• Home
  • About PubClub.com Nightlife Pubs And Clubs Website
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

PubClub

Where The World Goes To Party!

My 5 Top California Coastal Destinations: PubClub Travel Blog

April 27, 2017 by kevinwilkerson Leave a Comment

San Diego, A Bustling Wine Country & At Home In Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach summer concert series
Fun events, like free concerts on the sand in Hermosa Beach, keep California’s coast rocking.

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger

From one end to the other, California is a true golden state with incredible coastlines, diversity from flat sand beaches to massive cliffs where waves crash into the base, and fun destinations teasing even the most seasoned traveler.

But where to start? One way is to begin one one end and make your way to the other, but that’s only practical from a time and money standpoint for lottery winners. So I’m giving you my five top places, based on years of living and California Dreaming.

1.) San Diego

Wave House bar Mission Beach San Diego CA
Beers are lined up at the beachfront bar the Wave House in San Diego’s Mission Beach

This is the best place in California. It has it all: great beaches, lots of open space, super-friendly people with a small-town mentality who say say “hi” as they pass you on the street. And even a novelty in Southern California – reliable public transportation.  It even has a ferry that takes you to Coronado Island and the world-famous Hotel Del, plus good beach bars, dynamic nightlife in the Gaslamp, a good mixture of locals and tourists to always keep things lively and a number of festivals and events that make it one of the top spots for singles in all the USA.

2.) Manhattan, Hermosa & Redondo Beach – The Los Angeles South Bay

I’m a bit partial here because I live here but really, what’s not to like? There’s a bike path that runs parallel to the beach which I take for exercise, errands and even bar-hopping. There’s a lot of single people who live to go bar-hopping and fun events such as beer festivals and free summertime concerts on the beach. Were it not for San Diego, this would be the ultimate California lifestyle utopia.

3.) Carmel/Monterey

Wine tasting room Taste of Monterey CA
Why go to a winery when you have this view at a wine tasting room in Monterey?

Being in Carmel and Monterey is like being in a dream. Carmel is a charming, walkable European-style village (albeit a very upscale one; it would be nice to be able to afford just one of those paintings or sculptures for sale in the many galleries) while Monterey is a peaceful slice of heaven. The water is a deep blue color and is dotted with sea otters, kelp and barking sea lions (okay, I could do without the barking of the sea lions). There are great restaurants, incredible coastal scenery – Pacific Grove, between Monterey and Carmel is one of the most spectacular sections of the California coast – and a recent bonus of being a big wine producing area. No need to go to the wineries, either, for there’s a dozen wine tasting rooms in Carmel and another half dozen in Monterey.

4.) Del Mar

Del Mar Opening Day hat contest
The hat contest is a visual highlight of Opening Day at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

I’m putting this separate from San Diego because it’s a bit too far north to reach by local transport. Plus, it is its own little town anyway. The centerpiece is the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with its Kentucky Derby of the West Coast Opening Day and huge music festival known as KAABOO. But Del Mar is also a cool little beachside town with some good bars – En Fuego is on fire on Tuesday nights, the best bar in the entire area – and just up the coast is the funky Solana Beach with one of the best dive bars in California, The Kraken. There’s a running/bike path, good swimming and surfing and incredibly beautiful coastline. And as a bonus,  the Amtrak train is right there to whisk you north or south to other California beach towns.

5.) PCH Drive

Pacific Coast Highway scenic drive Big Sur, CA
The PCH drive is a spectacular section of the California coast.

The Pacific Coast Highway is one of the most gorgeous, pull-over-again, jaw-dropping, scenic drives in all the world. You can drive it in a day (a long day) or take a week. Perhaps years. The road hugs cliffs that plunge deep down into the sea, there are scenic bridges like the iconic Bixby Bridge and back-to-nature Big Sur.

What, no Santa Barbara, you ask? Hey it’s beautiful and I had one of my best Jimmy Buffett experiences there, but with so many other great places it’s on the outside looking in on this list. Maybe #6!?

