A little further up the coast from the boardwalk, this cluster of beaches offers something quieter and more scenic than the main strip. Children’s Pool Beach is small and sheltered — protected by a breakwater that keeps the water calm — and it’s one of the few spots in San Diego where you’re likely to see wild harbor seals hauled out and sunbathing right on the sand, just feet from the boardwalk above. Windansea, a short walk south, has a moodier, more dramatic feel with its scattered rock outcroppings and a laid-back surf culture. Together they make for a relaxed, less crowded alternative to Pacific Beach’s busier shoreline. Go in the late morning for the best chance of seeing seals actively resting on the beach, and bring a camera — this is one of the more photogenic stretches of coastline in the area.
