As summer draws near, the sun, sand and waves of the beach beckon to students in need of relaxation. Although the beaches of the Bay Area are not as glamorous as those in southern California, there are several local beaches that are less than an hour away from Saratoga and can satisfy the needs of stressed students.

Students will be able to enjoy the beach no mater what they do.

“I like to go to the beach so that I can run around crazily and no one will care and sing loudly,” said sophomore Courtney Hsu.

Main Beach

Main Beach, which includes Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, offers an abundance of activities for all. As one of the oldest surviving amusement parks in California, the Boardwalk contains timeless roller coasters, including the famous Giant Dipper. In the summer, the Boardwalk often sponsors free concerts on the beach, and there is plenty of food available on the pier and along the street. Main Beach is also popular for learning how to surf, and it provides volleyball nets along the shore.

“I like Boardwalk because of its a combo of an amusement park and a beach,” said junior Mckenzi Toh.

Capitola Beach

Another popular beach less than 30 miles from Saratoga is Capitola Beach, which provides beach goers with volleyball nets near the pier and rents fishing boats, boogie boards, wetsuits, umbrellas, beach chairs and other beach accessories in the summer. Its warm waters make it an ideal hot spot for surfers and swimmers.

“It’s a great place to have fun with your friends, like surfing, swimming and just chilling,” said junior Cid Diaz.

Ocean Beach

For those who prefer the foggy weather of San Francisco, the waves of Ocean Beach offer surfing and skimboarding. Although swimming is not recommended because of the heavy surf, local residents flood the area to fly kites, play volleyball, go fishing or just to take a romantic walk along the beach. Ocean Beach also allows bonfires for groups of fewer than 25 people.
Baker Beach

Another popular beach in San Francisco is Baker Beach, renowned for its beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Although Baker Beach is not suitable for swimming, it is a perfect spot for sunbathing and fishing.

Stinson Beach

While Stinson Beach, located in Marin County, is slightly farther from Saratoga, it is great for surfing, swimming, volleyball and fishing. During the summer, Stinson Beach also rents out boards, wetsuits, kayaks and bicycles.

While each of these five beaches offers different activities, all students can find a beach that suits their needs. These local beaches are great for an entire day of fun in the sun, so get ready to hit the beach!