Which coastal town to visit for a few hours?

[psimon]

We are a family of 5, DD16, DS9, DD9. If we were to take a day trip from DL to go to the beach, but not use it, which would be a good town for my family to find something to see and do? I guess what I am trying to ask is, without using the ocean, which town would have what, on the East Coast, we would call a Boardwalk (when we were in Southern California 20 years ago, we went to a town , don't remember which, that had what was essentially a concrete boatwalk.)? We will be there in November.

I am looking for a place where my kids can see the "Southern California" style of life, if there really is such a thing!


Many thanks.....

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Boo Mc]

I'd recommend Laguna Beach. Lots of stores and art galleries to walk around in town and restaurants overlooking the ocean. A nice, clean family friendly town IMO.

 

[ArielsMelody]

I live in the LA area and Manhattan Beach is by far my favorite. The town is quiet and safe with a beautiful beach and pier with an aquarium at the end of it. The town itself is full of small privately owned shops and restaurants with minimal commericial merchants. The Kettle restaurant on Highland and 11th is a great family place with patio seating and a huge menu of excellent food. But keep in mind that Anaheim is not right next to the beach by any means. You'll probably have about a 30 min to an hour drive depending on traffic. But at least Manhattan Beach isn't as far north as say, Santa Monica with would take much longer. Manhattan, Hermosa, and Newport are good southern beach towns to check out.

Ariel

 

[RalphMouth]

here's another vote for Laguna Beach-

great 'main beach' area- lots of shopping & restaurants-
you won't be disappionted

 

[tmartin]

Definitely Laguna Beach.

 

[Grumpy_4_me]

D!TT0 with what they said, PCH is also a great ride in a ragtop with the top down, we love taking the Miata out there.

 

[lap3]

You've got some great suggestions here. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. I think all of them will definitely represent the "So. Cal Lifestyle". BTW, to throw in other suggestions, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach are nice areas to consider as well...

 

[Grumpy_4_me]

Long beach

 

[MACUSER]

I would have to agree with Manhattan Beach, I grew up in torrance and redondo beach . Manhattan Beach is nice clean great beach lots to do and not to far about 40 mins ..depending on what time you leave..

 

[roscodog]

It's a drive (but what isn't in So. Cal), but the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach boardwalk is always alot of fun and is very Southern California.

 

[psimon]

I'd recommend Laguna Beach. Lots of stores and art galleries to walk around in town and restaurants overlooking the ocean. A nice, clean family friendly town IMO.

I know my wife and I would be happy to poke around Laguna Beach... will our DD16 and the 8yo twins be bored silly?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[prov3v56]

You could always try Balboa or Balboa Island in Newport. Balboa Island is a great place to walk around, shop and snack. Balboa has a small fun zone area with a ferry that runs between Balboa and the Island.

 

[Boo Mc]

There are basketball and volleyball courts on the beach - fun to play or just watch and eat ice cream. I think there's also a play structure. I can think of at least one toy store and the other stores have lots of kid items. You could get a kite or frisbee and hang out on the beach for a while if they get tired of walking around. If your DD 16 likes shopping at all (and I'm guessing most 16 year olds do), she'll probably enjoy the stores. As for the twins, not sure if they'd appreciate a restaurant on the ocean. If not, there's also a pizza place and I think a Johnny Rockets in town. We'll be there late June (with DS 8 1/2 and DD 6) and look forward to spending a day or two in Laguna. Have fun!

 

[IamTink]

It's a drive (but what isn't in So. Cal), but the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach boardwalk is always alot of fun and is very Southern California.

I've only been in Los Angeles for a year & can tell you that the bathrooms at the end of the Santa Monica Pier are much cleaner than the ones where tons of people change for the beach. I drove through Newport Beach once & it's gorgeous!! Venice is a cool town but I haven't been able to find a parking spot to enjoy it.

I personally love Malibu Beach but we don't have any little kids here. Kids are grown.

 

[HaleyB]

For a boardwalk feel you can go to Balboa Island, but it is not my favorite place. Huntington is nice and has a great pier. It is home to the OP Pro if anyone is into surfing they will like this for the connection. Some shops and all but aimed at adults more than kids, IMO. Actually most of the beach cities are great for the 20 something crowd, not so many appeal to the younger set. For kids I would say Lagunia or if it is a weekend day and you want to see LOTS of 'colorful people' then it has to be Venice Beach (but don't go if you are not open minded). Venice is the beach in L.A. Story (an old very funny if you live in SoCal Steve Martin movie, not sure if it is funny to other people or not). It is also one of those places you might see a famous face.

Lagunia is my favorite beach to walk around (and it is also a great beach to go into the ocean). It has the shops, artsy places, great food (locals go way down to the 'end' to Taco Loco to eat, yummy!). My kids always like to go to Laguna because there is a play ground... and a great candy store (Candy Barrel, or is it Barron?, on one of the main 'shop' streets) it has barrels full of candy and you buy it by weight. There is also a good ice cream place right across from the play ground area.