SANTA MONICA, CA (Feb. 7, 2012) – Want to set an idyllic mood on Valentine's Day? Look no further than Heal the Bay's guide to the West Coast's most romantic beaches, a list released today that encompasses Southern and Northern California, as well as Oregon and Washington. These beaches offer serene views as well as shores worthy of a dreamy stroll. Best of all, they're also clean, with all beaches receiving "A" water-quality grades from Heal the Bay's Beach Report Card.
Heal the Bay's Most Romantic Beaches
1. Encinal Canyon, El Matador in Malibu – The "Ocean Lover's Choice," this beach won Heal the Bay's online poll, which asked supporters to share their favorite romantic beach along the West Coast. You can't get much more dramatic than this secluded rocky cove.
2. Abalone Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes – Another top vote-getter among Heal the Bay's ocean-loving supporters, this is a perfect picnic spot, as well as for tide-pool exploration and migratory whale watching.
3. Laguna Beach in Orange County– From Blue Lagoon to Victoria Beach, this string of beaches consistently score A+ and are renowned for their soft sand, perfect for a sunset stroll.
4. Stinson Beach in Marin County (North and South) – One of the cleanest beaches in the state, Stinson Beach also boasts proximity to the majestic Muir Woods.
5. Windansea in La Jolla – Where you and your love can watch surfers catch perfect waves…and feel secure knowing that the water here also is clean.
6. Morro Strand Beach along the Central Coast – A coastal frontage park with spectacular views of Morro Rock. A prime spot for forging romantic memories.
7. Ocean Beach in San Francisco– Located along 49-mile Scenic Drive, with views of the Cliff House, this classic beach is a stone's throw from Golden Gate Park.
8. Neskowin Beach in Oregon – For those with marital bliss on their minds, this beach features views of "Proposal Rock" island and earns top scores for water quality.
9. Westport Beach in Washington – Uncrowded sandy beaches, a 100-year-old lighthouse, plus A grades all add up to romance.
10. Sunset Beach in Santa Cruz County– This rugged beach south of Santa Cruz features pine trees, sand dunes and—you guessed it—a serene spot to watch the sun set.
Unfortunately, West Coast beach quality grades are not all roses. Beaches that may seem full of romantic promise could also harbor harmful bacteria that can cause illness and damper the mood. To help you evade this romantic pitfall, Heal the Bay is also listing beaches to AVOID on Valentine's Day.
Ironically, some of the beaches with the most romantic monikers, such as Heart's Desire (Marin County) and Lover's Point Peak (Monterey) score inconsistent water quality grades chiefly because they are enclosed beaches, rather than on open ocean. Enclosed bays are often found to have poor water quality due to a lack of water circulation, which allows harmful bacteria to persist over longer periods of time without dispersion.
Other beaches to be cautious about this Valentine's Day, based on poor historical water quality grades:
• Dana Point's Doheny Beach –This relaxing span of beach loses its luster when you think about the bacteria often swimming just beneath the surface. Yuck!
• Avalon (Catalina Island) – So romantic there's even a song about this Channel Island, but the idyllic spot is marred by chronic pollution. By next year hopefully the water off of Avalon will have improved due to upgrades in its sewage system.
• Arroyo Burro (Santa Barbara) – This spot just off Cliff Drive, sports romantic views but suffers from being the terminus of Arroyo Burro Creek, which is why locals have termed it "The Pit."
Want to know how your favorite romantic beach spot scores? Ocean lovers can get the latest water quality grades on the go for more than 650 beaches in California, Oregon and Washington throughout the year by visiting http://brc.healthebay.org/ or by downloading the free mobile app for iPhone and Android.
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization that makes Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. We use science, education, community action and advocacy to achieve our mission.
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