Places We Swim Dives Into Best Swimming Spots in California

Visit California partnered with Australian best-selling authors and water aficionados Caroline Clements and Dillon Seitchik-Reardon as they documented the best places to swim throughout the state for an all-encompassing Places We Swim California guide.

In 2018, Clements and Seitchik-Reardon made it their mission to test out Australia’s most fantastic swimming spots and create the definitive must-visit list. The result is Places We Swim Australia, a photo and guide book featuring the top beaches, ocean pools, harbor pools, rivers, waterfalls and gorges. The book also includes vital travel information like how to get there, what to bring and the best nearby dining and accommodations.

From summer 2022 through February 2023, Visit California partnered with Places We Swim as they embarked on a California road trip from Imperial Beach to the Smith’s River to research their first guide outside of Australia. The result is a nearly 250-page book celebrating the state's unique and vast offerings and the best rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, gorges, and hot springs from north to south.

The book features 58 outdoor adventures for water-loving people and is divided into six regions of the Golden State. Each adventure includes details about what makes each hike and swimming hole unique, the best time to go and valuable travel knowledge, including where to provision for your California road trip.

Places We Swim also documented their discoveries on social media throughout their adventures across the state.

Check out the whole book here.