And #7 would be Santa Cruz. I’ve cruised just the pier with a friend who lives there, hitting every restaurants’ bar on the pier. What a fun time!

 

Filed Under: California Tagged With: California, travel blog

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Unfinished Man

Search

Today On PubClub.com

EVENTS CALENDAR:
• June 18 – Father’s Day

LET’S BE SOCIAL!
 
PubClub.com is a member of the Travel & Tourism Marketing Association, Inc.​, and the Travel Massive chapters in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County (CA).

Instagram

Follow on Instagram

PubClub (@pubclub) • Instagram photos and videos

Destinations

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Destinations (2,197)
    • Africa (1)
    • Asia (18)
      • Japan (5)
        • Tokyo (3)
      • Taiwan (1)
      • Thailand (7)
    • Australia (19)
      • Surfer's Paradise (3)
      • Sydney (5)
    • Brazil (7)
      • Rio (2)
    • Camping (1)
    • Canada (21)
      • Montreal (2)
      • Niagara Falls (5)
      • Toronto (2)
    • Caribbean (57)
      • Cuba (1)
      • San Juan (5)
      • Virgin Islands (21)
    • Central America (1)
      • Costa Rica (1)
    • Europe (104)
      • Amsterdam (15)
      • France (3)
      • Germany (6)
      • Ibiza (2)
      • Kiev (1)
      • London (6)
      • Malta (1)
      • Monaco (1)
      • Moscow (1)
      • Munich (5)
      • Paris (5)
      • Poland (3)
        • Krakow (2)
      • Prague (6)
      • Switzerland (35)
        • Basel (5)
        • Bern (3)
        • Swiss Alps (1)
        • Zermatt (3)
        • Zurich (4)
    • Greek Islands (26)
      • Corfu (3)
      • Ios (2)
      • Mykonos (6)
      • Santorini (5)
    • Mexico (11)
      • Baja (1)
      • Cabo San Lucas (1)
      • Puerto Vallarta (1)
      • Tijuana (1)
    • Ski Resorts (71)
      • Aspen (1)
      • Austria (5)
      • Big Bear (14)
      • Big Sky (6)
      • Mammoth (17)
      • Squaw Valley (4)
      • Whistler (3)
    • Tokyo (1)
    • USA (1,850)
      • Alabama (3)
      • Alaska (1)
      • Arizona (8)
        • Lake Havasu (1)
        • Scottsdale (3)
        • Sedona (1)
      • Boston (5)
      • California (1,383)
        • Carmel (24)
        • Central Coast (9)
        • Lancaster (16)
        • Los Angeles (826)
          • Catalina Island (12)
          • Culver City (1)
          • El Segundo (4)
          • Hermosa Beach (177)
            • Fourth Of July (12)
            • Smackfest Events (23)
          • Hollywood (16)
          • Huntington Beach (2)
          • Lake Arrowhead (2)
          • Long Beach (43)
            • Grand Prix (12)
          • Manhattan Beach (77)
          • Marina del Rey (6)
          • Newport Beach (44)
          • Orange County (29)
          • Party Report (16)
          • Redondo Beach (83)
          • Santa Monica (4)
          • South Bay (93)
          • Sunset Strip (5)
          • Temecula (13)
          • Venice Beach (5)
        • Mendocino (13)
        • Monterey (30)
          • Restaurant Reviews (10)
        • Napa (5)
        • Oakland (7)
        • Palm Springs (9)
        • Paso Robles (9)
        • San Clemente (1)
        • San Diego (310)
          • Balboa Park (1)
          • Del Mar (12)
          • Events (74)
          • Gaslamp (50)
          • Imperial Beach (6)
          • La Jolla (1)
          • Lifestyle (4)
          • Music (1)
          • Ocean Beach (5)
          • Oceanside (1)
          • Pacific Beach (5)
        • San Francisco (74)
          • Events (15)
        • Santa Barbara (1)
      • Chicago (10)
      • College Towns (1)
      • Colorado (4)
        • Denver (4)
      • Florida (86)
        • Daytona Beach (1)
        • Ft. Lauderdale (3)
        • Jacksonville (1)
        • Key West (25)
        • Keys (8)
        • Miami (10)
        • Panama City Beach (3)
      • Hawaii (25)
        • Waikiki Beach (15)
      • Indianapolis (3)
      • Las Vegas (173)
      • Michigan (2)
        • Traverse City (2)
      • Nevada (2)
      • New Jersey (1)
      • New Orleans (42)
      • New York City (15)
      • Newport, R.I. (1)
      • North Carolina (1)
      • Oregon (9)
        • Portland (8)
      • Seattle (2)
      • South Carolina (3)
        • Charleston (3)
      • St. Louis (1)
      • Tennessee (48)
        • Franklin (4)
        • Gatlinburg (5)
        • Knoxville (12)
        • Nashville (5)
        • Smoky Mountains (3)
      • Texas (6)
        • Austin (6)
      • Utah (2)
      • Virginia (1)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Hong Kong (1)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Events

