5 fun beach-bound trips in Los Angeles

A mere 45 miles from LA, this man-made island in Newport Beach is a sunny bit of seaside heaven. It’s charming and quaint and the real estate is some of the most expensive in the US. Arrested Development fans will recognize this as the site of the Bluth’s frozen banana stand.

Because it’s accessible only by sea or by air (easier than it sounds, there are four mainland ports with ferries), Catalina feels much further away than it really is. Maybe that’s because once you arrive you are on ‘island time’, with no cars (rent a taxi, bike or golf cart) and plenty of leisure activities.

Just three hours up the coast from LA, getting to Morro Bay is half the fun – the drive, up the 101 or on the Pacific Coast Highway, is beautiful. Once you get to the sleepy little beach town, you’ll be happy to finally dive into the Pacific.

Only 50 miles south of Los Angeles, this tiny beach community boasts many galleries, cafes, and boutiques. There are also great hikes to secluded coves and a plethora of tide pools. The area is an ‘artist colony’, but nowadays the real estate is so expensive, few artists can actually afford to live here.

This resort city across the San Diego Bay has some of the best beaches in the US. Another reason to come is the historic Hotel del Coronado, a national landmark that has hosted distinguished guests (most US presidents, Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe) and might have inspired author L. Frank Baum’s Emerald City.