Looking for California beach vacation spot

[porque]

I live in (far) Northern California and my brother lives in Southern California, we are hoping to get together this summer at the beach, along with our brother and his family from Texas. I am not really familiar with Central California beaches, but would like a spot that is family friendly with water warm enough to swim in. Ideally we would be close enough that the kids (mostly teens) could walk to the beach from where we are staying. In the past we have stayed in a hotel in Carlsbad which was wonderful, but I am hoping to not have to go so far south this time!

Probably for 2 or 3 nights.

I am thinking that a hotel near the beach might be more affordable then renting a beach house or two? But am open to anything.

Most likely in mid June or early August depending on when family is available and what rentals are available.

Please let me know about your favorite Central California beach vacation spots as well as where to stay near the beach!

 

Thanks!!

Carole

[EmseB]

The water is pretty cold, even as far south as Santa Barbara. Pismo beach, Avila, Morro Bay are all fun touristy beach spots, but swimming would be a maybe on a hot day for the kids.

[indigomama]

Avila Beach.  It is by far the warmest beach here on the Central Coast. Morro Bay has the best sea shells, but largely too cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Pismo is great, but wayyyy crowded all summer and you have to pay for parking everywhere, now. And Avila is still warmer. Grover Beach isn't as crowded, but also not as warm. 

[clementine]

We stayed in Roberts Cottages in Oceanside, but I'm not sure if you can rent for less than 3 nights?  They are pretty small, depending on how many are in each family, but so cute & location can't be beat.  

[Georgiana Daniels]

I'm partial to Ventura---next time we go to CA we'll definitely stay there.

[Guest]

Big sur or Pacific Grove.

[Guest2]

I lived in that area a few years ago and will second Avila. The water was still pretty cold, but by far the warmest! Avilia seems to get a lot more sun and less fog than Pismo! The Texans will find the water chilly after the warm gulf water- ask me how I know:)

Edited April 12, 2016 by Silver Brook

[indigomama]

We stayed in Roberts Cottages in Oceanside, but I'm not sure if you can rent for less than 3 nights?  They are pretty small, depending on how many are in each family, but so cute & location can't be beat.  

 

Oceanside is pretty, but not considered Central by any means. If the OP doesn't want to go to Carlsbad, I don't think she's going to want to go to Oceanside.

[BrittanyM]

Ventura/Oxnard/Carpinteria or Orange County. Pismo can be very windy and not warm depending on the day and anything farther north than that will not have warm water. Even in Pismo you'd probably rather have a wetsuit!

 

 

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[Laura in CA]

Big sur or Pacific Grove.

 

 

These are two of my absolute favorite places in the world! but ... not for swimming. Freezing!

They are quite a bit north of the other suggested beaches, which sound just barely warm enough.  :thumbup1: 

Since the OP is from northern CA, she is familiar with beaches that are cold and foggy in summer :)

The question is, how far south does one have to go to be able to swim in the water in summer without a wetsuit? I am interested also ...

 

"Caution: Swimming on most ocean beaches in Big Sur is not advised due to rip currents, sleeper waves and cold water temperatures. Much safer swimming, tubing and boating can be enjoyed in summer in the Big Sur River's many waterholes and shallows."

 

Swimming—Bay and ocean swimming [in Pacific Grove] is only for the strong of heart, with water temperatures averaging around 52 degrees. So, if you’re not staying at an inn with a pool or on the high school swim team, you probably won’t be doing much of this.

 

"We might have one of the coldest swims in the country [in Pacific Grove], but we have probably the prettiest one."

[Carol in Cal.]

If you want central CA beaches, and you want to be able to swim, you don't want the ocean.  Instead you want an inland lake.

 

Maybe Pinecrest Lake, up in the Sierra Nevada at 5400 feet would fit the bill.  You can stay within walking distance of the beach.  There is vacation lodging within walking distance of the lake, and there is also good hiking and trout fishing right there.  Bring plenty of sunscreen, the mountain air is thin!

 

http://www.pinecrestlakeresort.com/index.html

[KrissiK]

We love Pismo Beach! When I was a kid we went to Avila Beach a lot and liked that, too.

[Gisel_le]

Avila is my favorite place to visit in California! It's in a bay so it's more protected from bad weather and rip currents. Plus SLO and Morro Bay are real close and there are some fun things to do there.  Morro Bay is great for finding really good shells, as someone already said.

[Guest2]

If you chooses Avila, this is the one we could see right on the beach. We lived nearby, so never stayed here, but, it looked great. I am not looking at prices, I bet they might be pretty high.

http://www.avilalighthousesuites.com/

hTH

Edited April 13, 2016 by Silver Brook

[porque]

Thanks for all the suggestions- it sounds like Avila Beach would be good-if cold.

The Lighthouse Suites sound very nice too! 

I will check out Carpinteria and Ventura as well.

Keep the suggestions coming-it is all very helpful!

[Amber in SJ]

I am not sure what is considered "Central" CA but we spend a week at New Brighton every year, and my kids are in the water as much as possible.  I think we are considered Northern California but because I was born & raised in the real Northern California I consider the Bay Area where we live to be Central California.   But I digress........Capitola is fabulous.  Sequel is close by as well.  Because we live close our favorite state beaches are Natural Bridges, Sunset, Manresa.  Monterey & Pacific Grove are both lovely but not places you can stay on the beach all day like the other places.  Dh & kids wear wetsuits to go surfing when they go at the crack of dawn otherwise no wetsuits.

