirky and fun way to spend an afternoon. Go shopping down the main street filled with indie bookstores, gourmet cafes, home goods outlets, vintage clothing shops, and excellent restaurants.
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Aug 27, 2024 · 10. Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz has to be on the list of best beach cities in California because it has the lively beach culture of L.A.’s Santa Monica, with a smaller-town feel. Santa Cruz is about 75 miles south of San Francisco and is a very popular destination for Northern Californians.
