Rio Del Mar, is a tiny beachside town with a great beach and a really cool drive to get there. Driving south along highway 1 after leaving Santa Cruz, five minutes into the drive a sign pops up for Rio Del Mar. Be sure to take it for a cool little back street drive to a great beach. As you turn off the highway keep right and keep following the road until you get to the beach. On your way, you’ll pass a golf course and come to a steep downward hill. You’re at the top and to get to the beach you need to drop down to sea level. When you arrive, you’ll be in a parking lot with a little super market, a cafe and a few restaurants and you’ll be right in front of the ocean ready to go for a walk along a very long stretch of beach.

We love this stretch of beach because it’s just so local. There’s really only one way in and one way out, and there’s not much parking, so be sure to get there early. There are beach rentals that stretch along the beach, which are also great because they allow for privacy and amazing beach access. Your rental is right on the beach.

One thing we didn’t like was the wind. Because the beach is so open and stretches for so long, at times it does get very windy. So, if it’s a really windy day you might want to pass on this beach and head to another just around the corner. We’d suggest Harbor beach in Santa Cruz because it’s protected by the light house and cafe El Palomar is right on the beach.

But, for those calm summer days be sure to take a long beach walk at Rio Del Mar.