Most Romantic Beaches in California For Couples

With dreamy sunsets and breathtaking beaches, California’s majestic coastline is an excellent choice for a romantic beach getaway. From lovely seaside towns to lively oceanfront cities, there are many wonderful places to consider visiting on your trip. With this list of the most romantic beaches in California, you’ll easily find spots to go both on Northern and Southern parts of the state.

If you are in a hurry, here is a quick summary of the top spots:

Best beaches that offer a variety of romantic experiences in Northern California:

• Carmel Beach: Known for its stunning ocean views, pet-friendly policies, and close proximity to the charming town of Carmel by the Sea, it’s ideal for a romantic stroll and dining experience.
• Pfeiffer Beach: A unique beach near Big Sur with purple sand and the iconic Keyhole Arch, making it a magical and picturesque spot for couples.
• Glass Beach: Located in Fort Bragg, this beach is filled with smooth, colorful sea glass, offering couples a chance to experience the beauty of nature and capture special moments.
• Dunes Beach: Situated in Half Moon Bay, this beach offers soft sand, stunning ocean views, and a paved trail perfect for romantic walks or bike rides.
• Kehoe Beach: A secluded, colder beach in the San Francisco Bay area, ideal for couples looking for privacy and an intimate setting.
• Moonstone Beach: In Trinidad, Humboldt County, this kid-friendly beach is perfect for couples to relax while enjoying activities like surfing, swimming, and exploring nearby sea caves.

Southern California‘s most romantic beaches, ideal for couples seeking scenic, peaceful, and adventurous spots:

• Cardiff State Beach: A secluded beach near San Diego, perfect for sunset strolls, tidepool exploration, and paddleboarding. Its low-key nightlife adds to its charm for a romantic getaway.
• Carpinteria State Beach: Known for its natural beauty, wildlife, and camping options, this beach offers a relaxed atmosphere with picnic tables and volleyball courts. It can get crowded, but its peaceful setting is great for couples.
• Mission Beach: A popular beach in San Diego with a classic boardwalk, amusement park, and opportunities for sightseeing, swimming, and whale watching. The lively nightlife adds to its appeal for couples.
• Coronado Beach: Famous for its sparkling sand and picturesque scenery, Coronado Beach offers a magical atmosphere for couples to relax, explore, and capture beautiful moments.
• Gaviota Beach: A hidden gem in Santa Barbara, known for its stunning oceanfront views and proximity to hiking trails leading to Gaviota Hot Springs, making it perfect for an adventurous romantic escape.

For a detailed description of each beach, keep reading 🙂

Romantic Beaches In Northern California

Northern California has some incredible places to enjoy the surf and sand that make couples and families return year after year. To give you some ideas on the most romantic spots along the Northern coastline, here we feature some of our favorites!

Carmel Beach – Carmel by the sea

The quiet California beach town, Carmel by the Sea is where you’ll find Carmel Beach. It’s among the most iconic beaches in the area and is right on Ocean Avenue.
It draws couples worldwide to it because of its gorgeous ocean views, perfect waves for surfing, and pet-friendly policies. If you’re traveling with your four-legged friends, they can be part of your best memories as long as you can control them by voice.

There are many incredible shops and restaurants to visit in the area, too, so prepare to wine and dine to your heart’s content. Your itinerary can include stopping by one of the many art galleries in Carmel by the Sea before sitting down for a romantic meal.

You’ll feel physically and emotionally full after dining out with your significant other. The serene sandy Carmel Beach, which is just a 10-minute walk from the town, is an excellent place to take a romantic beach stroll.

Pfeiffer Beach

Your next romantic beach getaway in California should include visiting Pfeiffer Beach. This mythical beach is just a stone’s throw away from Big Sur and an absolute must along the Pacific Coastal Route. It is home to the legendary Keyhole Arch and has unique purple sand.

The light streams through the natural arch set the tone for a romantic experience. It’s a place where professional and novice photographers can’t wait to capture.

Located in the Los Padres National Forest, you’ll find purple sand from the manganese garnet rocks on the northern part of the beach. Tidepools exist there, too, where you can see many different forms of marine life. It’s a great place to slow down, get close to your partner, and appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature and her paintbox full of colors.

Glass Beach

Located in Fort Bragg, Glass Beach is among the most romantic beaches in California, with good reason. Its shorelines are full of brilliant-colored pieces of tumbled sea glass.

Smooth to the touch and incredibly beautiful to witness in person, the broken bits of bottles and jars have spent years being turned over by the ocean until they wind up a part of the landscape. Couples of all ages flock to this sea glass hunting spot to enjoy some outdoor time and photograph their personal love stories.