 

Amber in SJ

 

PS.  Silly story about the cold Pacific Ocean in California......Our eldest dd loved the ocean.  I mean she would run straight for the ocean whenever it was in sight, but because we live in Northern California she would stop as the freezing water washed over her little toes and laugh and scream until dh caught her.  When she was 3 we went on vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Both Dh & I were carrying luggage & I was 30 weeks pregnant.  Just like every other time she ran as soon as she saw the ocean, but because the water was bathwater warm she ran out until it was over her head and then she laid down on the bottom and let the waves wash over her.  Dh dropped the luggage & was a few steps behind her.  Scared the dickens out of us but she loved, loved loved it.

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2016 by Amber in SJ

[Laura in CA]

  Because we live close our favorite state beaches are Natural Bridges, Sunset, Manresa.  Monterey & Pacific Grove are both lovely but not places you can stay on the beach all day like the other places.  

 

Our favorites, too!   :thumbup1: 

 

PS.  Silly story about the cold Pacific Ocean in California......Our eldest dd loved the ocean.  I mean she would run straight for the ocean whenever it was in sight, but because we live in Northern California she would stop as the freezing water washed over her little toes and laugh and scream until dh caught her.  When she was 3 we went on vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Both Dh & I were carrying luggage & I was 30 weeks pregnant.  Just like every other time she ran as soon as she saw the ocean, but because the water was bathwater warm she ran out until it was over her head and then she laid down on the bottom and let the waves wash over her.  Dh dropped the luggage & was a few steps behind her.  Scared the dickens out of us but she loved, loved loved it.

 

Ah, Mexico ... We were at Mazatlán and loved the warm water. Too funny about your dd!

 

I would love to go to Puerto Vallarta. My Spanish teacher's brother owns a big hotel there, so someday we students will all go on a field trip there. :)

Edited April 13, 2016 by Laura in CA

[KrissiK]

I am not sure what is considered "Central" CA but we spend a week at New Brighton every year, and my kids are in the water as much as possible. I think we are considered Northern California but because I was born & raised in the real Northern California I consider the Bay Area where we live to be Central California. But I digress........Capitola is fabulous. Sequel is close by as well. Because we live close our favorite state beaches are Natural Bridges, Sunset, Manresa. Monterey & Pacific Grove are both lovely but not places you can stay on the beach all day like the other places. Dh & kids wear wetsuits to go surfing when they go at the crack of dawn otherwise no .

We used to vacation every year in Aptos (next door to Capitola) and I agree, great places, too. The beach house we used to rent (until they sold it) had walking access to the State Beach which was a nice one, too. And since we walked we didn't have pay the fee. Capitola is an awesome little beach town. Great Mexican restaurant right there practically on the beach. For a while there on weekends they showed family movies in the band shell. We watched Willie Wonka all wrapped up in blankets, sitting on beach chairs. Monterey is an awesome town, but not beachy. And if it's not too windy, Asilomar is great for tide-pooling and walking on rocks.

[SeaConquest]

If you can afford it, I would go to Santa Barbara. The water is still pretty cold, but there is so much to do and see.

 

Avila is also a sweet spot (I was married there) -- close to SLO and Pismo -- but yeah, cold.

 

I adore the entire Monterey Bay area, but definitely not for swimming.

[vonbon]

More votes for the following previously-mentioned spots: 

 

Capitola / Aptos / Soquel with Manresa, New Brighton, Rio del Mar, and Sunset Beaches in those areas.  You can camp at some of the beaches in the area, but would need reservations pretty far in advance, normally.  There is a wide range of hotel and beach house options, from resort-style $$$$ to Best Westerns at $150 to $200-ish/night in the high season to cheaper, seedier mom-and-pop motels.  You can easily access Monterey from these areas (40-minute drive), which has great tidepooling spots that are fascinating but not for swimming, and of course, the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

 

I've never stayed at these, but they're intriguing and right on/at the beach/pier at Capitola: 

 

Capitola Venetian Hotel  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_Court

 

 

Avila / Pismo / Morro Bay   I'd say the same for these for accommodations--a range of quality and rates.  Pismo Beach is like 13 miles long or something and popular with campers and 4x4 people (jeeps, motos.)  The beach area around the pier is classic laid-back California with surf shops, clam chowder, swings on the sand, people fishing from the pier, kite-flying, etc.  Avila's been updated in the last several years with more upscale shops. It has a smaller, cute pier and the beach is nice for bonfires, etc.  Morro Bay's got a harbor with sportfishing charter boats and some nice beach for walking, driftwood hunting.  IMO, they're all unique and beautiful.

 

I grew up near and went to college in these areas.  You will see 4-year-olds splashing and playing the water for hours at a time.  The Pacific is cold, but you can boogie board, shell hunt, and play for a long time without truly getting cold.  YMMV but we've always found that the cold wears off and somehow you develop an immunity to it after a bit of time/exercise/playing.  For surfing, yes--wetsuits.  

 

Most of the hotels I've seen on the coast have a swimming pools/hot tubs.  

[BrittanyM]

One thought... If you want waves for body surfing, boogie boarding or just surfing Avila would not be your pick. You could go over to Pismo for that but because of the bay Avila doesn't have much in the way of waves.

 

 

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