This is the first time we've actually stopped and parked at Del Mar City Beach. All the other…read moretimes, we've driven by and peeked at the ocean! Beautiful beach! It's about two miles long. There is a lifeguard, bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, and more. The area is beautiful and clean. The restaurants around are on the upscale side. The beach is in three different sections. The main area is the swimming pool, parks, brand new surfers. North part is the dog beach. South is where the surfers are. Parking is metered street parking. You can go to residential areas and find a free spot. Look for the signs and read carefully. Overall, a beautiful view of the ocean. It's very relaxing. There's ocean view dining around if you prefer.

One of my favorite beaches…read more You do have to pay to park but it is worth it. I love that they allow dogs and it is clean and not overly crowded. The water is shallow at some areas so its great for dogs. They also have a volly ball area as well. I came here with my pup and one other person and we stayed for awhile to hang out. It was super comfortable and everyone was super nice including the dogs. It's a lovely beach and will definitely be back.

Sharing is Caring. I had no idea this beach existed until recently so big shoutout to the homies…read moreMike and Lory for sharing this hidden treasure. In SD county, I feel like Solana Beach is often overlooked with La Jolla and Coronado getting most of the glory. Don't get me wrong, those are AMAZING destinations. But having lived here for a while, and not being a fun of massive crowds (ie. fighting for parking and space to stretch out on the sand), I've begun enjoying alternative spots. After a delightful brunch in Solana Beach, we began to walk. What came next was unexpected - we turned down a mostly residential road and arrived at the Cherry Hill Beach lookout. The view was stunning -- I won't forget the image for a long time. The skies were perfectly blue and the water was INSANELY clear. Interestingly enough, it was low-tide which created a unique experience of having an abundance of sand to walk on. It's such a visceral, magical experience that I'll abstain from describing it in words and let the pictures do the talking. Highly recommend checking it out when you're in the area.

My type of beach experience. Away from the crowds, soft sands in a cove like setting, and decent…read morewaves to watch the surfers ride. We drove up from Downtown San Diego to check out Solana Beach at sunset and heard Cherry Hill Beach was a local gem, a bit hidden too. Shoot we even almost missed the small path down to the beach after parking in the cul-de-sac. But we spotted the path and walked down to the staircase leading to the beach. There were maybe 8-10 people total, half of them surfers out on the water, so we had plenty of open space to sit down, take pictures, deep our fit in the water. Sunset was super pretty. We stayed til about 9pm then hopped in the car to drive back along the coast. A great night in San Diego.

An open space park just steps from the water…read more Lots of room to exercise or relax and even have a picnic. A great spot to start or finish your day. Paid parking is close by and it's reasonably priced. Be sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat plus something to drink.

We love going to this park and love that it's dog friendly depending on the time of year. Always…read morecheck beforehand. That being said the park and the beach are always very clean and I've never found them too crowded, even on the weekend. The only downside is parking. We've had to drive around for quite a bit to find free parking in the neighborhoods but they do have some paid parking lots that are closer.

I dont know if there is more that I can add about this beach, and at this point, I am still trying…read moreto figure out which beaches might be more suited to my personality but all I can say as of now is that all these beaches I have visited in SoCal specifically San Diego all seem quite top notch! Tonight, I chose to do the 4 mile run which is from Culture Brewing from Solana Beach up to the Kook statue and then back. Initially, I had no idea what a kook is but a local runner friend explained to me. A kook is a surfer who looks awkward while surfing. OK, now I get it. While making my way to the Kook statue, I passed by the parking lot for this beach which had a sign to designate it. This beach was pretty busy today as we are right in the middle of summer and everybody was out enjoying the weather, the beach, soaking up the rays, and water. Gosh, SoCal is really paradise on Earth! Id love to come here another day and just enjoy the beach, but tonight it was also cool to jog by, the views are just amazing! I feel blessed to be able to enjoy this place and my hope is you will come to see this beautiful place, your heart will thank you!

