Billy Crafton San Diego Beaches: Two Favorites
Coronado Beach
Ask me what my favorite San Diego beach is, and I’ll promptly suggest you pay a visit to Coronado. And if you’ve seen Marilyn Monroe’s iconic 1958 film “Some Like it Hot,” you’ll likely feel a sense of deja vu upon arrival.
That’s because the beach’s backdrop is the famous Hotel del Coronado, prominently featured in the film.
Of course, while the hotel serves as the sentimental backdrop, the water with an abundance of beach space is what really makes Coronado a standout — and the sparkling sand, courtesy of the mineral mica’s natural occurrence, adds a cherry atop this sundae.
Not to mention that Coronado itself is arguably the best place to visit in all of San Diego, and speaking from experience, is one of the best romantic getaways in all of California.
Learn more about Coronado Beach over at the official San Diego website.
— QUICK NOTABLES —
- No Alcohol or smoking allowed.
- Coronado tends to be very, very crowded at varying times. It’s an island, with very limited real estate, so anytime you can walk to your destination (including the beach), versus driving, stick with walking.
Pacific Beach
There’s a lot to love about Pacific Beach, let me tell you. First, for my part, it’s a great surfing beach, something I of course go into much more over at Billy Crafton Surfing. It’s definitely one of my favorites in the San Diego area.
But there are plenty of unique little quirks that really help Pacific Beach stand out… like the exceptional three miles of boardwalk, as you see glimpses of in both the incredible sunset photos featured here.
It also has quite an impressive offering of local businesses, so there’s plenty to do. When the day moves to night, however, the P.B. turns into more of a party atmosphere than you’ll likely find at any other beach in the area. That’s what plenty of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs will get you, so it’s a favorite for many young adults and college students.
In addition, Pacific Beach is arguably like no other beach in the San Diego area, thanks to all of its “extras.”
First, there’s a Farmers Market every Tuesday from 3-7 pm. It takes place on Bayard between Garnet Ave and Grand Ave.
According to Pacific Beach’s official website, you’ll find “fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, cheeses, eggs, breads, flowers, sauces, dips, and spreads, along with gourmet dining options & handcrafted artisan works.” It’s a pretty impressive display overall.
Second, there’s the Pacific Beach EcoDistrict, a “community committed to advancing sustainability by targeting eight performance areas: community identity, health and well-being, habitat and ecosystem, access and mobility, appropriate development, energy, water, and materials management.” (again, per the official Pacific Beach website)
It’s a very local community-focused endeavor, and one that will hopefully keep Pacific Beach at the top of the San Diego beach game for many years to come.
For more on Pacific Beach, visit the official San Diego Pacific Beach site, and for more on San Diego itself, click here for our full San Diego Blog.
