4 Awesome Beaches to Visit This Summer in Southern California

The sun is shining and the waves are crashing! It is officially summer time on the beautiful coast of Southern California. If you are planning to road trip for the summer then you should plan your journey along the Pacific Coast Highway. PCH runs along the whole coast of California where you can make stops along the way to check out the beautiful beaches. Here are some awesome beaches to soak up the sun in SoCal along the Pacific Coast Highway.

Carpinteria State Beach

Carpinteria is a small beach town located south of Santa Barbara. It is a very popular state beach due to its beautiful stretch of white sand, tide pools, and camping sites. Its calm waters allow you to swim in the middle of the ocean or practice your stand up paddle boarding skills. This family-friendly beach offers large picnic areas which are perfect for hosting a family BBQ. The town center is located within walking distance of the beach so you can easily find beachside accommodations and really delicious restaurants to grab a bite and drinks. Make sure to stay to catch the sunset – you will thank me later for that!

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El Matador State Beach

If you want to feel like the ultimate explorer for a day, make a stop at El Matador State Beach in Malibu. What makes this beach so adventurous is its numerous caves that you can explore! The rock formations and arches are quite a sight to see. This beach is a very popular site for photography enthusiasts. There is no better background for your pictures than natural caves at the edge of the ocean.

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Venice Beach

Photo: Unsplash/@brandonstotts

Venice Beach is perhaps one of my favorite places in the world. This one-of-a-kind beach city has a unique vibe. It is best known to be the hippie artist beach of Los Angeles. On the boardwalk there are numerous shops, restaurants, and bars. You will also find street performers – anything from break dancers to acoustic guitar players. During the weekends there are tent vendors showcasing and selling their art. Walk to the main area on Venice and you will bump into the famous muscle beach, graffiti walls, and skate park. It’s best to head to Venice with an open mind because you never know what you will see!

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Laguna Beach

If you google Laguna Beach you will see endless pictures of its beautiful aqua blue waters. You have plenty of beaches to choose from along the coast of Laguna Beach. Head over to Heisler Park where you will feel like you are in the middle of a Caribbean Island rather than the coast of California. This park is surrounded by beautiful palm trees which provide plenty of shade for you to relax under. If you are in the mood for hiking and inspirational views, visit Crescent Bay Point Park. There you can also do activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Are you into surfing? Then Aliso Beach Park is the spot to check out. Laguna Beach is a California gem that has something for everyone.