California Beach Malls, Shopping

California is the mecca for beach entertainment on the West Coast. With Mediterranean weather and spectacular ocean views, you can dine and shop until you drop at many venues from San Diego to Eureka. Stay overnight at hotels nearby and you'll find you don't have much packing to do for your vacation. You can buy what you need when you arrive.

ALAMEDA: South Shore Shopping Center  alamedasouthshorecenter.com

AVILA BEACH: Avila Beach is a redeveloped area built from the ground up along the beach as the result of oil tank leaks a decade ago. The Avila Pier, events, beach playground, restaurants, and a hotel all make visits even more appealing.

BERKELEY: Berkeley Marina ci.berkeley.ca.us/Berkeley_Marina
Operated by the City of Berkeley, the Marina is the center of fun and community activities and festivals.

CAPITOLA: Capitola Beach, Capitola Wharf cityofcapitola.org
Esplanade Park and Beach, plus the Capitola Wharf host many festivals and events, as well as offer great dining with water views. Capitola is one of the most charming small beach cities in California.

EUREKA: Woodley Island  humboldtbay.org/woodley-island
601 Startare Dr.
Eureka, CA
Woodley Island in the Humboldt Bay Harbor District is a small shopping and dining village overlooking the marina and waterfront Eureka. Cafe Marina and Woodley's Bar (cafemarina.net) offers great seafood and cocktails in a casual atmosphere.

HALF MOON BAY: Pillar Point, Beach
Half Moon Bay is known for its surfing and it truly is a roll back to the birth of surfing culture with surfers from around the world coming, dining and shopping along the waterfront in places such as Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. (hmbrewingco.com) It's been called one of America's best beach bars -- and it's pet-friendly, too.

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Pacific City, gopacificcity.com
This new mall attracts visitors for the variety of restaurants, some with ocean views overlooking Huntington City Beach and HB Pier. The mall is pet-friendly, and sits next to a new hotel, Pasea. Events include outdoor movies.

LONG BEACH: Shoreline Village shorelinevillage.com
Dining is the focal point of the Shoreline where village architecture makes it easy to find. Stroll from shops and a kids arcade to the Aquarium of the Pacific, boat excursions (whale watching, harbor tours and Aqualink) and the Long Beach Convention Center. Yard House is a favorite with good food and a large selection of beers on tap. PF Chang's and other great restaurants line the shore, overlooking Queen Mary historic ship.

MARINA DEL REY: Marina del Rey is one of the largest municipal marinas in the nation, featuring restaurants, shopping, Hornblower Cruises, festivals and concerts all along the waterfront. Hotels such as Ritz-Carlton provide upscale accommodations just a few miles from LAX, while offering the exciting beach vibe in this trendy spot.

MONTEREY: Cannery Row, canneryrow.com
Steeped in history, Cannery Row features places to stay, dine and shop next to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Ample bay views and that famous weather that's slightly cool make are ideal for romance stays, though family activities are the norm, as well.

MORRO BAY: Morro Bay Marina
The small shopping and dining area along the waterfront overlooks the bay and The Rock. It almost sounds like a prison but believe me, it is NOT. A state park and golf course are located within walking distance, and there are plenty of hotels you can walk to, as well.

NEWPORT BEACH: Newport Pier | Fashion Island, shopfashionisland.com
Offering the most waterfront shopping and dining in the region, Newport Beach is simply amazing for its diverse beach neighborhoods with their own restaurants and shops. Among them, Fashion Island stands out as the biggest attraction on a hill top overlooking the Pacific Coast. On Newport Peninsula you'll find two piers, and two shopping areas with dining and shopping. You can't overlook Balboa Island with its Marine Ave. shopping and eateries -- a tourist favorite. The Island connect to the peninsula via a ferry.

OAKLAND: Jack London Square jacklondonsquare.com
Though steeped in history with famous places such as Heinhold's Last Chance Saloon, the shopping, dining and hotel accommodations offer waterfront weather and views across the bay from San Francisco. Events and festivals, a weekly farmer's market and vendor fair, and an eclectic mix of restaurants make this a fantastic visit.

PACIFICA: Rockaway Beach, Pedro Point Shopping Center
Rockaway Beach is an amazing, low-key neighborhood on the waterfront where surfers like to head into the water. Dining, hotels and a few shops offer value-oriented vacations close to San Francisco.

