Neighborhood Beaches Of San Diego, California

There are many well known southern Californian beaches; famous So Cal beaches include those of Malibu, Long Beach, La Jolla and Coronado. However, it is often where the locals go that the best beaches – and beach communities - can be found. In San Diego, neighborhood beaches include those of Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Mission Beach.



Ocean Beach, San Diego: The 'Hidden' Beach Town

Ocean Beach, known locally as 'OB', is the hidden neighborhood beach of the San Diego area; a stone's throw from the popular tourist attraction of Sea World, Ocean Beach is located 7 miles west of downtown San Diego. Ocean Beach has plenty to offer; surfing, antique shopping, fishing and sailing are some of the more energetic activities. To savor the 'laid back' vibe for which Ocean Beach is known for, try Dog Beach (for dog lovers) or hanging out in one of the many local bars and cafes.

Ocean Beach is an old fashioned mix of many communities; hippies, surfers, artists, rich retirees, dog lovers (and dogs) all live side by side in this beach side community. Ocean Beach is reminiscent of beach towns of the 1960's and 1970s. Its unique offerings include many antique shops, a weekly farmer's market on Wednesdays, the OB pier, an annual street fair and chili cook off each June – and, of course, the beach.

Although many have tried to change Ocean Beach to resemble the neighborhood beach communities of Pacific Beach and Mission Beach, locals have rigidly fought to maintain OB's independence and charm from mainstream America. Given its geographic isolation on the southern tip of Point Loma, its likely that Ocean beach will remain a hidden neighborhood beach for a long time to come.

Pacific Beach, San Diego: The 'Hollywood' Beach Town

Pacific Beach, or 'PB', is famous for its Ocean Front Walk, 'the' place to hang out and people watch, much like in the Hollywood movies; it is the place to see and be seen. Pacific Beach is more accessible to popular attractions such as Sea World, Mission Bay and old town San Diego and consequently has succumbed to many conveniences of modern America. In PB, there is the presence of establishments such as Star Bucks, Hooters and Best Western, an almost unfamiliar sight in Ocean Beach.




However, Pacific Beach retains historical charm too with streets lined with palm trees and the 80 year old Tudor Rose Creek Cottage (available for weddings and other celebrations); Pacific Beach is also packed with multi-million dollar homes with cliff top settings, making it a mix of 'old' and 'new' world charm. Other attractions of Pacific Beach include the 1927 Crystal Pier, used-clothing stores, bars, restaurants, people watching, sunset watching, surfing and the beach, which merges with that of Mission Beach.

Mission Beach, San Diego: The 'People-Watching' Beach Town

The neighborhood beach communities of Mission Beach and Pacific Beach merge together to form a larger community; Mission Beach is in the center of The Strand , the most popular beach area in the City of San Diego. Home to the 'original' Tent City in the 1920's, where people were allowed to live on the beach for the entire summer, Mission Beach has now become home to a more affluent society, although both rich and poor still co-exist in the same neighborhood beach communities of San Diego.

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Mission Beach is popular for sailing, jet skiing, surfing, golfing and swimming; the boardwalk, the center of 'people-watching' action, is often the place for a party, close to the Giant Dipper roller coaster. The adjacent Mission Bay Park provides a variety of water sports, in addition to boardwalk activities of cycling and roller blading.

So Cal Neighborhood Beach Communities

Ocean Beach is the place for those seeking a hippie or laid back lifestyle; Pacific Beach and Mission Beach are the places for budding Hollywood starlets and So Cal adventure seekers. However, whichever neighborhood beach of San Diego is chosen, each individual beach town offers its own uniqueness and charm.