A Coastal California City Is Home To The Beautiful, World-Renowned Glass Beach

California boasts 840 miles of coastline dotted with at least 420 public beaches, making it among the premier oceanside getaways in the United States. From this classic stretch of white sand to an overlooked national seashore near San Francisco, the Golden State has become synonymous with not just the beaches within its borders, but also the communities that call these idyllic places home. These coastal destinations range from bohemian outposts to upscale beach towns that bring to mind New England, though none may be as unique as Fort Bragg, where you can find the one-of-a-kind Glass Beach.

Not to be confused with North Carolina's famed U.S. Army installation that shares the same name, California's Fort Bragg sits on the state's Mendocino Coast, an area known more for evergreen trees than Green Berets. This charming town is beloved for its thriving arts scene, botanical garden, fresh seafood, and unspoiled natural surroundings. These include towering redwoods, dramatic seaside cliffs, and Glass Beach, where millions of shards of smoothed sea glass lie sprinkled amongst the sand.

While Glass Beach is a beautiful spot today, its past is much more unsavory. In the first half of the 20th century, local residents would throw their trash over the cliffs above the beach in the naive belief that the ocean would wash it all away. Over the years, a lot of refuse piled up — including countless bottles, which were then smashed and smoothed by the relentless surf. In 1967, the California Water Resources Board closed the dump; large objects such as cars and refrigerators were removed, but they left the glass, which now takes the form of millions of shimmering shards.

While the multichromatic fragments are the star of the show at Glass Beach, there are plenty of things to appreciate that humans are not responsible for. The area is home to scores of ground squirrels, and the beach is also great for discovering tidal pools full of sea anemones and crabs. It's also not uncommon to spot marine mammals in the water or on the offshore rocks at glass beach, including harbor seals.

Today, Glass Beach has become a tourist attraction that also draws visitors to Fort Bragg. To get to the beach, just take the short coastal trail from Glass Beach Drive and follow the signs, but proceed with caution down the small dirt path, as it's a bit steep and can become slippery in wet weather, which is not uncommon on the Mendocino Coast.

Home to roughly 7,000 people, Fort Bragg was first a military garrison, before incorporating in 1889. Over the years, the town relied on salmon fishing and lumber as its main sources of income, though these industries have largely faded, with healthcare, retail, and tourism becoming the biggest moneymakers today.

Fort Bragg sits at the edge of the majestic redwoods, and one way to experience them is by jumping on the Skunk Train. The luxurious cars are powered by vintage diesel-electric and old-time steam locomotives, taking passengers through old-growth stands of redwoods, over trestles, and through scenic canyons. You also can pedal two-person railbikes through the deep mysterious forest, and if you grow thirsty, take a Skunk Train to the Glen Blair Bar, a private outdoor watering hole in the middle of the woods.

While you're in town, be sure to stop by the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. Situated in bluffs overlooking the surging blue waters of the Pacific, these gardens occupy 47 acres, featuring everything from rhododendrons to grasses and endangered plants. It's also a terrific spot for birdwatching, so bring your binoculars. Once you've worked up an appetite, dive into some fresh ocean treats at Noyo Fish Company or Princess Seafood Market & Restaurant, or savor a quality handcrafted ale at Overtime Brewing. Fort Bragg is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from San Francisco International Airport; just head north up the coast. For more of Northern California's unique splendor, check out this lumberjack town that reinvented itself as an outdoorsy paradise.