From Salinas and Morro Bay to Summerland and Guadalupe, California is filled with different cities and towns defined by their gorgeous waterfronts or easy access to beaches. California has an incredible 840 miles of Pacific coastline, making it one of the most desirable places to live in the country. From Northern California waterfront cities like Santa Cruz and Watsonville to Southern California communities like Carpinteria and Goleta, the state is filled with an abundance of unique and beautiful beach towns and cities.
While we can’t mention every great beach community in California, as there are too many for any one article to name, we can mention some hidden gems, like Gualala, Cambria, and Lompoc, that may not have the same reputation as bigger cities. Let’s explore some of the many beach communities that make California the great state it is, ranging from smaller unknown towns to major tourism hotspots.
Let’s start with Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Santa Barbara is a Southern California city on the water, with the Santa Ynez Mountains providing a stunning background. It has a classic Californian look and a great history.
Monterey is situated in northern California, with a rocky and rugged coast. It has luxury real estate, turquoise waters, and top-notch restaurants and shops. Carmel-by-the-Sea is near Monterey, famed for its storybook look and historic Spanish traditions. Its village center is a uniquely compelling tourism hotspot.
Other areas in California with beachfront options include Pismo Beach, Del Norte County, and Humboldt County. Pismo Beach is situated on the Central Coast, known for its stunning beaches and trails with ocean views. It is also a destination for wine lovers, with numerous wineries.
Del Norte County is located along the Oregon border at the far north end of the California coast. While it is also known for its forests, its rocky coast is dramatic and stunning. Humboldt County includes great cities like Orick, Trinidad, McKinleyville, Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna, Ferndale, and more. It is on the far north end of the state with rugged wilderness and gorgeous ocean views.
San Luis Obispo, Avila Beach, and Cayucos are three other California gems. San Luis Obispo is a city on California’s central coast famed for its rich history and easy access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the state. It combines hilly landscapes with sandy ocean shores.
Avila Beach is a community not far from San Luis Obispo. It has a small-town feel and a more relaxed vibe and features numerous charming restaurants along the ocean and a sunny year-round climate. Cayucos is another town only a short distance from San Luis Obispo, with a small population and a coastal appeal. It is known as a great surfing town and a welcoming community.
San Simeon, Grover Beach, and Mendocino also provide incredible waterfront lifestyles. San Simeon is a small coastal city sandwiched an equal distance apart from LA and San Francisco. It is famed for the Hearst Castle, a historic architectural wonder, and has great beaches and art.
Grover Beach is a chic community not far from Pismo Beach with breathtaking ocean views. It is a family-friendly community with a gorgeous waterfront area and a low crime rate, all of which make it a perfect small-town California home. Mendocino is a Northern California town known for its rocky cliffs and busy beaches. It has numerous trails and parks that make it a natural wonderland with some of the most dramatic views in the state.
Lastly, we have Fort Bragg, Aptos, and Capitola. Fort Bragg is a city not far to the north of Mendocino along the coast. While it is best known as a military town home to hundreds of thousands of personnel, the town itself is a quaint small community with abundant natural beauty. There are redwood forests, incredible hiking trails, and Glass Beach is renowned for the unique geology of its stones along the shore.
Aptos is a town near Santa Cruz that provides residents a quiet, suburban home along the ocean. Its Northern California location means it has some incredible redwood forests for residents that enjoy a hike, and it has a stunning sandy coastline filled with beaches. Capitola is another northern California city famed for its picturesque colorful homes. It has incredible beaches and restaurants that make it another standout California city.
