Heading to the California Coast for your Vacation?

Where ya headed in California?

If you already know where on the California coast you're going to have your vacation, skip ahead. Otherwise:

• Take this 250 city tour of California coast vacation cities! This is a super site- basically an online travel encyclopedia, and includes a link to a Hotel Search.
• Check out WilderNet's California Recreation Guide which includes lots of the California State Beaches.

California State Coast - Click for Bigger View

Where are you staying during your California Coast Vacation?

You aren't planning to sleep on the coast, are you?

• California Coast Houses: Search for your California coast house at BeachHouse.com. Choose your price range, the size of the house, bathrooms, bedrooms, etc.
• California Coast Houses: Find more vacation rentals at 4BeachNuts.com
• California Coast Houses: Yet another California rental search engine in case the others don't work out.
• California Beach Hotels: VacationIdea.com has California Beach Hotels - use the search box to enter the city you're looking for.
• California Coast Camping: Going on the cheap? Saving your money for something else? If you want to camp on or near the coast, go to California Coast Vacation Camping at TotalEscape.com.

Area-Specific Guides to Creating Your California Coast Vacation

Click to jump down to:

• The Los Angeles Area
• Orange County (yes, the "OC")
• The San Diego Area

Looking for a Los Angeles, California Coast Vacation?

Whether you're visiting family, heading to Disneyland, touring Hollywood, or just checking out one of the most famous cities in the world, you can find your bed breakfast southern California from one of these links:

• Hollywood
• Long Coast
• Santa Monica
• Venice
• Other Los Angeles area Coastal Beaches

Thinking About an Orange County, California Coast Vacation?

• Map of Orange County, California Coast
• Capistrano Coast
• Laguna Coast
• Newport Coast
• Other Orange County Coast

But let me tell you about one of the coolest places to visit in Orange County, Balboa Island! Part of Newport Coast, Balboa Island is man-made. You have to take a ferry to get there, and you can take your car on some ferries. Other than the great shops and restaurants, and super-friendly people, their biggest "big deal" is the Christmas Parade they've put on since 1908. What more could you want?

• For general info, check out balboa-island.com, BeachCalifornia.com, or Tales of Balboa Island.
• Where to stay? The Balboa Inn, I know from personal experience, is one of the nicest and most romantic places in the area. Another place to stay is the Doryman, and regardless, check out 21 Oceanfront for your best dinner in months.
• There's sort of a bed breakfast there: the Bay Shores Inn.

How about a San Diego, California Coast Vacation?

• Coronado is a unique area not to be missed... it's a classy island and community unto itself off the coast of San Diego, and you can get there via the marvelous and curvy Coronado bridge, or the old-school route via the ferry. You may also be interested in the infamous Hotel Del.
• Del Mar is perhaps the most affluent coastal community in San Diego, a beautiful, relaxing place to visit, and one of my favorite places in the area. Try Epazote's blackened fish taco if you decide to do your coast vacation here!
• Encinitas, ah, the ocean, the sun, the hippies... well thank goodness for the breeze! But seriously folks, Encinitas has some really nice restaurants! Plus there are some neat farmers markets on the weekend. If you decide to have your California coast vacation in Encinitas, and you like Italian, try Vigilucci's. You won't be disappointed.
• La Jolla, like Del Mar, is an upscale, affluent oceanside community. La Jolla has a lot better shopping, and more restaurants, though. If you don't mind a few crowds at times (though much less than in Ocean Beach or Pacific Beach!), it's nice place for your California Coast Vacation (see picture below). If you're there on a Tuesday evening, check out my public speaking group (more fun than TV!), Toastmasters of La Jolla.