Mix one part water, one part sand, and one part sun-soaked coastal charm and you've found the recipe for some of California most appealing coastal destinations.

California beach towns have long been renowned for their relaxed embracing free spirit and boundless ways to play. Southern Californians seem to invented fun in the sun. Is it any wonder artists like the Beach Boys and others croon about "California Dreamin'", "Surfin' USA", and "Soak Up the Sun?"

With its almost picture-perfect weather and unique charming beach towns, Southern California is the ideal place to celebrate the sun, fun, surf, and endless days of summer. From north to south, here are some of our favorite destinations to do just that.

Huntington Beach is widely known as Surf City, USA. It's not hard to figure out when this laid-back beach town with a surfing culture dating back to 1914 sports its own surfing museum and a bronze lifestyle statue of Duke Kahanamoku, Olympic hero and the "father of surfing."

Picturesque Huntington Beach Pier is the town's iconic attraction, measuring 1,850 feet in length, and one of the longest on the West Coast. It's the most photographed site in town. Surfers and beach volleyballers of all ages abound on the vibrant waterfront. If you're looking for dining with a view, this is the place to be!

This Southern California beach town has evolved into an icon of sophistication and chic coastal living while still retaining much of the seaside village charm of yesteryear. Its stunning beaches, unspoiled nature, two ocean piers, and quaint neighborhoods and islands make this a spectacular beach escape destination. And let's not forget the stunning sunsets that light the sky ablaze in a myriad of bold colors.

Surfers love The Wedge, one of Southern California's most famous surf spots with swells reaching 18 to 20 feet. The 1,032-foot walkable Newport Pier is popular with pelicans, seagulls, and avid fishermen. One of our favorite places here is the rustic seaside colony of Crystal Cove State Park with 46 vintage coastal cottages built in the 1930s and 40s, beautifully paying homage to an earlier time.

Considered one of the most picturesque of SoCal beach towns, Laguna Beach is renowned for its beautiful beaches, idyllic coves, spectacular sunsets, and one of the world's most stunning walkable promenades with jaw-dropping views.

Guaranteed you'll find pickup volleyball games going on at any given time in the sand on its popular beaches.

Art and nature blend together in perfect harmony here, as Laguna Beach is famous for its vibrant art scene and festivals. The charming town is filled with delightful unique shops and galleries with beachy, trendy, free-spirited, and eclectic merchandise.

Known as the "whale watching capital of the world" Dana Point is one of the most low-key and unpretentious of Southern California beach towns, and one that's often overlooked.

Sporting one of the true sheltered harbors along the Orange County coast, this delightful portside community encompasses a natural cove bounded by dramatic cliffs on one side and crystalline waters of the Pacific on the other.

The powdery sands of Salt Creek Beach and Monarch Beach attract beachcombers and water enthusiasts alike. Dana Point Marina is a thriving harbor and jumping off point for dolphin, whale watching, and wine and sunset cruises. Though the beach town is only 6.4 square miles, it's an impressive coastal location too good to miss with lots to see and do.

Iconic for its picturesque waterfront and magnificent wooden pier, this sleepy not-as-well-known Southern California beach town likes its anonymity. But those who discover it love its uniqueness and small-town appeal.

San Clemente means "Spanish village by the sea" and that's exactly what it is. Easily walkable, the town is surrounded by enchanting white Spanish colonial architecture, and stunning mountain and ocean views. As the southernmost of Orange County beach towns, San Clemente features beautiful beaches, coastal trails ideal for hiking, and an impressive surf culture.

The northernmost of San Diego County beach towns, Oceanside is home to countless professional and leisure surfers for whom surfing is more than a pastime; it's a way of life.

One of the best places to watch surfers catch a swell is from its impressive Oceanside Pier. At 1,942 feet, this promenade is ideal for watching the sun disappear over the horizon. It's also when beaches are alit with bonfires to ward off the Pacific coastal chill.

With 3 and a half miles of sandy beaches, a historic wooden pier, Cape Cod-style harbor village, and unforgettable surf museum, Oceanside easily fits the image of a quintessential California beach town.

Home of the boogie board and the world's first outdoor skate park, Carlsbad has seven miles of continuous picturesque beach and a vibe that proudly reflects SoCal coastal living. It's also known for its unrivaled selection of craft beers found in its nine distinctive breweries.

Beaches are stunning, and surfing is immensely popular. Carlsbad is also a premier destination for beach camping, bird watching, hiking, stand up paddling, and kayaking in its beautiful calm lagoons.

One of our favorite ways to explore the Carlsbad coast is biking- especially if it's electric. These can be rented by Pedego Carlsbad whose motto is "Hello, fun" and that's exactly what the coastal riding experience embraces.

With 17-miles of stunning rugged picturesque coastline curving into an array of natural coves, La Jolla is a natural treasure trove - San Diego's Jewel by the Sea.

The vibrant upscale community has always attracted the rich and famous, but also surfers, beach bums, and nature lovers. Steeped in classic Hollywood and California history, the real draw here is the water.

Its beaches are phenomenal. WindandSea is a local favorite and one of San Diego's favored surf spots. La Jolla Shores boasts spacious sands, gentle summer waves, and firepits. Snorkeling in La Jolla cove with docile leopard sharks is quite the experience. Then there's kayaking the Ecological Reserve and depending on the tides, entering the fascinating La Jolla Sea Caves. If you're into nude beaches, La Jolla has that too, as Black's Beach is clothing optional.

A lively take on the classic boardwalk beach town, San Diego's Mission Beach is exactly what you'd expect in an iconic SoCal beach community. To boot, it's blessed to have the Pacific Ocean on one side and beautiful Mission Bay on the other.

Two miles of oceanfront boardwalk make it perfect for strolling or beach biking. Kayaking on the bay is one of the most relaxing experiences you'll find. If you're looking for a real beach town throwback, head to Belmont Park. This amusement park fronting the ocean was built in 1925 and its wooden roller coaster is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

It's no wonder Coronado's white glittering beaches are often listed among the world's best. Though Coronado isn't truly an island as it connects to a narrow isthmus of land, don't tell the folks who live here.

The historic Hotel Del Coronado is the jewel in the crown of the San Diego waterfront. Built in 1888, the elegant, timeless resort stands sentinel over a wide mile-and-a-half of spectacular white sand fronting the azure waters of the Pacific.

The delightful main street is filled with charming boutiques, eateries, and nautical gift shops. Beach cruisers are popular for exploring this fabulous island paradise as the land is fairly flat and the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit ensures the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists alike.

An unknown author once said "Palm trees, ocean breeze, salty air, sun-kissed hair. Endless summer take me there." And you can surely find it in each of these magnificent Southern California beach towns.