Before you start planning your next California vacation, keep reading to see which beaches top U.S. News' Best California Beaches list. (Getty Images)| Santa Cruz's Natural Bridges State Beach is ...

What's more, Laguna Beach is situated between Los Angeles and San Diego, and within driving distance to other top Southern California destinations like San Clemente and Huntington Beach.

Southern California beaches come in all sizes and specialties. From San Diego to Santa Barbara, some offer animal watching, some beaches are best for water sports, and others don’t even have sand.

Here, you'll find our picks for the best beaches in Southern California, along with a few suggestions of where to stay if you're planning a road trip or local staycation. Ocean Front Walk—a 2.5 ...

Golden sunsets, sandy beaches, perfect waves ... North of the Golden Gate Bridge, California’s coast is sparsely populated at best and is certainly not for everyone, but the scenery is ...