Surf: Incredibly scenic white sand crescent beach, sometimes crowded with surfers and sunbathers. The north end is rarely surfed but offers some decent sandbar peaks. The south end, in front of the stairs, is predominantly a left peeling into a deep channel with a handy rip current to take you back out. Some rights, but the lefts are usually better. Best on a high tide and smallish, clean swell. If it gets too big, it’s virtually impossible to paddle out. Consistent and worthy. Environment: Camping is available right across the highway at Plaskett Creek. Surf: General: A glistening crescent of pure, white sand yawning into a horseshoe cove of shifty sandbars, sheltered from N and S wind and rather user-friendly, Sand Dollar is a delightful pocket for just about anybody, thanks to the gently undulating beach and forgiving whitewater rollers on the inside. The south end of the beach is usually a long, mushy left which dissolves into the channel in the middle of the cove. The rights are speedier, shallower, shorter, bowlier and much more walled. The cove's north end is predominantly a right that also fades into the channel, but it's usually larger and not as shapely as the south peak. The waves here are not as thick and beefy as those found down at Willow Creek. Tides: Medium Size: Chest high-overhead Wind: E, NE Swell: NW, W, SW Bottom: Sand Paddling: Moderate. Spot Rating: Fun. Access: North on Highway 1 out of San Simeon and watch for the signs on the road marking Sand Dollar Beach. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Holds plenty, pick your own peak. Local Vibe: Usually mellow. Environment: Clean. Hazards: A million duck dives when big, surly locals, sharks. Season: September-November