California’s beaches, stretching across the majority of the United States’ west coast, are perfect for family holidays with their magnificent views, tropical temperatures, and a vast range of activities. In this guide, we will explore the top family beaches of California in more detail.
Venice Beach
Venice Beach is famous for the fun and excitement it has to offer, with a 1.5-mile boardwalk playing host to an array of street performers who cover virtually every type of entertainment imaginable from dancers and musicians to jugglers and mimes. The gallery also boasts a wide variety of unique shops and restaurants. Venice Beach is ideal for participating in all outdoor activities, whether you prefer a relaxing, gentle stroll along the beach, or the more energetic rollerblading, skateboarding or cycling experience.
Sports facilities can be found in abundance here, with the ‘Muscle Beach’ outdoor gym, as well as courts for basketball, volleyball, or tennis. If water sports are more your style, there are plenty of places to rent equipment even to hire an instructor. The Marina Del Rey harbor close by is also worth a visit if you fancy going out for a sail. Visit Delta Airlines Ticketing and get the best offers on vacation packages with cheap flight fares to California.
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Coronado
Coronado beach is a picturesque beach ideal for all different types of families. The beach was ranked as the fifth-best beach in the whole of the USA. Depending on what time you visit, the beach can be tranquil, which may be ideal for your family. While there may be nothing exciting here for families, some would say that you could not find a better beach than Coronado if you want to sit back and relax.
Corona del Mar State Beach
The extensive facilities available at Corona del Mar State Beach make this ideal for bringing the family. With a lifeguard service, picnic tables, volleyball nets, and barbeque pits as well as an array of food stands, this beach has everything you would need to make your day out perfect.
The warm waters are brilliant for surfing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving or sailing, and equipment rented at various locations along the beach. The surrounding cliffs and rock jetty offer fantastic views making them the best place for a picnic while watching the beautiful sunsets.
La Jolla Shell
This beach is not what many would define as a ‘normal’ beach, but it is one that you can take your family too if they fancy themselves as the exploring type. If you come when the tide is at its lowest point, then you will probably be able to see all sorts of sea life. The shell beach is the seal rock reserve, a vast rock where sea lions and seals rest. Therefore, make sure you bring down some binoculars if you decide to visit La Jolla Shell.
Asilomar Beach
The attraction of Asilomar Beach has to be the vast range of outdoor activities on offer. The beach has its volleyball court, and balls are available to buy at the local shop if you don’t have your own. Alternatively, there are several trails for cycling, hiking, or walking, and if you are lucky, you may even spot a deer. Horse riding is also available at the nearby Pebble Beach Equestrian Centre, and several golf courses can be accessed from this beach. The waters are famous for their fantastic swells, so this is the best place to be if you are a surfing enthusiast.
Del Mar
For a beach with plenty of activities, the Del Mar has to be at the top of your list. Suppose you want to bring a picnic to the beach than this is accepted because there is a large grass area, situated just above the beach itself. You will also find a great playground where your kids can enjoy relaxing if they get bored with the sand. This beach is safe for children because there are various lifeguard towers scattered around the coast.
Capitola City Beach
Capitola City Beach has a varied and exciting history and is the oldest seaside resort on the Pacific Coast. The wharf, initially built for shipping purposes, is now used for fishing and boat rental. There is a considerable variety of shops and restaurants, and plenty of opportunities for beach activities such as swimming, surfing, and flying kites. The main attractions, though, are the festivals on offer, including the Begonia Festival, which features a parade with flower-covered floats and a sandcastle building contest, and the Capitola Art and Wine Festival, where hundreds of artists and food vendors flock to sell their wares.
Also read: Top 11 Things To Do In Grayton Beach With Kids
Carlsbad State Beach
Fortunately, parts of the Carlsbad beach remain quiet for those who live around this area throughout the year. This beach is so large that it has been designated into different sections, and if you have a young family, you should avoid these. Tamarack, Warm Water Jetty (by the power plant), and Terramar (by the lagoon) are known surfing spots, which may not be suitable for families.
If you want to go for lunch with your family, stay to the north of Carlsbad beach because this is the only place you will be able to find somewhere to grab a bite. Other benefits of this beach for families are that this is the closest beach to Legoland; there are plenty of toilets and, even more importantly, dozens of lifeguards that patrol the beach. Visit Southwest Airlines Flights to get an amazing discount on flight fares with cheap vacation packages to California.
Pismo Beach
Pismo Beach provides terrific opportunities for Humpback Whale and Bottlenose Dolphin watching from either the pier or beach. Pismo Beach prides itself on the wealth of wildlife that calls it home; offering guided nature hikes for wildlife enthusiasts. Golf courses surround the area, and the usual beach activities such as surfing, beachcombing, and beach volleyball are prevalent here.
There is an assortment of shops and restaurants available, so you are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining. The area is also renowned for its campgrounds, so why not enjoy the great outdoors and get back to nature. For something a bit more adventurous, the Oceano Dunes offers off-road experiences, and your trip would not be complete without seeing the magnificent views from a biplane ride over the ocean.
Half Moon Bay
The Half Moon Bay beach has a vast range of activities for everyone to enjoy. The area is brimming with wildlife, making bird watching or whale watching a popular way to spend an afternoon, or experience sea life in its natural habitat by exploring the beach’s endless rock pools. The beautiful idyllic beach is perfect for relaxing in the sun or building sandcastles with the kids. If the quiet life is not for you, try out the many water sports on offer. Alternatively, if you prefer your action on dry land, check out the hiking trails and horse riding ranches to explore the genuinely fantastic terrain.