7 of the Best Urban Beaches You Don’t Have to Leave Town for
What’s your move when the thermostat starts to climb? Sure, you could camp out in front of your A/C all summer—but we can think of more entertaining (and more eco-friendly) ways to beat the heat.
Here’s one: Grab your friends, throw sunscreen and towels in the back of the car, and embark on a summer-ready beach staycation. We’ve picked seven of the best urban beaches that you don’t even have to leave city limits to visit.
1. KITSILANO BEACH, VANCOUVER: Compared to other West Coast cities, Vancouver might not have the same associations with sun, sand, and surf. But don’t forget about Kitsilano Beach—or Kits Beach, as it’s known ’round these parts. One of the best urban beaches to escape to in high summer, Kits Beach has designated areas where you can take a dip in the Pacific (or, for the less adventurous, an adjacent saltwater pool). When you’re not cooling off, get active with everything from stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking to tennis and basketball.
2. ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK: Home to the city's only legal surfing beach, located between 67-69 Street and 87-92 Street, Rockaway Beach is a favorite summer spot for New Yorkers. In this particularly scenic stretch of Queens, you can stroll the 5-mile boardwalk, lounge on the sand, and nosh on tacos from Tacoway Beach (we see what they did there). Rockaway Beach is also home to a variety of playgrounds and outdoor activities such as basketball, handball, and two skate parks—fun for the whole family!
3. NORTH AVENUE BEACH, CHICAGO: Sure, North Avenue Beach attracts its share of crowds—it hosts a number of annual beach volleyball tournaments, and most folks know it’s the stretch of lakefront to hit from Memorial Day onwards—but it’s well worth showing up early and claiming your spot with a beach towel. Peep the trompe l’oeil North Avenue Beach House (designed to look like a cruise ship from above), enjoy the perfect mix of golden sand and fresh water, and even take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.
4. VENICE BEACH, LOS ANGELES: When you’re an Angeleno, summer in the city basically means summer at the beach. Venice Beach isn’t just one of the best stretches of seafront in SoCal—for our money, it’s one of the best urban beaches in the country. Whether you’re a surfer or a skater; a people-watcher or a solo reader; here to swim, stroll along the boardwalk, or hang on the pillow-soft sand with a few friends, the vibes are unbeatable.
5. LUMMUS PARK, MIAMI: Miami denizens aren’t exactly short of winning beaches; here, white-sand waterfronts are a dime-a-dozen. But if we had to choose, Lummus Park—part of South Beach’s Deco District—is an excellent all-rounder. Bursting with a carnivalesque atmosphere, Lummus Park serves up a palm-lined promenade, volleyball facilities, an LGBTQ-friendly community, and more scenic vistas than you could ever hope to Instagram.
6. PACIFIC BEACH, SAN DIEGO: Is it truly a day at the beach in San Diego without fish tacos? We think not…which is why you should make Pacific Beach your seaside getaway spot. Not only is it one of the city’s prettiest and most popular beaches, but it’s also home to the destination-worthy Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, where fish tacos (plus shrimp tacos, octopus tacos, and other marine bites) are served.
7. BAKER BEACH, SAN FRANCISCO: Ocean Beach may be the spot to hit when you want to relax around a fire pit, but its reputation for fog and chill means it’s not the best place to sun yourself. Leave that accolade to buzzing Baker Beach, which draws crowds from all walks of life, offers views of the Golden Gate that would impress even long-established SF locals, and takes on a festive atmosphere on the hottest summer days. (Pro-tip: The northern part of the beach is clothing-optional—do with that information what you will.)
1. KITSILANO BEACH, VANCOUVER: Compared to other West Coast cities, Vancouver might not have the same associations with sun, sand, and surf. But don’t forget about Kitsilano Beach—or Kits Beach, as it’s known ’round these parts. One of the best urban beaches to escape to in high summer, Kits Beach has designated areas where you can take a dip in the Pacific (or, for the less adventurous, an adjacent saltwater pool). When you’re not cooling off, get active with everything from stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking to tennis and basketball.
2. ROCKAWAY BEACH, NEW YORK: Home to the city's only legal surfing beach, located between 67-69 Street and 87-92 Street, Rockaway Beach is a favorite summer spot for New Yorkers. In this particularly scenic stretch of Queens, you can stroll the 5-mile boardwalk, lounge on the sand, and nosh on tacos from Tacoway Beach (we see what they did there). Rockaway Beach is also home to a variety of playgrounds and outdoor activities such as basketball, handball, and two skate parks—fun for the whole family!
3. NORTH AVENUE BEACH, CHICAGO: Sure, North Avenue Beach attracts its share of crowds—it hosts a number of annual beach volleyball tournaments, and most folks know it’s the stretch of lakefront to hit from Memorial Day onwards—but it’s well worth showing up early and claiming your spot with a beach towel. Peep the trompe l’oeil North Avenue Beach House (designed to look like a cruise ship from above), enjoy the perfect mix of golden sand and fresh water, and even take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.
4. VENICE BEACH, LOS ANGELES: When you’re an Angeleno, summer in the city basically means summer at the beach. Venice Beach isn’t just one of the best stretches of seafront in SoCal—for our money, it’s one of the best urban beaches in the country. Whether you’re a surfer or a skater; a people-watcher or a solo reader; here to swim, stroll along the boardwalk, or hang on the pillow-soft sand with a few friends, the vibes are unbeatable.
5. LUMMUS PARK, MIAMI: Miami denizens aren’t exactly short of winning beaches; here, white-sand waterfronts are a dime-a-dozen. But if we had to choose, Lummus Park—part of South Beach’s Deco District—is an excellent all-rounder. Bursting with a carnivalesque atmosphere, Lummus Park serves up a palm-lined promenade, volleyball facilities, an LGBTQ-friendly community, and more scenic vistas than you could ever hope to Instagram.
6. PACIFIC BEACH, SAN DIEGO: Is it truly a day at the beach in San Diego without fish tacos? We think not…which is why you should make Pacific Beach your seaside getaway spot. Not only is it one of the city’s prettiest and most popular beaches, but it’s also home to the destination-worthy Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, where fish tacos (plus shrimp tacos, octopus tacos, and other marine bites) are served.
7. BAKER BEACH, SAN FRANCISCO: Ocean Beach may be the spot to hit when you want to relax around a fire pit, but its reputation for fog and chill means it’s not the best place to sun yourself. Leave that accolade to buzzing Baker Beach, which draws crowds from all walks of life, offers views of the Golden Gate that would impress even long-established SF locals, and takes on a festive atmosphere on the hottest summer days. (Pro-tip: The northern part of the beach is clothing-optional—do with that information what you will.)
