Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Sycamore Cove Beach

Sycamore Cove Beach:
Pacific Coast Highway and Sycamore Canyon Rd. Malibu, CA 90265
Sycamore is a California State beach which means parking is enforced at all times and the beach is open from 8am to sunset. Parking is $12 per day and is around $6 for a few hours. (Since this is a California State Beach the year parking pass will get you free parking the pass costs $195 and lasts a year from the day you purchase it. If you go a lot I would highly recommend!!)
There are Portable bathrooms here right by the picnic area. The picnic area consists of many wooden picnic tables that you can easily access. This beach is very clean and very well kept. There are trees a little bit before the shore that provide excellent shade. This beach is Dog Friendly although dogs must be kept on leash.
IMG_1206The waves at this beach can get pretty large and they are rather close to shore pros and cons to this although it does allow a great experience for boogie/body boarding. Not many surfers come here because of the waves being too close to shore but occasionally you’ll see some. The sand is a little gravel-ly right where the waves normally crash but once you get further in the water it smooths out, the sand on the shore is very smooth as well. There are lifeguards on duty also and usually park rangers at the gate of the beach.
There is also a wide variety of wildlife at this beach. I have seen everything from sea anemones to dolphins to humpback whales that were migrating to warmer waters between the Channel Islands (which you can see in the distance from this beach!!). Also you can occasionally see fishermen fishing off the rocks at the southern part of Sycamore Beach.

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Check out the dolphins in the back 🙂

I love it because it is so close to home and holds some of my favorite memories. Sycamore Beach offers a unique and memorable experience every time you visit. 🙂

Point Mugu State Park Thornhill Broome Campground

Thornhill Broome Campground was a new experience for me. I usually just drive passed it because I always thought it was for the campground. When I finally stopped here I was very surprised and its one of my favorite beaches near me 😉IMG_7141
So regarding the campground; I have not stayed there yet but I hope to some time soon 🙂 Although I do have some information that I got from the park when I was there.
The gate stays open from 8am to 10pm (that goes for both the beach and the campground). The cost for camping is $35 per night. The campground includes: beach access, fire ring, pets and portable toilets. This campground is cool because not only does it allow tent camping but also RV/Trailer camping.
There is NO parking in the park unless you have purchased a spot for the campground. Although you can park for free on PCH right outside the gate. When parking make sure you are in a legal parking zone and not within the blackout hours (which are primarily in late afternoon and early morning). I have never had an issue with parking and this way you don’t have to pay!
Now for the beach! This beach is one of my favorite because of the waves. The waves here tend to be calmer and not as big as beaches in this area. Now I will say that there are still rip currents, although I feel that compared to similar beaches it is rather mild.
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This beach is also known for its rocks. In the southern part of the beach there are many rocks that start on the shore and extend in to the water. Would not recommend swimming or wading where the rocks are just because when the tide goes in and out they can be kind of rough on the feet haha, but they are super cool to look at and listen to as they get pulled through the water.
This beach is pet friendly which works well because you can take your pups to and from the campground to the beach. I have seen two forms of wildlife at this beach, dolphins and lizards :). Although there are a good amount of dolphins that will swim through and make for a fun show.
One plus to this beach is that it is kind of off the map. This beach is never as busy as the other larger beaches. This allows for a more activities and freedom. It does have portable bathrooms that is shares with the campground. This beach is extremely clean and has been preserved so well. It never fails to disappoint me with its beauty ❤IMG_7158