As the weather (finally) heats up here in Southern California, city dwellers here for the summer begin to collectively fixate on one thing: the beach. Los Angeles is famous for its numerous beaches, and each one has something different to offer – if you’re a surfer, swimmer, athlete or just plain lounger, there’s a perfect stretch of shimmering sand for you. Here’s a roundup of the best of L.A.’s beaches:
Zuma Beach
Malibu’s signature beach – the largest in L.A. County – is wildly popular among tourists and locals alike, and it’s not difficult to see why. It’s relatively easy to get to (only a half hour or so from LA’s west side via the scenic Pacific Coast Highway), offers plenty of space for beach volleyball, games and lounging, and benefits from Malibu’s cool, breezy climate. On warmer weekends, it’ll easily be jammed by noon or before, so plan on getting there early.
Surfrider Beach
Surfrider, nestled between the Malibu Pier and Malibu Lagoon, is generally considered one of L.A.’s best beaches for surfing. As a result, it’s often really crowded – but it’s lauded for a laid–back, non–competitive vibe that many other surfing beaches lack. Definitely not the ideal spot for lounging sunbathers.
Will Rogers State Beach
This popular beach is a solid destination for those not willing to make the trek out to Malibu’s beaches. Nestled into the green hills of the Pacific Palisades, Will Rogers is about three miles from Santa Monica on the Pacific Coast Highway, making it an easy getaway for city slickers. Not an ideal spot for surfers, but it has a reputation for good beach volleyball and offers a more intimate vibe.
Santa Monica State Beach
Arguably L.A.’s most family– and tourist–friendly beach, Santa Monica’s shore is big and easy to get to. You might recognize it from film and TV when you see the Santa Monica Pier – with its trademark roller coaster and ferris wheel – which splits the beach in half. For swimming and surfing, SaMo is far from ideal (the water’s pretty gross) but it’s perfectly nice for lounging, and it’s a great launching point for biking or rollerblading along the paved shorefront path. It’s also five minutes from downtown Santa Monica, which offers great restaurants and shops.
Venice Beach
For swimming and sunbathing, Venice Beach is nothing special – it’s the boardwalk that’s the main attraction. About a twenty minute walk on the pedestrian beach walk from Santa Monica, Venice Beach is unmissable with its street performers, boardwalk vendors and just generally weird people. It’s worth a trip, just to take in the bohemian vibe, or to invest in a doctor–issued “Medical Cannabis Prescription” – a commodity casually advertised by hawkers on the boardwalk.
Manhattan State Beach
Located in the South Bay area of L.A. (about 10 miles south of Santa Monica and just a couple from the airport), Manhattan Beach’s spacious, welcoming and clean sands make it a huge draw – so plan accordingly on those warm weekends. It has plenty of room for sunbathers and is considered one of the better surfing spots in the city. If you go, don’t miss its numerous seafood restaurants, located just east of the beach by the pier.
Hermosa Beach
Sitting just south of Manhattan Beach and just north of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Hermosa Beach is an ideal spot for just about anything. Its wide, roomy white sand beaches are among the city’s most beautiful, and facilities for sports as well as space for sunbathing are plentiful; plus, the surfing is also very good. While there, take a stroll on The Strand (a pedestrian walkway perfect for rollerblading or biking) or check out Pier Avenue with its shops and restaurants.
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