The sand and rocks under your feet may feel the same, but the stories they tell couldn’t be more different. While California’s seamless sand beaches stretch endlessly along the Pacific, across the world, each French coastline has its own personality: the Mediterranean sun of the south and the quiet villages of the north.

To experience the quaint charm of Le Port de Pornic, tucked away on the northern coast of French Brittany, visit Sausalito or Catalina Island. Both are cities built into hillsides, with beachside thrift stores and boutiques, and beautiful views. While there are many glaciers (ice cream shops) and boulangeries (bakeries) in Pornic, my favorite is the family-run sorbet shop overlooking the port: La Fraiseraie (The Strawberry Patch).On weekends, the small streets and alleys of Pornic are transformed into le marché (market), where local vendors sell fish, vegetables, sausage, cheese, and even jewelry. Within walking distance of the charming boutiques in town are beautiful beaches in every direction, sprinkled with shells of all shapes and colors. While some read under the hot sun with a drink from the bar, some dove into the ocean, or played beach volleyball with their friends, while others visited the historic château (castle) de Pornic, built in the Middle Ages. 

For beach-goers looking to surf, compared to the daunting waves of Californian Huntington Beach, surfing in the French coastal resort city of Royan was much less intimidating, while still exciting. Santa Barbara also matches the feel of Royan in its bustling yet not overly urban downtown area, while its sprawling beaches are covered in signature blue and white striped umbrellas. After mornings of downtown window shopping and boutique hopping in Royan, it’s time to board the colorfully decorated minivan, ready for an afternoon of surfing. When dinner time rolled around, picnicking on the beach at sunset made the perfect end to the day. 

Sometimes, what’s more picturesque than an ocean beach is a lakeside one. Californian classic, Lake Tahoe, has rentable kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, as well as hiking trails and boat rides. It closely matches the atmosphere and the appearance of the French lake of Nantua in central France, although much bigger and more touristy. The clear waters of Lac de Nantua are surrounded by rolling hills and mountains, with sections for swimming, docks for jumping off of, stations for renting pédalos (pedal boats), and even a lakeside café restaurant. While visiting Nantua, I stayed with another close friend and her entire family in their 40-bedroom château from the Middle Ages. Every year, as many as 80 family members reunite come summertime to play Just Dance in the château library, watch fireworks on Bastille Day, play family games in the meadow, and, of course, visit the lake for even more fun.

California’s sunny coastline in San Diego gives a taste of Mediterranean life, but the South of France feels like its older, more storied sibling. Driving down the winding coastal roads through Marseille, Cassis, Bandol, and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, each town reveals its own shade of Provençal charm. Marseille hums with centuries of history, while Cassis offers cliff-framed beaches at Les Calanques de Marseille (the calanques), where turquoise coves are only reachable by hike or boat. Further along, Bandol and Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer echo that Mediterranean warmth in a quieter, more intimate way that even San Diego’s surf towns can’t quite capture. The air carries a scent of pine and palm trees, les cigales (the cicadas) hum from morning to dusk, and les pointus (traditional fishing boats) decorate the harbors. Unlike California’s long stretches of sand, these compact beaches feel timeless — woven with history, community, and the enduring rhythm of seaside life.

Although California beaches may be close by, nothing compares to the rich culture of the North and South of France. The times we have spent exploring gorgeous French coastline cities were filled with a unique history at every corner, cliff-surrounded beaches, old museums, and colorful ports. Having experienced both, we would choose France any day.