There are tons of beaches in California, but there are only a couple of the best. Want to get out and go for a swim? Before you go to just any beach, consider these beaches as they’re 7 of the best beaches you’re going to love.
Located 3 miles south of Playa Del Rey, Dockweiler is considered the westside Long Beach of Los Angeles, California. This beach has 3.7 miles of ocean, 288 acres of beach land, and amenities like restrooms, showers, fire pits, and more. Along with all these features, Dockweiler is directly connected to the Marvin Braude Bike Trail also referred to as the beach bike path. At the North end of the beach Jetties provides boat fishing and shore fishing along with over 1,200 parking spaces available for the entire beach. On a road trip from another state? Along with the many amenities, this beach has a Recreational Vehicle Park nearby the youth center.
What really makes this beach so popular is the bonfire parties you can throw. Dockweiler is one of the few beaches in Los Angeles where bonfires are permitted so a lot of the time in the summer you can spot bonfire parties set right next to each other all along the beach during the weekend at night. The fun doesn’t stop there! Dockweiler is walking distance from Pinguini Italian restaurant, Grain Whiskey Bar, Playa Provision, and more up the Culver Boulevard food street.
Santa Monica Beach is located along the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. This beautiful and iconic beach has parks, picnic spots, playgrounds, restrooms, as well as staffed lifeguards at every station. You can also find bike rental, a couple hotels, a bike path, and wooden pathways for those warm days and members with disabilities. Some of the activities include volleyball, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, and of course, swimming. The beloved Palisades Park is also located at the top of Santa Monica’s cliffs, providing an overlook of Santa Monica Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Want to do something fun? At Santa Monica Beach you have direct access to Santa Monica Pier which is no less than a couple minutes away. Enjoy walking down the Pier and experience the breathtaking views of the rides, lights, and shops. Take in the sounds of waves crashing into one another and the cold ocean breeze brushing against your face. Whether you’re looking for a romantic date spot, or just a hang out spot you can take a group of friends, make sure to take a breath and smell the air, and enjoy the blissful scent of funnel cakes and popcorn as you stroll through. As a National Historic Landmark, Santa Monica Pier remains as nostalgic as the days long past and will remain a true icon for years to come.
Manhattan Beach is one of Los Angeles’ most laid back beaches in the South Bay community. Manhattan has over 2 miles of ocean frontage and 115 acres of iconic beachy land. Some of the activities you can keep busy with include fishing, surfing, and swimming of course. Flooded with families, outdoor enthusiasts and a Strand bike trail that winds along the beautiful oceanfront between beach mansions and wide stretches of sand lined with volleyball courts, this beach has it all. Manhattan Beach Pier, a very underrated hang out quarter, features a quaint aquarium and a stunning view of the surfers. There are 48 acres of park land, in addition to the 21 acre Manhattan Beach Parkway and a small downtown area with fun boutiques, brunch cafes, pubs & bars, and of course upscale eateries.
Some great places walking distance from the beach are Manhattan Pizzeria, The Kettle, Love & Salt, and so many more. A great place to stop before or after the beach would be Gelato and Angels, where you can cool off with a perfectly flavored ice cream. Want some new clothes? Manhattan Beach City has the best boutiques you can dream of. If you want something light and colorful to wear you can make a quick stop at Katwalk and get that beach dress you’ve been thinking about lately. More into handbags and shoes? Right next to Katwalk is a luxury retail store called Cami that sells your favorite bags and shoes all for super affordable prices. Need a manly hat or a light sweater to wear after swimming Blvd is going to be the place, conveniently located next to the other two stores.
Zuma Beach is Southern California’s ultimate beach as it extends for miles on end. Located at 30000 Pacific Coast Highway in sunny Malibu, California, one of the largest and most visited beaches, Zuma Beach has 1.8 miles of beach frontage with 105 acres of property. With that being said, there are eight parking lots with about 2,000 parking spaces available for visitors and residents. Hungry? You can find boutique Food stands located at each end of the beach. Some places you can get food are Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar, Zuma Cafe, SunLife Organic, and even a Subway. Other amenities this beach provides includes restrooms, restaurants, showers, volleyball nets, a bus stop, and even beach wheelchairs are available For those with a disability.