Beautiful beach. There are some lovely sunflowers and other flowers around up top by the parking…read moretoo (which was plentiful). There's also some free parking on the street if you can find some. The beach is very nice and clean. Get out and enjoy it :)

Seascape Sur is both the name of the beach and a very cool complex where I am fortunate enough to…read morehave a friend renting a condo there. Our small parties at our 'private deck' are amazing with the amazing views and the hospitality of my friend. You can access the beach directly descending the stairs. They are a little run down so always watch where you set your foot at. If you walk from outside the complex for a little bit you will also arrive to another entrance to the beach. You will see a not berh attractive sculpture a whole after the beach sign. You will go through a path and then you will see the stairs down to the beach. Really nice beach, I rarely see it super populated. Also, it is pretty easy to find street parking

It's a known fact that parking can be such a hassle in California...especially near the beautiful…read morebeaches you and I love to visit. But when you rent (or buy) a place at Seascape Sur, you would have not only one but two car spaces underground. The entire property is gated and secured, just the way I like. Not only is Seascape Sur gorgeous as you walk around the lush property, but they have multiple pools and jacuzzies to relax in. Having different pools in different areas ensures that they are never too packed, and allows you to enjoy the water...in case you don't want to walk down the steps at the edge of the property to the Solana Beach...an exhausting 2 minute walk by foot. There is a businesses center directly across the street, so you can literally walk door to door within 5 minutes for Yoga, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You are also just a short drive to several nearby beaches to relax or check out good waves for surfing. You can't help yourself feeling relaxed and blessed because of the vibe the Solana beach air brings you. If you always stayed at the Hotel, check out Airbnb or Vrbo at Seascape Sur. With a unit here, you can cook whatever you like...who knows we may very well end up sleeping on the same bed and eating with the same utensils!...at different times of course... Happy Summer!

Best beach to hang with furry and not so furry friends! Every evening is magical and lovely!…read moreParking off via de la valle is free. Fletcher beach is close! Dogs have to be on leash during aummer

Del Mar North Beach (aka Dog Beach) is on the north side of the San Dieguito Lagoon Inlet. It has…read morevolleyball ball nets and a good amount of space for dogs to exercise. I wouldn't swim in the inlet. Paid street parking only.

We booked a 2 hour private group surf lesson with Eric at Ride Solana Beach through Groupon. My…read moregroup has never touched a surf board before today, yet we were able to stand on the board and catch waves by the end of the experience. Eric is very patient and consistent in his teaching. His instructions were easy to follow, clear, and encouraging. The owner, Joe was extremely hospitable. We spent time at his shop after surfing to play ping pong and check out his handmade surf jewelry. I highly recommend this experience to anyone passing through town looking for a unique, beginner friendly, south Cali experience! Tips: - Free 4 hour parking in a lot behind the shop. Read the curb for the designated 4 hour parking spots. - Wear a bathing suit and opt for the full wet suit. - After the lesson you can take a 1 minute warm shower at the shop. Leave your spare dry clothes at the shop to change into post shower. - Bring sandals, a towel, underwear/bra to change into after your shower, your phone for before/after photos with your board, and sun protection.

Had the best time! My first electric bike ride through Solana Beach in San Diego. Arnie our guide…read morewas full of so much history we absolutely loved him.

A popular stretch of sand, especially beloved by surfers…read more I first stumbled upon this spot while walking from a nearby beach where I always park for free. Here, parking requires a fee, but the beach does offer helpful amenities like restrooms and water stations. That said, you can find similar amenities at other nearby beaches without parking charges, such as Moonlight and Fletcher Cove. What really caught my attention is the sheer number of surfers in the water and the crowds gathered to watch them. Thanks to the reef known as Seaside Reef, the waves here are larger and more consistent, making it a prime surfing destination. In winter, there's a charming tradition: someone places a Christmas tree right in the sand. It's a festive, unexpected touch that brings extra joy to the season. Next year I'm going to bring an ornament to place on this tree. Whoever keeps this tradition alive, thank you!

Catch the surfers here.... Where else can you find a Christmas tree in the sand…read more... We stopped for a little rest used the restroom watched the surfers and the walkers and felt safe..