Best Family Friendly Beaches in California

Nestled between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach in Southern California, Crystal Cove State Park Beaches is known for its natural seashore and plentiful activities. To get to this beach, you can enjoy the scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, where you’ll find the Los Trancos Parking Lot that charges $5 per hour, or $15 per day. 

Located in Santa Barbara, East Beach is a four mile long beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated towards the east end of a wharf named the Stearns Wharf. Multiple grassy recreational parks are present near this popular beach. In addition, this beach also has a fantastic backdrop of oceanfront palm trees. The Mission Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean.  East Beach has been named one of the Top 100 beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The eastern end of East Beach is wider than its other parts. 

Located in the center of the City of Pismo Beach, the northern end of Pismo State Beach gives way to a bustling beach area centered around the iconic Pismo Beach Pier. The southern areas of the beach provide access to the North Beach Campground area where Pismo Creek forms a lagoon while in the north of the beach are volleyball courts, several rock formations, and another beach area (which is also accessible via Wilmar Stairs). The beach is the starting point of a massive stretch of a continuous sandy area that spans several miles and ends in the City of Guadalupe, California. 

Located near the San Diego Bay, Coronado Beach - also known as Central Beach and Coronado Central Beach - is a large and flat beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. Coronado Beach starts near the historic Hotel del Coronado and spans north along Ocean Boulevard all the way north to a park named Sunset Park. This popular beach is one of the main beaches of the resort-city of Coronado (which is also nicknamed as "Crown City"). Coronado Beach has been named one of the Top 100 beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The approximately one-and-a-half miles long beach has a wonderful backdrop of oceanfront residential buildings. The sand in Coronado Beach has a substance named mica, which occasionally causes it to shine. Visitors can encounter this shining sand around the water near Coronado Beach during calm water conditions. The shoreline around this beach also has remnants of a sunken ship named SS Monte Carlo, which was shipwrecked here in the 1930s. 

Located in the Corona del Mar neighborhood in Newport Beach in Southern California, Little Corona del Mar Beach is popular for its plentiful activities and unique landscape that protects the beach from swells and surf.

Located in the city of Avalon, Moonstone Beach is a small private beach situated in Moonlight Cove south of Whites Landing Cove on Catalina Island. Moonstone Beach is managed by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club that is based in Newport Beach, California. 

Located in the Mission Beach neighborhood of San Diego, Mission Beach is a long and popular beach with light brown sand that is slightly over a mile long.  Travel+Leisure magazine listed this beach as one of the best beaches in the United States, and it is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Located in the town of Elk, Greenwood State Beach is at the mouth of Greenwood Creek in the city of Elk Grove. During the 1800s and early 1900s, the town was named Greenwood after the famous Greenwood Pier on the north side of the beach that was used as a dock for shipping goods and for travelling to San Francisco. Greenwood State Beach welcomes dogs on leash and offers many amenities including restrooms, driftwoods, two rocks arches named Wharf Rock and Casket Rock, a visitor center, and a museum. If you are looking for additional amenities, Gunderson Rock is a beautiful rock island situated just offshore from the beach. There are a couple of fun activities at Greenwood State Beach including kayaking, hiking, and beachcombing. Getting to Greenwood State Beach is easy – the beach is at 6101 Shoreline Highway and you can park along the highway. After parking, you will need to climb down a well-graded trail to the beach.

Santa Monica Beach, located in the city of Santa Monica, is a highly popular 3.5-mile-long beach with light brown sand. This beach, also known as Santa Monica State Beach, is divided into three main sections: Santa Monica Beach - North Beach (which is also known as Santa Monica - North Beach and Santa Monica North Beach), Santa Monica Beach - Pier Beach (which is also called Santa Monica - Pier Beach and Santa Monica Pier Beach), and Santa Monica Beach - South Beach ( which is also called Santa Monica – South Beach, Santa Monica South Beach, and Ocean Park Beach). 

Santa Monica Beach—North Beach is quieter, offering a more peaceful experience, while Pier Beach is at the center and features the iconic Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica Beach - South Beach, also referred to as Ocean Park Beach, is situated to the south of the pier.

