Beaches

If you come to San Diego [1], you must go to the beach. It’s an imperative. From Encinitas and Del Mar down almost to the Mexican border, the California coast shows off its best.

The San Diego beaches all seem to be 100 yards wide, perfectly flat, 100 percent pale, soft, sugar sand, and run as far in either direction as the eye can see. A few rocks appear in spots, but they’re few and far between (especially in comparison to the rugged northern coastline).

Bring your towel, umbrella, sunscreen, swimsuit, and surfboard. And if it’s a weekend in the summertime, come early in the morning to stake a prime spot in the sand.

If you’re visiting, your best bets for soaking up some rays and the San Diego beach scene are:

• Ocean Beach [2]
• Black’s Beach [3]
• Coronado Main Beach [4]
• Del Mar City Beach [5]

For a list of beaches maintained by the City of San Diego, check out this website: www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches [6].