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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Beaches


There is a certain comforting sensation that comes from the cry of the circling gull overhead, the rhythm of the waves greeting the shore, and the warmth of the sand between your toes. California, with it's 840 miles of coastline, has some of the greatest beaches in the world. California's tidal shoreline including small bays and inlets is 3427 miles. Find the beach area that is perfect for what you are looking for, whether it is a sandy retreat, private coves perfect for sunbathing, or family-friendly public sands complete with concessions, the Golden State has a beach that fits the bill for all its visitors. The Golden State's  breathtaking coastline, ranges from Hollywood-perfect expanses of smooth sand to dramatically windswept Oceanside cliffs. If your idea of a perfect day involves beach volleyball, building sandcastles, hiking along picturesque seaside trails or catching a wave, you can find it all at California’s many beaches. The California coastline offers rugged cliffs and sun soaked beaches.
highway 101 along the California coastline You'll find a variety of activities and sites along the coast and you can spend as little or as much time as you want exploring them. Although you'll want to drive some of the coastal roads, don't forget to stop to see the sights up close as well.

Highway 101 plays tag with the Pacific above Humboldt Bay through the Redwood National and State Park to Crescent City. You’ll find miles of sandy beaches, tide pools, hiking trails galore, elk herds roaming around Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, and a lovely 10-mile drive along the coast and within the redwoods on the Newton Drury Scenic Parkway. The coast is home to a variety of wildlife species. Hundreds of different bird species can be found in Morro Bay State Park and sea otters can often be sighted north and south of San Simeon.

The best public-access beaches are part of the Pope-Baldwin Recreational Area, which begins just west of the Y intersection with U.S. 50. Expect to pay $3 to $5 to park at most public beaches, such as pretty Pope Beach and the beach at Camp Richardson. Camp Richardson’s Beacon Bar and Grill is the ideal place to enjoy a sunset Rum Runner because the patio is right on the sand, just a stone’s throw, literally, from the water.
Take a boat cruise to get a different view of the coast of California. You'll find various tours departing up and down the coast of California. Whether you want to see whales, birds or sea caves, you'll find a boat tour for you. Enjoy an afternoon or a sunset cruise. California's general coastline is 840 miles long. Along much of the coast, the Coast Ranges rise from the shore in steep cliffs and terraces. Southern California has many wide, sandy beaches.

The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is a dream in the making: when completed, it will be a 1,200 mile, continuous trail stretching along the California coastline from Mexico to Oregon. This dream started with the simple idea that the whole California coastline belongs to all of us, and should be accessible to everyone who will enjoy it with respect. Unfortunately, although our shoreline is universally considered to be a national treasure and one of California's great draws, much of it remains fenced-off, over-built, or otherwise inaccessible. Through a great deal of effort, the tide is slowly turning, and each year a bit more of the Trail becomes available to those who want to enjoy it while helping to preserve it.
waterfall at Big Sur, a nrrow strip of paradise in California Big Sur is a narrow strip of paradise, ninety miles long and twenty wide, it holds a romance and fascination in its very name. The Spanish, beholding the cliffs from their ships offshore, felt a nameless dread emanate from the rocky coastline south of Monterey. El Sur Grande, they called it, the Big South. Their dominion over it was strictly on paper. But only a self-protecting kind of landscape could possibly have carried so much purity intact into our compromised times. Wilderness is still the essence of the place. Offshore, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary guards against oil-drilling platforms and other trespasses. On land, the huge Ventana Wilderness protects ninety-five percent of the land. The few humans who dwell in the Big Sur seem to be here on sufferance, welcome so long as they live quietly and with respect. Beaches in the Big Sur aren't the wide, sunburned strands you may be accustomed to. They require a bit more effort to reach and can be fog-shrouded in summer, but their dramatic charms will stay with you for years nonetheless. Swimming on most ocean beaches in Big Sur is not advised due to rip currents, sleeper waves and cold water temperatures. Much safer swimming, tubing and boating can be enjoyed in summer in the Big Sur River's many waterholes and shallows.
The Monterey Peninsula juts out into the ocean at the south end of Monterey Bay. The bay is the deepest part of the ocean just off the North American coast, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. As a result, it houses one of the most diverse collections of marine animals on the planet. Sea lions, otters, pelicans, gulls, even whales are a major presence and set the tone for life here. At the south end of the peninsula is Carmel-by-the-Sea, one of the sweetest little towns around, and home to one of California’s most stunning beaches.

Another beautiful beach town is Carmel. This high-end haven is among the stars of the California coast, and one of the loveliest towns in all of America. It’s more like an elite artists’ colony than a mass-market tourist town, with galleries and boutiques galore, quaint views or sweeping vistas at every turn, and a relaxed vibe that whispers “away from it all” like sweet nothings in your ear. Carmel exudes charisma by the bucket load. This village displays its assets like a starlet in Cannes, with picture-perfect, cypress-dotted streets gradually leading downhill to one of the most spectacular beaches on the California coast. And 15 minutes away up Carmel Valley Road, the ocean gives way to mountains, ranches, and resorts.

 
 
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