The beaches of Northern California are stunning. They are dramatic and moody and rocky and cold. If you are crazy, you can surf the wild icy waters. If you are of a more normal constitution, you can sit in the coarse sand or gaze down from the top of a steep cliff and watch the powerful waves crash into the land, with a dull and constant roar.
Most people rave about the sunny warm beaches of Southern California. I agree that the sand is softer, the waves are gentler and the sun is warmer. It is probably pretty groovy to live by one, too. But, let’s be honest, folks. This isn’t the Caribbean…and never will be. If you can’t offer me clear aquamarine water, white sugary sand and reefs filled with colorful corals and fish then I would much rather the moody wildness of the Northern California coast.
But, this is just my take. I’d love to hear your opinion!
Which type of beach is your favorite and why?
Thanks to clairity for the NoCal and mbtrama for the SoCal beach pictures.
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9 Responses
Give me a warm soft sand beach in SoCal over the freezin’ beaches of NoCal anyday. The strands, the people watching, the warm water. It is all better than any beach in SF.
Northern California may be colder and have a little less sun, but it’s much more beautiful. I got married on a cliff over-looking the Big Sur coastline for this very reason.
The thing with sandy beaches is this: they are bad for beachcombing.
Give me a beach where interesting things wash up over a barren stretch of sand any day. I can spend hours looking for semi-precious orange Carnelian stones on Nocal beaches.
I’m a northern California girl at heart. I love the sunny wide sand, but the beauty of the northern beaches wins out over the crowded human parking lots that smell like coconut tanning oil every time.
Do I have to choose? Frankly, I like the diversity that the California coast offers us. Sometimes I enjoy the steaminess and busy step of Southern California as I live in San Diego but other times I really enjoy being in Big Sur and the rugged cliffs with wind that chaps your face where you can go miles without speaking to another person sometimes. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy both! This blog is great and I feel so lucky to have found it and met Patricia Jenkins at Blog World Expo ‘08. Blog on Superstar!
Warmly,
Angie
Founder, Six Figure Moms Club
I vote for the South!! Warm white sand with sand crabs and seashells to search for. What could be better!?! My favorite beach in Southern CA is Summerland beach, just south of Santa Barbara–mellow and beautiful and usually easy, free parking.
I like the big, empty beaches of Northern CA. Pt. Reyes National Seashore is awesome, and if you’re there at a negative tide, you can explore the tide pools of Sculptured Beach, and the Secret Cave.
The true North Coast, where the winter storms slam the sea stacks and water spouts up a hundred feet through blow holes. That is my favorite. After growing up in San Diego my skin has seen WAY too much sun! I’ll take walking for miles on a deserted beach wearing a sweatshirt anyday.
I may have been born in SoCal but I am NorCal all the way. Give me the ever-changing colors of our northern waters and a nice misty day and I am as happy as a clam. On a sunny day you can dip your toes and marvel at the tidal pools, while on a stormy day I could just sit (with a hot mug of tea) and look out on the water forever.