If you’re looking for a place that’s as pretty as the pictures you see of it online, Glass Beach is worth the trip. Although it’s pretty difficult to get to without scrambling down the hill, it’s a sight to behold at least once in your lifetime. Be cautioned, however, that you can look all you want, but you’re not allowed to take any of the glass home with you.

Dunes Beach – Half Moon Bay

One of the best beaches in California for couples is Dunes Beach in Half Moon Bay, which has soft sand and beautiful ocean views. It’s full of steep sandy trails that are short in length that travel through the dunes on the bluff to the beach: such a wonderful setting to spend time with your loved one!

The Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail is the perfect place to take a stroll or bike ride together as a couple. It’s paved and stretches from Pillar Point to Redondo Beach, and it’s even wheelchair-friendly, so couples with disabilities are also welcome here!

You can make an entire romantic weekend by exploring the area and enjoying as many outdoor activities as possible. It’s a great way to work on your tan and spend quality time relaxing with your partner.

Kehoe Beach

This hidden beach in the San Francisco Bay area, Kehoe, is a secluded location on the Point Reyes National Seashore. It takes a half-mile jaunt on a dirt trail to get there, but once you arrive, you’ll be thrilled that you stuck with your plans. This location has a long shore, rocky bluffs, and dunes to explore.

It’s colder than other locations, so bring a blanket and plan to do some snuggling. Dogs are welcome on the northern part of the beach as long as they’re on a leash. You can plan a date that includes your four-legged friend. It’s an excellent place for dog-owner couples to visit.

Moonstone Beach

The name itself implies that it’s a beautiful location to visit. Moonstone is a powerful and exquisite gemstone. This kid-friendly Northern California beach in Trinidad Humboldt County is a place where you’ll find seashells and driftwood galore, as well as sea caves, climbing rocks, and even a freshwater stream, so your little ones will also find a lot of things to do. At the same time, parents enjoy their well-deserved romantic time relaxing.

If you love water activities, Moonstone Beach is excellent for surfing and swimming too. Should you get hungry after an active day, visit the nearby Moonstone Grill Restaurant, which offers excellent food and beautiful views!

Southern California

Southern California is famous for its dramatic Pacific coastline, which offers places to explore for all types of beachgoers. If you are looking for the best beaches in California for couples, consider visiting a few (or all) of these fantastic places!

Cardiff State Beach

Considered one of the most romantic beaches in California, Cardiff State Beach is a quiet, secluded beach near San Diego. It’s an excellent place to take a stroll, especially during sunset. You’ll appreciate having plenty of space to roam without being inundated with people.

Check out the tide pools, or try your handle at paddleboarding. You’ll love exploring the low-key nightlife in the area. There are plenty of places to enjoy an excellent meal together. You may feel like grabbing a drink or dancing, too, to finish your romantic weekend getaway.

Carpinteria State Beach

Carpinteria State Beach, with over 200 camping spots, tops the list of romantic beaches in California. It’s incredibly beautiful and a great place to see birds of many varieties. If you’re looking for a low-key vacation, it’s a great location to explore because of its wildlife and exciting trail.

It’s a place with picnic tables, volleyball courts, and plenty of seashells to collect and bring home with you as souvenirs. This California beach is one that many people visit, so be aware that it can get crowded at times. Still, if you want to wake up in an outstanding location close to the ocean, the campgrounds are enough reason to plan a stay in the area.

Mission Beach

Mission Beach is a popular Southern California romantic beach in San Diego. It’s the perfect place to go if you want to sightsee, swim, or catch up on a good read while spending time with that special one.

There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and pick up a souvenir t-shirt or mug, too. One of the most outstanding things about Mission Beach is its classic boardwalk, complete with an amusement park, miniature golf, and chances to see whales. The nightlife draws a young crowd but can still be entertaining for older couples as well.

Coronado Beach

One of the best romantic Southern California beaches is Coronado near San Diego, where the sand literally sparkles in the sun. Who wouldn’t want to capture that beauty in a photograph? Couples love the location because of its picturesque scenery and whimsical community.

Exploring the area can take up most of the day. That’s why a weekend or week-long getaway is ideal for couples. You can soak up the sun, take time to relax, and step away from the ordinary truly. Coronado Beach is a place where magic occurs daily!

Gaviota Beach

Santa Barbara’s hidden beaches remain the most romantic. It’s true about Gaviota Beach. It’s located under a train trestle and has a campground nearby, so if you are looking for honeymoon beaches in California where you can stay within a few feet of the ocean, you’ll love your oceanfront views here!

Hiking enthusiasts enjoy the trek to Gaviota Hot Springs. It’s a natural wonder that’s worth visiting. The trail itself is relatively short, measuring 2.5 miles in length. It’s a great way to create memories with your special somebody!

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