I'm in Ca. too, and we like to go to the Mexican Caribbean, either Cancun or Playa. It's easy to get to and the water's great. Most people I know around here do like Hawaii, but somehow Hawaii just doesn't do it for me.
I didn't know you could get to the Caribbean Islands so quickly. When I've researched a trip, it took 2 days of travel. I'll check again, would love to go-- thanks for that info!

Hey Tom!

I'm a native SoCal girl and will die a SoCal girl! I love Cali, but indeed you are correct...our beaches are pretty hurtin' when compared to a lot of other places. In fact, after we went to Hawaii for the first time my husband, who grew up a surfer here, won't even go in the water at our local beaches anymore. I too would love our waters to be warm and that beautiful turquoise, blue/green, but I feel blessed just to have what I have. The way I look at it, once you're in it, water's water...wet! Obviously, that is not the case when you are talking about contaminated water. Our water quality is tested almost every day, so I don't ever feel uneasy about taking a dip or doing some body surfing. I'm 38 years young and have never had a negative result from going to the beach, other than maybe the occasional sunburn ;o).

Just out of curioustity, which beaches did you visit...where did you stay? That makes a big difference as well!

We will be having our first Caribbean experience in March. Can't wait for those gorgeous beaches!!!

Hope everyone had a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

spicyging

I went to various beaches from SD to Oceanside to Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach.... but none of my kids would go in the water on any of them :)

Not only did the water typically look nasty, but the water was way too cold for Caribbean kids (hey, we won't go in the water in Cayman in January as it dips below 80!).

Oh, Crystal Cove state park (south of Newport Beach) was really nice though, loved that place !