Santa Monica Pier, stretching 1,650 feet, is a well-known landmark and draws millions of visitors annually. It is an iconic pier that was initially opened in 1909 and has been designated as a Santa Monica Historic Landmark - this pier offers a large variety of things to do including a popular amusement park named Pacific Park that has the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, fun rides for kids (including a 1920s carousel), an arcade, an aquarium at the end of the pier named Heal The Bay Aquarium, and interesting concessions and shops. If you are planning to fish from the Santa Monica Pier or from any part of Santa Monica State Beach, please follow the local fishing regulations that can be found on the website of California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

Santa Monica Beach is also frequented by snorkelers and scuba divers, and visitors may spot wildlife such as seals, sea lions, and migrating whales at certain times of the year. If you’re into biking or skating, the Ocean Front Walk (also called the Santa Monica Boardwalk) offers a scenic path with oceanfront views and passes by various restaurants and shops. The North Beach Trail section includes unique artwork inspired by local plant and animal life. A portion of another famous biking trail named the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (also known as The Strand) is also located along Santa Monica State Beach - this popular 22-mile oceanfront biking, jogging, and roller-skating trail mostly runs parallel to the coastline of the Santa Monica Bay.

Located along the County of Los Angeles shoreline, Manhattan Beach – also known as Manhattan County Beach – is a two-mile-long and wide beach with light brown sand, a pier named the Manhattan Beach Pier, nearby shrubs and palm trees, and a nearby reef.  This beach is located within a city that is also called Manhattan Beach.   This beach is also part of a region within the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area that is called South Bay.  

This beach has been listed as one of the best beaches in California by many publications, including Reader’s Digest and Travel+Leisure magazine, and is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.

Located along the Orange County coast in Laguna Beach, Aliso Beach is a popular family-friendly beach because of its many amenities including public restrooms, showers, concession stands, and a large parking lot. 

Located near the downtown area of Santa Barbara, Arroyo Burro Beach - also known as Hendry’s Beach - is a popular and clean beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated at the base of steep oceanfront bluffs. The Arroyo Burro Creek flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. 

Located in the southern end of the city of Santa Cruz and to the east of Cowell Beach, the Santa Cruz Main Beach is one of the major beaches present in the city of Santa Cruz. The beach is also called Boardwalk Beach as it is home to the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park. The beach area has light brown sand. The beach is one of the most popular beaches in California and is crowded with visitors all year. The terrain here is unique – the San Lorenzo River meets the ocean on the eastern side of the beach area and sometimes forms a lagoon here, and there’s a natural rock wall on the eastern part of the beach that extends into the ocean.

Zuma Beach—also known as Zuma County Beach—is a popular, scenic destination located in Malibu. With nearly two miles of white sand stretching across 105 acres, this southwest-facing beach is loved by locals and visitors alike.

This beach was listed as one of the best on the West Coast of the United States by Ventura County Star and as one of the cleanest beaches in Los Angeles by Los Angeles Times. It was also named one of the best beaches in Malibu by Lonely Planet, and is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert. This beach is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Located only an 8-minute drive north of downtown La Jolla, La Jolla Shores beach is popular with families and active beachgoers because of its endless activities and many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and showers. 

Located near the southern end of the town of Cayucos, Morro Strand State Beach - North Beach is the northern part of a state-protected beach known as Morro Strand State Beach. The southern part of the beach is wider than the northern part of the beach. The beach has light brown sand and it also has a beautiful backdrop of the mountainous Central California shoreline. The Old Creek meets the ocean near the southern part of the beach. While Morro Strand State Beach - North Beach does not have lifeguards, it has restrooms and picnic tables in its northern part. In addition, the beach also allows dogs on leash. 

Located in the city of Venice in Southern California, Venice Beach – also known as Venice City Beach - is an extremely popular three-mile long beach that has light brown sand and rocky breakwaters. This beach is very large – approximately 238 acres in size. The southern portion of Venice Beach is known as Venice Pier Beach- this portion received this name because it has a 1,300-feet long pier named the Venice Pier that is also known as Venice Fishing Pier. Venice Beach has been named the 3rd Best Beach in the Top 50 Beaches in the United States list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world's foremost beach expert who is known as "Mr. Beach.” (Please note that Venice Beach in California should not be confused with another popular beach in the United States named Venice Public Beach, which is also known as Venice Beach) that is located in Sarasota County in Florida.) 

Venice Beach hosts many sporting events, and two of them – skateboarding and 3x3 basketball – will be held there during the 2028 Summer Olympics. Venice Beach has lifeguards from 8 am to sunset (that usually occurs around 6 pm) - during summers, lifeguards here are posted from 7 am till sunset (that occurs around 8:30 pm). In addition to lifeguards, Venice Beach and the area around it offer many other amenities including picnic areas, restrooms, showers, bike rental facilities, a bike path, grassy recreational areas, paddle tennis courts, basketball courts, skateboarding, volleyball courts, handball courts, walking paths, nearby watersports equipment rental facilities, and a kids’ play area. Dogs are not allowed on Venice Beach.  

