Garie Beach

What are good beaches in southern California?

I live in the southern California desert ... and my kids have been bugging me to go to the beach. My husband and I have finally given in - just really don't know which one to go to. Were only going for the day. I know we have at least a couple hours drive... so any ideas would be nice. I have four boys and nice bathrooms instead of porta potties would be nice.

Public Comments

1. I live in the desert too! 29 palms.... I say try san diego since it is less of a drive (oceanside?) or if you want a little longer drive, long beach, santa monica, and huntington beach..good luck! i haven't seen the ocean in a year...
2. The ones I usually go to are Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, or Huntington Beach. Unfortunately, most of the beaches have no porta potties but their own buildings with around 4-5 stalls inside them. They're very dirty :( If you want to do other things besides swimming I would say the Huntington Beach has a pier and various plaza's close-by for shopping, dining, and browsing very touristy shops. This goes the same for the Newport Pier - you can eat Ruby's at the end of the pier, but there's not as many shops to browse around the area unless you are willing to walk around for awhile. Hope you have a fun day and that some of this information has helped!
3. All beaches between Santa Barbara to the Mexican border are good
4. Hmmmm.... It's a little longer drive to Pismo Beach but it's a fabulous beach!
5. Coronado in San Diego is beautiful and clean. It's very popular with families too.
6. Redondo Beach
7. The cleanest, and best maintained beaches in southern California are in Orange County. I would recommend Huntington Beach. It has lots of quaint shops and eateries just across the road from the beach.
8. Try Laguna Beach - it's beautiful and has lots of great restaurants around. Google up images. Also try La Jolla down by San Diego.
9. It all depends where in the desert... but Huntington or Newport are good safe bets. Take the 10 west to the 215 south, which turns into the 91. Take the 91 to the 55 south, which ends at Newport Blvd. Go straight when the freeway ends, and follow it all the way to the beach. Cross over PCH, and follow it until it becomes Balboa Blvd. Follow that to the Balboa Pier. On the pier, you have Ruby's Diner. You have the shops of Balboa, as well as the Fun Zone. Have fun!
10. I don't know where you are, but have you considered Lake Havasu City in Arizona? They have beaches there, and no sharks or jellyfish to worry about. Plus, being fresh water, you won't have a significant problem if you accidentally drink some of it.
11. Hermosa Beach is really nice. It's where I always go.
12. The good news is that there are so many beaches to choose from in So Cal! If you want facilities you may want to try Ventura, California. Our kids like the beach by the Ventura Harbor Village. They can go swimming and then hop over to the harbor village to play in the arcade. We also like McGrath State Beach. The beach is clean and pretty with small natural sand dunes protecting the beach area . You can rent bikes from there too or one of those 4-wheel bikes. Lots of fun for a family.