The best beach in Southern California?

[danacath]

Here's another question for all you great researchers out there. DH and I will be attending a convention in Anaheim in late September. I'm just starting to do some planning for what we'll do on our "off" days... besides DL, of course. Since we won't have a car, we'd like to consider hiring some transportation to take us to a scenic beach that's reasonably close to Anaheim to do some strolling, etc. Any beach suggestions? Is this a realistic idea or is it going to be too difficult or costly to hire transportation just for this? TIA

 

[Hermosa11]

you would not be able to rent a car for a day ($26 appx. /day?)

Let me research this. oh! how about something like a tour bus tour? It would not be to a beach, but you would be able to tour certain cites via tour bus? suggestion? something to think about? eh?
I will research and get back...............

 

[danacath]

Thanks for the reply, Hermosa. The tour bus is an interesting idea. But...I'm not sure DH would want to be "chained down" to their schedule on this trip, since our time in CA will be so short. (3 days at the convention and 1-2 days off) We'll probably be staying at the Hilton Anaheim next to the Convention Center. If we could rent a car from a company near there, just for one day, that would be great. Do you (or anyone else out there) know of a rental car company near the Convention Center? (The less hassle involved for DH, the better my chances are for getting to the beach! )

 

[Hermosa11]

Okay, I am researching for you.
there is an alamo location at: 711 West Katella Avenue
Mon - Fri 9am to 5pm
weekend: 9am to 3pm (714) 748-7368 - only .6 miles (1/2 mile)
It is just around the corner! I have already booked two days for you.........hHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA JUST KIDDING.
OH OH OH OH I just found!!!
Enterprise Car has a location right where you will be staying: 777 Convention Way (714) 740-7860, hours: 8am to 6pm - weekends 9am to 5pm or 1pm sunday.

website for HB: http://www.hbvisit.com/index.html
http://www.hbvisit.com/index.html
I could not find an exact address for the beach itself (ha), but
the address I used (2000 Main Street, HB) is only 14.1 miles away from your hotel. Congested city driving, but not bad, actually. eh?
Looks like you just get on the (39) and it is a straight drive to the beach.

Newport Beach is just a bit further and another option to check out if that area is something for you. A friend/co-worker went there last year. If you are interested in that location as an option, I can ask her for details.

 

[danacath]

Hermosa11

Wow, thanks for the great info! (Gee, maybe you should consider doing this for a living. ) If you could ask your friend/co-worker about Newport Beach, I'd really appreciate it. After looking at the map, I think we'll probably choose between NB and HB, since we won't have much time to travel anywhere further.

Hey! I just looked at the map AGAIN and realized that John Wayne Airport is pretty close to Newport Beach. Since our flight arrives there in the afternoon, maybe DH and I should rent a car from the airport and head right over to that beach for the evening. Hmmm, I wonder if it would be better to then return the car to the airport and take a shuttle to our hotel, or drive ourselves to our hotel and return the car there? Ahhh, planning is such fun, isn't it?

 

[Hermosa11]

Fine, go ahead and rent at the airport........after allll the trouble I went thru, planning researching.....calling and getting special deals for you and making reservations.............HA HA ha
JUST KIDDING.
You may want to see if you can p/u at the airport and return at your location?
well, you have options to consider.
You would feel comfortable going from airplane to beach in your clothes? Just a thought. ...............
yes, planning can get a bit much. I will be having break time at work tomorrow (Tues) with that co-worker and will ask ('bout NB)
here is a site you can read a good review of the new TOT ride at DL. (you will have to cut and paste).

http://www.westcoaster.net/community/index.php?showtopic=10010

 

[mobetsy]

John Wayne Airport (which I love) is just a hop, skip, and jump from Newport Beach. It is also very close to South Coast Plaza, one of the largest shopping malls around and a fun place to explore if you like that sort of thing (I do). There is a Rainforest Cafe in SCP that seems to have shorter lines than the one at Downtown Disney. There are a lot of other restaurants right nearby, besides the one in the mall, so it is easy to find food if you need to eat after/before your flight.

