I sit on the couch in a small condo with the dulled crash of the ocean outside the fogged window. Sublime's "Waiting for My Ruca" streams through the stereo in the corner. Surfboards lean against the living room wall. I've found myself stranded on the beach in Watsonville, California. After a couple days, I've come to appreciate the solitude of the town.

At first glance, Watsonville seems like a nightmare of a Spring Break destination. The beaches are at the end of a series of industrial roads, and are populated by only a few families. There are no ragers, parties, or any other variety of college shenanigans. Cell phone service is spotty at best. The nearest social hubs are in Santa Cruz and Monterey, both a minimum half-hour drive away. Given all these factors, Watsonville sounds like it was built to repel college students. However, there is a certain pleasure to be found in an isolated destination such as this.

Once you've arrived at the beach (I recommend camping seaside or renting a condo with beach access), you have nearly the whole place to yourself. There are long tracts of deserted sand where the local flora and fauna dwell. During the course of just one walk down the coastline, I was lucky enough to witness some of Mother Nature's handiwork. I encountered a flock of pelicans, which took off in unison and soared around my head. There was also a family of sea lions, with two adults waiting in the water while the child rested on the shore. Later on, there was a gorgeous white marble bluff. Delicate purple and yellow flowers popped up among the dunes, adding color to the scene. The solitude offered by Watsonville's location provides a unique environment to appreciate nature's beauty.

If it wasn't already clear, Watsonville is an introvert's paradise. Ample alone time and a lack of social obligation contribute to a perfect environment for quiet thought, reading, and relaxing. Watsonville is also ideal for artists, musicians, and writers looking to step back from the fast-paced world to produce their art without distraction. In nearby Salinas, famed author John Steinbeck was inspired to write great American novels such as "The Grapes of Wrath." If the ocean is your muse, come be inspired by the estuary of the Pajaro River. The currents of the river clash with the forces of the ocean, creating a fascinating pattern of waves. Further down the beach, curling A-shaped waves crash and wash on the shore. There is endless inspiration to found in the natural beauty of the area.

If you're looking for loud music and throngs of people, that's fine. Watsonville might not be for you. Take your socialite tendencies to Cabo San Lucas of South Padre Island. If you've been craving solitude in a gorgeous location near the ocean, Watsonville is the right place. Come find yourself wandering among the dunes. You'll return to the world cleansed of worry and stress.