Perfect Beach Towns

Stretching for more than 30 miles along the Pacific and Highway One, Malibu has achieved almost mythological status among California beach towns. Hollywood stars and top athletes live in oceanfront homes here, under an elegant veil of privacy on long strands of beach, and enjoy front-row seats for surfing and unforgettable sunsets.

While it may sound exclusive, there is plenty of Malibu magic for visitors to access too. Considered to have some of the most perfect waves anywhere, Malibu’s Surfrider Beach, just off the Malibu Pier, was named the first World Surfing Reserve; nearby Zuma Beach is a sun magnet for locals and families. In winter, Point Dume, at Malibu’s north end, provides an ideal perch for spotting migrating gray whales.

The perfect aesthetics stretch beyond the beach, too. The Getty Villa—the original home of the Getty Museum, which opened in 1974—focuses on Ancient Greek and Roman Art (admission is free, but you need to make a reservation). For more contemporary, beachy masterpieces, check out the 30 historic surfboards on display, some dating back to the 1910s, at the Surf Museum at Pepperdine University’s Payson Library. And for wearable art—and perhaps to spot one of the local celebs—browse the shops at the Malibu Country Mart and Malibu Lumber Yard, two upscale retail centers located next to one another.

Afterward, grab a bite at Malibu Farms, the organic café and restaurant that sits right on the pier. Or browse the fresh catches—and try one of the famed ahi tuna burgers—at Malibu Seafood, right across from Dan Blocker Beach. To spend the night like an insider, get a room at the 47-room Malibu Beach Inn, a former motel located on the so-nicknamed Billionaire’s Beach, which was given its original makeover by Hollywood mogul David Geffen.

Tough as it is to drag yourself away from the ocean, head inland a short distance and you can also hike through hills and canyons, filled with spring wildflowers and even waterfalls, on trails in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. For a cool guided experience, take one of the two-hour Malibu Wine Hikes on the rolling terrain of Saddlerock Ranch vineyard; walks include stops to see Chumash cave drawings, a meet-and-greet with a movie-star giraffe (he was in Hangover 3) and, of course, a wine tasting.

The endless summer was born in Huntington Beach. Surfing forefathers George Freeth and Duke Kahanamoku mastered these waves in the early part of the 20th century, and the U.S. Surfing Championship—now summer’s Vans U.S. Open of Surfing—was first held here in the late 1950s.

To understand how surfing has defined this Orange County city—and earned it the nickname of Surf City USA—step into the city’s International Surfing Museum and immerse yourself in a world of waves, winds, tides, and swells. Even if you never get your toes on the nose, you can still watch locals riding the waves alongside the landmark 1,850-foot-long pier, or browse through Huntington Beach’s wealth of surf shops. Don’t miss a stop at Jack’s Surfboards, a surfing palace that began as a modest shop in 1957. Outside the shop, pay tribute to surfing legends memorialized in granite at the Surfing Walk of Fame. On the opposite corner is Huntington Surf & Sport’s flagship store, home to the Surfers’ Hall of Fame, where the footprints and handprints of surfing’s biggest names are embedded in cement.

Savor the beach life by bicycling along the oceanfront path or watching the pros play volleyball on the sand. Where sea and land meet, go hiking or bird-watching at the restored estuary at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, one of Southern California’s most vital coastal wetland habitats. Or lace up your shoes and run in the annual February Surf City USA Marathon, which also includes a half marathon and 5K. Finishers receive a surfboard-shaped medal after running the flat oceanfront course.

If you’d rather live out your sand-and-sea fantasies without breaking a sweat, sit down to a lunch or dinner at Duke’s, a perennial favorite for coastal views and Hawaiian-style seafood. Or stroll through Huntington’s newest outdoor mall, Pacific City, where you’ll find one-of-a-kind artisanal eats and stylish boutiques—all with an ocean view. Or plop down in a chaise lounge at one of Huntington Beach’s luxurious beach resorts—like the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa, The Waterfront Beach Resort, or Paséa Hotel & Spa (don’t miss Paséa’s rooftop lounge for a sunset cocktail).

