Living in San Diego means watching a friend stop to take a photo of a sunset or a fish taco to post on their Instagram on more than one occasion – or maybe it means taking 50 pictures of them on the beach until they feel they’ve gotten the perfect angle.
According to a recent study posted by SwimOutlet, this is a commonly shared experience. By analyzing the number of hashtags for 246 beaches, Swimout revealed the most Instagrammable beaches across America based on the highest to lowest hashtag count.
Ocean Beach sits at No. 13 on the top 20 list of Instagrammable beaches, closely trailed behind by Pacific Beach at No. 17. But among the list of top 10 Instagrammable coastal neighborhoods, Ocean Beach is at No. 3, Pacific Beach at No. 4, Mission Beach at No. 6, and La Jolla Shores at No. 9.
A quick hashtag search for any of those beaches will reveal photos of exactly what any San Diegan would expect – which Instagram user Anthony Thomé has coined as the exact criteria behind his posts.
“Since we live in San Diego, the background needs to either be the ocean, the city, or a sunset – preferably over the ocean,” said Thomé.
His spot for Instagram posts sits just on the east side of Mission Bay, the fourth most Instagrammable coastal neighborhood in the nation.
“It’s kind of difficult to find but I don’t think this spot can be topped for best photo location,” said Thomé. “Around 7:30 p.m., the sun starts to set over the bay and you can see the sunset, the city, and the ocean all in one. Absolutely beautiful view. The sunset reflecting over the water creates a kaleidoscope of colors that’s hard to describe unless you see it for yourself.”
Sunny Chung, another San Diego resident, attributes her favorite Instagram spot in San Diego to a more hidden location, just off the coast. Only when the tide is negative, there’s a sea cave that can be accessed at Sunset Cliffs – perfect for a quick snapshot for Instagram, according to Chung.
But for other locals, it’s not about finding the hidden spot that most can’t find. In fact, for Ryan Bigelow, it’s quite the opposite.
“The last block near the ocean on Newport Avenue is my favorite spot in Ocean Beach,” said Bigelow. “It gives a great depiction of the laid-back life in San Diego with all the fun bars and palm trees.”
SwimOutlet CMO Alexander Sienkiewicz attributes San Diego’s – and largely California’s – domination of their Instagrammable beaches to what the locals love and what the tourists search for.
“The weather, particularly in states like California, Florida, and Hawaii, enjoy favorable weather year-round. Therefore sunrises and sunsets can always be captured,” said Sienkiewicz. “Beaches across the U.S. are highly Instagrammable and attract many photographers, travelers, and influencers who share these experiences at these stunning coastal environments on social media.”
