THE BEST FAMILY BEACHES IN SOCAL | FAMILY TRAVEL GUIDE
Beaching-hopping the Southern California Coast was a bucket list experience our family is so grateful to have been able to immerse in last summer. Pacific-side is a beautiful side, but with a so many coastal hot spots to choose from along the stretch of San Diego to Malibu, you may want to narrow down your ocean-immersing experiences to those that are most family-friendly. We're beating the Canadian winter woes with travel dreaming, wandering back to blue space therapy times and memories that warm our weary souls by sharing the best family beaches in SoCal.
If these blue-tiful spots look familiar, it's likely because most of these slices of costal paradise are top-notch locations for some of your favourite films and TV shows. Set-jetting is said to be a growing travel trend (i.e. visiting the set locations of your favourite films and TV shows), so we've also spilled the details on what on-camera action happened on or near these family-friendly southern California shores.
If your family's been California-dreamin', this is your sign to start the planning and make it happen!
Coastal bluffs, clear blue waters, unique family experiences galore – SoCal is a dreamy destination for your next family escape!
THE BEST FAMILY BEACHES IN SAN DIEGO
We started our vacation in San Diego and stayed 3 nights at a moderate hotel in La Jolla Village (fantastic area for families). I highly recommend San Diego for families to start or end their Cali Beach-cation – it was one of our most favourite spots in SoCal. I'll be sharing a separate post on ways for families to make the most of a San Diego visit (where to eat & play), but here are our favourite San Diego beaches for families to get your SoCal adventure planning started:
Palm-dotted avenues – a signature of San Diego. Feels like you're in the scene of a movie!
LA JOLLA COVE & SHORESStunning sandstone bluffs, opportunities to see sea lions up-close, sky-high palms dotting the perimeter, a vast selection of seaside restaurants and some of the most spectacular sunset views in SoCal made La Jolla Cove & Shores one of our top picks for family beach experiences in San Diego.
Awe-inducing, close encounters with sea lions at La Jolla Cove and Shores, San Diego
NOTE: Spring to Fall is Pup Season, so keep a respectful distance from the magnificent sea lions, just as several signs lining the cliffs mention. Beautiful, heart-warming photos can be taken while respecting nature.
Watching the sea lions are free – the memories…priceless! La Jolla Shores, San Diego, CA
La Jolla Cove & Shores is steps away from La Jolla Village – a pretty spot to shop and dine with the fam.
Morning strolls through La Jolla Village while I grabbed a Starbucks were fab – the perks of being the only early-riser in my family now.
TV Shows & Films shot around La Jolla – Veronica Mars (2004-2019), Gattaca (1997), Thor (2011) & The Cell (2000)
MISSION BEACHA very popular beach in San Diego for families with shops and eateries just steps away from sandy fun. The water was more active here and the kids loved wave-jumping. The parking lot is next to Belmont Park – a great activity to add on to your Mission Beach visit if your family is into old-fashioned fair-style fun!
Mission Beach, San Diego – steps from shops, snack bars and Belmont Park
Films shot on/near Mission Beach: Disney's Freaky Friday (1976) starring Jodi Foster, Top Gun (1986) – Belmont Park
CORONADO BEACHA top family favourite for classy beaching, Coronado Beach's shore is vast and your family won't have any trouble finding a place to set down your beach gear. If you need a break from the sun, head over to the iconic Hotel del Coronado that rests along the beach for a self-guided tour of this history-rich landmark that was a choice setting for many films and hosted star-studded stays of Hollywood's golden-era legends including Charlie Chaplan, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Its stunning backdrop makes Coronado Beach a popular spot for marriage proposals, which we got to see as soon as we stepped foot on the beach! Love was in the ocean air!
Classy beaching and tours of the historic Hotel del Coronado at Coronado Beach
On your way to-from Coronado Beach, you'll take the Coronado Bridge with views of San Diego Bay – see if you can spot North Island Naval Air Station where many scenes from Top Gun: Maverick (2022) were filmed!
Movies & TV Shows filmed on Coronado Beach: Some Like it Hot (1958), episodes of Baywatch (1994) and Alfred Hitchcock (1958)
Fireball sunsets over La Jolla Shores – soul-fuel!
