When visiting California, you surely want to visit one of the many California beaches.

California has so many beaches that it can be quite a challenge when choosing a beach to visit. Whether you want to take the kids to the beach, go surfing, snorkeling, play volleyball, go for a walk, ride a dune buggy, watch birds, sit at a bonfire and just amuse yourself, there is a beach for it. There are lots of things to consider when visiting a California beach, for instance the weather. California is known for its great climate, but if you don't check the weather forecast ahead of time your beach vacation might not be a lot of fun. In North California the months of July and August are the best for sunbathing and swimming. South California's beach weather is the best from June through September. Cities like San Francisco are known for unexpected fog and San Diego is known for 'June Gloom'. Both of these factors bring down the temperature and make for an unpleasant beach experience. Do your research before visiting the beach of your choice.http://www.bugbog.com/beaches/best-america-beaches-usa/best-california-beaches-usa.html

The beaches in California are popular attractions, not just for tourists, but also for California residents. It is an inexpensive way to spend a fun day away from home. The only expenditures you might have is parking and any food you choose to consume. Some beaches also have shopping facilities and art galleries right nearby. Laguna Beach for instance is known for its many art exhibits that are open to the public. Of course it gained even more popularity after the reality TV show by the same name started airing. Venice Beach is another entertaining beach that has many street vendors, shops and outdoor entertainment. It is also where the TV show Baywatch taped some of its episodes.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096542/locations

Further up on this Mahalo page you will find a summary of various California beaches. Hopefully this summary will help you decide which beach is best for you to visit.

Beaches in California are all different. Some are better than others for certain activities. Following you will find a summary of some of California's beaches:

• Santa Monica Beach: This beach is great to visit with kids since the Santa Monica Pier is right nearby and provides a full amusement park. The beach is 3.5 miles long and is great for swimming, surfing, fishing, volleyball and biking. Items like a bike, roller skates, or a beach chair can easily be rented.http://www.santamonica.com/visitors/what-to-do/beach/beach-activities/

• Venice Beach: This famous beach is 1.5 miles long and great for people watching and has a great beachfront shopping area. The beach has an outdoor gym area and a basketball court. Activities at Venice beach include roller blading and skating, bicycling, surfing, swimming, sunbathing, shopping, dining and sailing from Marina del Rey.http://www.beachcalifornia.com/venice.html

• Laguna Beach: This beach stretches over 7 miles and many celebrities own homes within the Laguna Beach area. The beach has basketball courts, volleyball courts, and nearby shopping areas. The beach can get crowded since it's a major tourist attractions, but since the beach is so large one can always head towards many of the secluded bays or coves nearby.http://www.beachcalifornia.com/laguna.html http://boomersint.org/pchwy/scalbch.htm

• Butterfly Beach: This beach is located in Santa Barbara and doesn't provide any facilities so you will have to bring your own. However, this beach is said to be great for romantic strolls, frolicking in the sand or walking the dog. It is only a short drive away from all the major hotels.http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/casantabarbara/p/beach_butter.htm

• Ocean Beach: This beach located in San Diego is said to have a great atmosphere. Many tourists visit this beach because it is located near many resort hotels. Some activities you can participate in include sunbathing, surfing, fishing, sailing, shopping, dining, playing volleyball and much more. Ocean Beach pier is one of the longest on the west coast.http://www.bugbog.com/beaches/best-america-beaches-usa/best-california-beaches-usa.html

• Zuma & Surfrider Beach: Both are located in Malibu. Surfrider Beach is a great beach for surfers and is said to have the best waves in Los Angeles. Zuma Beach on the other hand has many snack bars, restrooms, and jungle gyms. Sunbathing can be very pleasant since you will be surrounded by a star studded crowd and multimillion-dollar homes.http://travel.latimes.com/destinations/california/clm/introduction/the-best-beaches

• Pfeiffer Beach: This beach is not known to many tourists and mostly visited by the locals. The unusual thing about this beach is that the sand is purple because of manganese garnet particles that wash down from the hills. The beach is great for beach games, surfing and swimming, but take caution because there are no lifeguards on duty.http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cabigsurmenu/p/beach_pfeiffer.htm