Living in San Diego doesn’t automatically make anyone a beach expert.

It takes weeks, even years, of fine-tuning — figuring out which spot has the cleanest sand, the closest parking, the best people-watching. It takes even longer to find some of the more obscure, surfer-beloved spots like Windansea or Tourmaline or Pipes.

Here’s a beginner’s guide to San Diego beaches:

MOST ICONIC

K.C. Alfred K.C. Alfred

Mission Beach

This centrally located spot is the epitome of a Southern California beach, thanks to its busy boardwalk and iconic wooden Giant Dipper ﻿roller coaster.

Main entrance: Ocean Front Walk and Ventura Place, ﻿though there’s access off the many streets and alleys along Mission Boulevard.

The scene: Mission Beach is busy, loud and a total scene, bustling with in-line skaters, bikers, boogie boarders, college students, “The Jersey Shore” wannabes and multiple summer playlists blaring at once.

Parking: There are two giant lots on each side of the roller coaster, but arrive early or be prepared to circle around for a while.

Facilities: Restrooms and showers are by the main lifeguard station, though cleaner facilities can be found at Belmont Park. You can rent boards, bikes and accessories at Hamel’s along the boardwalk.

Sand quality: The sand is soft but is often littered with cigarette butts and candy wrappers.

Watch out for: People zipping by on the boardwalk.

Food: Belmont Park has restaurants and food stands. You’ll also find a popular dive, The Coaster Saloon, for cocktails. More restaurants and fast food are available along Mission Boulevard.

Claim to fame: Mission Beach was the site for MTV’s summer Beach House in 2000.

Nearby spots: South Mission Beach if you like basketball, volleyball or Over-the-Line; Mission Bay if you don’t like waves.

MOST IGNORED/UNDERRATED

Nelvin C. Cepeda Nelvin C. Cepeda

Imperial Beach

This spot is forgotten by many people living north of state Route 94. ﻿But there’s plenty of charm to be found here, starting with its wooden pier.

Main entrance: You’ll find a welcoming “Imperial Beach” sign around Seacoast Drive and Evergreen Avenue, ﻿with additional entrances along Seacoast.

Parking: There are small lots scattered along Seacoast, and street parking around the neighborhood.

Facilities: At Seacoast Drive and Daisy Avenue, ﻿you’ll find bathrooms, showers, a kids’ playground and basketball courts. A block further south, you’ll find a grassy picnic area and restaurants.

Watch out for: Construction of the Seacoast Inn, a hotel set to open soon.

Sand quality: Soft, dark sand but with a lot of debris.

The scene: South Bay families, old-timey surfers, lots of teens and kids.

Food: Mini-marts, drive-thru Mexican food and family-run restaurants can be found along Seacoast Drive. The Tin Fish is a restaurant at the end of the pier. And Palm Avenue is fast-food central.

Claim to fame: The HBO series “John From Cincinnati” was set in I.B. ﻿It was also home to the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition.

Nearby spots: Silver Strand State Beach, a quiet (and often windy) alternative for those looking for peace and quiet.

MOST LOCAL

John Gastaldo John Gastaldo

Pacific Beach

While tourists and teens congregate at Mission Beach, many of the city’s longtime surfers hang out at Pacific Beach.

Main entrance: Grand and Ocean Avenues.



Parking: Very limited parking off Grand and Garnet avenues and Hornblend Street. You’ll have more luck east of Mission Boulevard, but be prepared to walk.

Facilities: Off Grand Avenue, you’ll find a bathroom and shower complex. There’s also a small grassy area and volleyball courts, and fishing is allowed off Crystal Pier.

Food: Grand and Garnet avenues are prime party zones where you’ll find coffee shops, bars, fast-food restaurants and everything in between. Along the shore is the fancy JRDN at Tower23 Hotel ﻿as well as The Green Flash and Pacific Beach Ale House.

Watch out for: Drunk people coming out of the neighborhood bars. It’s very possible that young children will hear a few naughty words.

Claim to fame: The Crystal Pier Hotel, which lets people sleep in cottages right on the pier. Surfers (and surfboard designers) Skip Frye and Larry Gordon are known to frequent the north end of Pacific Beach.

Nearby spots: Tourmaline Beach, which is also known as San Diego’s Waikiki.

MOST BELOVED

K.C. Alfred K.C. Alfred

Coronado Municipal Beach

Voted America’s best beach for 2012 by Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman, Coronado is adored by locals and tourists equally.

Main entrance: Ocean Boulevard and Isabella Avenue.

Parking: Spots along Ocean Boulevard go quickly in summer. There are metered and free spots on Isabella Avenue, as well as spaces around the neighborhood. The area’s full of beautiful mansions, so driving around for a spot is actually fun.

The scene: Though this isn’t a party beach, it’s still bustling with activity — from local body boarders and teens to families and tourists staying at the Hotel del Coronado.

Watch out for: The sand gets super hot, so bring footwear!

Facilities: One of the nicest restroom and shower areas in the county, located near Isabella Avenue. To the north, you’ll find fire rings.

Sand quality: Clean, clean, clean — the sand is raked free of kelp and debris every morning! There’s lots of it, however, and it can be tiring to maneuver, especially if you’ve packed a lot of gear or are traveling with young children. The water is quite a hike from the sand, too.

Food: There’s everything from fine dining to fast food along Orange Avenue, but nothing on the beachfront besides the Hotel Del.

Claim to Fame: “Some Like It Hot,” the 1959 movie starring Marilyn Monroe, was filmed at the Del.

Nearby spots: To the north, you’ll find Coronado’s dog beach, where mutts are allowed to run leash-free.

BEST FOR FAMILIES

Charlie Neuman Charlie Neuman

Moonlight State Beach (Encinitas)

This easy-to-find spot is also the most hassle-free.

Main entrance: Third and C streets.

Parking: Very limited free spaces by the water, but there is a sizable pay lot.