The water at Zuma is slightly colder than other Los Angeles beaches, but with the ample amenities and white sand, Zuma Beach continues to be a perennial favorite with residents and visitors alike. Zuma has become popular and known for both swimming and body surfing; however, it’s also known for its rough surf and crazy riptides. Like all beaches with good but sometimes unpredictable waves, visitors are encouraged and even enforced to swim or surf between lifeguard Tower 8 and 9 as that is an area prone to rip currents. Along with many great amenities, Zuma also hosts several premier surfing events every year. Zuma also offers windsurfing and is a great place to watch the grey whales make their winter migration.
Laguna Beach is considered one of Orange County’s many hidden gems, located between Los Angeles and San Diego. Laguna Beach has a long-standing history as the vacation destination for Orange County and Los Angeles residents alike. This is a place where you can unwind and enjoy the convergence of art, nature, relaxation and adventure. Laguna is unique to other California coastal cities because it has seven miles of coves and beaches for new or old visitors to explore the iconic sea caves, tide pools, ocean side bluffs, natural tide pools and of course, the sandy beaches, all within city limits. Laguna Beach is also the most beachfront lodging option in all of California, making it an ideal spot for a beach day.
Beyond the beautiful spacious beach, the city is home to more than 20,000 acres of natural protected wilderness, making it the perfect location for an adventurous exploration. From world renowned mountain biking trails for all levels of experience, hundreds of miles for hiking, beautiful structured istas, verdant hills and marine sanctuaries, there is no limit to the new places you could discover during a visit to Laguna Beach. So pack your flip flops, surfboard or hiking shoes and water bottles because Laguna Beach and all its options are awaiting your arrival.
Venice Beach is one of the busiest facilities operated by the Recreation and Parks Department. Located on Ocean Front Walk Venice, California, this iconic beach attracts visitors from all over the world, and is estimated to bring approximately 28,000 to 30,000 people to visit the Venice Beach, Venice Boardwalk, the Recreation, and Parks on a daily basis. The Boardwalk is the second most visited destination in Southern California, with a total average of over ten million visitors every year. Venice Boardwalk is known as one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions. The Venice Beach Boardwalk stretches over at least two miles and has hundreds of street vendors selling things from glasses to collectibles, a variety of performers and numerous restaurants and food venues all walking distance from each other.
Venice Beach Recreation Center offers countless activities including basketball, paddle tennis and handball tournaments every month, bodybuilding at the famous Muscle Beach Venice gym, and more special activities. Venice Beach also offers a fishing pier, skate plaza, bike path, two play areas for children and provides a variety of services for the culturally diverse population that visits through the years. Film productions are also very popular at Venice Beach and are filmed all the time. Wanna get up early to get your adrenaline running? All of the sports courts, skate plaza, pier and other amenities are open to the general public everyday.
Last but not least, Huntington Beach is a seaside city located in Orange County, Southern California, 35 miles southeast of Downtown Los Angeles. Huntington Beach is named after American businessman Henry E. Huntington. The population was 189,992 during the 2010 census, making this area the fourth most popular city in Orange County, the first most popular beach city in Orange County, and the seventh most popular city in the Los Angele, California Metropolitan Statistical Area. Huntington Beach is known for its long 9.5 mile stretch of clean sandy beach, mild climate, excellent surfing, and of course beach culture. The tides are enhanced by a natural effect caused by the edge diffraction of open ocean swells surrounding Catalina Island. Swells generated from the North Pacific from a combination of Southern Hemisphere storms and hurricanes focus on Huntington Beach, creating consistent tides for surfing all year, which is why the nickname of Huntington Beach is Surf City.
Many different events at Huntington Beach take place during the summer. Activities include the Huntington Beach volleyball tour, a biathlon swim and run section hosted by the Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beach Lifeguards, which takes place in July. In addition to the beach focused events, the Fourth of July parade has been held here since 1904 and continues to amaze to this day. The Huntington Beach Film Festival takes place every February. The Great Pacific Air Show featuring the Breitling Jet Team and the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, is held each October, and Surf City Nights is held every Tuesday night during the year. The Tuesday Surf City Nights is a community event that features a farmer’s market, unique entertainment, food, children rides and a carnival like atmosphere. Lastly, the Tuesday night Surf City Nights takes place on the first three blocks of Main Street.
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