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If you’re traveling to California, avoid these beaches

Heal the Bay releases 23-24 Beach Report Card

By Mark Reif Jul 22, 2024 8:17 AM

Pier at Imperial Beach, CA — Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California Ruben Lopez, Jr., via Unsplash

A new report details the dirtiest beaches in California, helping ocean enthusiasts avoid contaminated waters. Heal the Bay’s 34th annual Beach Report Card rates more than 700 Pacific Coast beaches with an A to F grade for bacterial pollution, with lower grades indicating a high chance of swimmers getting sick. The worst performers made the Beach Bummer List, a top-10 of spots to avoid.

Though most California beaches fared well in the summer — with 90% earning an A or B grade — it was a different story in the winter — only 66% earned a similar score. Factors increasing winter pollution included increased rainfall and outdated sewer systems. Read on for more details, and which beaches to steer clear of.

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If you’re hitting the surf in CA, avoid these beaches

Surfer on cliffs, California — San Diego, California Frank McKenna via Unsplash

Though the Beach Report Card had good news for many spots, others didn’t fare well, especially in San Diego County, with four beaches making the list. That’s bad news for surfers looking for clean fun among the waves.

Heal the Bay’s Beach Bummer List includes:

Tijuana River Mouth (San Diego County)
Playa Blanca (Baja, Mexico)
Santa Monica Pier (Los Angeles County)
Tijuana Slough (San Diego County)
Linda Mar Beach (San Mateo County)
Lakeshore Park (San Mateo County)
Imperial Beach at Seacoast Drive (San Diego County)
Border Field State Park (San Diego County)
Marina del Rey Mother’s Beach (Los Angeles County)
El Faro (Baja, Mexico)

Annelisa Moe, a scientist at Heal the Bay, commented, “Most of our sites this year have been impacted by either urban runoff from storms flushing pollution out to the coast, or inadequate and aging sewage infrastructure, which has also been impacted by those big storms.”

Mark Reif is a storyteller focused on the intersection of outdoor culture, travel, and design. From the peaks of Banff to the… Read Full Bio

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Destinations

First Look: Hard Rock is Opening a Baller Resort and Spa in Malta

Indoors, Architecture, Building

A petite rocky paradise which, as an island, is in itself a UNESCO World Heritage site, Malta’s popularity has been steadily growing. And paired with Delta’s first direct flight from JFK, today’s announcement of the Hard Rock Hotel Malta’s opening may be the perfect reason to pack your bags and explore this otherworldly Mediterranean archipelago, just south of Sicily.

As the red-headed stepchild of bigger, more popular destinations like Greece, Croatia, Spain and even Turkey, Malta offers all the perks of a Southern European holiday in a pared-down, more compact setting. Yup, you still get beautiful beaches and clear turquoise water, but you’ll also be able to explore the easy-to-traverse prehistoric temples, Roman-era remains and Neolithic carvings, as well as access thriving local traditions like its Ventian-like dghajsa boats. With its new resort, however, Hard Rock hopes to cement the island country as a more sophisticated hotspot for International travelers, offering the first combination of 5-star luxury, beach club and live entertainment.

These Are the World’s Most Instagrammable Cities in the Fall

Road, City, Street

A new study has revealed that Paris is the most Instagrammable place for autumn travel. Having been there myself — albeit, in the winter — I can see why. Growing up in Los Angeles, you’re not accustomed to seeing the landscape change around you after each season. This is why yours truly is hitting up Portland, Maine, soon to experience foliage season. Paris in the fall is now on the bucket list.

The September 2026 study on the most Instagrammable places for autumn travel was conducted by Duel.com, which looked at how many Instagram hashtags each city has, along with the number of sights and landmarks available to photograph. It also measured average September temperatures and the overall cost of a trip. Each city was scored out of 100, revealing the best cities for travelers looking for the right angle and backdrop.

I stayed at one of Chicago’s most famous luxury hotels — and yes, it still deserves the hype

Ritz-Carlton Chicago

Chicago does luxury hotels exceptionally well. The city has historic grande dames, glossy new towers, and enough five-star addresses to make choosing one surprisingly difficult. Still, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago remains one of the names travelers hear again and again. Does that reputation still carry the same weight in a city with so much competition?

By the end of my stay, the answer was yes. The hotel repeatedly proved that real luxury is about noticing what a guest needs before they have to ask.