One of the primary things that draw people out to Southern California is the promise of beach living. California’s situated along a huge stretch of Pacific coastline, giving it some of the best beaches in the mainland United States. Los Angeles County has incredible beach neighborhoods and cities, like Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and Santa Monica. However, some of the best beaches in the state sit directly south of Los Angeles. That is where San Diego and Orange County are.
These two famous Southern California regions are wildly popular and have some of the country’s most sought-after real estate markets. With incredible beaches, gorgeous year-round weather, and great local cultures, you can’t match what the OC and San Diego lifestyles provide. Let’s look at some of the key features of these two areas and explore the beach living they offer their residents.
San Diego
San Diego is one of the biggest cities in California, located right along the Tijuana border. It is a bustling metropolis but maintains that California charm and a large part of that is the 70 miles of coastline that stretches across San Diego county. Here, you’ll find some of the best surfing in America, gorgeous Pacific views, and incredible aquatic wildlife.
San Diego County has several areas with top-notch beaches. The city of San Diego itself has some incredible waterfront areas. Pacific Beach is an area in San Diego that is incredibly trendy and popular amongst young people. The bars, boutique fashion shops, and delicious food options draw large crowds, and the boardwalk is a popular tourist destination. Ocean Beach is a common hotspot for surfers, and it is another area that caters to hip crowds, with farmers’ markets, yoga studios, and surf boutiques.
North of Pacific Beach, you’ll find La Jolla. La Jolla’s coastline is rockier, giving it a more rugged appearance, but it is one of the San Diego areas with the most sought-after real estate. La Jolla has gorgeous ocean views, great golfing, and top-notch shopping. It is an upper-class, luxurious area that attracts some of the city’s wealthiest residents.
In San Diego County, there are also areas like Carlsbad and Coronado. They aren’t the big cities that San Diego is, but they have incredible beachfront properties. Both are known as premier surfing destinations.
Orange County
Orange County is situated just south of Los Angeles, encompassing urban areas like Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana. However, these are all inland communities not known well for their beaches. However, that doesn’t mean Orange County doesn’t possess some of the best beaches in the state. Huntington, Laguna, and Newport are three beach cities that offer extremely desirable beach real estate.
Huntington Beach has a huge sprawl of white sand beaches that make it one of the most classically scenic Southern California locations imaginable. It is known as one of the capitals of the surfing world, with places like Huntington City Beach constantly filling up with experienced surfers. It is also the site of the International Surf Museum. The city has over 8.5 miles of gorgeous beaches for residents to explore.
Directly beside Huntington Beach is Newport Beach, another beach city that embodies the dream California lifestyle. Newport Beach is a serious destination for luxury buyers, with some of the most expensive homes in the county found here. Newport Beach is a popular city for sailors and yachters, and it has some of the best areas in the country for whale watching. It is also a hotspot for art lovers, with great galleries and museums.
Laguna Beach is the smallest of these three beach cities, but there is still much to do here, particularly for water lovers. Laguna Beach is home to only 23,000 residents, making it something of a small town, but that means the beaches here are quieter than in other bigger cities. Laguna Beach is known for its tide pools, great hiking trails, and scenic beaches. It is one of the best cities in Orange County for hiking and is another real estate market that is incredibly costly. Still, homes in this smaller beach town are gorgeous, and the appeal of a California beach lifestyle remains high.
