Newport Beach, Orange County
Just an hour’s road trip from The City of Angles, Newport Beach is an ideal sandy spot to live out your Californian beach fantasies for real. It may be the richest US city in terms of dollar, but Newport’s impressive setting more than rivals this fact in terms of natural riches on offer, from the coastlines golden carpet of sand to the glistening water beyond. Picturesque beach aside, what is perhaps most notable about Newport Beach is the cosy, small town beach feel that, combined with it’s idyllically placed harbour-side restaurants, bespoke boutiques and charming Newport residents, makes you easily forget you are residing in one hugely infamous beach location.

The Stay: The Resort at Pelican Hill.
This illustrious hotel, residing on a hillside offers up stunning panoramic views over the Pacific. Add to that the overwhelming sense of tranquillity that occurs from residing in the Italian-esque setting of The Resort at Pelican Hill and you have found the most stunning Newport escape.

Hermosa Beach, LA
Relatively unknown on the tourist scene, we welcome you to the insiders beach of Hermosa, a small but perfectly formed stretch of beach in the South Bay area of LA, but leave your surfboard at home as the shoreline sport du jour here is Volleyball and is taken pretty seriously. Before you try and take part may we suggest practising your bumps and blocks as well as also purchasing a properly fitting bikini- though any wardrobe malfunction may distract your fellow players from your ineptitude with the ball.
Photogrpah: Biju Chandroth.

The Stay: The Belamar Hotel
Just a short distance from the sand lies this chic boutique hotel that is on hand to provide you with a welcome restorative escape away from the sporting goings-on at Hermosa Beach.

Lake Tahoe, Sierra Nevada Mountains
Before you pack your skis and salopettes alongside your bikini we should tell you that the infamous skiing Mecca of Lake Tahoe actually transforms into a beach paradise during the summer months. Nicknamed the ‘Big Blue’ thanks to its intense colour and attention grabbing size, (that’s 22 miles long and 12 miles wide) the water in the lake is said to be so pure that you can see a white dinner plate up to a depth of 75 feet. In the name of science we think it’s only right that this theory is tested, so arm yourself with a kayak and some crockery and head out to the lakes waters and explore the hidden alcoves and secret sandy beaches that lay untouched around Lake Tahoe.

The Stay: Black Bear Inn
If you are looking for a suitably epic place to lay your head after experiencing the similarly epic setting of Lake Tahoe, then may we suggest heading to the Black Bear Inn where rustic, yet luxurious furnishings abound.

Gold Bluffs Beach, Redwood National Park
You come to witness the tallest trees on Earth but leave having been privy to some of California’s most spectacular coastline. Gold Bluffs Beach, aptly named for its golden-hued cliffs, acts as a past reminder of the secondary gold rush in 1850 where miners flocked to this area hoping to find their fortune. The area is a veritable feast of natural wonders including migrating whales, beachside waterfalls, a herd of Roosevelt elk, (the largest elk species in North America) and Fern Canyon, a narrow gorge cloaked in lush carpets of rare fern that works to give the area a prehistoric feel. A fact that didn’t escape the creative minds at camp Spielberg, who featured Fern Canyon in Jurassic Park II.
Photogrpah: Jack Durham.

The Stay: Carter House Inns, Eureka.
The Inn comprises of a bewitching enclave of four Victorians perched along the Humboldt Bay, with rooms that are a dreamy mix of antique fittings, oversized beds and enchanting views that look out across the unique setting of Old Town Eureka.

Bowling Ball beach, Mendocino
Two hours north of San Francisco lies a beach that is about as far away from the archetypal California beach blueprint as you can get, a fact that makes this beach one of our new favourites, (we love an outsider). For most impact we suggest you visit at low tide, upon which you will be greeted by rows of ball-shaped rocks that stretch out from the surf. These ‘bowling balls’ appear like they are part of some conceptual art instillation rather than a natural phenomenon but we have been assured that the story is purely erosion based, making the sight even more impressive. Beach aside, the surrounding area is also known for its winery and breweries, but probably best to wait for the drinking to commence until after the beach visit, as witnessing Bowling Ball bleary eyed could result in some strange-but-true visions.
Photo: Visit Mendocino County.

The Stay: Blair House.
This charming Victorian B&B, with its peaked façade may well be familiar to you day time TV aficionado’s, being the home of amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote. Set in the heart of Mendocino Village the cosy Inn offers sumptuous beds and sprawling ocean views.

La Jolla, San Diego
The jewel of San Diego, it’s no surprise that La Jolla draws the crowds in. Beautiful beach, great surf and fine restaurants dotted along the coast, La Jolla ticks all of the boxes on our exacting beach criteria. Explore the diverse aquatic scenery by kayak where you can breeze in and out of the secret coves and ancient waterways before heading back to the powdery sand for some restorative sun- lounging. But here’s our inside tip, make your way down to La Jolla nearer the end of the day when the crowds are setting off for the most peaceful, romantic sunset we’ve seen to date.

The Stay: Tower 23, Pacific Beach.
Deriving its name from the lifeguard tower that is stationed on Pacific Beach gives you a pretty good idea to Tower 23’s proximity to the sand. Clean, crisp and contemporary this hotel redefines seaside chic.

Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz
The old-school amusement park in Santa Cruz’s Beach Boardwalk was built to be the Coney Island of America’s west coast. Cowell Beach sits to the right as you look out to sea; a pretty, stretch of sand that’s popular with the surfers who arrive early morning and will still be there at the end of the day practising their 360’s. Whether to surf or to soak up an enviable concoction of old school charm and observe this perfect slice of the beach life, Cowell Beach is an unrivalled setting in which to while away the sun-drenched hours.

The Stay: Dream Inn
This beachfront Inn, situated just a few blocks from the iconic Boardwalk is an ideal romantic retreat, featuring clean interiors and striking views that look out to Monterey Bay from every room.