Most Interesting Beaches to Explore around the Bay Area

Fri, 17 Jun 2022

Most Interesting Beaches to Explore around the Bay Area

This isn’t your typical list of beaches to sit back and relax.  You’re going to need your adventure sandals for these 8 beaches.  


ANIMAL SEEKERS


Drake’s Beach (Point Reyes Station)

Drake's Beach has great sights, wildlife, beaches to walk, and hikes.  Walk along the beach next to dramatic white sandstone cliffs that are 10-13 million years old and witness the spectacle of elephant seals lounging, fighting, mating, swimming, and giving birth from Dec 15 to Mar 31. 




Bean Hollow State Beach Tide Pools (South of Pescadero)

This isolated beach located 7 minutes south of Pescadero off HWY 1 has two cove beaches separated by a rock point that they’ve connected with a 1 mile nature trail.  The beach is known for the tide pools full of marine inhabitants, including crab, sea urchins, anemones, and more.  Seals are also nearby.  

Photo by Flickr





PHOTO SEEKERS


Marshall's Beach (Presidio, San Francisco)

Take a short hike walk from the Golden Gate Overlook or Baker’s Beach to “SF’s most hidden beach.” The views are incredible of the Pacific Ocean, Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge.  The views are spectacular throughout the day (if Karl The Fog behaves), but if you really want to see something amazing, catch a sunset here.


Photo by California Beaches


Panther Beach (Santa Cruz)

A hidden beach ten miles north of Santa Cruz with golden sandstone cliffs and sandy bluffs.   It’s a short walk, but you’ll find the picturesque arch between the cliff.  At low tide, you can walk through the arch to find a wide stretch of beach and vibrant tide pools.  The arch is perfect for photos, especially during sunset. (Low tide is the best time to search for sea glass.)


Photo by California Beaches



SEA GLASS SEEKERS


Glass Beach (Fort Bragg)

If you’re making a trip to Mendocino or farther north, stop at Glass Beach.  This old garbage dump site is now a beautiful wonder where Mother Nature has turned sharp, rigid broken glass into beautiful, smooth sea glass.   You’ll find mainly white, clear, green, and brown colors, but sometimes you’ll also stumble upon shades of blue and red sea glass. (Low tide is the best time to search for sea glass.)


Photo by California Beaches


Sand City Beach (Monterey)

Monterey has a few beaches where you can find these glass treasures, and Sand City Beach is the most notorious of the beaches with larger-sized glass pieces.  Some of the glass still needs a few more sea tumbles before it’s completely smooth, but for the most part, you’ll find well-done sea glass. While it’s illegal to take glass from Glass Beach, you can take a few pieces from this beach.