Located right in front of the Montage Resort, Treasure Island Beach is a popular destination that is listed by Coastal Living as one of the Top 20 Beaches in California. The spot is protected by large bluffs on both sides, making the water relatively calm; the beach is also maintained by resort workers, ensuring its pristine beauty year-round. There are public restrooms and showers as well as lifeguards that are stationed during the day. 

Located in the city of Coronado, Silver Strand State Beach is a two-mile-long beach on the west side of Silver Strand Boulevard. The beach is situated south of a US military property and north of a campground that provides parking space for RVs.

Carmel Beach is renowned by both locals and tourists as one of the most spectacular beaches in the world - and for good reason. The beach is an oasis with a backdrop of white sand and turquoise water, and is overlooked by beautiful, grassy hills. The world-class scenic pathway is filled with old, green trees and looks onto the beach. Watching the sunset on the beach is a local tradition - add to the natural romance with a bottle of wine, as alcohol is permitted on specific days of the week. With the gorgeous scenery of Carmel City Beach, you'll be sure to have an unforgettable beach day!

Glass Beach gets its name from a specific quality that makes it one of the most unique beaches in the world: its colorful, smooth, glass-made sand. Yes, you read that right - this beach's sand is not made from rock, but from glass. Because this location was once a trash dump, things like glass bottles became smooth sand as time went on. Today, the beach is immaculately clean, with the glass sand to give it some character.

Stretching along the western coast of Huntington Beach, Huntington State Beach is one of the most popular and iconic surf beaches in the world. Home to the Surfer’s Hall of Fame, Huntington State Beach spans 121 acres and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It’s a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, offering a unique coastal experience in Orange County.

Located near the San Clemente Pier, Linda Lane is the name of a park providing beach access to a part of the San Clemente City Beach area. The park and the beach are named after Linda Lane as they are located at its southern end. The beach area here is narrow. There is a railroad adjacent to the beach area running parallel along the length of the beach. The San Clemente Pedestrian Beach Trail is a walking and biking trail adjacent to the beach that connects this beach to other beaches along the other San Clemente beaches. The park near the beach area is a grassy area and a number of nautical-themed swings. While Linda Lane Access Point beach area has a lifeguard tower, lifeguard deployment here is often seasonal starting on June 23rdand running through Labor Day weekend, or during high visitation periods.

Located along the La Jolla shoreline, La Jolla Cove Beach is a small yet immensely popular beach with light brown sand. This north-facing beach is situated within a rocky cove - named the La Jolla Cove - below the northeastern part of a blufftop park called the Ellen Browning Scripps Park. There is a rocky point near the western part of La Jolla Cove Beach which protects the water near this beach from strong waves, making it a favorite spot for snorkelers and scuba divers. The bluff sides around the beach are composed of sandstone, and the view of La Jolla Cove is simply breathtaking, especially from nearby Torrey Pines.

Located in Newport Beach in Southern California, Corona del Mar State Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area because of its calm waters, wide sands, and plentiful amenities. 

Located in Orange County in Southern California, Bolsa Chica State Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area because of its clear waters, expansive sands, and plentiful amenities. To get to this beach, you can drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, where there are multiple paid parking lots between Seapoint Street and Warner Avenue. This beach can get busy during the peak season, so be sure to arrive early to secure a parking spot. 

Stinson Beach is a picturesque, curve-shaped beach located in the town of Stinson Beach. Known for its light brown sand, it is part of the Gate National Recreation Area. Recognized by SFGate as one of Northern California's top beaches and featured in AFAR’s “16 Best Beaches to Visit in California,” it attracts visitors from all over. It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known at Mr. Beach. The beach opens daily at 9 AM, with closing times varying by season.

Located 18 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel, Garrapata State Park - Garrapata Beach is a half-mile long beach in the Big Sur coastline. Situated below coastal bluffs and part of the expansive Garrapata State Park, this beach features light brown sand and a scenic meeting point where Garrapata Creek merges with the ocean near its southern end. The beach's waters are known for their cold temperatures and extremely strong currents, which make them unsafe for swimming.

