Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:San Diego, California
Smack in the middle of The Strand, San Diego's popular beach strip, Pacific Beach glorifies its namesake. Beginning with Crystal Pier, legendary among fishermen, Pacific Beach continues south before merging with Mission Beach and Mission Bay. Rolling waves crash into these nearly two miles of optimal sand; in fact San Diego's first surfing shack was once erected on Pacific Beach's then-modest shores. Now the vibe is trendy, sophisticated, and upscale, but the surfers remember their humble Pacific Beach beginnings with enduring loyalty. Pacific Beach Block Party, one of San Diego's most hip events, is held every year in late spring on Pacific Beach and features nine music stages, street performers, and more than 400 arts and crafts booths. Rollerbladers, walkers, bikers and shoppers move along the paved Ocean Front Boardwalk enjoying solid, sand-free ground, upscale shops, and front row glimpses of the ocean's expansive vistas. For a classic, Pacific coast vacation, Pacific Beach has all of the ocean essentials – safe swimming, surfing, excellent fishing, and paved, wooden, and sandy paths for the kind of beach bumming that revives the spirit.
Historic Crystal Pier (built in 1927) is a charming old wooden structure that seems to sway with the ebbing tide. Perched at the end of this wooden road-to-nowhere, is a hotel with an intriguing "Sleep Over Seas" slogan. Crystal Pier is one of the only piers on the California coast that offers such an enticing seaside accommodation. While Crystal Pier is a great place to stroll in the crisp, coastal air, it is perhaps most beloved in the Southern Californian fishing community. California pier fishing experts claim that Crystal Pier is an excellent fishing spot all year round, ranking it among the top-five fishing piers on the Pacific coast, particularly for barred surfperch, walleye surfperch, shovelnose guitarfish, and California halibut.
Sunbathing, swimming, shopping, beach rental outfitters, and good eats are generally best at the northern end of Pacific Beach, near Crystal Pier. Swimming in the Pacific Beach water is generally pleasant and safe. However, rip currents can catch an inexperienced swimmer by surprise, so stick to the lifeguard stations staffed daily all year round, usually from 9 a.m. until dusk. The southern end of Pacific Beach is more residential, and the sight of San Diego's million-dollar residences will take your breathe away.
The low-key Pacific Beach surfing scene generally convenes around the parking lot at the end of Tourmaline Street, about a quarter of a mile from Crystal Pier. While the Pacific Beach crests are most enjoyed by beginners learning to get a handle on their longboards, there are always a handful of loyal surfers. Those tired of weaving and dodging will be glad to know that the swimming and surfing areas are separated.
If you want a trendy, yet sophisticated, bustling, yet mellow jaunt on the Southern California Coast, Pacific Beach is a great place to start.