The kids are out of school for the summer and it’s time to head to the beach!

 

But which beach is best? Parking, bathrooms, overall vibe?

It’s a lot to think about! If you’ve got young kids, you don’t want to accidentally end up at a rocky beach, in the middle of the teenage party scene, or stuck walking a mile to your parking spot. To help you plan your ultimate summer beach day, we compiled list of our favorite beaches in Southern California for those with young kids. Enjoy!

1. Moonlight Beach

Located in the greater San Diego area, Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is quite a gem! It’s a sandy, flat stretch of shore with scenic cliffs on either side. A large parking lot is situated on the bluff above the beach and has a nice smooth ramp down to the beach for those with strollers. The beach is wide, smooth and patrolled by lifeguards all year round. The waves are usually pretty mellow here. Often they’re great for boogie boarding and the sand is soft and wonderful for playing in! Additionally, large, clean bathrooms are located just off the sand right next to a snack shack and picnic tables. Your kids will be especially excited about the awesome Moonlight Beach Playground right on the sand! Between the playground, the waves, the snack shack (and the volleyball courts!) there is something for everyone!

2. Huntington Beach

The beaches that flank either side of the Huntington Beach Pier are great destinations. Not only are there parking lots and street parking very close by, these beaches stretch for miles and are very smooth and sandy.

Known as Surf City USA, Huntington has awesome, consistent waves for those learning to surf. (Book a lesson with us today!) We like the waves here so much that we even host our kids’ summer surf camps in Huntington! The summer waves here are great for young kids! The water is shallow and the sand gradually drops off. Children can boogie board and play in the water without being concerned about not being able to touch the ground.

Bathrooms and volleyball courts are also located nearby. Additionally, the pier is a fun place for kids to walk around, watch the surfers and the fisherman, and enjoy the views. Since this beach is located right in the heart of Huntington, there are plenty of restaurant options within a short walking distance for when you get hungry!

3. El Porto

Also known as North Manhattan Beach, this little spot is a favorite of the locals and the dolphins alike! The biggest benefits of El Porto are its family-friendly nature, laid-back vibe and smaller crowd. While El Porto can still get busy on a warm summer day, it is much mellower than the areas in Manhattan Beach right next to the Pier. Parking is mostly in neighborhood streets, so it’s best to get there early to snag a spot as close to the beach as possible.

The waves here are known to be very consistent, however in the summer they are usually small and relaxing. This is great for boogie boarders or for young kids still learning to surf. For the kids who just want to play in the sand, there’s plenty of space for that as well! You’ll mostly find families and locals here. And keep your eyes out, you may just spot a dolphin!

4. Redondo Beach

Redondo is one of our favorite places to teach lessons, because of the wide expanse of sand and the smooth waves. Lifeguards patrol this beach in the summer and bathrooms are located nearby. While it can also get busy on a hot summer day, there are usually less crowds than some of the other LA beaches, such as Santa Monica. There’s plenty of room to spread out here, so bring the whole family! They also might enjoy cruising the pier and watching the surfers. This is located right by downtown Redondo, so there are lots of options to grab a bite to eat or do some shopping if needed!

 

Whether you live in San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles, there are definitely some fantastic beaches for you and your family to explore this summer.

So head to the coast and soak up some sun before the summer is over!

And be sure to catch some waves while you’re there! Book a lesson for you, your kids or the whole family! Our instructors are fun loving, extremely talented, and great with the kiddos! They will get you and your kids surfing and having a ton of fun, while keeping safety as their highest priority. You’ll be catching waves before you know it! (Check out this post to learn more about each beach we teach at)

Additionally, if your child wants to learn to surf or improve their skills (or perhaps they just need to get out of the house 🤪) sign them up to spend a week with us! At our summer surf camp in Huntington Beach, your child will have an absolute blast making friends, learning about ocean conservation, and, of course, surfing! Our instructors are awesome and they look forward to hanging out with your kids all year long! They are highly trained in water safety and love sharing the stoke of surfing with kids!