Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, / And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; / Round many western islands have I been / Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. / Oft of one wide expanse had I been told / That deep-brow'd Homer ruled as his demesne; / Yet did I never breathe its pure serene / Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold: / Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into his ken; / Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes / He star'd at the Pacific—and all his men / Look'd at each other with a wild surmise - / Silent, upon a peak in Darien.

-John Keats

You’ll have to give John a little poetic license. It was the Spanish explorer and conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa who became the first European to lay eyes on America’s Pacific shoreline, not Cortez. But it’s easy to imagine the wild attraction the serene waters must have held for the weary band of gold-seekers as they trudged across the mountains that run along the Pacific’s shore from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

Our lives tethered to computers and smartphones might not have the risk and terror of Balboa’s march across the continent, but they leave us searching for calm and salvation all the same. Luckily, we don’t have to surmount uncharted mountains to reach the Pacific Ocean’s most gorgeous beaches. Unless we want to find ourselves with a body-testing hike, a la Cheryl Strayed, all we have to do is book a flight to LAX.

Pacific Escapes

It's time to live your beach life

The ocean itself is much the same throughout Southern California. But each beach has a character all its own. Finding the right one for your purposes can make the difference between taking a comfortable trip and struggling to find the peace and escape you packed your bags for in the first place. So let’s talk about making your way to some of the best golden sands in the Golden State.

Getting There

Los Angeles is famous for many wonderful things, but traffic-free highways are not one of them. If you’re traveling during rush hour in prime holiday seasons, making your way to or from the airport through the city can take several hours. Plan your visiting hours accordingly.

Once you’ve left the city, you’re never too far away from the waves. But before you dive in, no matter where you choose to do so, consider one general note. The sun always seems to shine over California, but the Pacific Ocean isn’t necessarily always warm. Take some time to tan, but before you hit the waves, strap on a wetsuit. Not only will you look like you belong, but you’ll thank yourself for the extra warmth.

For Relaxation - Dana Point

If relaxation is you're goal, make your first stop in laid back Dana Point. You can’t go wrong with the five-star Laguna Niguel Ritz Carlton. If you’re simply looking for a warm bed after a day of surfing, you’ll have it. But they can accommodate you and your companions for all sorts of purposes. Honeymoons, multi-generational gatherings, weddings, bar mitzvahs, and more – it all happens here in high style.

Walk right out the front door and you’ll have access to museums, shopping, and excellent restaurants accessible via a comfortable stroll. (And, of course, we’re in California - beach volleyball is never too far away). But with such development comes other tourists, too, so keep that in mind especially during holidays.

If you’d like to stretch your wings a bit further, consider traveling further south to find Laguna Beach’s Top of the World Hike. The drive to and from your point of origin is worth it in and of itself. But once you’re out of the car and on your feet, you’ll discover why you really came: pristine views of Laguna city, the beach, and snow-capped mountains all in one place. California has it all.

And if you’re looking for bit more busy, Hop back in the car, travel just a bit further south, and you’ll find yourself in a lovely boating community at Dana Point. If you want to feel the Pacific waves but still stay dry, this is the place to do it. Hop on a paddleboard to travel from one boat to another, taking in a way of life that screams California. You can find common attractions such as fishing and watersports, but this is one of the only places where you can do all of that then turn in for a comfortable night without ever having to step foot on shore.

For excitement - Venice

Maybe you've got a little too relaxed on the beach. Or maybe your idea of relaxation is wild parties with wild people. Either way, it's time to come to Venice.

Of course, there's a wonderful sandy beach with a long boardwalk lined with off-beat stores, street art, head shops and folks who are either street performers or independent-minded locals (it can be hard to tell which). But behind the beach the the neighborhood GQ calls "the coolest block in America." Although long-time residents gripe about the gentrification ("I would not pay $9 to park in order to buy a $5 cup of coffee." griped a writer for the LA Times.), it's still one of the best shopping and culture destinations to be found anywhere in the world.

We’ve only just begun to discuss a few of the seemingly endless worthy destinations in California. No matter what you’re looking for, we can help you find it, access it, and do what you really wanted to do - leave everything else behind.