is it correct that the beaches in California, even souther California are too cold for swimming in August? Any suggestions on a nice beach for a family of 4, kids ages 13 and 5? thanks

Not at all!! August is a perfect time to be in California -- in many places along the coast August is warmer than July! It can easily be 100+ F along the Californian mid-central and southern coasts in August.

According to Sunset Magazine's Top 40 Beaches, in July alone Santa Barbara's water temperature is 63 F. And the further south you go, the warmer it gets. In San Diego one can stroll the beach on Christmas in shorts and a tee-shirt!

Here's the link to Sunset's beach rating:

http://www.sunset.com/sunset/Premium/Travel/1997/07-Jul/BestBeaches797/NewBeachesSoCal.html

Well it all depends on how hardy you are. I have lived in both Florida and Calif., so for me, Calif. water is a little too chilly. But my kids go in the water in Southern Cal. in the summer, although they achieve a definite bluish tint before long.

Even though I personally am more a tropical-type in the beach dept., I still think Cal. beaches are beautiful and worth going to - just keep in mind you may not find yourself spending the hours in the water that you can in Florida or Hawaii. But it obviously depends on your own chill-factors and what you're accustomed to.

Here are some comparisons for you: the average public swimming pool is usually kept somewhere around 80 F. The average water temp. in August in Southern California is in the mid to high 60's (F). The average water temperature in New Jersey in August is the mid 70's (F). The average water temperature in St. Petersburg, FL. in August is 86 F.

You will find the warmest water in the San Diego area. Further north in LA it would probably be a tad bit cold. Anything north of Santa Barbara would be too cold IMHO.

August+Stinson Beach=Shrinkage. ;-D

Judge for yourself. Here's the average water temps for various places in the US according to the NODC:

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/wtg12.html

Too chilly in my opinion... but then again everyone is different.

Ken

san diego water temp is about 70 in august which most people find ok.

As Henry Fonda kept saying in ON GOLDEN POND....."Good God!"

When we were kids our parents would take us to Maine beaches and toss us into the cold ocean. Twenty seconds later our bodies had adjusted and you couldn't pull us out of that water for hours!
What is this nonsense? I guess it goes along with the way that parents spoil their kids rotten these days. God forbid any of them get the chance to really experience L I F E!
Take the kids to the beach and throw them in the damn ocean!

the water is often chilly for us adults but any kids that visited played plenty in the water. i'd usually go in to cool off but seldom spent more then 5 minutes swimming around. la jolla has some nice kid friendly beaches; mission beach is very busy in the summer but fun for kids and you can rent boogie boards and there is a little amusement park, lots of other kids to play with; for more quite day, i like the beaches south of the hotel on coronado. go past the state beach and you can park for free in the residential area on the left of the road and then walk over to the beach.

Oh for Heaven's Sake! Go to a Calif. beach and not swim? As my 9 year old daughter would say, just jump in and get used to it!

I grew up in LA and as a kid took the bus to the beach everyday during the summer where we enjoyed swimming, boogie boarding etc. It is colder than other oceans because it's bigger, deeper, etc. But not so cold you can't enjoy it! Have fun!

Head first!!!!!

I'm originally from the east and spent summers in Florida, so warm water is a necessity for me. I have yet to be able to go deeper than my knees in the Pacific anywhere in California. I'm sorry, but 65 degrees is far too cold for me. If it got to 75 I'd think about it, but am more used to the 80 and above water in Florida, or a nice heated pool.

I grew up on the CA coast and used to swim in the ocean all the time - be in the water for hours. Once you get in and get used to the water it's not bad at all. But then, I wasn't accustomed to heated pools or anything like that.

Beach suggestions: Coronado in San Diego,Newport and Venice. You'll be fine...you know, you lay out, begin to broil, and then jump in the waves! You can usually rent wetsuits if needed, but you'll be fine! Have a wonderful vacation and spend as much time as you can outside at the beach!

Mission Beach or Pacific Beach, you can,t get the kids out of the water from June to October. Stay at the Catamaran Hotel geat location one block from Beach, Boardwalk and Restaurants plus a good pool.

Beaches from Santa Barbara southward are usually warm enough to swim in during August, but by no means (except for freak tropical waters drifting in )WARM. It's like you have to get in (initial reaction is usually YIKES!), but then after a few minutes of immersion you get used to it. (That is the trick: get your whole body wet within the first minute or two.) The more you move around the better. That was my experience growing up in Orange County (Newport, Huntington). La Jolla/San Diego, on the other hand is much warmer. I surfed there a couple of summers ago with no wetsuit, and you could just walk right in with minimal "Adjustment" time-maybe 30 seconds or so.

Almost all the beaches are nice, long sandy walks to the water (you will need sandals -- the sand gets very hot), and the shoreline is great to make sandcastles. Depending on where you're from, the waves might look pretty large and imposing, so you'll need to watch the 5 year old, since it might scare him/her a little. When we were little, our parents taught up to turn on the waves, that is, instead of looking at it and having it hit you in the face, you turned away as it crashed down. It's easier to stay standing up that way too, but if it knocks you down, you can have the wave push you back to the beach.

The Pacific Ocean is NOT the English Channel folks. You don't know the meaning of cold until you've experienced that (or some of the lakes in Canada!). It's not the Mediteranean Sea either (lovely and warm). But kids love the Pacific.

My only warning is to watch the flags on the lifeguard stations. They will warn you when there's an undertow. I don't know how strong a swimmer your children are, but you do need to take care in the event of riptides. Ask the lifeguard station personnel. They can tell you the current wave situation.

Carpinteria State Beach.

Dunk 'em, dry 'em off, and get 'em a burger at THE SPOT.

Joesorce beat me to it - I spent a year living in Carpinteria as a child and barely left the ocean. It is called the world's safest beach. Santa Barbara would be a great beach vacation.

How are the San Diego beaches for swimming in April? We are going in mid-April. Should we not bother bringing bathing suits to the beach?