Sea Life’s Beauty

Photography and narration by John Mireles

Along the 70 miles of coastline that stretch from Oceanside to the Mexican border, the moon pulls the tides, the ocean carves the landscape, and promise of the California Dream pulls locals (and the world) to the beach... not to mention the neighborhoods that lie beyond the seawall. Out to capture America’s Finest sights and sand before sunset, I’m up and at ‘em earlier than usual. Carpe diem, as they say. Sea’s the day.
Oceanside

(It’s not even 6 in the morning yet.)
“I’m on the beach before the surfers. Sir, yes, sir!”

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Carlsbad

(Just after 7:00 a.m.)

“Bloody Mary in the Village.”
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Leucadia

(Morning burrito time.)
“A quick stop along a quirky little strip of PCH where wealthy soccer moms go to feel alternative.”

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Encinitas

(About 10 o’clock.)
Pacific_Beach-Issue-1320” width=”580” height=”435” />”Soak in some beers and coastal hipster cred in North County.”

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Torrey Pines

(Maybe almost noon; May Grey makes it hard to tell.)
“Stunning views from cliff top and beachside... best served at low tide.”

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Pacific Beach

(Lunch break.)
“Quintessential SoCal beach culture. A bounty of beach, boys and boobs.”

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Mission Beach

(Almost 2:00 in the afternoon.)
“More small beach-town character, less party crowd.”

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Ocean Beach

(It always feels kinda late in the day here.)
“Last stop on the West Coast hippy highway.”

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Imperial Beach

(Gotta hit the border before sunset.)
“San Diego’s forgotten and now burgeoning beach town. Voted ‘Most Likely to Find Parking’ (by me).”

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Border Field State Park

(7:38 p.m.)
“Remote and unknown, the extreme southwest corner of the United States is half nature preserve, half border-patrol DMZ.”