OCEANSIDEWalking The Strand and Oceanside Pier, taking a pic in front of the very Cali-esque lifeguard towers, playing in the family-friendly parks along the strip and visiting spots from one of our favourite after kids' bedtime TV shows – Animal Kingdom – made a visit to Oceanside beach a fun pit stop along our SoCal beaches road trip.
Oceanside has some of the brightest lifeguard towers on the Pacific Coast!
Brought our wildlings to visit the beach house from our after kids' bedtime TV tap out – Animal Kingdom
There are lots of restrooms along the strand for when nature calls, too Parking near the pier was a good starting point. From there, we walked down to 406 The Strand South – where Baz/Darren Cody's beachfront house is located in Animal Kingdom.
LAGUNA BEACHLaguna Beach should be called Laguna Beaches as there are several of them to soak in along this coastal stretch of SoCal. While some sources recommended Main Beach for families, I will share this was NOT our top choice given crowd volume and general upkeep of the shore (lots of vegetation smothering the sand). Instead, we hopped on the free trolley near Main Beach and took in the sights along the Southcoast Highway until we hit a spot that lured us.
Hop on the Laguna Beach Trolley – the best way for families to beach-hop this beautiful area of Southern California!
TREASURE ISLAND BEACH/MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACHA visit to Laguna has been a dream of mine since it was the featured backdrop to some of my favourite shows, and the Treasure Island/Montage Laguna Beach area was the spot to soak in very picturesque, real-life views of Laguna I'd swooned over from my TV screen. Start with a stroll in Treasure Island Park with Mediterranean plants, vibrant blooms and stunning palms creating a luxurious bluff-top scene with spectacular coastal views – a perfect spot to get some gorgeous family photos.
Treasure Island and Montage Beach – one of the prettiest spots in Laguna for families to explore!
There are lots of benches along the pathway to rest or just pause to soak in a slice of SoCal paradise. There are wood-concrete ramps that will take you down to enjoy the beach with lots of room to lay down your beach gear. The kids had a ball splashing in the ocean and the views of the bluffs jutting upward from shore to the North were a gorgeous sight.
**Treasure Island Beach is Stop 7 on the Short Coastal Trolley route (RED line)**
TIPS FOR YOUR FAMILY DAY TRIP TO LAGUNA BEACHIf you're making a day trip to Laguna Beach (which I highly recommend), here are some other tips for a great family experience:
No-stress Parking: Laguna Beach has a parking app you can download which gives you real-time updates of parking vacancies around town closest to your destination point. This will save you time scouring the busy beach area for a place to park your car so you can get right to exploring! We parked at Lot 6 given its proximity to where we wanted to brunch before hitting the beach – Nick's.
Dine at Nick's Laguna Beach – fantastic service, great Cali-inspired eats the whole family loved and a great starting point for your beach-hopping adventures in Laguna. Nick's Laguna Beach was a reco from Laguna local Lauren Conrad – you may know from the reality show of the early 2000's "Laguna Beach" or subsequently "The Hills" – in her Guide to Laguna Beach.
Nick's Laguna Beach – top pick for family-friendly dining in SoCal!
Laguna Trolley – I loved that we could park the car then enjoy a complimentary hop on, hop off ride on Laguna's Trolley service. A fantastic way to soak in the sights, beach-hop and get around to other spots you may want to visit along the South Coast Highway. Download the Trolley app for route info & real-time updates of pick-up times at designated spots.
More top Laguna Beach recommendations based on your family preferences can be found HERE.
TV Shows and Movies Filmed in Laguna Beach: Dead to Me (ft. Christina Applegate, 2019-2022), Laguna Beach (teen reality TV drama), Beaches (1988), A Few Good Men (1992) and many more!
Off of the Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, you'll find one of SoCal's best beaches for families – Crystal Cove; a state park that encompasses one of Orange County's largest areas to enjoy natural surroundings, including coastal bluffs, a well-maintained sandy beach, hiking trails and paths.
Crystal Cove State Park Beach – eye spy the Beaches movie Cottage with my eye! We tell you how you can visit with the fam below.
