Black's Beach
Black's Beach is a two mile long, sandy strip situated at the base of majestic cliffs up to 300 feet high. It is formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach in that it is jointly owned by the City of San Diego and the State of California. There is a glider port atop the cliff overlooking the beach where hangliders, paragliders and remote controlled gliders can often be seen soaring
Directions:
From the north, take Interstate 5 south to Carmel Valley Road. West on Carmel Valley Road to Pacific Coast Highway. South on Pacific Coast Highway to Torrey Pines State Beach. A paid parking lot is available with 450 spaces, including eight disabled parking spaces. Walk south from this lot approximately one mile using caution regarding the unstable cliffs above and tidal conditions which may obstruct passage.

Carlsbad State Beach
While the 35 mile drive from San Diego to Carlsbad may seem a little more than daunting on a summer weekend, there are a few gems waiting at the other end to keep visitors and families content including world-class La Costa Resort and Spa. Carlsbad beaches offer numerous activities from swimming, surfing and skin diving to windsurfing, camping, birdwatching, hiking and kayaking. Carlsbad State Beach, about five miles in length, has picnic areas on the beach and above on the bluff. Walk along the coast or take a short walk on the nearly mile long seawall/walkway adjoining the beach, beginning one block south of Carlsbad Village Drive. Carlsbad State Beach is located at 100 Tamarack Ave.
Directions:
From the south, take Interstate 5 north to the Tamarack Avenue exit, turning left on Tamarack Avenue. From the north, take Interstate 5 south to the Tamarack Avenue exit, turning right on Tamarack Avenue. Best bet is to find street parking near the beach, which is fairly plentiful. Or try the lot on Tamarack Avenue, but get there early on weekends if you want to find a space. The Amtrak "Coaster", which travels up the coast from San Diego is a good option for beach goers who are looking for a more leisurely trip. It drops passengers off a few blocks from the beach.

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Grandview Beach
Grandview Beach is a unit of the State Park System and is operated by the City of Encinitas as Leucadia State Beach. Still, a beautiful carved wood sign announces your arrival at Grandview Beach. Accessible by a set of stairs situated on a bluff above the ocean, it is the northernmost in a series of Encinitas beaches. Looking out to the beach through the framed palms, you feel like you've found paradise.
Directions:
To find this somewhat hidden jewel, look for the beach access signs along Highway 101. Take Leucadia Boulevard west to its end at Neptune. There isn't much beach for stretching out on and none at high tide. There are no restroom facilities either. The bluffs along this stretch are worth the visit, but unstable, so use caution.

La Jolla Shores
The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club , is one mile of shoreline that includes parks, picnic areas and a boardwalk partially following the length of beach---great for walking, jogging, bicycling or rollerblading. La Jolla Shores attracts travelers from the nearby La Jolla hotels as well as locals year-round for the swimming, surfing, scuba diving and some of the most picturesque views of the Pacific. La Jolla Shores is a short distance from downtown La Jolla, the Beverly Hills of San Diego, which boasts high-end clothiers, hotels, shops and galleries. The sheer beauty and flat expanse of La Jolla Shores makes it a great place to stroll, picnic or toss a Frisbee while enjoying the waves breaking on the beach. Children will enjoy the modern playground with a bathroom (showers and changing area) at the south end of the beach. La Jolla Shores is also rich with marine life that is protected by the San Diego La Jolla Ecological Reserve . Scuba diving and kayaking takes place at the south end of the beach. Lifeguards are stationed year-round. Pick up deli supplies at the small shopping area a couple blocks east of La Jolla Shores.
Directions:
From the north, travel Interstate 5 south, taking the La Jolla Village Drive exit, west. Turn left at Torrey Pines Road and follow it to La Jolla Shores Drive. If you are coming from the south, take Interstate 5 north, exiting at Ardath Road. Make a right at La Jolla Shores Drive. Turn left at Avenida de la Playa. Turn right on Camino del Oro. La Jolla Shores has one large parking lot at the foot of Calle Frescota, near the lifeguard station. However, parking is scarce after 9 or 10 a.m. most summer days. Best to arrive early or late. Street parking is available as well, but also fills quickly.

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Mission Beach
Mission Beach is nearly two miles of ocean that lies between Mission Bay to the east and Pacific Beach to the north. Filled with upscale pastel colored homes and condos with a measure of old style cottages and beach apartments it is a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The boardwalk at Mission Beach offers up some of the best people watching in all of San Diego. From joggers, bicyclists, rollerbladers and casual strollers to lots of local flavor in the form of tattoos, piercings and exotic pets, this place is a real scene most weekends. Locals in particular enjoy this beach, which is teeming with both land and water activities.