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Events (521)
    • BVI Interline Regatta (5)
    • Carnival (5)
    • Cinco de Mayo (2)
    • Exercise and Socalize (2)
    • Fourth of July (8)
    • Halloween (9)
    • Holidays (19)
      • Thanksgiving (7)
    • Indy 500 (10)
    • Kentucky Derby (12)
    • Memorial Day Weekend (5)
    • New Year's Eve (43)
    • Oktoberfest (11)
    • Party Report (46)
    • Running Of The Bulls (5)
    • Spring Break (7)
    • St. Patricks Day (8)
    • Sundance Film Festival (8)
    • Super Bowl (16)
    • Valentine's Day (10)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Sports

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Sports (516)
    • Baseball (9)
    • Beach Volleyball (3)
    • College Football (291)
    • Golf (12)
    • NFL (45)
    • Olympics (13)
    • Racing (26)
    • Soccer (8)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Lifestyle

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Lifestyle (1,640)
    • Beach Reads (1)
    • Cannabis (4)
    • Celebrity Sightings (6)
    • Entertainment (22)
    • Mr. Sorehead (3)
    • Music (287)
      • Bands (2)
      • Festivals (59)
      • Jimmy Buffett (42)
      • Trop Rock (13)
    • Party Stories (2)
    • People Profiles (10)
    • Singles Life (7)
      • Men Vs Women (2)
      • Relationships (2)
    • Social Media (2)
    • Spirits (27)
    • Travel (666)
      • Airlines (32)
      • Airports (1)
      • Blogger (368)
      • Cruise Ships (28)
      • Hotels (16)
      • Product Reviews (3)
      • RV (1)
      • Singles Travelers (1)
      • Solo Travel (2)
      • Touring Blog (12)
      • Weather (17)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

From the Bar Stool

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • From The Bar Stool (314)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Bars

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Bars (271)
    • Bars & Food (26)
    • Bars & Nightlife (202)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

News

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Business News (4,514)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • News (57)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Colleges

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Colleges (29)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Food and Drinks

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Food and Drinks (415)
    • Beer (99)
    • Bourbon (2)
    • Cocktails (55)
    • Foddie Blog (27)
    • Restaurants (1)
    • Rum (8)
    • Singles Cooking (1)
    • spirits (8)
    • Spirits & Beer Industry (79)
    • Tequila (19)
    • Vodka (3)
    • Wine (82)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (6)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (5)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Subscribe To The Party Report

About PubClub.com

PubClub.com is a content-oriented nightlife tourist guide dedicated to social-minded travelers with articles on worldwide destinations such as Amsterdam, the Greek Islands, Prague, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Canada, and more. Top keywords for search are pubclub, pub club, party pubs, club pub, travel pub, pub club night, pubs and clubs and the pub club.
Read More...
Our Terms | Privacy

Legal

Ads

Powered by imFORZA