Film buffs' fun fact: Crystal Cove was the filming location of scenes from some of our favourite 80s & 90s movies, including scenes for A Few Good Men (1992) and Beaches. Not widely publicized but made me ridiculously giddy when I stumbled upon this intel – you can visit the Cottage (Hilary's family beach house) from the Beaches film at Crystal Cove beach! The media centre is open on select days of the year to see memorabilia from the film, and the beach house porch where CC & Hilary spent their last days together is open to the public (FREE) year-round.
Grab your bestie(s) and have a seat on the porch where Hillary & C.C. spent their last days together in the Beaches movie – unreal experience!
We followed LA Dreaming's guide How to Visit the Cottage from the Movie Beaches and had no trouble locating it. We also found her tips on where to park (Los Trancos lot; $5/hour) & the $1.50 shuttle from the parking lot to the beach super helpful. For more info on open/close times and the landmark's history, visit Cottage #13: The Beaches Cottage
Note: you can also access the beach from the parking lot by walking through the tunnel (about 10 mins), but this will be closed off if it rains, which it was after a morning downpour on the day of our visit.
We only spent a few hours here, but a stay in one of the popular rustic cottages built in the 1920's & 1930's in the Crystal Cove Historic District along the coast are worth considering for a future visit. How to book at beach cottage at Crystal Cove can be found HERE.
All your Crystal Cove State Park visitor questions will likely be addressed HERE
HUNTINGTON BEACHIn the heart of Orange County, along a beautiful stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, between San Diego and Los Angeles lies Huntington Beach – the very California-esque Surf City USA. Comprised of several beaches in a very Cali-cool hub (Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Dog Beach, and Huntington State Beach among them), Huntington City Beach is where we chose to park closest to for the all-encompassing Huntington hang ten vibe.
Welcome to Surf City USA – Huntington Beach! Top choice for families with teens.
Huntington City Beach rests close to some of the best amenities for families – volleyball courts, cafes/restaurants, shopping, surf lessons/rentals, beach bonfire stations, Vans Off The Wall Skate Park and the Huntington Beach Pier – one of the longest along the West Coast and where you'll catch some of the best views of surfing action. If you want to experience next-level surf culture, plan your family's visit during the U.S. Open of Surfing – the world's largest surfing competition (and free to the public!).
Realizing we booked our Cali-cation during the US Open of Surfing? SWELL!
One day was certainly NOT enough time to soak in all the fantastic family things to do in Huntington Beach, but we did squeeze out as much as we could. Here are some suggested places to dine and family activities to enjoy if you have a day trip to Huntington Beach with the family on your itinerary:
FAMILY DINING IN HUNTINGTONA vibrant mix of local and internationally-inspired fare, Surf City's foodie scene is swell! If you're looking for a hip spot to refuel with the family during your visit to Huntington Beach, we suggests Sandy's Beach Shack – steps from the pier and set along the Huntington board walk so you can soak in the surf scene while you dine serving some of your family's usual favourites (burgers, tacos, pastas, salads) with Californian flare.
Family re-fuel at Sandy's Beach Shack was a great choice during our day trip to Huntington Beach
FREE THINGS FOR FAMILIES TO DO IN HUNTINGTON BEACHHuntington has fabulous opportunities to immerse in for-fee arts activations, culture-rich museums, and shopping experiences, but for families looking to give their wallet a vacation, we loved these "26 Ways to Explore Huntington Beach on a Budget" suggestions. We took a break from the surf, sun and sea and checked out the action at Vans Off the Wall (especially loved by our teens!) and found our surfing legend matches at the Surfers' Hall of Fame. You can also grab a family snap in front of the Duke Kahanamoku statue – a salute to the "father of modern surfing".
Find your 'Soul Surfer' at the Surfer's Hall of Fame (my match-Bethany Hamilton), Huntington Beach | Free Activities for Families
Noteworthy for Families Visiting Huntington Beach:
- Huntington Beach welcomes everyone, offering accessible playgrounds and beach entrances.
- As you might imagine, the waves are fierce at Huntington Beach – narly for surfing, not for less than strong swimmers. We stayed very close to shore while in the water here. Dad and our teens enjoyed boogie boarding, although total wave take downs and rolls happened more than not.
