SLO County beach has some of best-mannered visitors in United States, new list says
Going to the shore doesn’t have to mean sharing space with loud music, rowdy people and wave-stealing surfers, not if you head to one of the Central Coast’s most mannerly beaches, according to a recent survey by Exoticca.
Cambria’s Moonstone Beach snagged the 69th spot among 100 beaches on Exoticca’s list of the “Best for Beach Etiquette” locations in the United States.
Moonstone Beach was one of only two California beaches to make that roll call. The state’s only other mentioned shoreline, the dog-friendly Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, was rated No. 11.
That’s impressive, when you consider that the state has 840 miles of direct point-to-point paths along the Pacific Ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Why SLO County beach ranked high on manners list
True, only some portions of Moonstone Beach’s shoreline are easily accessible, prime territory for classical, beachy activities, such as sand chairs, mats and naps, plus volleyball, building sandcastles and other activities.
But the rest of that stretch of Hearst San Simeon State Park shore provides spectacular, memorable viewing and photo ops from a mile-long boardwalk and two separate park areas, one of which includes a launch area for small boats, canoeists and kayakers.
According to California Beaches website, the boardwalk meanders “from the Santa Rosa Creek day-use area to the Leffingwell Landing day-use area. Access to Moonstone Beach is from either of these day-use parking lots or any of the pull-outs along Moonstone Beach Drive (the middle stairway is across from Sea Chest Oyster Bar).”
The release about the online tour-operator’s survey described Moonstone Beach as “a quiet Central Coast gem that’s more about clifftop boardwalk strolls and poking around tidepools than packing in towels and speakers.”
“It draws a gentle, considerate crowd that came for the hush and the sea air, not a party,” Exoticca said. “The kind of place where you can breathe out and actually hear the waves.”
In other words, the kind of shoreline vacation in the dreams of many people.
“Beach vacations are often sold as the ultimate escape, but the reality can depend just as much on the people around you as the scenery itself,” Juanjo Duran, Exoticca chief managing officer, said.
“A beautiful beach can quickly lose its charm if it is overcrowded, noisy, dirty, or feels unsafe, while a more modest stretch of sand can feel unforgettable if the atmosphere is calm and respectful,” Duran said. “Good beach etiquette may not appear on a postcard, but it can make the difference between a vacation that feels restorative and one that makes you wish you had stayed by the hotel pool.”
What did beach manners survey look at?
To find out which U.S. beachgoers exhibited the best manners, Exoticca surveyed more than 3,000 respondents.
“A beach day should be one of life’s simplest pleasures: sun, sea, sand, and a few blissful hours where the biggest decision is whether to swim, nap, or order something with an umbrella in it,” the release said in defining an ideal day at the shore.
“But anyone who has spent a summer afternoon on a packed shoreline knows the mood can change quickly,” the release said. “One person’s relaxing beach day is another person’s Bluetooth speaker arena. Add in litter, loose dogs, flying footballs, sand-shaking neighbors, space-hogging cabanas, and groups treating the beach like their own private festival, and suddenly the dream of switching off starts to feel more like a test of public patience.”
The study asked respondents to “consider the kind of behavior that can make or break a day by the water, from cleanliness and crowding to noise, respect for personal space, and whether the overall atmosphere feels relaxed or chaotic.”
Among the best-in-class list’s Top 10 were five in the Carolinas, four in Hawaii and one in Florida.
- Poipu Beach Park (Kauai), Poipu, Hawaii
- South Beach, Bald Head Island, North Carolina
- Lanikai Beach (Oahu), Kailua, Hawaii
- Kapalua Bay (Maui), Kapalua, Hawaii
- Hanalei Bay (Kauai), Hanalei, Hawaii
- Kiawah Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Naples Beach, Naples, Florida
- Coquina Beach (Cape Hatteras National Seashore), Nags Head, North Carolina
- Sullivan’s Island, Charleston, South Carolina
Exoticca describes itself as an “online tour operator made up of passionate travel experts whose goal is to help travelers worldwide fulfill their dreams.”
