I'm trying to plan a trip to the west coast and wondering when the best times are for the beaches, specifically Carmel Beach? Looking for anytime between May-August. I'm not sure when it really starts getting warm enough to enjoy it or if there are certain times of the year the beaches suck due to seasonal or environmental reasons.

Also, I did a search to find Carmel Beach. I dont really want something crazy crowded, and I want to try and stay away from the LA area. The places I looked said Carmel was really beautiful and has nice soft beaches. Are there any other places to look into?

 

Carmel and Santa Cruz would be the only beaches to go. Santa Cruz has the boardwalk with rides and games. Carmel is a very scenic area. The weather never really gets warm at carmel and Santa Cruz will have a few days in the 80s into september. Keep in mind the water will be cold all year long and not very enjoyable.

 

Being the stupid me, by time I thought you were asking the hour of the day.

**** i fail at life.

 

Are there any times of the year that they keep people out of the water for whatever reasons? I always hear things like beach closed cuz of jelly fish and crap. I'd be pissed if I made it out there and that happened haha.

I was originally looking at end of May, but then it clicked in my head that it might be too cold to be on the beach. To the lady friend its would feel warm in May no matter what since she is used to MN winter temps, to me anything will be cold since I'm used to Kuwait temps.

Santa Cruz and Carmel aren't that far apart, maybe I can hit up both. Someone else told me about North Island beaches. They said since I'm military I could go there and it wouldn't be as busy as anything else.

 

The updated rules now prohibit “any person to cast, toss, throw, kick or roll” any object other than a beach ball or volleyball “upon or over any beach” between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (may 30ish to sept 3ish aka summer vacation times/ schools out)

also
Your kids could also end up costing you big bucks: the ordinance also prohibits digging any hole deeper than 18 inches into the sand except where permission is granted for film and TV production services only.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/...ee-on-beaches/

 

wow really?

so in other words someone with too much money had a football or frisbee land too close to them and got sand on their towel?

 

cali beaches are really strict

 

Keep in mind the fog factor. It may not clear out until 11am- 1pm on some days. Layer up. Carmel is gorgeous wherever you go with great restaurants and pretty stores. It's expensive, but beautiful. You can pop up the highway and go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to get a sea otter and jelly fish fix.

If you're thinking of Santa Cruz, just south of it is the really small but cute Capitola. IMO Santa Cruz can be dirty and overcrowded on the nice days. Capitola is smaller but has cute stores and nice restaurants.

 

+1000 norcal beaches ftw there are some stunning beaching futher up north too, around fort bragg area.