Watching the skateboarding action at Vans Off The Wall & some beach volleyball were top activity picks for our teens – both FREE | Huntington Beach, CA
- The beaches are divided into swimming and surfing sections, and strongly enforced by the lifeguards on-duty.
- Washroom facilities dot the boardwalk area and we never had trouble locating one.
- We did Huntington Beach on a day trip, but there are some fantastic places for families to stay over close to all the action.
Popular films/shows shot on location at Huntington Beach: Waterworld (1995), Starsky & Hutch (2004), Marmaduke (2010), Dexter, Beverly Hills 90210.
MANHATTAN BEACHWhen we were planning our SoCal family vacation, and looking for the best place to stay as our central spot to visit all the other areas beyond San Diego, our relative (and long-time resident) from SoCal highly recommended the Manhattan Beach area. What a fantastic place for fun, sun and sea. Manhattan Beach was definitely one of our most favourite sandy landings and beachin' towns (one of the three Beach Cities, along with Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach within the South Bay region of Los Angeles County).
Manhattan Beach – THE BEST beach for families in SoCal
Here's why Manhattan Beach got our high praise:
- It's breathtakingly beautiful – the beach is clean, dotted with cacti and blooms along The Strand that winds between stunning mansions and wide stretches of sand lined with volleyball courts (it's a hot spot for professional volleyball players and called 'Silicon Beach' for its allure for tech professionals to land).
- The strength of the ocean waves were "just right" for enjoyable swimming and boogie boarding with the family;
Roundhouse Aquarium at the end of Manhattan Beach Pier. You can also grab a photo with a great white!
- Families can take a jaunt along the historic Manhattan Beach Pier, visit the Roundhouse Aquarium at it's tip, and take in views of surfers. Look down while you stroll – you're steps take you through the Volleyball Walk of Fame!
- The downtown Manhattan Beach area (called "The Pearl of South Bay") is compact and walkable for families with boutiques, casual to upscale eateries and ice cream parlours.
- Recommended restaurants for families to dine in Manhattan Beach: The Kettle and Uncle Bill's Pancake House – both located on popular Highland Avenue in Downtown Manhattan Beach and within walking distance from the beach. The best spot for ice cream and cool treats – Manhattan Beach Creamery for freshly churned scoops by way of cup, cone or Cream'wich – try the "Cookie Monster"!
Best spot for a cone of cool JOY? Manhattan Beach Creamery was our fave!
WHERE TO STAY IN MANHATTAN BEACHWe visited SoCal in a peak travel period (mid-summer), so more budget-friendly stays were favoured during our vacation. Hyatt House Manhattan Beach was a fantastic home base for most of our Cali-cation, and here's what we loved about our 6-night stay there:
Hyatt House Manhattan Beach met all of our big brood's check marks for a fantastic family stay!
- Condo-style, multi-room suites for our big family;
- The kitchenette to store groceries and make some simple meals;
- A buffet breakfast for the whole family is included each morning of your stay;
- A nice-sized, clean outdoor pool;
- A fitness room – our teens especially loved this;
- Laundry facilities (for-fee);
- Friendly, helpful staff;
- It's close proximity to grocery stores, great family restaurants and the best family beaches (we were about a 7 minute drive to Manhattan Beach);
- Budget-wise nightly rates – we chose to invest more vacation bucks in unique experiences over luxey accommodations.
Manhattan Beach is a scene-stealer in some of your favourite movies – the Pier is where Utah (Keanu Reeves) buys his surfboard in Point Break (2001).
Movies and TV Shows filmed at Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach area isn't just popular with residents, beach-goers, and SoCal visitors, it's also TV/film-makers' paradise and choice location. Point Break (1991), Blow (2001), The O.C. (TV 2003-2007), Revenge (TV 2011-2015), Captain America (2011 & 2014), Aly McBeal (TV 1997-2002), Thor (2011), Jerry McGuire (1996), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) among them.
"All I wanna do is have some fun…Until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard" – There's a reason so many songs sing high praise of Santa Monica – it's a whole Cali-cool vibe on the cusp of LA. If your mind conjures up SoCal scenes with roller-skater dance packs, funky wall murals, yogis on the beach, a bustling pier with a sky-high Ferris Wheel, and spectacular sunsets, it's likely from seeing pop culture set in Santa Monica. In fact, the Santa Monica Pier is one of the most-filmed locations in Los Angeles and has been the shining star in hundreds of movies, music videos, commercials, and TV shows – all listed HERE!