The southern origin of California’s Highway 1 winds through some gorgeous locations, like beach town and whale-watching mecca Dana Point. The town has been wooing whale- and dolphin-watchers and water lovers for generations, earning the designation of Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World®. In the 1950s and ‘60s, the right-breaking waves that tended to form here could produce 12-foot surf breaks known as Killer Dana. A short walk away, California’s first surf shop was opened in 1954 by Orange County local Hobie Alter. 

Today, you’ll still find a Hobie Surf Shop on this stretch of Highway 1, two blocks from where the original one was located, plus boutiques and eateries, as well as Baby Beach, Strand Beach, and Salt Creek Beach, as you continue north. Otherwise, the town very much revolves around the harbor, which, when it was constructed in 1966, tamed Killer Dana and created Doheny State Beach. Though a celebrated surfing spot was lost, the formation of the harbor also resulted in abundant options for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, sports fishing, and whale-watching.

Indeed, you can spot giant mammals breaching and frolicking in the waves year-round. Migrating grey whales are seen from November through April, then blue whales from April through October, along with sightings of humpbacks, orcas, fin whales, and minke whales. Take a paddleboard ride—the harbor’s waveless anchorage is especially kind to first-timers—and you might also spot pods of dolphins, sea lions, and seals. There are also several companies that offer dolphin- and whale-watching cruises. Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari will take you out on a high-speed catamaran that is equipped with Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods, which will give you the sensation of swimming underwater with the big fish. Come during the holiday season to double the viewings out on the water: One of the town’s biggest events of the year is December’s Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights.

Many of Dana Point’s hotels and eateries sit on cliffs above the harbor (like the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and the Blue Lantern Inn) or on the water itself, such as the sustainable and locally sourced seafood offered at Waterman’s Harbor, or the mesquite-grilled fresh catches at The Harbor Grill. For a classic view, stroll along the Bluff Top Trail and, while looking out over the water for whales, check out the statue honoring 19th-century hide droghers—tradesmen who literally tossed hides over the cliffs to merchant ships anchored below. And if you’re looking for an ultra-luxe experience, check in at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, a longtime Dana Point oceanfront institution.

Insider tip: Check for music festivals, surfing competitions, and more on the Visit Dana Point upcoming events calendar.

Like an island getaway a stone’s throw from the city, the appealing island community of Coronado feels like a private enclave wrapped with perfect beaches, including ultra-family-friendly Coronado Beach. Besides those soft sands, the island’s crown jewel is the Hotel Del Coronado, built in 1888 and topped by russet red, castle-like turrets. Explore the lobby and grounds on your own, or join a guided tour offered by the Coronado Historical Association; docents share tidbits on the Del’s remarkable history and guest list (including Marilyn Monroe, who starred—alongside the hotel—in the 1959 comedy Some Like It Hot). The Del also serves a sumptuous Sunday brunch, and the Babcock & Story bar is fine for sipping a craft beer with views of the Pacific. Not far from the Del, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort sits on its own 15-acre peninsula and is known both for its water sports and for being especially dog-friendly.

The diminutive island, reached by the arching Coronado Bridge, is easy to explore by bike. Rent one from Holland’s Bicycles to pedal past elegant oceanfront mansions and tended gardens, or visit Orange Avenue, lined with shops, restaurants, galleries, and theatres. More shops and art galleries are located at Ferry Landing, and restaurants like Il Fornaio Coronado and Peohe’s have expansive views of San Diego’s downtown skyline across San Diego Bay.

Travel tip: Traffic on the San Diego-Coronado Bridge can get thick, especially on summer weekends. Flagship Cruises will ferry you from Ferry Landing, across the Bay to the Embarcadero. Water taxis are available too.