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Beaches in Los Angeles

Santa Monica Beach

All Ages / All Types / Beach / Free

Party Earth Review A nearly seamless continuation of the famed Venice Beach to the south, Santa Monica Beach offers a bevy of waterfront fun to suit almost any visitor’s tastes, from intense recreation to avid shopping to burning away the day on 245 acres of sand. The hundred-year-old Santa Monica Pier marks the beach’s southern edge, where ... more

Bordered by the Santa Monica Pier to the south and Will Rogers State Beach to the north
Santa Monica, CA 90291

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Venice Beach

Beach / Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review The slightly off-kilter and tourist-packed Venice Boardwalk may draw the biggest crowds to Venice, but a close second is undoubtedly the adjacent three-mile expanse of Venice Beach. Sunny days attract hordes of beachgoers, especially in summer when Venice is often twenty-plus degrees cooler than the sweltering valley ... more

Bordered by the Santa Monica Pier to the north and the Venice Fishing Pier to the south
Venice, CA 90291

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Malibu Lagoon State Beach (Surfrider Beach)

Affluent / All Ages / Beach / Chill

Party Earth Review The official name for this sandy expanse – located steps from the affluent mansions that line Malibu like (really, really fancy) weeds – is Malibu Lagoon State Beach, but most people know it as Surfrider Beach thanks to the preeminent importance it has played in California surfing history. Centered on Malibu Lagoon where ... more

23200 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265

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Manhattan Beach

Casual / Great View / Locals / Free

Info Located south of the tourist-packed Santa Monica Beach, Manhattan Beach draws local 20-somethings, families, and good-looking young professionals. While drinking is not allowed at this sandy haven, that’s not a problem for partiers, who can hit up a variety bars along nearby streets. This seaside spot features ... more

117 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

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Hermosa Beach

All Ages / Casual / Great View

Reviewed by Heather P.

"Hermosa Beach really does have it all. Lets start with the people, at Hermosa Beach you'll be surrounded by tanned, gorgeous locals and surfers. Hermo ..." more

1 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

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Zuma Beach

All Ages / All Types / Beach / Free

Info Located in Malibu, CA, Zuma Beach is one of the best surf spots in Los Angeles. The alcove is known for its wide sands and is annually recognized for having some of the cleanest water conditions in Los Angeles County. Since it can be accessed directly by the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Zuma Beach is as much a tourist ... more

30050 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265

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Venice Boardwalk

All Ages / All Types / Artists

Party Earth Review A carnivalesque 1.4-mile pedestrian walkway bursting with frenetic weirdness, the Venice Boardwalk is one of LA’s prime gawker destinations. A whirlwind of activity keeps shutterbugs busy, while tourists crowd around storefronts to peruse the cheap knickknacks, postcards, handicrafts, t-shirts, and knock-off sunglasses ... more

Ocean Front Walk, between Navy Street to the north and Washington Boulevard to the south
Venice, CA 90291

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Topanga Beach

All Ages / Casual / Family / Locals

user reviews (1)

Reviewed by Lauren A.

"My take: Overall experience: three stars This isn’t your typical Los Angeles, Malibu beach. Topanga is quirky and quiet, it is underrated, and because ..." more

18700 Pacific Coast Highway
Los Angeles, CA 90265

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Santa Monica Beach - Beach | Outdoor Activity in LA

Sand, sun, and fun is truly what Los Angeles is all about and with an endless coastline of beaches, it’s one of the best outdoor playgrounds on the west coast of the United States.

There are so many great beaches in LA that it would be hard to talk about all of them, but for starters, some of the most popular (and crowded) beaches are Santa Monica, Venice, and Malibu.

Santa Monica beach is an iconic part of Los Angeles with its famous pier, great surfing, volleyball nets and other endless outdoor activities. The beach’s central location makes it one of the most crowded in LA, and the second the sun comes out (which is roughly 300 days a year), the beach is packed with all types and all kinds.

Just south of Santa Monica is Venice Beach. The epicenter of all things strange in California, Venice Beach is home to the whacky, wild, and weird as it hugs the pristine Pacific Ocean. The Venice Boardwalk features everything from doctors promising medical marijuana cards to sideshows with three headed turtles and bearded ladies. Venice Beach is famous for its Muscle Beach and was prominent in the movie White Men Can’t Jump for its outdoor basketball courts.

Compared to Venice, Malibu may as well be on a different planet. Home to some of the wealthiest folks in the world, Malibu is nothing but white sand, big houses, and a MUCH more laid back environment. Although all beaches in California are public, Malibu does its best to make access to the beach as hard as physically possible with skyrocket parking prices and narrow access-ways between multi-million dollar houses.

No matter where you go for your Vitamin D and big waves, Los Angeles beaches will provide you with a multitude of options whether you want to sunbathe, surf, or just people-watch during the endless California summers.