Crown Jewel

Walk and Relax at Crown Memorial Beach

Long walks on the beach, in the East Bay? Indeed. Alameda is your island in the bay with beaches meant for strolling. Crown Memorial Beach is a relaxing stretch of sand that's an impressive 2.5 miles long. The best way to check it out is to simply walk (or bike) the paved path paralleling its shore. You'll get great views across the bay to downtown San Francisco and the Santa Cruz Mountains. If the weather's nice you'll see sailboats and windsurfers skimming across the crystal waters. The full walk goes south from Crab Cove Visitor Center to the Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary. Here you'll probably see cormorants and pelicans and, if you're lucky, the endangered clapper rail. If you don't feel like walking the full 2.5 miles, you can peel off and lounge on the beach anywhere along the way. Who knew Thanksgiving could be so relaxing?

Park in the main lot off of 8th St. in Alameda. The paved shoreline trail is dog-friendly but the beach is not.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Dune It Right

    Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Monterey's Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset.

    View
  2. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    {NOTE: Due to atmospheric rivers that can come this time of year, always be sure to check ahead for trail closures and hazards. And of course, wait for better weather and drier con

    View
  3. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

    View
  2. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

    View
  3. Into the Mystic

    Venture into the Cave of Munits in West Hills, a magnificent cavern that was a place of deep spiritual importance to the Chumash people. Legend says this cave was once home to a powerful shaman who was killed after he took the life of a chief's son.

    View
  4. A woman walks the path next to the beach at sunset at Palisades Park in Los Angeles County

    Santa Monica’s Most Beautiful Walk

    With its sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Santa Monica Pier, the 26-acre Palisades Park, perched along the beach bluffs, may be a tourist’s delight for its quintessential California vibes–but it’s just as beloved by locals. Follow this 2.5-mile loop to experience it like one.

    View