Pacific Beach, CA

Pacific Beach is located in San Diego, California. The most popular beach in San Diego is called the Strand, and begins at the Mission Bay channel. Pacific Beach is the part of the Strand located south of the famous Crystal Pier. At the north end of Pacific Beach you will find the Tourmaline Surfing Park. This area is specially designated to surfers and sail-boarders and is very popular even during the winter. South of Tourmaline Surfing Park the shore continues for about one mile of sandy beach bordered by cliffs up to 75 feet in height. Where the cliffs gently lower to beach level you can see the famous Crystal Pier. The pier is publicly accessible and used for fishing in the Pacific Ocean. Pacific beach is not recommended for scuba diving, since there are surfs and heavy water activity.

Pacific Beach is loved by tourists as well as San Diego residents and is visited all year around. Summer is however naturally the most popular season. When you look at the huge crowds of people having a good time on the beach and in the Pacific Beach area, it's hard to imagine what a sleepy little place this was just a century ago. The history of Pacific Beach began when the railroad link between San Diego and the East Coast was completed in 1885. The railroad launched a massive advertising campaign to encourage immigration to the area. If you had been around in 1902 you could have bought your self an ocean front property for $ 350. The quiet rural community began to change rapidly during the 1960 when large condominiums were built, together with the Islandia, Vacation Village and Hilton Hotels. Today the Pacific Beach area has a lot of hotels and shops for tourists, but in the same time a lot of people can still call it home. Pacific Beach is home to college students and single professionals as well as families.

Like all the California beaches Pacific Beach experience strong rip currents. If you are caught in a rip current you will not be pulled down under the water, just dragged out towards the sea. It can be a very unpleasant and potentially hazardous experience, but try to stay calm and don't swim against the rip current since fighting it will just exhaust you. Instead, swim parallel to the beach in order to free yourself from the current. Lifeguards are present at Pacific Beach year round, generally from 9:00 a.m. to dusk.

The paved walkway which is parallel to the entire Pacific Beach is great for jogging, walking, roller-skating etc. Just remember that the speed is regulated to avoid accidents. When all the exercise has made you hungry you can easily find a good place to eat along Pacific Beach. Pacific Beach also offers a vibrant nightlife with pubs, nightclubs, sports bars and coffee houses. The most popular places are located at Garnet Avenue and Mission Boulevard. Public restrooms and showers can be found at the foot of Diamond Street and Law Street on the south end and at Tourmaline Surfing Park on the north end. Beach fires are allowed at Pacific Beach, as long as you use one of the approved containers available during the summer.