PACIFIC GROVE: American Tin Cannery  americantincannery.com
Transformed from a cannery next to Monterey Bay Aquarium, this shopping complex overlooks the bay. I have marveled many times at the views when trying on a pair of shoes. Dining, hotels and discount shops on the waterfront mean that Pacific Grove gets to capture some of that tourist revenue. 

PISMO BEACH: Pismo Beach is known for its outlet mall a short drive from the ocean. However, they funky, fun downtown offers shopping, dining and water views. Many hotels sit on cliffs overlooking the Pismo Beach Pier where guests can relax on the beach, go eat, sip a brew and soak up the Central Coast vibe before heading out on the many wine trails.

REDONDO BEACH: Redondo Pier, redondopier.com  | Riviera Village rivieravillage.net
Redondo Beach Pier and wharf are recognized among the L.A. / SoCal crowd as the place to go to eat fresh fish. Dining is the main attraction at the pier & wharf while festivals and entertainment sweeten the attraction with music and fun.
Riviera Village sits on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It offers restaurants, shopping and an annual events, festivals and street fairs attraction tourists and locals.

SAN DIEGO: Seaport Village, seaportvillage.com
The decades-old Seaport Village is booming with all the new hotel construction and convention crowds strolling the waterfront to eat out and shop for souvenirs. Fun festivals and entertainment are offered seasonally.

SAN FRANCISCO: Pier 39, pier39.com, Marina, Embarcadero, Ferry Landing
San Francisco offers some of the most extensive view dining along the bay with a variety of piers and enclaves selling fresh fish, cocktails, and serving up festivals and events all year. Everyone heads to Pier 39 but there's plenty more to explore.

SAN PEDRO: Ports O' Call  portoflosangeles.org/recreation/ports_call_village.asp 
San Pedro is a community of Los Angeles. It is home to the nation's largest port. And when you dine and stroll the waterfront, you can't help but notice the massive freighters passing by. It's exciting for all ages. It's being redeveloped and continues to unfold. Enjoy the dancing waterfalls, take a cruise, visit the maritime museum. There's so much to see & do.

SANTA BARBARA: Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Harbor stearnswharf.org
Stearns Wharf is the icon of Santa Barbara's waterfront entertainment. You can eat a meal at one of the view restaurants on the wharf or pack a picnic and go casual. There are ice cream and dessert shops, restaurants and souvenirs. View are everywhere in this wooden-planked pier cars can drive on. There's also a museum on the wharf and hotels directly across the street for easy strolls.

SANTA CRUZ: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz Wharf  cityofsantacruz.com/ visiting/santa-cruz-wharf
Santa Cruz Wharf, the biggest pier in California, is a shopping and dining destination which easily connects to another waterfront attraction, the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Both are icons of American beach tourism with over 100 years of history. Waterfront dining such as the long-time Stagnaro Bros (stagnarobros.com) known for its selection of fresh seafood, and events such as Woodies on the Wharf, make it an all-in-one entertainment venue. Walk from hotels to the beach and also head for the Beach Boardwalk for free summer concerts with name acts, as well as amusement rides and the famed beach train (roaringcamp.com).

SANTA MONICA: Santa Monica Place, santamonicaplace.com
The new ocean-close shopping mall was an instant hit that locals longed for and tourists enjoy. With many dining and shopping options, it offers a day of entertainment near the beach without ever stepping on the sand or getting wet.
Santa Monica Pier / Pacific Park  is one of L.A. top beach attractions. From amusement rides to dining, shopping, art kiosks, and views of the Santa Monica mountains the place is buzzing with activity (and often crowded on weekends.) It's never dull. As you stroll you may be reminded of dozens of movies that have used the pier as a setting.

SAUSALITO: Sausalito Harbor & Bay  ci.sausalito.ca.us
Food, food and more food with views, is what you get in Sausalito, overlooking the San Francisco bay. The city offers summer concerts, art festivals and lots events throughout the year along the treasured waterfront. Accommodations are limited, so many drop by for hours of shopping and dining.

VENTURA: Ventura Harbor Village
1583 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001
805-477-0470
venturaharborvillage.com
16 eateries, 17 shops and beautiful harbor views with boats moored and going in and out. Our favorite throughout the years has been the Greek Ventura (thegreekventura.com) with fantastic shows at night, and wonderful meals offering many traditional Greek dishes.