Pacific Ocean

    If you’re headed to California for vacation, you’re probably planning to sneak a peek at the glorious Pacific Ocean. With the clean sandy beaches and the abundant marine wildlife, it’s easy to see why so many Tourists and locals make the beach a regular destination. Armed with a Pacific Ocean map, let’s go over the different regions of California and the highlights of the Pacific Ocean. 

    Starting in the southern parts of California’s Pacific Ocean shores nearer to San Diego and Mexico, you might want to stop and enjoy places like Ocean Beach and Dog Beach. Ocean Beach is known as one of the hippest beaches, with areas for swimming as well as always colorful characters. At Dog Beach, you’re allowed to bring your canine companions on the beach, which is something that most California beaches prohibit. Look for these two on your Pacific Ocean map.

    If you’re interested in glamour on your Pacific Ocean excursion, you’ll want to head up to Malibu and see the Hollywood stars that make this gorgeous beach their home. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of vacation rentals, but there are miles of wetlands as well as comfortable beaches. These beaches are also perfect for watching birds and looking for wildlife. For saltwater fishing, this area is one of the prime spots on any Pacific Ocean map. 

    Moving on up the Pacific Ocean map, you’ll find the beaches of Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach and Big Sur. These areas have family friendly beaches that also have great spots for whale watching and wildlife pictures. Santa Barbara beaches are clean and touristy and have a walking trail that is nice to fit in some exercise. Pismo Beach is divided into two areas. One side you will find a recreational vehicle area with year-round dune-buggiers and quad riders. A bit farther north, is the tourist and family-friendly area where collecting sea-shells and building sand-castles is a regular activity for tourists and locals alike. A more secluded Big Sur, will take you along a breathtaking drive on curvy Highway one. The drive is as impressive as the beach. And you can’t miss Monterey or Carmel with their calm Pacific Ocean waters and warm temperatures. You’ll also be able to catch some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world from these areas.

    But if you’re a surfer or you like rougher waters, you’ll want to head further up the Pacific Ocean map to Northern California. Because of the cooler waters, the water tends to be more turbulent, which is great for anyone that wants to catch a wave, but it’s also quite hospitable for sharks. However, if you’re looking for a great place to spot some whales, you should head to Point Reyes Seashore and Mendocino. These quiet coastal towns on the Pacific Ocean have a number of quaint bed and breakfasts that are just steps from the beach.

    The Northern California beaches aren’t recommended for families that want to take their children swimming as the Pacific Ocean as the waters are quite dangerous with riptides and various marine life, as well as colder temperatures. However, there are plenty of natural features that you can enjoy in this part of the Pacific Ocean map. For example, Goat Rock State Park located just south of Jenner has two separate beaches that are great for watching monstrous waves as well as harbor seals from March to October.