Thanks to San Diego’s west-by-southwest coastline orientation, the continental shelf protecting us from the brunt of localized north pacific storm surges, distant southern ocean swells and a temperate climate, San Diego's beaches are safe and pleasant virtually year-round.

Find dog-friendly beaches and off-leash dog parks in San Diego that are great for your dog to perfect its doggy-paddle, play fetch, or have a snore-fest on the warm sand.

Nestled between Imperial Beach and Coronado you’ll find Silver Strand State Beach. One visit and you’ll understand why it’s call that. Here you can enjoy swimming, surfing, boating, kayaking, water-skiing, volleyball, camping and picnicking. Anglers can fish for perch, corbina, grunion and yellow-fin croaker. The area also features a wonderful bike path, part of the Bayshore Bikeway, that takes riders past the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge and offers great views of the bay and skyline.

Imperial Beach is described as the one of the best places to watch birds in coastal Southern California.