If you’re thinking about visiting warm, sunny, Southern California, then you definitely need to dial in on this…
I witnessed a discussion recently, probably more of a heated discussion, but just shy of an actual argument. I didn’t really weigh in, other than stating a conclusion which I style at the end of this…
I’ll see if I can recreate it, at least the highlights. 
One camp was saying that Los Angeles is much better than San Diego. Another was praising San Diego.
The pro-LA people pointed out there’s so much more “to do” in LA. Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory, Getty Museum, the Queen Mary, and the list goes on and on. People come from all over the world to hang out in LA. It’s true.
After you go to Legoland, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, and maybe the Hotel Del in Coronado, what are you left with in San Diego, other than the beach?
LA beaches are world famous. Everyone knows about Malibu, an epic point break. Where you can be hooted at by the five people that dropped in, in front of you.
Then, there’s Venice Beach. It’s been in more movies than you can imagine. Fruitcake city, where guys and gals rollerblade in things that resemble dental floss. No one in Venice is remotely modest.
Santa Monica, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, all world famous beaches, with wall to wall people. The crowds prove their popularity, right?
Sure, San Diego has a hippie beach, AKA Ocean Beach. And Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach are nice.You can see the seals at Children’s Pool and the La Jolla caves, are pretty cool.
San Diego has a nude beach – Blacks Beach, but don’t be fooled. Most of the nude people at Blacks Beach should be illegal. Not because they’re nude, but because some people shouldn’t be nude. Period. This isn’t what probably first came to mind when you were told there was a nude beach in Southern California. This is definitely not the French Riviera. Not even a distant “last.” Truthfully, I thought the movie “Sausage Fest” was about Blacks Beach. You mean, it’s not?
There’s also a bunch of small beach towns between San Diego and Oceanside. Overrated. The lack of crowds there help prove that the LA beaches are much, much… well “popular.” You probably wouldn’t like them if you like surfing reefs and points. You’ll much more enjoy the LA beach breaks. For sure.
Then, out of the blue, some people started to rain praises on Orange County. Home of Mickey Mouse and this Disneyland place. You might, maybe have heard of it. Sort of?
Orange County beaches? The only place the Pro Surf Tour stops in SoCal each year, is Lower Trestles. If you think of yourself a surf star, there’s no better proving ground in SoCal than Lowers
Then there’s Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and “Surf City, USA” – Huntington Beach. All awesome. And packed.
So, if you’re planning on visiting Southern California, it’s hard to go wrong with LA or Orange County.
Nope, San Diego doesn’t hold a candle to LA or OC. No doubt about it. Nothing to see here in San Diego.
Boring. Honest.
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