FWIW the California coast is pretty cool, for a variety of reasons.
One reason is all of the “village” areas, along the coast.
Belmont Shore, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, Downtown Huntington Beach, Newport Pier, Balboa Pier/Fun Zone,
Balboa Island, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente, etc.
Same for LA County, San Diego County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and further north.
For about 8 months of the year, crowds are nonexistent. Most places have farmers’ market days, shopping, other events, long wide clean beaches with trails, piers, etc.
Not to mention the best climate in the world. (shared with a few places in the Mediterranean, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa).
I was fascinated by all the drive-on piers, and they’re quite long with restaurants and retail all up and down. We don’t have those here in the southeast. The pier restaurant and tackle shop/store is on land, typically behind the dune line. Then it’s just wooden pier, pedestrian only. Hurricanes, I guess. We get them frequently. California doesn’t.