Best Beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

"South Carlsbad State Beach is a beautiful stretch of protected coastline with white sand, coastal bluffs, and warm water. The beach offers an array of outdoor activities to enjoy –  swimming, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving and snorkeling, fishing, shelling, and of course just hanging out. South Carlsbad State Beach is one of the top Carlsbad attractions.Carlsbad Village The bluffs above the beach offer excellent camping, and the 220-site South Carlsbad State Beach Campground is very popular with easy access to the beach and amenities such as bathrooms with showers, electricity, and water and Wi-Fi."

"Extremely popular with locals, though strangely not crazy crowded, Carlsbad State Beach gives beach goers free parking in several areas, easy access to the beach, clean restrooms and showers, and beautiful views from the cliffs. Nearly five miles long, the beach’s south end welcomes campers and is also a favorite with surfers. If you’re visiting just for a run, there are paved jogging paths along the beach and just above the water."

"It's notoriously hard to get to, involving either a treacherous climb down unstable cliffs on a trail known for accidents or a two-mile hike south from Torrey Pines State Beach (which is inaccessible at high tide). While Black Beach may be difficult to reach, the remoteness is one of the reasons that people love it. That and because it's one of the only nude beaches in San Diego County (but clothing is only optional in the north section of the beach)."

"Why go: To surf or enjoy some quiet (note that some people still go nude here). Black’s Beach is a secluded section of beach beneath the bluffs of Torrey Pines, and is officially part of Torrey Pines State Beach. Black’s Beach is perhaps most notorious for its status as San Diego’s only nude beach, though that’s no longer allowed in the more southern portion managed by the City of San Diego."

"Swimming:YesSurfing: YesBoogie Boarding: YesBest For: Hiking, Natural Bathing, and Surfing. This is the toughest beach to find, but also can be the most rewarding depending on what floats your boat!. The best way to get to Black’s Beach is to park at the Torrey Pines Glider Point."

"San Diego's monument to sports and fitness, this 4,600-acre aquatic park has 27 miles of shoreline including 19 miles of sandy beaches."

"It has wide sandy beaches for typical beach recreation and is also a favorite surfing spot. Lifeguards are on duty only during the summer months. Find public showers above the beach access, but there are no public restrooms."

"You’ll find South Mission Beach at the extreme south end of the Mission Beach Peninsula. It’s one of the widest beaches in the city, so it’s a great place to play a game of beach volleyball or basketball. This beach is slightly more subdued than some of the others in the area, but it still gets crowded, so join the party as early as possible."

"You can always find beautiful photos to share from the beaches of San Diego. The photo below is actually a rare occurrence in Coronado where you can see a sunken ship at low tide. More: Where to Find the Sunken Ship in San Diego"

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Visitor7 used under CC BY-SA 3.0. San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park is a memorial that honors the soldiers who fought in California’s bloodiest battle during the Mexican-American War. This well-maintained park has plenty of information about both the war and the 1846 Battle of San Pasqual, including a visitor center that shows a movie."

"Just east of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park you’ll find San Pasqual Battle State Historic Park. It honors the soldiers who fought on December 6, 1846, one of the only military encounters in California during the Mexican-American War. The park normally hosts living history activities and you can also walk its Nature Trail."

"The San Pasqual battlefield state historical Park is a park that is set on the spot where the American Mexican battle took place in 1846. The park is spread over an area of 50 acres and has a special centre. The Centre is a place where you can get all the details about this significant battle and the location."

"Old Town State Park is known as the birthplace of California. In 1821, when Mexico gained independence from Spain, a small group of Mexican settlers began building homes at the foot of the hillside below the first mission and Presidio. Because wood was scarce at the time, sun-dried adobe bricks were used."

"Spend a long morning in Old Town State Historic Park, exploring the adobe buildings and browsing the many gift shops. You’ll be tempted to sit down for a Mexican lunch at one of the tourist restaurants, but save your appetite for a more genuine experience at El Indio, just up the street in Mission Hills."

"There are several historic buildings to be found, including five adobes, a hotel dating back to 1870, and a reconstructed courthouse and stable. Educational events are frequent occurrences, from theatrical performances to blacksmith demonstrations to tours."

"It is 3 miles of dog-friendly, running heaven and has over 20 fitness stations. These stations include everything from pull up bars for working your arms to plank stations for crunches. Because it isn’t well-known, this park is almost always uncrowded, rendering it quiet and peaceful."

"Cookie magic is what you’ll find at NatSweets with her incredible design talent. She’ll create any kind of custom cookie that you can imagine. Plan ahead for your custom orders or stop by the shop to pick up seasonal or daily creations."

"It comes complete with cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, spatulas and decorations for you to decorate your own unique cupcake treats at home."

"You can choose to customize a crepe, waffle, or their original "brick toast." They also offer a variety of drinks ranging from coffee to Nutella banana shakes, and you can add boba to any of them. After tasting your food, Up2you will make you feel like a professional pastry chef."

"Visit this Clairemont Mesa hang out to sip milk tea from a mason jar and munch on brick toast. It’s a buttery and sweet block of toast served with various toppings like ice cream and fruits. Frequented by local college students, Up2You has funky lounge seating and games to play."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by UP 2 YOU CAFE + DESSERTS 🍡 (@up2youcafe) on Mar 28, 2019 at 10:26am PDT"

"If Rudford's had chrome instead of stucco, it would be a genuine diner, because it has the bay windows and mid-century signage. In any case, it's a landmark (and just down the street from the Chicken Pie Shop). Basic comfort fare here, which gets mixed reviews."

"Equally popular with the early bird special crowd and after-bar party goers; both sets agree that the biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steak at this 24-hour diner are first rate."