Its summer in LA, and while we may take it for granted, every other city is losing their mind wishing they could spend their time on our beaches. Weve got excellent water, excellent food, excellent bars, and excellent-looking people in bathing suits, which is exactly why we should be beach bumming it as often as we can. Happy summer everybody: Here are the shoreline spots you need to hit in and around Los Angeles, and the things you should be eating while youre there.

For those of us who may actually be a little sick of the summer/borderline oppressive heat, a northern beach like Oxnard is a dream. Its generally at least 15 degrees cooler and the vibe is unbelievably relaxed. It's only an hours drive from LA and theres a ton of fun stuff to do in Oxnard that ranges from jet ski rentals to backpacking trips through the Channel Islands. Thinking of renting a beach house for a weekend somewhere? Youll find plenty of beaches along Oxnards coast, but Oxnard Beach itself might be the prize. The waves here are absolutely stunning, and its just adjacent to Oxnard Beach Park, which is wonderful for lounging/bringing the kids/creepily staring at other peoples dogs.

Where to eat/drink: If you skip Carnitas El Rey, youre doing it wrong. The move here is, of course, the carnitas, which are just about as good as anything youll find anywhere. Theyre also the only thing on the menu, so it stands to reason theyd be good. Fishermans Catch is a perfect spot for fresh seafood on the water, and the home of some truly life-affirming clam chowder.

Bonfires are illegal in Los Angeles for the most part, but Dockweiler gives nary a care about that, because you can bonfire it up all you want over here. Grab your gear and hit one of the many bonfire pits laid out along the beach, but be warned: They tend to fill up fast, so arriving early is key. If youre looking for a challenge, take your BBQ game on the road -- grab some meats from Belcampo on your way up, and set up a makeshift grill over the fire.

Where to eat/drink: Theres not much near Dockweiler (unless youre trying to eat at LAX), so its gonna be a BYO picnic kinda day. Because of the aforementioned law enforcement, we absolutely do NOT endorse the idea of you bringing fast-food cups and filling them with liquids of your choosing. We would never, ever say to do that.

Arguably Malibus premier surfing destination, Zumas the type of place people from the Midwest picture when they think of Los Angeles beaches -- in other words, they shot a whole lot of Baywatch here. Zumas one of the biggest beaches in all of LA, so despite its popularity you should still be able to settle into a nice spot; its also where youll find Point Dume, a gigantic bluff that juts into the ocean. If youre a rock climber, get yourself to the top for a truly magical view.

Where to eat/drink: Any wonderful Malibu day needs to begin (or end) at Malibu Wines -- its the gold standard for day drinking in Los Angeles. The grounds are completely gorgeous, and the clientele even moreso. If youve got the cash to burn, grab dinner at Nobu for an omakase tasting menu experience you wont forget from perhaps LAs most storied chef.

A little farther up the coast from Oxnard sits Ventura Beach, a coastal town that somehow manages to retain a quiet and easygoing vibe despite its larger-than-a-town population -- the beaches are some of cleanest and loveliest youll find, especially Surfers Knoll. The surfing is extremely choice here, but even if you dont surf, the Knoll is a beautiful spot to lounge and even go beachcombing if thats your thing. Every summer you can get all up in the Ventura County Fair, too: its just like the county fairs you know and love, except its by the ocean, so its infinitely better. If youre a watersports maniac, kitesurfing and kiteboarding are big here. Oh yeah, and one more thing theres free parking. Nuff said.

Where to eat/drink: Spencer Makenzies Fish Company is an elite-level spot for cold beers and fish & chips (dont skip on the fish tacos either). Ventura is also home to the dog-friendly Poseidon Brewing, and its Grapefruit IPA is absolutely something you need in your life. For a Nepalese meal thatll rock your bones, make Himalaya a part of your trip. That Sherpa Curry Chicken is out of this world. And whatever you do, dont skip out on great tapas and even greater wine at local haunt The Cave.

Is Santa Monica touristy? Yes. Is it generally overpriced? Yes. Is it full of attractive people and also a fun roller coaster and Ferris wheel that you just cant hate no matter how hard you try? Also yes. The gorgeous water paired with gorgeous people present all along the beach is the number one thing Westsiders have on Eastsiders. Santa Monica also manages to be cleaner and all around more pleasant than the neighboring Venice, so just skip Venice. We wont tell.

