I grew up in Seattle and moved to San Diego about a year ago. Prior to my decision to move, I had never visited a California beach – or any beach for that matter that wasn’t in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle may be known for a lot of things – coffee, Bill Gates, evergreen trees and, of course, rain – but beaches are not one of the Emerald City’s strong points. Not only is it often too wet and cold to truly enjoy a day at the beach but a Washington beach is composed primarily of pointy rocks and is often battered by brisk winds under grey skies.
While this is a typical look for a Washington beach throughout much of the year, it's not necessarily the norm in summer. My mom, who lives just north of Seattle, took this photo earlier this week.
There's no denying that Seattle can have gorgeous weather on occasion during the summer. However, there's still those pesky rocks in place of soft sand and the water still feels glacial.
On my first trip to scout out San Diego last year, I visited a true beach on my first day. There was warm sunshine, soft sand and people relaxing outside. It was the first week of March and the scene I had just witnessed could never have occurred in Seattle, where people were still bundling up in winter coats and dreaming about the elusive sunshine. My mind was made up right away; San Diego’s beaches had won me over and I started making plans to head down the West Coast!
Once I officially moved to San Diego last August, I made visiting the beach a regular occurrence. I frolicked in the waves in the middle of October, took a walk on the beach on New Year’s Day and spent several spring days exploring the piers. Needless to say, this Seattlite feels right at home with the warm sunshine and gentle ocean breeze of San Diego.
The Cardiff State Park near San Diego in October 2010 on a beautiful "autumn" day.
The view Pacific Beach at sunset from the pier near San Diego in January 2011.
To capture your very own Ocean Breeze, enter our July giveaway for your chance to win a selection of bath and body products in the relaxing scent of a day at the beach or shop our 25% Ocean Breeze sale. Both end July 31.
We would love to hear from you to find out more about what makes your favorite beach so special! Share your beach experience in a blog comment to enter to win a $10 gift card to SJ Creations. The comment contest ends on Thursday, July 28 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Winner will be chosen by random drawing.
My favorite beach is in Lincoln City, Oregon. We usually find at least one time a year to make the 6 hour drive. We have been in Lincoln City for 90 degree days and during winter storms and it is always breathtaking and relaxing to watch the massive ocean from our hotel window. We love to watch the waves crash over the mighty boulders sticking out of the ocean and the seagulls and kites flying by our window. I can’t wait to go for our next visit.
This post makes sure makes me miss San Diego! Such pretty photos. My favorite beach, however, has to be Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles – the sand is so soft and it’s always where we go to meet our friends in the summer!
Long Beach Island, New Jersey because that’s where my husband proposed to me 4th of July weekend 2010 at dusk overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. We got married last month and then he took me back there this 4th of July to commemmorate our 1 year proposal anniversary.
I live in Florida so we have world class beaches almost everywhere. Voted the best in the US is Sanibel Island Beach. Pure white sugar sand and gorgeous water all year long. It truly is the best beach in the country.
My favorite beach experience is when I was younger and our family would travel to Hawaii! My sister and I would spend hours relaxing and playing in the sand and ocean! So much fun!
We had a favorite beach on Grand Bahama Island that was half way down the island away from everything. White sands and turquoise waters.
Murrells Inlet is a small fishing village in South Carolina. It is on the salt march but we take the boat over to the “beach”. It’s not touristy at all but it’s less than 20 minutes from Myrtle Beach when you want more cation. It also has the best seafood anywhere!!
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My favorite beach is Daytona Beach…so much excitement at race time and even when there are no races! It’s a classic!!
My favorite beach is 3rd beach outside of LaPush Washington. It is a small cove difined by the huge pillar rocks so we are able to walk from end to end. I’ve spent hours combing the beach for agates and beautiful rocks to polish and small driftwood that I just like for the heck of it. It’s quite a hike to the beach and at the end it’s practically straight up and down.
Living in San Diego, you can’t bet the wide variety of beautiful beaches! But I headed back East to the South Jersey shore this past month and there’s nothing like the vast, soft beaches of Avalon…and the water’s soooo much warmer. There’s something incredibly comforting about walking through the dunes and as the beach opens up, seeing all the families enjoying their time together.
Mary W. – I LOVE Sanibel…I’m quite the pro at the Sanibel Stoop
My favorite beach memory…. there are so many… I am a California Gal.. Born and raised. Going to the Beach was a long trip, but always fun. We have a Family outing every year in Morro Bay, and taking my Grand Daughter there to see the water and play is my recent favorite memory. She enjoyed it, but maybe not as much as Gamaw. Teaching her to build castles and collecting shells. Yep.. that is a good one.
Thanks for letting me share that one.
DK
I went to The Outerbanks (OBX) in North Carolina with my 8th grade class about 8 years ago! We went to the Wright Brothers National Memorial and saw a full-scale reproduction of the Wright Brothers plane, Jockeys Ridge State Park (a 426 acre park that has the largest natural living sand dune on the East Coast.), Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and many other places. It was one of the best trips I’ve ever been on and will never forget it! : ) If you’ve never been, you should definitely go. All of the beaches are free to enter and have lots of free public parking. The national and state parks are also free along with the bridges and ferries. There are miles and miles of beaches and there are 4 Islands with their own lighthouses.
I LIKE JONES BEACH- FIND IT TO BE THE CLEANEST IN NY
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My favorite beach activity as a child was when my dad and I made sand castles, it was just so much fun. He did it the best of anyone I know!!! He was so meticulous everything had to be just right. THEN when it was time to leave we take a picture of the family and then we would all stomp on it.
My favorite beach is Paradise Island in the Bahamas but since I don’t get their too often I would say Ocean City MD since it is only 3.5 hours from me.
Living in San Diego, the beaches here are beautiful but my favorite beach is in Half Moon Bay! There’s also a beach off the 1 bear HMB that you need to climb down along the cliff but it’s amazing. The sand is so light and clean and it’s almost like a hidden away paradise, untouched from the world!
well I haven’t been to a lot of beaches, but I, too, love your post, as it takes me back to San Diego! we had a lot of fun going to beaches in San Diego when we visited before kids came along. I loved the beach in San Diego near our hotel (The Dana by the Bay). ahhhh we need to go back! thanks for the great post!
Growing up we spent a lot of time at South Padre Island. Now that I am a mom, we still try to get there for at least a day every year if not more. I love that it’s close to home & almost always warm. The water is perfect for swimming (not too cold) and the sand is great for building sandcastles!
I loved Miami Beach! Clean, great shells,sea glass and warm water!