Located along the northern portion of Humboldt County shoreline, Gold Bluffs Beach is a large beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This beach is situated below oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park named Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. As an interesting fact, the beach was named "Gold Bluffs" as deposits of gold were discovered in the area around the beach in the 19th century. However, efforts to mine gold from the area around the beach were abandoned due to the difficulty in separating the sand. Gold Bluffs Beach does not have lifeguards. 

Located in the central part of the San Diego County shoreline, Torrey Pines State Beach - South Beach is situated on the southern part of a state park known as Torrey Pines State Beach. The beach has light brown sand and is situated below a steep and unstable bluff. The beach is located south of the creek flowing into the ocean from the adjacent Los Peñasquitos Marsh Natural Reserve. The beach terrain is pebbly and portions of the beach near the bluff side have been fixed with rocky embankments to prevent erosion. The state park gets its name from a rare local variety of pine trees, the Torrey pine, which grows in the state park area near the beach. 

Located in the southwestern part of the city of Long Beach, Alamitos Beach is an east-facing beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated between Long Beach City Beach and the Shoreline Yacht Club Marina. The water near this beach is owing to the presence of numerous ports and breakwaters along the Long Beach coastline. Alamitos Beach is not to be confused with another separate beach with a similar name called Alamitos Bay Beach which is located to the north beside the inland Alamitos Bay. Alamitos Beach offers numerous amenities including lifeguards, volleyball courts, a biking path, restrooms, showers, and water sporting equipment rental facilities. Dogs are not allowed on this beach. Getting to Alamitos Beach is easy – it is located near the intersection of Alamitos Avenue and Ocean Boulevard (which is how the beach got its name). There is a paid parking lot near Shoreline Drive. We recommend getting there early since the parking lot fills up quickly.

Located in the city of Torrance, Torrance Beach is a long, wide, and the only beach in the city. Torrance Beach is also known as RAT Beach which stands for Right At Torrance, Right After Torrance, and Redondo And Torrance. Torrance Beach is a part of Miramar Park and is situated on the north side of a bluff-top residential area.

Located in the town of Cayucos, Cayucos Beach is a large beach with light brown sand and a gradual sloping incline. The beach is not to be confused with another separate beach called Cayucos State Beach which is situated to the north of Cayucos Beach. The beach has a splendid background of the oceanfront homes along Pacific Avenue. Due to the beach’s sloping incline, it might look wide during low tide and really narrow during high tide. Many large rocks are also present along the beach shoreline. Cayucos Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so plan your trip accordingly. 

Located in the town of Cayucos, Cayucos State Beach is a large state-protected beach that is managed by San Luis Obispo County. The beach has light brown sand, cold water, and a gradual sloping incline. Cayucos Creek meets the ocean near the northern part of the beach. The Cayucos Pier is also present on the northern part of the beach. Lifeguards are generally present in Cayucos State Beach during peak summer months. Cayucos State Beach offers many other amenities including lifeguards, picnic tables, restrooms, showers, and a children’s playground. The beach allows dogs on leash and also offers accessibility to people with disabilities. Getting to Cayucos State Beach is easy - the beach is located near the intersection between Cayucos Drive and Ocean Front Avenue, where there is also a large free parking lot nearby on Ocean Avenue and Ocean Front Avenue.

Located in the city of Del Mar, Del Mar City Beach is situated between Powerhouse Park and the lagoon entrance at the San Dieguito River in the north.

Located near the Westside area of the city of Santa Cruz, Natural Bridges State Beach is actually the name of a 65-acre state park managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The state park contains a beach area in its southern part. The area is known as ‘Natural Bridges State Beach’ as it used to have natural bridge-like arches in the water near the beach, which were formed out of mudstone cliffs being naturally eroded away into arches by the water. Earlier there used to be three such arches, however, only one remains which is a popular perching spot for birds now. The beach has light brown sand. The Moore Creek flows into the ocean through the beach area, often forming a lagoon on the southern end of the beach. The state park area also has a monarch butterfly sanctuary, coastal scrub, grasslands, and wetlands, which are present around the beach area. Although the beach has a lifeguard tower, an on-duty lifeguard is often not available. 

Located near the San Diego Bay, Coronado Beach - also known as Central Beach and Coronado Central Beach - is a large and flat beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. Coronado Beach starts near the historic Hotel del Coronado and spans north along Ocean Boulevard all the way north to a park named Sunset Park. This popular beach is one of the main beaches of the resort-city of Coronado (which is also nicknamed as "Crown City"). Coronado Beach has been named one of the Top 100 beaches in the United States by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. The approximately one-and-a-half miles long beach has a wonderful backdrop of oceanfront residential buildings. The sand in Coronado Beach has a substance named mica, which occasionally causes it to shine. Visitors can encounter this shining sand around the water near Coronado Beach during calm water conditions. The shoreline around this beach also has remnants of a sunken ship named SS Monte Carlo, which was shipwrecked here in the 1930s. 

