Los Angeles Beaches
MALIBU
Malibu is the "brand name" beach community of LA County, world-famous for:
1. Gidget and Elvis beach movies of the 50's and 60's as well as home to the fictitious address in the popular, current TV series
“Two and a Half Men”
2. As a surfing destination
3. As a location of celebrity beach homes
4. As the name of a Chevy car
5. And, as a word found on T-shirts sold around the world.
Malibu has a single bus line along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) which connects to Santa Monica and to a bus transfer center in mid-Los Angeles at Fairfax Ave. & Washington Blvd. The bus to Malibu runs less frequently than most of the buses to Santa Monica or Venice. Malibu is a very elongated community with beaches, stores, and restaurants strung out along the road. Thus the bus to Malibu works acceptably for going to a single beach, but not so well for going to more than one part of the community.
It is north (or west, really) of Santa Monica, beyond the sleepy, narrow beaches of Pacific Palisades, and is on the outer edge of the major urban area of LA.
If you are imagining a gorgeous French-Riviera-like Eden with celebs visible everywhere, or by contrast, a tranquil seaside retreat, you may be in for a disappointment on both counts. Most of Malibu's coastline is a narrow stretch of beach (some of it, private, with no public access and, in many cases, not visible to the public), running parallel to the multi-lane, multi-traffic-lighted Pacific Coast Highway aka “PCH’ which has traffic that is either roaring along at 55 mph, or at a standstill. On the inland side of PCH are the cliffs and Canyons of Malibu's residential community that overlooks the beach but doesn't have direct access to it..
As you head west, the cliffs soften to hills (also covered in houses) and you approach Malibu Canyon Road, with Pepperdine University visible above. This area is the town center of Malibu, on Cross Creek Road, in a few tiny shopping centers on the inland side of the PCH. If you are of the star-struck persuasion, this is a good place to park, walk, grab a latte, and look for those stars and celebs. You're as likely to be lucky here as anywhere, as many stars do have homes in Malibu, and these are the local places to shop and eat. The homes get bigger, with gated estates, as you go west in Malibu. For the most part, you still can't see the beach-- though now at least you can imagine Barbra Streisand, etc, behind those lavish gates.
Heading much farther west in Malibu, views of the ocean increase, and there are some great beaches with excellent public access, at Zuma and Leo Carillo. It's a good long drive to get there though-- Malibu goes on for a while.
There are few hotels/motels in Malibu. And Malibu has little in the way of tourist infrastructure; there are vast stretches of PCH with no restaurants nor shops. If you stay in Malibu, getting into LA for sightseeing will be a long haul, and the area isn’t tranquil as a vacation destination unless you can afford to rent a mansion on the beach.
Malibu is the "brand name" beach community of LA County, world-famous for:
1. Gidget and Elvis beach movies of the 50's and 60's as well as home to the fictitious address in the popular, current TV series
“Two and a Half Men”
2. As a surfing destination
3. As a location of celebrity beach homes
4. As the name of a Chevy car
5. And, as a word found on T-shirts sold around the world.
Malibu has a single bus line along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) which connects to Santa Monica and to a bus transfer center in mid-Los Angeles at Fairfax Ave. & Washington Blvd. The bus to Malibu runs less frequently than most of the buses to Santa Monica or Venice. Malibu is a very elongated community with beaches, stores, and restaurants strung out along the road. Thus the bus to Malibu works acceptably for going to a single beach, but not so well for going to more than one part of the community.
It is north (or west, really) of Santa Monica, beyond the sleepy, narrow beaches of Pacific Palisades, and is on the outer edge of the major urban area of LA.
If you are imagining a gorgeous French-Riviera-like Eden with celebs visible everywhere, or by contrast, a tranquil seaside retreat, you may be in for a disappointment on both counts. Most of Malibu's coastline is a narrow stretch of beach (some of it, private, with no public access and, in many cases, not visible to the public), running parallel to the multi-lane, multi-traffic-lighted Pacific Coast Highway aka “PCH’ which has traffic that is either roaring along at 55 mph, or at a standstill. On the inland side of PCH are the cliffs and Canyons of Malibu's residential community that overlooks the beach but doesn't have direct access to it..
