01
Best overall pick
Santa Cruz Main Beach
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Area • Lively Boardwalk Beach • Classic All-Day Outing With Rides And Sand
If you want the full seaside experience after the drive from Planada, Santa Cruz Main Beach puts the Boardwalk, arcades, and plenty of sand in one place.
This is the iconic stretch of sand in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and it’s usually the first coastal stop locals recommend to inland friends. Expect a busy, upbeat scene with volleyball courts, gentle waves, and easy access to food stands and restrooms. It’s the best choice when you’ve got a mixed group that wants both beach time and classic amusement park fun without moving the car.
02
Best for tide pools
Natural Bridges State Beach
Westside Santa Cruz • Scenic Natural Cove With Rock Arches • Best For Sunsets And Tide Pooling
A few minutes west of downtown Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges trades rides and crowds for rock formations, tide pools, and big-sky Pacific views.
Park at the state park lot and follow the short paths down to the sand and rocky shoreline, where low tide reveals excellent tide pools teeming with sea life. The signature rock arch offshore makes this one of the most photogenic beaches within an easy day trip from Planada. Come later in the day if you want a quieter feel and a reliably great sunset edge-of-the-world moment.
03
Laid-back family option
Seacliff State Beach
Aptos / Seacliff Neighborhood • Long, Mellow State Beach • Best For Relaxed Walks And Picnics
Seacliff offers a long, flat stretch of sand that’s easy to access, easy to walk, and well-suited to low-key picnics after the drive from the valley.
This is the beach with the old concrete ship at the end of the pier, a quirky landmark that kids tend to love spotting from the shoreline. The gently sloping sand and typically smaller waves make it a comfortable choice for families and casual swimmers. Facilities, long sightlines, and a calmer vibe than the Boardwalk beaches make Seacliff a solid pick when you want a simple, unhurried coastal day.
04
Most convenient in Monterey
Monterey State Beach
Monterey Waterfront • Wide Urban Shoreline • Easiest Monterey Beach Stop During Sightseeing
Monterey State Beach is a broad, accessible strip of sand that pairs easily with an aquarium visit or a stroll around the harbor.
Stretching along the city’s waterfront, this beach offers plenty of room to spread out, gentle waves in some sections, and straightforward parking compared with more tucked-away spots. It’s an ideal stop if you’re coming from Planada and want to mix beach time with Monterey’s restaurants, Cannery Row, and the aquarium without spending your whole day in one place. Expect more of an urban-coastal feel than a secluded escape.
05
Most scenic pick
Carmel Beach
Carmel-By-The-Sea Waterfront • Picture-Perfect White-Sand Cove • Best For Scenic Walks And Dog-Lovers
Carmel Beach rewards the longer drive from Planada with white sand, cypress-framed views, and an upscale village just up the hill.
The sand here is unusually soft and pale for the Central Coast, and the sweeping views north toward Pebble Beach make even a short walk feel special. Dogs are allowed off-leash in many areas, so you’ll see plenty of locals strolling with their pups at sunset. Combine your beach time with coffee or dinner in Carmel-by-the-Sea’s compact downtown for a day that feels like a mini coastal getaway.