Living on the west coast of the U.S. may be something many people take for granted. There are over 1,000 miles of beaches along the coast of California, so why not spend the time to take a longer drive and discover the beauty of them all? Out of the 118 beach cities in CA, I decided to visit 2 of them in 2 consecutive weekends: Malibu and Laguna Beach.
My first destination was a bit isolated beach located in the northern CA city of Malibu. Point Dume is a state beach with its symbolic rock that stands as a cliff about 100 feet tall. The beach was very windy with some rough waves, but it’s a beautiful spot to tan, surf, and have a picnic by the sea. The best part of this beach is hiking up the bluff, which offers beautiful views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Catalina Island, and another Malibu beach, Zuma Beach, on its west side. The ocean color is vividly teal and the views are perfect for photography. If you’re also up for a thrilling activity, Point Dume offers rock climbing on its boulder. For driving directions, click here.
My second destination was the southern CA city of Laguna Beach, located near Newport Beach. Known for its year-round beach resort feeling and mild climate, Laguna Beach will never disappoint. The beach is very pristine with its light-blue ocean and white sand. There are many small streets surrounding the beach with a variety of local restaurants and shops. In addition to the beach, Laguna Beach is known for its art galleries that display works focused on the art of CA. For information on driving directions, click here.
I hope these beaches encourage you to travel a bit further for some worthwhile trips on the west coast.