What Southern CA Beach would you visit fom DL?

[grumpymakesmehappy]

If you had a day to do one beach in Southern CA, which beach would it be? We may add a beach day to our DL trip. Which beach is the best and why? Would it be Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Laguna, or Newport? Which beach sets CA apart from all the other beaches on the east coast in beauty and atmosphere? Thanks!

 

[r3ngels]

I would love to know too!

 

[Chasbo]

I would say that Laguna Beach would be your best bet if you are looking for beauty and atmosphere. There are a number of beaches that are smaller "cove" type areas that are very pretty. Anything north or south of the main downtown beach would be great, but I am especially fond of the area just north. Heisler Park is a great area, just do a Google Maps search for it.

Newport, Santa Monica and Venice are just sand and water.

 

[peyjax]

I would say that Laguna Beach would be your best bet if you are looking for beauty and atmosphere. There are a number of beaches that are smaller "cove" type areas that are very pretty. Anything north or south of the main downtown beach would be great, but I am especially fond of the area just north. Heisler Park is a great area, just do a Google Maps search for it.

Newport, Santa Monica and Venice are just sand and water.

I second that. Being the typical tourist we had to visit them all. Laguna ranks supreme! If you are use to swimming in the ocean, you might be in for a surprise, as the water is very cold. We went in about as far as our feet and we were there in the summer. The beaches are pretty, fun to sit on and build sandcastles.

 

[roxydotty]

Laguna Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in So. Cal. I like it because you can sit on the sand and enjoy the waves, you can walk around the shops, then eat at one of the restaurants. Plus it is only about 40 minutes away. Santa Monica and Venice would be over an hour and the traffic could be terrible. Huntington Beach and Newport is a lot of sand but there are restaurants and shops nearby, but not nearly as pretty as Laguna.

 

[Jenhwyfar]

I third Laguna(and not because I live right next to it either). I have always loved the laid back beach atmosphere that Huntington and other beaches seem to lack. I think Laguna is more a small town feel where the other beaches are teen scenes and outdoor malls

HTH!
Jenn

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I third Laguna(and not because I live right next to it either). I have always loved the laid back beach atmosphere that Huntington and other beaches seem to lack. I think Laguna is more a small town feel where the other beaches are teen scenes and outdoor malls

HTH!
Jenn

We are striving more for the beauty and not so much the teen/outdoor mall scene. Isn't this awful? All I know of Laguna Beach is from the MTV show. It did look beautiful though. We may try Laguna Beach. What's your opinion of Santa Monica and the Pier? I'm interested to see what all of you think of it.

 

[LoveDopey]

I visited all of them at the end of February and Laguana and Newport would be the only ones I would go back to. Huntington was ok to see but I don't need to go there again. I did like the pier and we ate at Ruby's at the end of it which was very good. I liked the Balboa area at Newport. Laguana had that small town feel. It was the place I was most comfortable at.

At both Santa Monica and Venice Beach I found them ugly and dirty with a lot of weirdo's walking around. Venice Beach I actually thought was kind of scary. The pier at Santa Monica was too commercialized as was the walkway at Venice Beach. The stores seemed to be full of cheap souvenirs. At Venice Beach my 15 year old DD wouldn't let go of my hand and wanted to get back on the bus within 10 minutes.

Huntington, Newport and Laguana were very easy to get to from DL.

 

[fairycat]

It comes down to what do you want from your visit to the ocean.

Is hanging out playing in the water, building sandcastles and relaxing go with Laguna Beach.

Now as was mentioned the Pacific Ocean is COLD!! It actually gets the warmest August-October. It can be very fridged if you are not use to it, or expecting the cold.

Do you want to do something touristy, with a coastline view? Then go with Santa Monica or Venice. Santa Monica has the pier, Promande and more. It does have a great view of the ocean and a decent beach to hang on.

I like Venice. I have never had an issue there and really think its a fun place to visit but it can be very strange and odd if you aren 't use it, and the beach is tons and tons of sand with a long walk from the boardwalk to the ocean.

I like Malibu but it is further up the coast, or Corona Del Mar which is down the coast.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

If we are able to arrange an extra day for the beach, I think we will go to Laguna. It's sounds like what we would want our beach day to be. Thanks for the information.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

You won't regret Laguna! Even as a teenager I used to trek farther south to Laguna rather than Newport or Huntington like everyone else. It was a fun trip, cute little town to walk around in, coves, etc. And it is fairly close to DL! When will you be there?

Corona Del Mar does have nice tidepools though!

 

[Albort]

Laguna beach is kinda far though. Its past Irvine. Def need a car to get there.

 

[ramkam]

You can try something a little different and go to Salt Creek Beach. It is just below the Saint Regis Hotel. The beach is just south of Laguna.

 

[ramkam]

Salt Creek Beach

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Ok so which beach would be the best to play in the sand and jump in the waves? I am not scared of the weirdos because we are probably part of that group. We don't want to drive too far so laguna is out of the question.
I will have 3 kids with me that are 14 and 6(twins).

 

[SnowWhite12]

this may be a stupid question, but once you get to Laguna, how easy is it to find the public beach that you can park at and go to?

 

[oscarkitty1]

Bumping cause I want to see the answer to SnowWhite's question...

 

[IsaMarie84]

I think that at most (all?) socal beaches, the parking is a nightmare! I rarely (pretty much never) go to the beach. The water is cold and filthy. In the summer they are so crowded. You have to sit on a towel only a foot away from a bunch of strangers. I prefer beaches in the Bahamas and Florida (the more secluded places in florida.) The sand at socal beaches is dirty and not pretty like the white sand in other places I've been.

Oh, and I despise Laguna Beach. So many of the people there are stuck up. And driving around that area is horrible! It's got a "small town" feel to it, which is fine except if you want to drive.

I am pretty much no help since I don't like the beaches. If I had to go to one, I'd go to the one with the least amount of people, with the least hassle of parking, and one that has a pier. But that's just me.

I say good luck with parking. Bring money for meters.

 

[Katie0677]

We went to Huntington Beach when we were on vacation a couple weeks ago. It was easy to get to, not crowded at all, easy parking, and overall nice. There was some litter in the sand though, and it def. wasn't like being in the Carribean, and from the above poster, I guess that may be typical.
We had a nice time though, and so did our kids.
Katie
Wanted to add that there is a Ruby's at the end of the pier here too.

 

[awdfan]

Ok so which beach would be the best to play in the sand and jump in the waves? I am not scared of the weirdos because we are probably part of that group. We don't want to drive too far so laguna is out of the question.
I will have 3 kids with me that are 14 and 6(twins).

If you just want to play in the surf & sand, then I suggest Huntington Beach or Sunset Beach. If you want a low-key beach with a small Main Street to walk up and down, then I'd go to Seal Beach. (You can still play in the surf and sand there, it's just a different atmosphere from Huntington, Laguna, etc.). There's also a Ruby's at the end of Seal Beach pier which is fun. If anyone is looking for a great place for seafood, I highly suggest Walt's Wharf on Main St. in Seal Beach.