Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, CA
Pacific Beach is a genuinely lively San Diego beach town, with Crystal Pier's unique overwater cottages extending out over the surf and Pacific Beach Park's paved blufftop path connecting Palisades Park and the rest of the shoreline. Separate zones for swimming and surfing keep the wide sand workable even on the busiest days.
A genuinely lively beach town with a real landmark pier and enough sand to handle the crowds it draws.
How we score beachesStaying in one of the cottages built right on Crystal Pier is a real, if pricey, way to fall asleep to the sound of waves under the floor.
On-street and metered parking serves the beach; it fills fast on summer weekends.
Dogs are allowed on leash only before 9am and after 4pm from November through March, and before 9am and after 6pm from April through October.
San Diego County's water climbs into the upper 60s and low 70s by late summer, the most comfortable window for swimming.
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