 

[Hermosa11]

spoke to co-worker who enjoyed NB last year. She enjoyed it very much. Also said a family member said HB was very nice. The beach is a very calming place to be. No matter if there are tons of people in your view, once you have a spot and enjoy the sun, you are in your own world............
beach cam (NB): http://www.walknet.net/mylife.shtml

more NB info: http://www.city.newport-beach.ca.us/

http://www.newportbeach-cvb.com/

HB sites: http://www.huntingtonbeach.com/

http://sl.surfline.com/surfline/livecams/getsurfmapsurfbreakreport.cfm?alias=huntingtonbeachcam

John Wayne airport: http://www.ocair.com/
it is only 6.2 miles from the airport to 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707-5200 (a motel in Newport beach)
NOT BAD!!!!! and about 14 miles from the Hilton Anaheim.
Okay, that is my information for Tuesday
deb........

 

[danacath]

Great links and info, Hermosa11 and mobetsy. Thanks a bunch! The beach pics are beautiful. Ya know, I just got back from a week in Ft. Myers Beach, FL less than a month ago. You'd think that beach fix would last me for a while, but here I am, already planning for another coastal getaway. Just can't seem to get enough sun, sand and surf.

mobetsy, I like your tag about "obsessive planning". I can relate, oh so much. Went to the library last night and brought home an armload of books on California and Disneyland. Let the research begin!

 

[mrspaha]

I'm starting to dream about our next year's vacation to California. We would like to spend a few days staying at a hotel/motel on a beach in the LA to San Diego area. Can anyone recommend a REASONABLY-PRICED hotel/motel/resort on any fairly nice beach?

I think I have enough info on DL and KBF for now, but can't seem to find much about staying on a beach out there. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it. Oh, by the way, it'll be my husband and me and a 17 yo daughter and 16 yo son.

Thanks!

 

[Hermosa11]

The only place I can recommend is at Redondo Beach
and I stayed at the Ramada Inn Limited. We had a reg. room and it was small. I was with my teen daughter and teen son only (DH was home). It was acceptable for us, since the better part was that we just had to walk about 4 blocks and were at the beach. I believe they have large rooms (suites).
That is the only beach I can recommend since it is the only beach I am familiar with. Good luck in your planning! Would love to know where you ended up staying and how you enjoyed your trip! hee
have fun.

 

[merela]

Redondo Beach is known as the Hollywood Riviera. It hasn't been spoiled by commercial establishments (pubs and restaurants) like Manhattan Beach, but it's small enough to be quaint.

The Holiday Inn Redondo Beach is a great place to stay. A mile down south, if you walk along the beach trail, you'll see the famous Avenues (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I) of Redondo Beach. There is a Trader Joe's near Avenue I and Catalina (just ask anyone there and they will point you the way) which anchors a plaza which includes a Mexican restaurant and Jumba Juice.

The best Mexican restaurant in SouthBay is El Burritos Jr. It's at the intersection of Avenue B and Pacific Coast Highway. There is a small, but very good French/North African restaurant called Zazoo next to the Redondo Beach Brewery along Catalina and about two blocks past Avenue I.

If you can, drive up to Palos Verdes Peninsula along Palos Verdes Blvd. West (if you go South on Pacific Coast Highway, turn right on Palos Verdes Blvd. West and go as far as you can along that coastal road) and you'll be able to see the famous "Queen's Necklace" view (especially beautiful at night). It's the coastal view as far as Oxnard, Malibu, Santa Monica and all the way back to Redondo Beach.

The Holiday Inn in Redondo Beach is near the Redondo Beach Harbor, so there are a lot of restaurants in that area (Cheesecake Factory for one).

Redondo Beach is safe and the best part is that no one knows about it.

 

[ty71803]

What about Laguna beach