Summer Beach Guide

Getting your feet in the sand is easy here in the OC. For a small county, we have over 40 miles of coastline ready for beach adventures. And from north to south, there’s a little of everything for just about everyone.

From the rustic to the rowdy to the Riviera-like, beach-seeking travelers can find a spot friendly to small kids, others to see and be seen, and others to quietly retreat for the sounds of the surf.

Oh yeah, speaking of surf, there are a few world-class surfing spots thrown in, too. Put on your sandals and sunscreenand find the OC beach that suits you.

Take a look at the short list below or go to our Beaches Section for Photo Tour of various OC Beaches

Seal Beach
Main St. and Ocean Ave., Seal Beach
The vibe: A sleepy seaside town with friendly locals, pleasant eateries, bars, shops and an
old-fashioned movie theater.
What locals know: Parking in the summer can be a bit tricky. Locals have window stickers,
everyone else needs to move their cars hourly or park in the beach lot. Dependable longtime restaurant Hennessey’s has sandwiches, while Walt’s Wharf offers perhaps the best seafood in the county. The beaches are wide open and usually not full. Surf breaks on the north side of the pier and there are beginner-friendly waves at the jetty.

Huntington Beach
Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway,
Huntington Beach
The vibe: American surfing’s equivalent to Times Square. Bustling with activity all summer
long, from the shops and restaurants on Main Street to the volleyball on the sand and the
surfers in the water.
What locals know: Eat at Sugar Shack, Wahoo’s or Fred’s Cantina (careful on the stairs). Check out Huntington Surf and Sport and Jack’s Surfboards for the clothing selection, and Rockin’ Fig’s Surfboards (owned and operated by longtime surfing announcer Rick Fignetti) for great prices. Surfing is good on the north or south sides of the pier, but watch out for locals. Some of the nation’s best beach volleyball players and surfers can be spotted here. Parking means pumping quarters into a meter, arriving early for the garages or hoofing it from whatever street you parked on.

Crystal Cove Beach
Crystal Cove State Park
Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach
(across from Crystal Cove Promenade shopping center)
The vibe: The bucolic postcard image of old Orange County.
What locals know: Once you’ve paid $15 for parking, enjoy the quiet three-mile stretch of
beach protected from the noise of PCH by the bluffs. Wander past the historic cottages and
have a bite to eat at the Beachcomber Café or a drink at the Bootlegger Bar. A great family
beach.

Corona Del Mar State Beach
Iris Street and Ocean Boulevard, Newport Beach
The vibe: Scenic neighborhood beach. One of
the best small local beaches.
What locals know: Like Crystal Cove, a great family beach with a similar protected feel by the cliffs and generally friendly. Limited parking on the street or pay for the small lot. Bring your own lunch. You can play some volleyball, throw a Frisbee or go for a surf, though this is one of the better spots to just lie on the sand.

Salt Creek State Beach
33333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point
The vibe: A hybrid for sand-phobic picnickers
and serious surfers.
What locals know: The carefully manicured hillside lawn and access road down to the sand
separate the two decidedly different crowds: There are the folks who come for lunch, to
throw a football or walk their dog. The surfers walk down past the grass to the sand, where
the rocky cove holds a break treasured by locals. And unless you’re serious yourself, don’t paddle out. Either way, you’ll pump quarters and singles into the metered lot. If you’re there late in the afternoon, it’s a nice spot for sunsets, too.

Doheny State Beach
25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point
The vibe: An enclave of tourists, tanners, and longboarders.
What locals know: A good spot to bring the family for a day at the beach and an evening
barbecue. Parking at the lot is $15 but there are usually spots available on the street. Snacks are relatively cheap at the snack bar – but bring your own lunch. It’s a friendly crowd that lies on the sand and watches longboarders do their thing at the break known as the Boneyard.

San Clemente
Avenida Del Mar and Avenida Victoria, San Clemente
The vibe: A sleepy seaside town with a touch of the aloof.
What locals know: Parking is often a challenge in summer. Bring your quarters for the lot if you can find a space, though street parking is usually better. Go to The Fisherman’s restaurant and bar on the pier for dinner on the water or hang out with the locals a few minutes down PCH at the OC Tavern. Crowds are generally friendly on the sand, but respect the locals if you paddle out for a surf on the north side of the pier. As the beach clears in the afternoon, sunset walks are golden.