they lie. capitola is a decent beach but the sand is dust and pebbles. you gotta hit up Cowelles in Santa Cruz. if you are looking out at the water from the road its ont he right side of thw wharf. its less touristy. and then Blacks/14th Ave (theyre basically the same) is pretty much the shit. 3rd ave is fun, but if you go to It's on the west side (the beach to the right of the lighthouse museum on top of the Lane) you can jump Toilet Bowl. its a rock formation in the shape of a bowl and on a high tide/calm waters its fun. look for the locals doing it, dont be dumb and go into anything you cant swim out of. the lifeguards will slap a ticket on you if they  have to rescue your dumbass cause its illegal and youre a tranny.
anyways, as you drive from Washington to CA you have to stop at Bodega Bay in nor cal and get some salt water taffy. its good as sin and the beach is fun. get super high and pass out on it. then go to North Beach and dont go to the beach cause its cold (in San Francisco) but eat pasta there. then head down to Pacifica and collect shells. drive down on the coast towards santa cruz, stop at the San Gregorio General STore and get sodas, then go to 4Mile, 4 miles before santa cruz. once you get in SC turn right onto Swift and drive on the cliffs. youll hit natural bridges, grandpas, sabers, its, the lane, cowelles, mainbeach, beercan beach, 3rd, seabright (eat at the seabright brewery! so good!), "Harbor" beach (aka Twin Lakes), 14th, blacks, hidden, pleasure point, jacks, the hook, privates, capitola, sunset, manresa and then youre in monterey which is the devil incarnate. dont go to monterey unless you want to be very bored. although Carmel Beach is beautiful. and if you can get into Pebble Beach, check out Spanish Bay.
on your way down the coast go to Pismo. its fun.
avoid long beach during Regionals (the regional junior lifeguard/ lifeguard comp)_ cause its overrun with kids in red suits. i was one of them, trust me.
have fun and if youre stuck in SC hit me up.
guy at SkiShop SC to me: "Why is there sand in your bindings?"
"If you're alive, I probably hate you."
-C. Francis Browning (my friend CeCe)