As you head west, the cliffs soften to hills (also covered in houses) and you approach Malibu Canyon Road, with Pepperdine University visible above. This area is the town center of Malibu, on Cross Creek Road, in a few tiny shopping centers on the inland side of the PCH. If you are of the star-struck persuasion, this is a good place to park, walk, grab a latte, and look for those stars and celebs. You're as likely to be lucky here as anywhere, as many stars do have homes in Malibu, and these are the local places to shop and eat. The homes get bigger, with gated estates, as you go west in Malibu. For the most part, you still can't see the beach-- though now at least you can imagine Barbra Streisand, etc, behind those lavish gates.
Heading much farther west in Malibu, views of the ocean increase, and there are some great beaches with excellent public access, at Zuma and Leo Carillo. It's a good long drive to get there though-- Malibu goes on for a while.
There are few hotels/motels in Malibu. And Malibu has little in the way of tourist infrastructure; there are vast stretches of PCH with no restaurants nor shops. If you stay in Malibu, getting into LA for sightseeing will be a long haul, and the area isn’t tranquil as a vacation destination unless you can afford to rent a mansion on the beach.
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| Malibu Beach |
SANTA MONICA
Santa Monica is one of LA's most famous beach communities. It is a separate city of more than 80,000 on the far northwestern edge of Los Angeles. Santa Monica is an upscale city with a vibrant, urban character, and is the home of some of the most sophisticated restaurants, hotels and shopping in the LA area. There's always something to see or do in Santa Monica, but you'll be disappointed here if you were looking for a secluded seaside retreat. Santa Monica has some of the area's most deluxe oceanfront hotels, but like almost all hotels in Santa Monica, they're not cheap. The city also has a visible (yet concentrated in the park area overlooking the beach) population of homeless people. The core of the beach area here is a wide stretch of sand surrounding an old pier that contains a turn-of-the-century carousel, a small amusement park, and a few touristy restaurants. The pier is fun, but always crowded, with a diverse crowd that often contrasts with the swank hotels nearby.
There's a bike path that runs along the edge of the beach, and goes for miles to the south. Bike rentals are available near the pier, and renting a bike here is a great way to spend the day and see many of the beach communities. Venice is just to the south, of Santa Monica and surfing lessons are available in the area. Although Malibu is just north/west of Santa Monica, the bike path does not go beyond Santa Monica.
Santa Monica is pedestrian friendly. There are so many places to walk, people to watch, shops to shop... Main Street, Montana Avenue, 3rd Street Promenade, to name a few. Santa Monica itself also has a good bus system for getting around. And although it isn't "central" for visiting LA, it is as central as any beach area gets. And it is very close to both Getty Museums (the Villa and the Center). If you can afford it, and especially if you have a car for visiting the rest of LA, it is a great place to stay.
Santa Monica has good regional transit access and is served by multiple bus lines, including a bus from LAX and an express bus from Downtown Los Angeles.
VENICE
Venice is the beach just to the south of Santa Monica, famous as an "arts" community, and also for its funky beach area on Oceanfront Walk full of, ah, " characters" and stalls of knock-off sunglasses, T-shirt, henna tattoos and other sundry items. The beach is bordered on by a 2 mile (3.2 km) walkway that serves pedestrians, bicyclists and skaters and skate boarders. The walk from central Santa Monica to central Venice takes about 40 minutes.
The two beaches blend together; there is no special spot that separates the two. Off the beach, Venice has a distinct artsy character, and unlike some areas marketed as "artists' colonies" , Venice, doesn't really advertise this fact, but has long been home to many world-famous contemporary artists. Abbot Kinney Blvd. has some of LA's trendiest restaurants. Venice is an interesting place to visit, and has a very distinct personality, but is perhaps not the best base for a family vacation.
Venice has a number of regional bus lines serving it, including buses to Santa Monica and Westwood, Downtown LA and Culver City.
