Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Beaches in Central California

While Southern California hosts some of the trendiest beaches on the West Coast, their beaches are also the most crowded and commercialized. Visitors who travel a little further north will find that Central California hosts many beaches that are gorgeous and perfect for a myriad of activities.

Snap a Stunning Photograph at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur

In the most dramatic collision of the North America and the Pacific Ocean, photo opportunities are plentiful. While traveling through Big Sur, every turnout on Highway 1 is a photo opportunity as are landmarks like the Pigeon Point Lighthouse and the Bixby Bridge. Pfeiffer Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches to visit in Big Sur Area, not to mention there are several striking offshore rock formations to photograph. For more information on Big Sur, visit http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org.

Step Back into the Past at the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk

Situated on a mile long beach, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a family pleasing combination of classic amusement park rides, games, shops and food. The Giant Dipper Wooden Roller Coaster (1924) and Looff Carousel (1911) are both national historic landmarks. On the boardwalk classic amusement park food such as corn dogs and cotton candy are sold. Step off the boardwalk and you are on the beach where you can watch the waves crash or join a sand volleyball game. Return to the Boardwalk to visit the Casino Arcade, putt a round of putt-putt golf at Neptune’s Kingdom, or challenge each other to a game at Boardwalk Bowl. For more information about prices and hours of operation, visit www.beachboardwalk.com.

Go Birdwatching at Morro Bay

Places to observe our feathered friends in Morro Bay abound. Rent a kayak and paddle alongside pelicans and seagulls bobbing in the waves. Go beachcombing along with Morro Bay’s feathered population. One of the unique places to watch birds is at the Morro Rock bird sanctuary, the home of peregrine falcons and other birds. At 576 feet tall and covering over 50 acres at the base, Morro Rock is known at the Gibraltar of the Pacific. Morro Bay State Park has a saltwater estuary that supports a large variety of birds. In January, Morro Bay hosts a bird watching festival. Over 200 birds were spotted during the 2006 Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival. Thirteen of the 200 seen are considered to be rare or uncommon. An online visitor guide for Morro Bay is available at http://www.morrobay.org/.

Play in the Sand on Pismo Beach

The fine grained sand of Pismo is ideal for crafting a masterpiece sand castle. Tiny details that cannot be etched into coarser grains can be etched into Pismo sand sculptures. Volleyball nets are set up near the pier. An eight mile stretch of sand dunes is open to ATVs and other off road vehicles. Also, as the home of the Pismo Clam, Pismo beach is also a great place to bring a shovel and a bucket to go clamming. Stop by the Splash Cafe for the best clam chowder in town to refuel after a long day of playing in the sand. Visit http://www.classiccalifornia.com/ for an online visitor’s guide to Pismo Beach.