6 beaches worth the drive from Las Vegas

By CAIT EARNEST RJ CONTRIBUTOR

10 years ago

Sergio DeSantiago, right, and wife, Bertha, sit on their beach chairs in Manhattan Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Pacific Park Ferris Wheel’s 160,000 LED lights shine on the Santa Monica Pier (AP File Photo/Stefano Paltera – Pacific Park )

Harbor seals lounge on the beach where they have gathered for years in the La Jolla section of San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

This image provided by AVP shows Kerri Walsh Jennings, center, blocking a spike by Summer Ross, right, as teammate April Ross looks on during the AVP Volleyball action Sunday Aug. 17, 2014, in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Jennings and teammate Ross won the women’s tournament for the record seventh time Sunday.(AP Photo/Robert Beck)

One of the perks of living in Las Vegas is that even though it’s tucked away in the desert, a short drive leads to sandy California beaches. Not all beaches are equal, and the beaches along the California coast each offer something different for their visitors. While some are for the surf-minded, others are for the sand-dwellers or snorkelers.

That being said, the clean water and ocean breeze are too close to not take advantage. With a few days to spare here and there, these beaches are worth the less than 5-hour drive.

Hermosa Beach (4.5 Hours)

Get down and dirty in the sand by playing on the beach’s volleyball courts, or take to the ocean in one of the handful of water activities the beach has to offer. Hermosa Beach is for the active beachgoer with a taste for adventure, surfing or swimming on the itinerary. But that’s not to say the sand-dweller can’t have a good time too — the clean waters and soft sand have something to offer for everyone.

Santa Monica (4.5 hours)

This extraordinarily culturally rich beach town is famous for a variety of reasons, ranging from its pier to its farmers market to the iconic Ferris wheel. The vibrant community lends itself to visitors and locals and delivers an environment centered on more than just sand and waves. Split the day between the beach and the pier and absorb the atmosphere.

Laguna Beach (4 hours)

Life in Orange County can be rich in culture but calm, and its beaches both smooth and warm. It’s home to the Brooks Street Surfing Classic, one of the oldest surf contests in the world. Other tournaments hosted on the beach are for skimboarding and volleyball. The Laguna Beach experience is sort of the quintessential California beach when it comes to the sand and water, but beyond the beach is a community with a rich arts and theater history. Stop by the Laguna Art Museum or the Laguna Playhouse, or check out the Festival of Art around July and August.

Redondo Beach (4.5 hour Drive)

A beach is only as good as the city it borders, and Redondo Beach’s pier will give the destination a bonus point. Stand on the unusually shaped pier as tides go in and out. The pier has adapted over time after storms and the merging of separate wharves, but now remains in a funky, one-of-a-kind shape. As the sun sets, the pier lights up while tourists and locals browse the shops and restaurants. Stop into Tony’s for dinner on the pier, or at another one of the town’s historic restaurants.

Manhattan Beach (4.5 hours)

While Manhattan Beach may be one of the more heavily-trafficked, affluent beaches in the area, it remains one of the most notable and well-loved. Take a walk down the pier and pop into the Roundhouse Marine Studies and Aquarium, or see what creatures a fishing adventure off the pier can catch. The historic pier remains a surfing hot spot, but beachgoers can also bodyboard and fish instead. Like many California beaches, Manhattan Beach is a great spot for volleyball players and active beachgoers. Wander, bike or run down The Strand, Manhattan Beach’s premier path alongside its beachfront houses.

San Diego (5 hours)

Though it’s a few extra minutes in the car, the trip to San Diego could be well worth it. Among its most beautiful beaches is La Jolla Cove, famous for its calm waters and vibrant wildlife, like leopard sharks and sea lions. Unlike a lot of beaches nearby, the waters at La Jolla Cove are protected, meaning there’s no surfing. But the waters are still filled with snorkelers, kayakers and divers.