Cleanest Beach

[joece]

I would love to know what SoCal beach has the cleanest water and sand and best neighborhood. Thanks.

 

[ArielsMelody]

I don't know what exactly the statistics on the water and sand are, but my favorite beach (because it's so clean!) is Manhattan Beach. You don't have the huge crowds and pollution of somewhere like Santa Monica, and it is a fun and charming beach town. I've seen dolphins and sea lions right off the pier many times there, and I know there is a swim team that practices there in the ocean. So it must be decently clean. If you go, try the restaurant called The Kettle on Highland -- great place for everyone!

Ariel

 

[crazymomof 4]

How far is Manhattan beach from DL?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The Newport Beach/Balboa area is nice, and a bit closer to DL. It's in Orange County and boasts a really picturesque harbor with 7 or so residential islands. There are beaches on the bay and a nice wide beach on the ocean side with a couple of piers. At the end of one of the piers (Balboa) there is a great 40s themed restaurant called Ruby's. Great place to dine and take the kids, and a short walk over to the bay from the pier is a small area with rides known as the Fun Zone. Very walking-friendly and charming, even if the homes are all over $2 mill.

 

[ArielsMelody]

How far is Manhattan beach from DL?

According to Mapquest it's about 40 minutes from Disneyland. If you want to map it a good intersection to put in is Highland Ave and Manhattan Blvd in Manhattan Beach -- that will bring you right to the top if the pier.

Ariel

 

[crazymomof 4]

Thank you!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Manhattan Beach is nice, then next to it you have Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, & Torrance Beach. You can rent bikes at Manhattan Beach & ride all the way to Santa Monica Pier, going through Marina del Rey, Venice Beach, El Segundo Beach, Dockweiler... this is where the Beach Boys grew up & played their music, and also where handgliding started.

One way to get there would be to take 5 south to 55 west to 405 north & pick up the 110 south (I live close to where the 405 & 110 meet), from the 110, or Harbor Freeway, get off on Torrance Blvd, and go west til you hit the ocean. You'll run right to the Redondo Beach Pier, where there is a real good restaurant on the pier called Tony's Fishmarket (there is also Old Tony's, which is very well known in this area). Follow the coastline north (right) to get to Hermosa, then Manhattan Beach, etc.

Another way to get there is to take 5 north to 91 west & follow that freeway all the way to the end. It turns into Artesia Blvd & if you go straight until you hit the beach you'll be at Manhattan Beach. (Probably should have given these instructions first. lol) Turn right to get to the Manhattan Beach Pier and left to go to Hermosa Beach & Redondo Beach.

Sometimes at lunchtime, I drive up & down the coast & take in that fresh salty air. (I work in El Segundo, near LAX, so I'm pretty close to those beaches).

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

We visited Redondo Beach on Sunday, July 31. The beach was clean; very little trash laying on the ground, but there was A LOT of sea weed in the water! That’s the only time we’ve every been there, so I don’t know if that’s always the case. The water was pretty rough, so I wondered if that stirs up the vegetation.

Another thing we found interesting; on the day we visited the beach, we drove to the coast from Hollywood. It was sunny and in the upper 80’s when we left Hollywood, but by the time we got to the beach, it was 71 degrees and overcast. We drove to Anaheim from the beach, and when we got a mile or so from the beach, the sun came out and the temperature went up again. I wondered if that is common.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

We visited Redondo Beach on Sunday, July 31. The beach was clean; very little trash laying on the ground, but there was A LOT of sea weed in the water! That’s the only time we’ve every been there, so I don’t know if that’s always the case. The water was pretty rough, so I wondered if that stirs up the vegetation.

Another thing we found interesting; on the day we visited the beach, we drove to the coast from Hollywood. It was sunny and in the upper 80’s when we left Hollywood, but by the time we got to the beach, it was 71 degrees and overcast. We drove to Anaheim from the beach, and when we got a mile or so from the beach, the sun came out and the temperature went up again. I wondered if that is common.

That is very typical, except when we're having our Santa Ana winds, and then there is no humidity at all. I live a little over 5 miles from the beach, as the crow flies, and it can be hot & sunny at home, we'll drive to the beach, and it will be overcast.

 

[Pir8girl]

I'd have to vote for Newport Beach or Laguna. I grew up in So Cal and these are the closest to Disneyland and both are beautiful and very clean. Newport and Balboa (south of Newport a bit) have wonderful piers. Laguna is an art colony that has grown up a bit, but it's very beautiful and is an experience all on its own.

Pirate Girl

 

[damo]

We are staying at Huntington Beach Hyatt for four days and did the same last year in mid August. The beach seems to be very clean and very well patrolled. We really didn't see anything that remotely resembled a crowd.