2 days ago
Sunbathing Is Not Why You Should Visit These 3 California Beaches In Summer
Forget beach towels and loungers! What if the real attraction is not how many people fit on the beach or where the nearest cocktail bar is?
These beaches along the California coastline are worth a trip for a completely different reason than swimming and sunbathing. Here, the focus is on wildlife, not the people, soaking up the sun.
From elephant seals and seabirds to migrating whales and resident orcas, these destinations offer front-row access to the Golden State's raw, untamed nature up close.
Morro Bay is a coastal city in San Luis Obispo County on California's Central Coast. It is approximately 13 miles west of San Luis Obispo and about 200 miles north of Los Angeles.
Start the morning kayaking in the Morro Bay Estuary, an 800-acre wetland with salt marshes and mudflats. It is home to over 250 species, like sea otters, harbor seals and wading birds. Paddle toward the sandspit and walk along the dunes for amazing views of the bay and Morro Rock.
Kayaking in Morro Bay Estuary in California.
getty
Return to the Embarcadero and stop for a seafood lunch. Morro Bay's culinary scene is deeply rooted in its oyster farming heritage, dating back to 1932. Local farms cultivate Pacific Gold oysters in Morro Bay's nutrient-rich waters, later served fresh in restaurants like The Kicker's.
Add visiting the Morro Bay State Park to hike through salt marshes and coastal trails or walking along the boardwalk through pygmy oaks and chaparral in Elfin Forest to the itinerary.
End the day near Morro Rock to watch the sunset or spot sea lions, cormorants and pelicans living around it.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is approx. 3 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea on California's Central Coast. California State Parks calls it "the crown jewel of the California State Park System."
The Reserve stretches underwater and includes part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Its 70-foot-high kelp forest and marine wildlife, including lingcod, rockfish, harbor seals, sea otters, and sea stars, make the Reserve a famous diving and snorkeling location.
Diving permits for Whalers and Bluefish Cove are limited to ten teams of two per day to protect the area.
After diving, do not say goodbye to the area. Continue above water and explore Cypress Grove Trail and Bird Island Trail to spot sea otters, harbor seals, and California sea lions on the shore.
Have dinner in Carmel-by-the-Sea, known for its fairytale cottages and storybook architecture, much of which was designed by Hugh Comstock in the 1920s.
It boasts a vibrant culinary scene with 60 restaurants, including Michelin-starred Aubergine, offering an eight-course tasting menu. The town also has 18 wine-tasting rooms featuring selections from the vineyards of Monterey County.
Point Reyes National Seashore is in Marin County, Northern California, about 40 miles northwest of San Francisco. It is a protected coastal area known for rugged cliffs, elephant seal colonies and whale watching spots directly along the shore.
One of the best spots to observe elephant seals safely is the Elephant Seal Overlook, where visitors can marvel at the views of Drakes Bay.
Elephant seals in Point Reyes National Seashore
getty
Visiting Point Reyes in spring coincides with the final weeks of elephant seal pupping season, meaning the highest number of pups on the beaches.
However, in summer, male elephant seals return to shore for their annual molting season, shedding their outer layer of skin and fur. This process leaves them resting on the beach for weeks.
National Park Service calls the Point Reyes Peninsula one of the best land-based whale watching on the West Coast.
Elevated viewpoints like the Point Reyes Lighthouse, the end of the Chimney Rock Trail and the Tomales Point Trail provide ideal vantage points for spotting migrating humpback, blue and fin whales, or the resident minke whales and orcas.
California's wildlife-rich coastline is just one example of how beaches can offer more than sun and surf. Seeing camels in Oman, cows in Scotland, or rabbits in Japan are only a few examples of how animals and people share the beach in perfect harmony.
