Glass Beach

Glass Beach is one of the most beautiful places to visit in California, so it might surprise you to learn that it was created by something very ugly: pollution. Years ago, Glass Beach was a dumping ground for garbage. It was taken into the ocean and eroded, smoothed and polished until it became something known as “sea glass.” Sea glass is shaped like natural stone but comes in a dazzling, glittering rainbow of man-made colors. You won’t believe your eyes when you step on Glass Beach. With the tide bringing in wave after wave of multicolored sea glass, it’s one of those picturesque tourist attractions where you’ll have to pinch yourself to know that it’s real. Even photos fail to do it justice; there’s something special about the way that sunlight glitters off the glass. If you’re wondering what to do during a California vacation, Glass Beach should definitely be on your bucket list. It’s a place where trash has turned into treasure. You won’t want to miss it.