One of my favourite scenes in SoCal – a sultry sunset over Santa Monica Beach
SANTA MONICA BEACHWe visited Santa Monica in late afternoon, centered our exploring primarily within the beach core and opted for more dryland family fun then dips in the ocean. There is SO much for families to do along Santa Monica Beach. Admittedly, a half day here was NOT enough to take in all Santa Monica Beach offers. Alas, here are our favourite family-friendly activities that appealed to all-ages (school-age to teen) in the time we had:
Active, Adrenaline-inducing family fun at Santa Monica Beach
- Acrobatics on the Original Muscle Beach equipment – rings, swings and more! This is a free, open-air activity for visitors and our gang had a blast monkey-ing around here.
A family bike ride along Santa Monica Beach – a must-do on your visit to SoCal!
- Family Bike Rentals: we rented a family fleet of bikes (a combo of beach cruisers, single-speed and tandems) and had a fun family joy ride from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Beach and back along The Marvin Bruade Bike Trail (aka the South Bay Bicycle Trail). You'll have no trouble locating shops to rent bikes for your two-wheeled adventure along the beach. We had a good experience renting from Perry's Café.
Fun under the Santa Monica Pier – hang onto your flip flops!
- Go for a stroll on the iconic Santa Monica Pier, catch a panoramic view of Malibu in the distance, watch a street performer, and/or shop for souvenirs. If you're a first-time visitor to Santa Monica Beach like we were, you can stop by the Pier Shop & Visitor Center for area maps, visitor guides and tips from local staff. There's also a free historic walking tour you can join!
Pacific Park on the Pier – another fun thing to do in SoCal with kids!
- While you're on the pier, thrill-seeker fams will love no-admission access to the West Coast's only over water family-fun zone Pacific Park named "California's Best Amusement Park" (Yahoo Travel). Ride the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel while soaking in stunning Los Angeles coast scenes from new heights, brave the West Coaster soaring 55 feet above Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean, or keep your feet on the ground enjoying games or carnival-style eats. Note: Pacific Park is open year-round (*with some variations – check out the operating calendar before you visit*), entry is free (*meaning in & out all day access*), and you can enjoy some savings on rides and activities purchasing tickets in advanced online and opting for Unlimited Wristbands. Bookmark your family's guide on "How to Spend the Day at Pacific Park"
Churro Funnel Cake dessert for dinner was a family winner! Add it to your Pac Park Must-Eats!
SUGGESTED DINING FOR FOODIE FAMILIES IN SANTA MONICAAs with most beach towns along the Pacific Coast, you will have no trouble finding scrumptious eats for your family in Santa Monica. Here are some suggestions from casual to upscale (*some recommended from a local*):
Beach-side Eats
A scene from one of my all-time favourite movies, Forest Gump, was filmed on the Santa Monica Pier, so dining seaside at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (*a resto inspired by Forest's easy-to-love buddy Bubba & his shrimp empire*) was an easy choice for a family feast. There are lots of tasty choices from their surf (*mostly shrimp, of course!*) and American fare menu selections, and you can peruse the boat-themed interior flanked with still shots, script drafts, costumes and memorabilia from your favourite Forest Gump scenes while you wait. If you'd rather dine family picnic style by the sea shore, they offer online orders and take-out too. ($ Casual $)
Surf n' scenes from Forest Gump at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – Santa Monica Pier
Sea-side Sweets
There are tons of spots along Santa Monica beach to satisfy your family's sweet tooth – ice cream, candy, and baked treat shops among them – but the Churro Funnel Cakes at Pacific Park's Funnel Cake Factory had us drooling before first bite. Grab a round of forks for your family & dive in for a shared dessert adventure – excellent choice!
Off-shore Selections
Shangri-La Hotel Rooftop Bar – Downtown Santa Monica's only indoor/outdoor rooftop dining experience with added cool-factor of immersing in the history-rich atmosphere of the famous hotel. ($ Splurge $)
Sweet Lady Jane – offering the most sought-after freshly baked goodies for your gang – cakes, pastries, tarts and more. You can pre-order online and pick up to-go.
