Are budget travelers condemned to staying blocks from the beach and the ocean?
Some might answer with a qualified "no" and present you with a list of mainly rural places where a beachfront property is affordable.
It is unlikely you will find the California coast popping up very often on those lists.
Property along that fabled stretch frequently ranks with the most expensive real estate on earth. It is in high demand among investors and visitors alike.
California offers at least two varieties of oceanfronts: the luxurious, bather-friendly beach and the rocky, spectacularly scenic seascape.
It's easy to spend $400 USD or more per night for a room in these settings, but my goal was to identify properties that are both affordable for a budget traveler and memorable as a vacation destination.
I found two hotels about 275 miles apart that represent both the beach culture and the artistic scenery of California. There are many less expensive possibilities, but these places offer a measure of quality that merits a slightly higher -- but still affordable -- room rate.