Moonlight Beach
Moonlight State Beach, a half mile from the downtown community of Encinitas offers all the fine beach perks that make for a nice day on the beautiful Pacific Ocean, including picnic areas with tables, lifeguards, restrooms, fire rings, volleyball courts and public parking. And of course Moonlight State Beach has some fine surfing. Moonlight State Beach is a family/locals kind of beach that is flat, sandy and perfect for a beach picnic and a day of sunning. The athletically inclined will find some serious volleyball happening at the three beach courts. Encinitas has a flea market each weekend. Pick up snacks and picnic items from downtown or grab a bite to eat at The Encinitas Café (531 South Highway 101) which serves American style food and breakfast all day long.
Directions:
Take Interstate 5 to Encinitas Boulevard and drive West . Encinitas Boulevard turns into "B" Street after crossing Highway 101. The beach is located at the end of "B" Street. Moonlight State Beach has a public parking lot above the beach that usually has ample spaces. However, during the summer, it can fill up. Arrive early or you may end up parking on the street. Or, for those with some time on their hands take the Amtrak "Coaster" train up the coast to Encinitas. The station is about 5 blocks from the beach.

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Oceanside Beach
The City of Oceanside's beach and harbor are enjoyed by locals, families and tourists alike. Oceanside's wide expanse of sandy, palm covered beach is perfect for swimming, sunbathing, surfing or simply romping in the blue Pacific Ocean. The beach is adjoined by "The Strand", a main street that is excellent for strolling, rollerblading or bike riding. Volleyball courts are set up along the beach and the pier is considered an excellent spot for surf fishing. Oceanside City Beach has lifeguards, restrooms, a snack bar and disability access. Restaurants and assorted sundries are available at nearby Cape Cod Village.
Directions:
Take Interstate 5 North from San Diego to Coast Highway. Paid lots are located on both sides of the pier. There is also a cheaper lot east of the railroad tracks or park for free along "The Strand", the main street adjoining the beach.

Pacific Beach
Has the essence of a true California beach town with brilliant year-round sunshine and blue ocean swells that greet sandy beaches and boardwalks. This small, colorful community is an eccentric mix of surfers, local beach bums, college students, professionals and families. A few blocks west of Pacific Beach is a fun jumble of surf shops, taco stands, craft galleries and smoke shops flavored with a hint of tie dye. Architecture is varied with 30's style beach front cottages housed next to large upscale earth-toned condos. Expect ultra casual and zero attitude in Pacific Beach.

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Swami's Beach
Swami's Beach in Encinitas is located below Seacliff Roadside Park, a region that includes a parking lot, public restrooms, set of scenic, wooden steps perched on a hill high above the Pacific Ocean and sand beach that are part of Swami's. Named for the Self-Realization Fellowship Retreat, Gardens and Hermitage located a few hundred yards north on Highway 101, this beach is a local favorite for surfing.  On most mornings and evenings, you can stand on the steps and watch the surfers walk by in a steady stream. Young surfers who mount their bicycles and old surfers who hop into their cars and drive appear to own the finest boards and body suits. They take their surfing seriously and Swami's holds a reputation for providing some of the best waves on the San Diego coastline.

Torrey Pines
Beautiful sandstone cliffs rise up 300 magnificent feet from the Pacific Ocean to greet miles of walking paths along the bluffs at Torrey Pines State Beach. Hiking trails take visitors through the reserve among the Torrey Pine, (one of the rarest varieties of pine in the United States), wild flowers and other plants and animals with panoramic views of the Pacific below.
Directions:
Torrey Pines State Beach is located at North Torrey Pines Road. Take the Carmel Valley Road exit off of I-5 heading north from San Diego. Park for free along 101 to the north and then walk south onto the beach. Or pay a small fee and park high above the beach on the cliffs to enjoy the hike down to the sparkling Pacific Ocean.

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Windansea Beach
Down the hill, past La Jolla's ritzy homes, hotels, boutiques and restaurants, lies Windansea beach, flanked by surfers and sunbathers on hot summer days. Windansea with its sandstone cliffs, sandy beach and incredible surf breaks, has been a popular surfing haunt as far back as the 1940s and a gathering spot of the Windansea Surf Club since the 1960s. The shack on the beach, built by surfers during World War II is now a San Diego Historic site. Windansea is also a great body surfing and snorkeling area. The north end of the beach is fairly rocky and the south is sandier, good for a nice walk along the water's edge. Or, enjoy a picnic in the grass next to the beach and take in the awe-inspiring views of the Pacific.
Directions:
Windansea is located at 6800 Neptune Place.
From the north, follow Interstate 5 south to the Genesee Avenue exit and head west. Turn left on Torrey Pines Road. Follow it into downtown La Jolla. Turn left on Girard Avenue and then make a right on Pearl Street. Next, turn left onto La Jolla Boulevard. Make a right on Nautilus Street.
From the south, follow Interstate 5 north to the Ardath Road exit. Ardath Road becomes Torrey Pines Road. Turn left from Torrey Pines Road onto Girard Avenue. Make a right on Pearl Street and then turn left onto La Jolla Boulevard. Turn right on Nautilus Street. Park on the street or try the single tiny lot at the beach.

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