Not just another sunset – Santa Monica Beach's is soul-fuel
SUNSET RESETAfter a full day of sun, sand, sea and fun, do not leave the beach core without soaking in an entrancing, sultry Santa Monica sunset.
MALIBU"Next to you, the sky's more blue, in Malibu…" Were the dreamy lyrics of Miley Cyrus swirling in my head as we sunk our toes in the beaches of Malibu? Yes they were. Did my husband and I ignite our inner dorks and re-enact scenes from Baywatch role-channelling Mitch Buchannon and C.J. Parker? In a Malibu minute
Channelling Baywatch on Zuma Beach in Malibu
Beyond the breathtaking drive along the Pacific Coast Highway (one of the most beautiful stretches in SoCal, in my opinion) and the allure of ginormous star-studded ocean-side and hilltop mansions is the simple, sea-side magic and wonder of Malibu's beaches. These were our family's favourites:
ZUMA BEACHWhat makes Zuma Beach one of our favourite picks for families? The parking is ample (over 2000 pay spaces), the sandy area to lay your family's beach cargo is vast and wide and the views are as gorgeous as you can imagine. You're in MALIBU! This was a want to be fully in the moment kind of experience. The kids spent most of their time splashing (and crashing) in the waves and I soaked in the sunny, stunning scenes on shore.
Sea-side splashes on Zuma Beach, Malibu – magic!
Parents, you'll love ease of access to restroom and shower facilities and appreciate the very attentive, on-duty lifeguards (we were redirected to safer swim zones a few times during our visit given rapidly shifting rip tides). Bring a ball if you have one – the teens enjoyed the beach volleyball court. In winter months, Zuma is a choice spot for families to witness a super-cool grey whale migration experience.
Films shot on Zuma Beach: Charlie's Angels (2000) & Indecent Proposal (1993) are some of the more popular movies filmed here.
WILL ROGERS STATE BEACHIn between Malibu and Santa Monica lies the Pacific Palisades district, and Will Rogers State Beach sprawls almost the full length of it along the Santa Monica Bay. Typically less busy then the beaches that hug it, and brimming with family friendly amenities – accessible restrooms, clean & wide sandy shore, ample parking (paid), beach sports, snack shops and more – Will Rogers State Beach is a fabulous choice to spend a day at the beach in SoCal. In fact, we wished we had time to linger a little longer.
Look familiar? Welcome to the original Baywatch Headquarters – Will Rogers State Beach, Malibu, CA
This beach has been acclaimed one of the best beaches for swimming along the southern California coast given its consistently good water and wave quality. Not widely publicized but super fun for our inner Baywatch fan hearts to find out – Will Rogers State Beach is where the original 90's hit Baywatch TV show's headquarters are located, and many scenes with Mitch, C.J. & crew filmed.
THE BEST FAMILY RESTAURANTS IN MALIBUWe did Zuma in the morning before our visit to Santa Monica Beach, so didn't dine there, but Zuma is beautifully close to some of Malibu's best family restaurants (including Hawaiian-inspired eat at Duke's which we tried and loved in San Diego and Nobu – highly recommended by family friends of ours who frequent the Malibu area).
Do not leave SoCal without diving into the Hula Pie from Duke's!
TIPS & WHAT TO KNOW-BEFORE-YOU-GO TO THE BEST FAMILY BEACHES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA- Beach Gear: we travelled with carry-ons only, which meant we didn't have room for our usual beach gear – towels, sand toys, etc. Some beaches, like Coronado and Santa Monica, offer "Beach Butler" rentals right on the sandy shore, including towels, beach chairs, umbrellas & such. Others have beach shops nearby to purchase your beachy gear, or pop into a sporting goods/department store (Dick's or Target) like we did to grab higher quality boogie boards for body surfing, a beach umbrella, and a family stack of towels for wave & beach-hopping enjoyment. We donated the items at the end of our stay.
We bought our boogie boards at Dick's sporting goods store. You can also buy them at the shops or from sellers on the beach.
