Santa Cruz Avenue Beach

Located at the end of Santa Cruz Avenue, Santa Cruz Avenue Beach - also known as Santa Cruz Cove - is a small remote rock-and-sand beach in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego. The beach is situated below a blufftop residential area. The large sandstone rock formations present in this beach divide it into two separate sandy areas. As an interesting fact, the beach is immensely popular among the locals and has been also mentioned as one of the "Hidden bests" in San Diego Reader magazine’s Best Of issue in 2020. Santa Cruz Avenue Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach before 9 am and after 6 pm between April and October. Between November and March, dogs are allowed before 9 am and after 4 pm. Getting to Santa Cruz Avenue Beach is easy - the access stairway to the beach is situated near 5030 Santa Cruz Avenue, where limited street parking is also available. 

Santa Cruz Avenue Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, tide-pooling, wildlife watching, and beachcombing. The water near this beach has extremely strong waves and currents, which makes it highly unsafe for aquatic recreational activities. In addition, the rocky shoreline around this beach can also inflict grave injuries. The water here also has a severe undertow, making it look treacherously calm. You can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including seals and sea lions. During low tide, you can also explore the interesting tidepools present on this beach, which are home to many interesting creatures including sea anemones, snails, and crabs. You can also explore the interesting rock formations present on this beach during low tide. The beach is ideal for those looking for a quieter beach experience as it sees fewer visitors than other beaches in the Ocean Beach neighborhood. There is a rocky path starting from the beach that goes all the way along the Ocean Beach shoreline to Ocean Beach Pier. This popular pier is one of the longest piers in the West Coast region of the United States and offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Pacific Ocean.

There are many attractions near Santa Cruz Avenue Beach. The Maritime Museum of San Diego has an interesting collection of renovated historical ships, including the world’s oldest active ship Star of India.  SeaWorld San Diego offers excellent and interesting exhibits featuring a variety of unique marine animals including dolphins, sharks, otters, orcas and offers exciting animal shows and presentations. If you are looking for another attraction near Santa Cruz Avenue Beach, Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is an important historical landmark that has many renovated buildings dating back to the Mexican and early American period of California. This popular state park also has many interesting museums that offer a unique insight into the rich history of southern California.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Santa Cruz Avenue Beach. Bali Hai Restaurant serves excellent Polynesian-style brunch dishes and also a unique mai-tai cocktail consisting of five different types of rum. Mitch’s Seafood offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, this restaurant also serves amazing seafood. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Santa Cruz Avenue Beach, the modestly priced Hodad’s offers amazing burgers and sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Santa Cruz Avenue Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina offers many amenities including two restaurants, a bar, a spa, three pools, water-sporting equipment rental facility, and a gym.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star The Inn at Sunset Cliffs that offers many amenities including a patio and a pool. In addition, the hotel also offers fishing around its premises. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Santa Cruz Avenue Beach, the 2-Star Ramada by Wyndham San Diego Airport offers many amenities including a convenience store, a pool, a fitness center, complimentary breakfast, and a free shuttle from a nearby airport.