I’ve lived in California most of my life, and all of that time has been in Central or Northern California.
Despite sharing the same state with those that call L.A. home, I have no clue where Malibu is in relationship to Disneyland. From a map it looks like they are fairly close, but according to anyone who is from the L.A. area (including my husband), considering traffic, they are worlds apart.
Beyond not fully grasping the geography, I’m also surprised to see how many small, cute beach communities run the coast line of Southern California. You always hear of the big ones, but there are a lot of hidden gems, too.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to spend some time in a really cute town I’ve never checked out before- Seal Beach.
If you’re like me and don’t know the area at all, Seal Beach is along CA Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH), between Long Beach and Huntington Beach in Orange County.
If you are looking for easy to access a beach, surfing, shops, and restaurants, this place has you covered.
I also liked how it was full of energy, but not overloaded with people. Walking around Main Street (where we spent most of our time), we saw so many people- from some on casual walks with their dogs all the way to parents walking their kids down to the pier for a family fishing derby, which had been put on that day by the local Rotary Club.
There was also a mix of college age kids heading into brunch spots and surfers making their way to the beach, board in hand.
During my recent visit, my husband Rob and I got to Seal Beach about 10:00 am, so a good brunch place was the first order of business.
We found the perfect place right on Main Street called The Crema Cafe.
It has a beautiful patio that is tucked away from the street and is dog friendly. We took first available seating (the wait was about 20 minutes- definitely worth it) so we were inside, but got a perfect table right by the window looking out on the street.
I opened the menu and was overwhelmed by all the great choices. If you try and eat a little on the healthy side, sometimes you end up with massive brunch envy because your choices can be limited to oatmeal and a cup of fruit.
Not at all the case at The Crema Café!
There were a ton of healthy options. I went with the fitness scramble, which included egg whites, veggies and a little cheese. So good.
To balance out my healthy meal, I got a muffin for my choice of bread. I know, not super healthy- but completely worth it.
I went with the waitress’ suggestion and had the Pear Mango muffin. It was ridiculously good.
Rob had the smoked salmon eggs benedict. Of course, I had a taste and it was amazing! Our server was wonderful and the whole experience was so great. We will definitely be back!
Next, we walked around Main Street and checked out the shops. There are lots of clothing boutiques, specialty stores, salons, and high-end fitness studios.
We did a lot of window shopping, but stopped in an adorable pet store called LaunderPet.
As you can tell by their name, part of the store is a dedicated to pet grooming, but the whole front was filled with awesome- and hysterical- pet toys. If you are looking for a one of a kind pet toy, this is your place.
After shopping, we walked down to the Seal Beach Pier. The pier is really well maintained and the beach looks beautiful. We didn’t have a lot of time to just relax on the beach, but if you do, I think this would be good place to do it!
Before we headed out of town, we did one last spot at the Sweet Jill’s Bakery.
You’ll notice this place quickly from the street. They have a amazing display window that showcases delicious looking- and huge- cupcakes and cookies.
Considering it was only noon and I had already enjoyed an amazing muffin, I didn’t get anything. But we did pick up a carrot cake cupcake for my stepdaughter. She loved it.
Seal Beach is really a charming little beach town that feels miles away from bustling L.A.
If you’re in the area and craving a slower pace, with amazing restaurant options and a beautiful beach, definitely spend a day at Seal Beach!