- Know the local laws: Each county has different rules for what is permitted and what is prohibited on the beach shore. Have a peek at the website for the beach you're visiting before you head out. Shelling, for instance, is against the law in some counties.
- Water-Wise: All the beaches we visited had lifeguards on-duty, but take extra caution always while enjoying the ocean along the Pacific coast. Water conditions (rip tides) can and will change rapidly and the waves (even close to shore) can easily take you down (I got rolled a few times). Respect the signs that navigate you to safer swim zones versus surfing-caliber areas. For your safety, most beaches do not allow swimming right beside the pier. Also, to the trigger of my irrational fears, the Pacific Ocean is home to sharks. I'm happy to share we didn't see a single one during our beach-hopping adventure (phew!).
What the sign says! But what I really want to know – why would you ever want to do that?! Yup – JAWS did a number on me as a kid…no thanks!
- The Strand Etiquette: Most beaches have "The Strand" dividing the sandy area from the local town – there is one lane for pedestrians, the other for bikes, scooters and roller skaters. Respect the way of the lanes!
- Parking Pointers: There is lots of parking in and around the beachfront areas of SoCal, mostly metered parking with specific time limits. If you'll be staying the whole day, do a bit of research on where the "All-Day" lots are, as most will allow up to 2 hours max. Summer parking rates across all the beaches we visited ranged from $4 – 15 USD.
- FREE Family Fun: You can enjoy the SoCal Coast and the surrounding areas with LOTS of FREE family things to do in LA's beach cities.
Fly and drive vacations are a popular choice for families, and no doubt you'll need a mode of transportation to road trip the Pacific Coast of SoCal. Our summer visit coupled with a travel recovery climate meant inventory was VERY LOW for vehicles, especially those that can accommodate a large family like ours.
My dream Cali-mobile was a retro VW Camper Van, but reality meant more practical motoring (*sigh*).
TIPS for California car rentals:
- We booked a mini-van (Toyota Sienna) WELL IN ADVANCE of our stay (*even before our flights*) and Hybrid was the way to go. California is the most expensive state for gas and we only pumped just over $100 USD for our entire 10-day road trip. Sa-weet!
- Be mindful not to pack more luggage than your vehicle can store. We did carry-ons only for the first time ever. If a chronic over-packer like me can do it, trust me, so can you! We spent a week and a half in SoCal and still didn't wear a ¼ of what we brought. Having laundry facilities in our choice hotels also helped manage the dirty load while we wandered.
- Insurance Coverage – what a mind-busting decision. Check with both your credit card company and home insurance provider before you depart for your vacation to see what you might already be covered for. Read agreements carefully at your destination's car rental counter and remove items where your active coverage from home would be void if you kept those clauses in. Our credit card insurance provider was an amazing resource to educate us on what to omit.
SoCal weather during our July-August summer stay was perfection – little to no humidity like our typical Canadian weather in warm months.
WHAT'S IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT SOCAL?The best time of year to visit Southern California is subjective and really depends on the focus of your family vacation. Locals highly recommend the "shoulder seasons" of Spring and Fall to avoid crowds and to find better deals on accommodations while the kids are still in school, but if beach-hopping and family-friendly events + festivals will be the focus of your family's visit like ours was, summertime (June-August) is the best time to plan your Cali-cation. We were able to visit all the beaches mentioned above over 10-days, and still felt like we should have stayed a bit longer. So, when to visit will also depend on your family's ideal amount of time to get away, and where in the calendar that fits for you. With year-round sunny weather, though, California is a good idea any time of year!
"The Beauty of the Sea Will Always Be With me" by Skye Walker | Wall Art in Oceanside
We hope you found this guide to the Best Beaches for Families in Southern California a valuable resource for your next Cali-cation! There is WAY more to soak in on your SoCal adventure then shared here (including soaking in the stunning sights of Santa Barbara – this area will get a post all it's own soon!), so if you have any questions, drop them below or email me. Exploring SoCal is such a fabulous way for families of all-ages and sizes to connect and I'd be happy to share more if I haven't addressed it here.
SoCal is for every family and proudly LGBTQ+ friendly | Rainbow Lifeguard Tower on Santa Monica Beacheature here...