Where to eat/drink: Start your day at Jimmys Famous American Tavern for a top-tier brunch that includes the legendary Meal Mary: a beastly bloody mary garnished with a blue cheese olive, pepperoni, jack cheese, shrimp, pepperoncini, and a deviled egg. Do your lunching at Curious Palate for some tasty sandwiches and a solid beer list, and make sure you end your day at Cha Cha Chicken: a BYOB Jamaican restaurant whose spicy jerk sauce is simply too delicious to be real. Chances are youve already been to Bay Cities for the Godmother -- a timeless front-runner for best sandwich in LA -- but if you havent, nows the time.

Rosies Dog Beach, were happy to say, is just what youre imagining it to be. Completely off-leash, youll find it in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. Rosies plays host to lots of fun dog events too, so any time youve ever received a Facebook invite for something like Corgi Beach Day, chances are it was at Rosies. Its for sure the only place where you can actually enjoy a wet dog.

Where to eat/drink: Long Beach, which is technically LA county, has a surprising number of grand slams in the eating and drinking department. Any craving for Mexican food should lead you to Lolas: its extremely hyped, but deservedly so because the food is terrific. If youre of the drinking on a rooftop persuasion (and lets be honest, who isnt?), Bo-beau Kitchen + Rooftopis for you: board games, live music, great beer, and impossibly crispy Brussels sprout flatbreads await.

The sunsets at Hermosa are nearly impossible to top, and you can catch them from the edge of the long pier -- take somebody you love, and we can confidently say things will go well. Hermosa Cyclery is a great place to start your day if youre in the mood to rent some bikes and enjoy the sea breeze. If youre a comedy or magic fan, Hermosa Beach also has the Comedy & Magic Club, where Jay Leno still makes regular Sunday night appearances.

Where to eat/drink: Hermosa Beach is riddled with top-notch food and drink, especially Barans 2239 (try the Indian Egg), and Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila (grab a cucumber jalapeo margarita). For a one-stop shop for all your various needs, hit Abigaile: the place starts as a brewery and restaurant downstairs, and turns into a rooftop dance rager upstairs.

Not to be outdone by Hermosa, Manhattan Beach will also showcase some crazy colors in the sunset department. Its not hard to fill up a day with activities here, what with the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, Polliwog Park (a superb place to disc golf), and Sand Dune Park, which is exactly what it sounds like. People use the huge hill for exercise, but you know whats more fun than exercise (besides everything)? Sandboarding.

Where to eat/drink: Manhattan Beach Post is a heavyweight brunch champion, with enough bacon cheddar biscuits and chimichurri skirt steak to defeat any hangover. Fishing With Dynamite is another must, thanks to what might be the best raw bar in the city.

The trip to Catalina begins with a ferry ride from Long Beach, which is always a winning start, and ends with a day on a beautiful island, which is always a winning finish. Since its an island, the beach is essentially in every direction, and you have prime real estate to set up shop anywhere and just lie on the sand. The Descanso Beach Club is a primo beach lounging spot, with rentable cabanas and a full bar. Theres plenty of more active stuff, too, like zip-lining with Zip Line Eco Tours, helicopter tours with Island Express Helicopters, and of course, dolphin-searching boat tours with Ocean Runner Dolphin Tours.

Where to eat/drink: Mt. Ada was once a palatial retreat owned by the Wrigley family, but now its been turned into a friendly little B&B; spend the night, and youll have access to a fully stocked butlers pantry with wine, beer, Champagne, hard liquor, and more. Oh, and you cant consider your Catalina trip a success unless youve had some Buffalo Milk, which is sort of a Catalina icon (its basically just an alcoholic milkshake). Find em at the Descanso Beach Club, or basically anywhere else.

Newport Beach is pretty much the quintessential Orange County beach: You can whale watch, peep some seals from the Newport Pier, and even go all Point Break on the waves during a storm at The Wedge. Fishermen/fisherwomen/fisherpeople are also in luck, as deep-sea fishing is a big deal in Newport -- and consequently, boat rentals are a big deal here as well, so get ready to start living that #yachtlife. Or, if all else fails, just take in the majesty of the place where they shot lots of Arrested Development.

Where to eat/drink: The food from Wildfish Seafood Grille has probably popped up in your Instagram feed at some point, but thats a good thing since the dishes are picturesque as hell, and even better tasting (be sure to order something from the raw bar). To amp up your nightlife experience, hit Johnnys Saloon: an outstanding dive bar with both a killer whiskey menu and some extremely dank pizza. Its pretty hard to top.

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Wilder Shaw is an LA native, which means he honestly just prefers camping in the woods. Tell him a what jabronie he is on Twitter and Instagram.

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A Definitive Guide to LA's Best Beaches - Thrillist