Best Family Friendly Beach Option

[vicarrieous]

We are spending a week at GCH with 5 day hoppers. One 1/2 day our oldest (8) would like to go to a beach to look for shells/wade in the water/build castles. Can you suggest a family friendly beach that is closer since we will probably take a taxi/uber. I would like something that allows us to just relax for a bit but waves/current isn't too strong. TIA.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Corona del Mar is a nice beach for kids, but it isn't super close to DLR -- at least half an hour away? Most of the nicer beaches are not super close to DLR. You can check to see how much the ride would cost with taxi/Uber/Lyft. The concierge desk at the GCH might be able to help you with this, too.

 

[Lesley Wake]

We are spending a week at GCH with 5 day hoppers. One 1/2 day our oldest (8) would like to go to a beach to look for shells/wade in the water/build castles. Can you suggest a family friendly beach that is closer since we will probably take a taxi/uber. I would like something that allows us to just relax for a bit but waves/current isn't too strong. TIA.

Seal Beach is always our favorite and we’ve been going for over 30 yrs (I’m a SoCal local). The waves aren’t too rough and the north side of the pier is good for boogie boarding or just wading in the water, as it stays shallow for a decent ways. It is very family friendly but doesn’t get too crowded. There is also a nice Main Street with some restaurants and stores, including a shell shop which has everything! It’s not too far from Anaheim-about a 30 minute drive (but that’s a typical drive to any beach from DLR).

 

[Whistlebee]

We just spent a wonderful day at Newport Beach. It was such an easy day. Everything you need it right there. We got there at 9:30am and had breakfast at a restaurant near the pier. Then bought some sand toys and I rented a beach chair at a shop near the pier (there are lots of stores). Walked to the left side of the pier as we had noted it was less crowded on that side (the parking lot is on the right side). My girls ages 8 and 11 spent the whole day playing in the waves. The beach has a very gentle slope so you can walk out really far in the water. The waves were small as well. They were the perfect size for them to play in. My kids loved it! Several restaurants right there for lunch and/or dinner. Also, a takeout beach stand type place making burgers, etc. Anyway it was just a really easy beach day where I didn’t need to haul a lot of beach gear to the beach or pack a cooler full of food. I’m sure there are several other great beaches nearby this is just the one we tried out.

 

[pixarmom]

I created this thread six years ago, so some of the information is outdated, but highly recommend Newport!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/newport-beach-california.2895078/

 

[StormyCA]

Another vote for Newport. Spent summers there and always loved it.

Huntington Beach has fire rings if you’re into weenie roasts though. Or at least it used to. I haven’t been there in decades.

 

[vicarrieous]

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations and the previous post alert as well. I appreciate it!

 

[tarheelalum]

It might be cheaper to rent a car for the day and pay for parking at the beach than to uber back and forth. Definitely don't get a taxi cab. That would cost a fortune.

 

[vicarrieous]

It might be cheaper to rent a car for the day and pay for parking at the beach than to uber back and forth. Definitely don't get a taxi cab. That would cost a fortune.

I appreciate the suggestion. My sister lives about 1.5 hours away so there is potential for her to pick us up and join us which would be the perfect scenario. I am not sure we would like to drive, but like you said, it may be the most economical.

 

[disneyeek]

We just went to Newport on our trip. My DS(7) loved it. We got there early around 9:30 or so and left just after lunch. We all really enjoyed it.

 

[momof2n2]

Google Mother’s Beach Long Beach

 

[vicarrieous]

We just went to Newport on our trip. My DS(7) loved it. We got there early around 9:30 or so and left just after lunch. We all really enjoyed it.

Thanks! Do you recall any shells along the beach?

 

[Whistlebee]

Lots of shells at Newport Beach. Small but pretty

 

[disneyeek]

Thanks! Do you recall any shells along the beach?

Like @Whistlebee said, tons of shells. DS had pockets full. They're small but some are really pretty.

 

[DLgal]

Don't go to Long Beach. They have been having issues with sewage spills closing the beach lately. Gross.

Newport is our go to beach. We live about 15 minutes away. We usually go in the morning, as traffic gets bad in the afternoons. It's about a 30 min ride from DLR. I wouldn't Uber. Rent a car for the day.

 

[22Tink]

We’ve done Newport and Huntington and loved both. Last trip we just took a Lyft to Huntington. I don’t remember the exact price but roughly $25 each way. It was just DD and myself and I didn’t want to drive so Lyft was perfect. We enjoyed lunch at Ruby’s Diner on the pier and DD found plenty of small shells.