
1. Coronado Beach
Where is it? San Diego
What is it? Fans of classic cinema and Marilyn Monroe films will recognize the half-mile strip of silvery sand—literally sparkling thanks to the mineral mica—from its cameo in the 1959 romantic comedy Some Like It Hot.
Why go? Running parallel to lengthy Ocean Boulevard, the beach is lined with oceanfront mansions including the iconic Victorian landmark Hotel del Coronado. This strip of shoreline is not just beautiful, it’s also one of California’s best spots for frolicking in the ocean: lifeguards are famously watchful, water is slightly warmer than it is farther north and the gentle waves are ideal for swimming, boogie boarding or learning to surf.
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