4 CA Beaches Ranked Among Best In U.S.

SANTA MONICA, CA — TripAdvisor has long been a trusted source for adventures international and local travelers. This year, several California seaside destinations turned up on its list of the best beaches in the nation.

Among TripAdvisor's top 25 U.S. beaches are the usual tropical suspects — Florida and Hawaii — but the Golden State managed to snag four spots.

Scoring near the top was Moonstone Beach (no. 3), which is located in sleepy Cambria on the Central Coast. The small town is nestled between two other quaint beach towns — San Simeon and Cayucos — and is just an hour's drive from the south coast of Big Sur. Moonstone Beach is also just a short drive south of Hearst Castle.

There are surfable waves on this scenic beach but be sure to arrive at low tide and watch out for rocks. Pro-tip: Pack a warm enough wetsuit if you plan on surfing or swimming in these frigid waters.

Much further down south is San Diego's La Jolla Cove (no. 14), which is a bustling beach that's especially desirable for swimming, diving and snorkeling. The waves are usually calmer here and the water is warm enough to forgo a wetsuit during the summer.

But watch out for stingrays! Pro-tip: Learn how to do the "stingray shuffle," to avoid a painful beach day.

Also in San Diego, Coronado Beach on Coronado Island was ranked at no. 20. On this beach, there are miles of powdery white sand and great opportunities to learn how to surf in smaller waves during the summer.

Taking the last spot at no. 25, TripAdvisor listed Santa Monica Beach — though it is certainly not least. This iconic beach is 3.5 mile stretch of soft and well-maintained sand to sprawl out on with friends and family. The beach is also within walking distance to restaurants, shops and hotels.

In the middle of the beach is the Santa Monica pier, which has an amusement park, an aquarium and a variety of eateries.

This quintessential Los Angeles beach is known for its historic past with Hollywood stars and famed musicians, including Jim Morrison of the Doors. There's even a Morrison bicycle tour you can attempt while you're there.

See TripAdvisor's full list of the top 25 beaches in the U.S.