Top-Rated Californian Beaches You Will Love

Are you looking for a laid-back way of life somewhere that you can connect with nature? It's time you moved to a beach and few places have as many stunning beaches as California. In this slideshow, we will introduce you to some of the top-rated beaches in California.

Part of California's beautiful Pacific Coastal cities, Crescent City is known for being the location of the Redwood National Park headquarters, but it also has beautiful scenic routes to catch Ocean View sunsets. The historic lighthouse, Battery Point Light, is also within the city limits of Crescent City.

The harbor is filled with fishing boats — both commercial and for play. The city's climate is perfect for living because it doesn't get too cold or too hot. When you visit, you can immerse yourself in nature but also have a thriving social life.

Heading north on the Golden Gate Bridge, you'll find yourself in Sausalito. It is a thriving community that has picturesque houseboats. It is known for being an artist's haven, but it is also an upscale community that provides residents and tourists alike with so many fun-filled activities.

You can enjoy nature at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and even give you stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay. This quaint town is perfect for a romantic getaway, too.

Santa Cruz is nationwide famous for its beach culture. This is the quintessential town that is known for its historic buildings in Downtown Santa Cruz, its stunning coastline, its nature, and the abundance of surfers who love to hit the waters and ride the waves.

This beach and surf culture is due to the University of California Santa Cruz campus located in the city since 1965. The city and county's culture is defined by the county's flag with an evergreen tree on a white background along with rainbow-colored bands.

Carmel-by-the Sea is the type of town that was planned in a European way with cobblestone streets, too. There are no chain restaurants, it’s quite walkable, and there are unique eateries that make the city a romantic getaway.

The beach is just stunning and pristine, where you can frolic in the water or just relax under the sun. The city is also known for its art galleries and can be an artists’ haven for those yearning for a calm, artsy lifestyle.

Around 30,000 people live in Monterey and the city is a beach town with style. There are upscale enclaves but also spots anyone can afford. The beaches located here are abundant and you have many to choose from. Monterey is an artsy city — both in literary art and visual arts.

This city, however, is known for its fun-filled activities like exploring the Monterey Bay Aquarium, walking through the city's historic downtown, and Fisherman's Wharf. You can even check out Cannery Row, which was made popular by writer John Steinbeck.

Morro Bay is located in the Central Coast and it's known as a nature lover's dream. The picturesque landscapes the town offers are one-of-a-kind. There is an estuary with abundant wildlife — over 250 species of birds, sea creatures, and other animals. The town also has a marine harbor that is walkable and filled with sea otters in the summer.

But the crown jewel of Morro Bay is Morro Rock. Morro Rock is a volcanic plug that is situated near the harbor. In 1968, the rock was established as a historical landmark. It is also a peregrine falcon reserve, so climbing is not allowed, although you can visit the rock and its surrounding areas.

Venice Beach is one of the most famous resort towns in the world. Part of LA, Venice is a planned city that was supposed to imitate Venice, Italy. It's known for its oceanfront boardwalk, amazing beaches, and Italian-like canals.

The most prominent feature it offers residents and visitors alike is the oceanfront promenade where you can walk in and out of restaurants, shops, and bars. Venice is also an artists' hub where many artistic people would move to get their creative juices going.

California is known for its surf culture — it's true throughout the state, but especially Southern California. Manhattan Beach is the town to be if you're a surfer. The beach used to be part of the exposed sand dunes but now they are below the streets, however, the beach has turned into a place to be for fun activities like volleyball, as well as relaxing and enjoying the sun.

The sunset ocean views are iconic. Lastly, the city's Downtown area is walkable, filled with boutique stores, eclectic restaurants, and also cute bars, and mixed-use buildings.

It's been featured in reality shows and TV series for years. Newport Beach is considered one of the wealthiest cities in the state. The oceanfront properties are sprawling buildings that are owned by the rich and famous. The harbor is known for its picturesque look that just screams upscale.

At the end of the day, Newport Beach is just that — an upscale beach community where you can enjoy a great life with fun-filled, relaxing activities. Just make sure you don't forget to see those incredible ocean sunsets every day.

San Clemente is your quintessential, Southern California beach town. It's even dubbed "Spanish Village by the Sea" by its locals because of its Spanish Colonial-style buildings and quaint downtown area. Walks along the beach provide you with great ocean sunset views.

But you can also live a calm life — one that is walkable and quiet. While you're here, you won't be bored of things to do, though. You can walk along San Clemente Pier or even stroll through the gardens of the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens.

Featured in many television series as an upscale oceanfront neighborhood, La Jolla is San Diego's ocean view crown jewel. With amazing weather all year long, visitors flock to La Jolla to see its stunning sunsets, cliffside coastlines, and fun activities that you can do.

There are plenty of restaurants, bars, boutique hotels, and various other businesses throughout the area. Those also include the University of California San Diego and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Lastly, as you go down to the beach, you'll be able to frolic under the sun with tide pools and seals frolicking on the rocks.