Growing up in Virginia Beach, I'm used to long and wide stretches of soft sand.  Any rock formations found are man made jetties and the closest thing to a cliff is erosion following a storm.  The California coast is pretty much the exact opposite with it's tall cliffs, rocky shores, pebble filled beaches, and tumbling waterfalls.  I visited the incredible McWay Falls in Big Sur last spring during a photography trip and I was in awe of the turquoise water, the textures on the shore and the trees growing right out of the rocks.  The trail was closed and the viewpoint was filled with tourists all vying for the exact same Instagram worthy photo.  Selfie sticks appeared out of nowhere as we were trying to get our long exposure shots.  But this incredible spot was worth all the effort and elbowing.

We drove north from the waterfall and found ourselves at Soberanes Point, a rocky viewpoint at Garrapata State Park. We watched the waves roll in and out of the coves, continuously working to turn the rocky cliffs into sand.  It seemed like hours watching a seal drag herself to a resting spot in the warm sand out of the waves.  The ice plants bloomed in a rainbow of colors, working tirelessly to prevent erosion.

While the east coast shores are made for long, barefoot walks on the beach, the west coast shores are idea for landscape photography with their incredible beauty and visual interest.