Located near the northern end of the town of Bodega Bay along the Sonoma County coastline, Schoolhouse Beach is a large beach situated below a bluff and is part of a state park known as Sonoma Coast State Park. Although this beach is not in Door County, where you might find smooth limestone and marked areas, it still offers a picturesque setting with unique geological features.

Located in Tomales Bay State Park, Heart’s Desire Beach is a popular beach with light brown sand. There is a grassy area behind this beach and it is also surrounded by forests. We recommend wearing layered clothing while visiting this beach as the weather around this beach is known to change unpredictably and the beach is known to have sudden spells of cold and windy weather.

Located in San Francisco, Golden Gate Park Beach is a large beach with light brown sand. The beach is situated in front of a 1,017 acre-large urban park known as Golden Gate Park (which is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area) and is the northern part of a larger beach named Ocean Beach. The beach starts from the western end of Lincoln Way and stretches north all the way to the now-inoperative Cliffhouse Restaurant. While Golden Gate Park Beach does not have lifeguards, the urban park adjacent to the beach has many amenities including restrooms, picnic areas, walking paths, sports fields, and sports courts, and children’s playgrounds. While dogs are generally required to be on-leash in Golden Gate Park Beach, they are allowed to be off-leash if they have been trained to properly respond to voice commands. 

Located in the heart of Santa Barbara, Leadbetter Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area because of its clear waters, consistent winds, and wide sands. Santa Barbara City College is right next to this beach so expect to see lots of students getting some sunshine between classes. 

Nestled in Santa Barbara, Southern California, Butterfly Beach is a hidden gem with stunning ocean views and a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors are drawn here to enjoy the quiet and beauty away from crowded spots.

Salt Creek Beach, nestled along the shoreline of the highly saline Salton Sea, is a broad expanse of light brown sand located near the town of Bombay Beach. This area is also part of the Salton Sea State Recreation Area, a state park known for its unique, albeit stark, beauty. However, visitors should be prepared to encounter occasional fish carcasses washed ashore, a consequence of the sea's extreme salinity.

Salt Creek Beach provides incredible, Instagram-worthy views of the Salton Sea, especially during sunset. For those who appreciate more picturesque coastal settings, the beaches near Dana Point along the Pacific Coast in Orange County offer delightful alternatives. Locations such as Salt Creek Beach Park, with its well-maintained picnic tables and nearby Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, blend luxury with natural beauty, and provide walking paths and grassy parks perfect for a family day out.

Located in the middle of the San Clemente waterfront, San Clemente Pier City Beach is one of the most popular beaches in San Clemente. The narrow beach has light brown sand, patches of gravel, and a wooden pier that 1,300 feet into the sea. It features a backdrop of a grassy park and palm trees. 

Located in the city of Newport Beach, Pirates Cove Beach - also known as Rocky Point Beach and Hidden Beach - is a popular small beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated below a blufftop park named Lookout Point Park. Pirates Cove Beach is a part of a larger state-protected beach named Corona Del Mar State Beach. Pirates Cove Beach does not have lifeguards, but the area around this beach has benches and restrooms. Dogs on leash are allowed on the beach before 10 am and after 4:30 pm. 

Located along the Ventura waterfront, San Buenaventura State Beach is a two-mile-long state-protected beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This large beach is one of the most popular beaches in the city of Ventura. It is important to note that some of the southern parts of San Buenaventura State Beach have recently become rocky and pebbly as the sand here has been blown away by frequent winter storms. Multiple rock jetties are also present along the beach shoreline. A grassy park is also present near this beach. San Buenaventura State Beach also has a 1,600 feet long pier named the Ventura Pier. 

Located to the west of Goleta, San Onofre Beach is a long, narrow, and less popular rock-and-sand beach with some interesting rock formations. This beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a state park known as Gaviota State Park. The beach has a sparse amount of vegetation along the bluff sides and the eastern part of the beach is sandier than its western part. The Canada San Onofre Creek (also spelled as Cañada San Onofre Creek) flows through the beach into the Pacific Ocean. San Onofre Beach should not be confused with another, a separate state park with a similar name called San Onofre State Beach, which is in San Diego County. 

