Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rocky to surf; tide pooling is best. Pick up a tide table at the visitors bureau. (Tide pool
etiquette: tread lightly on dry rocks only and don't pick anything up that you find living in
the water or on the rocks.)
vistas of craggy coves and deep-blue sea. Bring your camera - with its palm trees and
bougainvillea-dotted bluffs, the scene is definitely one for posterity. A scenic walkway
also connects Heisler Park to Main Beach.
North of downtown, Crescent Bay has big hollow waves good for bodysurfing, but
parking is difficult; try the bluffs atop the beach; the views here are reminiscent of the
Amalfi Coast.
Southern Beaches
BEACHES
About 1 mile south of downtown, secluded
Victoria Beach
has volleyball courts and
La
Tour
, a Rapunzel's-tower-like structure from 1926. Skimboarding (at the south end) and
scuba diving are popular here. Take the stairs down Victoria Dr; there's limited parking
along Pacific Coast Hwy.
Coast Hwy; parking per hr $1; 6am-10pm)
is popular with surfers, boogie boarders and skim-
boarders. With picnic tables, fire pits and a play area, it's also good for families. Pay-and-
display parking costs $1 per hour. Or drive south and park on Pacific Coast Hwy for free.
Jealously guarded by locals,
Thousand Steps Beach
is hidden about 1 mile south of Al-
iso Beach. Just past Mission Hospital, park along Pacific Coast Hwy or residential side
streets. At the south end of 9th St, more than 200 steps (OK, so it's not 1000) lead down to
the sand. Though rocky, the beach is great for sunbathing, surfing and bodysurfing.