Located on the southern shoreline of the town of Carlsbad in the northern part of San Diego County, South Carlsbad State Beach is a part of a state park with a three-mile-long beach that is situated below a blufftop campground. South Carlsbad State Beach has light brown sand and sparse amounts of vegetation and portions of the beach are also pebbly and filled with cobblestones that are often buried under the sand. 

Located in Newport Beach in Southern California, Newport Municipal Beach is one of the beaches most popular with families in the area because of its clear waters, expansive sands, and picturesque pier. 

El Matador Beach, located in Los Angeles County, is one of three beaches that make up the Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach (the other two are El Pescador Beach and La Piedra Beach). Nestled along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, El Matador Beach, or “El Mat,” is known for its picturesque rock formations, golden sands, and is located below dramatic oceanfront bluffs that are lined with very expensive multimillion-dollar homes that, in some cases, exceed $30 million.

The beach has been named as the 11th best beach in “Top 50 Beaches of the United States” list in 2022 by Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as “Mr. Beach.” Managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, El Matador Beach is also celebrated by Lonely Planet as one of the top beaches in the U.S., and it’s often recognized as one of Los Angeles’s best beaches. Visitors can enjoy the beach daily from 8 am until sunset.

Located in the town of Point Reyes Station, Limantour Beach is a long, wide, and south-facing beach situated between Drakes Estero and Limantour Estero. Limantour Beach is a part of Point Reyes National Seashore and Estero de Limantour State Marine Reserve.  Limantour Beach is a family-friendly beach as children can swim in its safe waters that are protected by Drakes Estero in the west.  Limantour Beach is a perfect destination for birdwatching and beachcombing because it is backed by many wetlands. Limantour Beach welcomes dogs on leash at the southern part of the beach.

Located at the southernmost edge of Dana Point, Baby Beach is nestled within the Dana Cove Harbor. With fantastic views of the famous Ocean Institute tall ship replicas, this calm, quaint beach attracts many young families. However, Baby Beach itself is small, spanning only 500 feet, so make sure to arrive early as it fills quite quickly. Beach access is quick and easy – parking lots off of Dana Point Harbor Drive lead directly to the white sandy shore. With lifeguards on duty during the summer, designated barbeque and picnic areas, restrooms, and free parking, Baby Beach is a perfect place to spend all day with the family.

Located on the western side of Point Dume in Malibu, Westward Beach is part of the southern half of Zuma Beach. Westward Beach is three miles long, quiet, clean, and wide. The beach is known for its waves, making is a popular surf destination especially during the winter when the swells are higher.

Located below oceanfront bluffs in Malibu, Point Dume State Beach – also called Point Dume Beach, Big Dume Beach, and Dume Cove Beach – is a crescent-shaped, extremely popular state-managed beach with light brown sand.  Lonely Planet magazine listed it as one of the best beaches in Malibu, and Conde Nast Traveller magazine also listed it as one of the best beaches in Los Angeles.  It is also a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach.  The beach is open between sunrise and sunset.

Located along the southern coast of Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz County, Fern Grotto Beach is one of several beaches hidden among the park’s bluffs. This area, spanning 7,000 acres, features caves, coves, and sea caverns carved into sandstone cliffs, providing a unique coastal landscape. Fern Grotto Beach itself is known for its ‘fern grotto’—a cave at the rear of the beach, adorned with lush ferns nourished by an underwater spring. Accessible by the Old Cove Landing Trail, the beach offers scenic coastal views, hiking through farmland and bluff areas, and access to neighboring Wilder Beach. Parking is available at the entrance near California State Highway 1, making it convenient for visitors exploring Wilder Ranch State Park and its Victorian homes, ranch buildings, and historic ranches. However, amenities are minimal, with no lifeguards or pets allowed.

Located in the southern part of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Gibson Beach - also known as Sandy Beach - is a large beach with light brown sand. The beach is situated below steep oceanfront bluffs and the shoreline around the beach is rocky. 

Located south of the Newport Pier, Balboa Beach is a 3-mile long beach that attracts surfers, tourists, and locals alike. Also known as “The Peninsula,” this spot’s highlight is its wooden pier that stretches 920 feet into the ocean. There are numerous amenities at this location, including public restrooms, fire pits, playgrounds, and lifeguards. This beach also has a ferry service that takes you to Balboa Island, a harborside community famous for their light decorations during the holiday season.