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| Venice Beach During Sunset |
MARINA DEL REY
Marina del Rey has a relatively unknown beach called "Mother's Beach" aka Basin D. It's at the corner of Admiralty Way and Via Marina. The beach is a cove with two hotels (Foghorn Harbor Inn & the Jamaica Bay Inn) and 2 restaurants (the Cheesecake Factory & The Vu). The cove is off the inland waterway so there is little to no wave movement, here. The swimming area constitutes about 1/2 of the cove. The other half of the cove is enjoyed by windsurfers (sailboarders). Just beyond the swimming area is the start of the Marina so there will be hundreds of boats visible from the cove. Guests from the two adjacent hotels have balconies overlooking the beach and the restaurants have outdoor patio dining. There is a parking area at the corner of Admiralty Way & Via Marina for visitors to the cove. It's a 1/2 mile .8 km) walk from Basin D to the ocean beach at Venice. Simply walk one block north on Via Marina to Washington Blvd, turn left and walk to the end of the road. There is also a number of dining options (in all price ranges) along the way.
PLAYA DEL REY
Immediately south of Marina del Rey is the isolated little beach village of Playa del Rey. Quiet, serene, with wide, white sand beaches, the little residential community is reminiscent of mid-century beach towns. A scattering of local dives, some pretty good restaurants, and a quiet beach front gives the area its slow paced flavor. It is surrounded by the newly restored Ballona Wetlands, which are a treasure of coastal wildlife on the Westside.
SOUTH BAY AND LONG BEACH
The South Bay is generally recognized as beginning at Los Angeles International Airport, and moving south from there, including the south beach towns of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes and Long Beach. Right out of a postcard of Southern California, they offer sand that stretches out of sight, clean water, beach volleyball, and beachfront paths for rollerblading, cycling and walking.
Manhattan Beach: Manhattan Beach is an affluent, independent city just south of LAX airport. The Downtown area of MB is a mix of trendy restaurants, family friendly dining, shops and is topped off by the MB Pier where you can watch volleyball and the surfers. There are mid-range luxury hotels and more budget friendly hotels on Pacific Coast Highway (also called Highway 1 & Sepulveda Blvd) near the two shopping centers, Manhattan Village and Manhattan Gateway. It is a quieter alternative from Santa Monica for families and couples, but on a smaller scale and not as easily walkable.
Marina del Rey has a relatively unknown beach called "Mother's Beach" aka Basin D. It's at the corner of Admiralty Way and Via Marina. The beach is a cove with two hotels (Foghorn Harbor Inn & the Jamaica Bay Inn) and 2 restaurants (the Cheesecake Factory & The Vu). The cove is off the inland waterway so there is little to no wave movement, here. The swimming area constitutes about 1/2 of the cove. The other half of the cove is enjoyed by windsurfers (sailboarders). Just beyond the swimming area is the start of the Marina so there will be hundreds of boats visible from the cove. Guests from the two adjacent hotels have balconies overlooking the beach and the restaurants have outdoor patio dining. There is a parking area at the corner of Admiralty Way & Via Marina for visitors to the cove. It's a 1/2 mile .8 km) walk from Basin D to the ocean beach at Venice. Simply walk one block north on Via Marina to Washington Blvd, turn left and walk to the end of the road. There is also a number of dining options (in all price ranges) along the way.
PLAYA DEL REY
Immediately south of Marina del Rey is the isolated little beach village of Playa del Rey. Quiet, serene, with wide, white sand beaches, the little residential community is reminiscent of mid-century beach towns. A scattering of local dives, some pretty good restaurants, and a quiet beach front gives the area its slow paced flavor. It is surrounded by the newly restored Ballona Wetlands, which are a treasure of coastal wildlife on the Westside.
SOUTH BAY AND LONG BEACH
The South Bay is generally recognized as beginning at Los Angeles International Airport, and moving south from there, including the south beach towns of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes and Long Beach. Right out of a postcard of Southern California, they offer sand that stretches out of sight, clean water, beach volleyball, and beachfront paths for rollerblading, cycling and walking.
Manhattan Beach: Manhattan Beach is an affluent, independent city just south of LAX airport. The Downtown area of MB is a mix of trendy restaurants, family friendly dining, shops and is topped off by the MB Pier where you can watch volleyball and the surfers. There are mid-range luxury hotels and more budget friendly hotels on Pacific Coast Highway (also called Highway 1 & Sepulveda Blvd) near the two shopping centers, Manhattan Village and Manhattan Gateway. It is a quieter alternative from Santa Monica for families and couples, but on a smaller scale and not as easily walkable.
Hermosa Beach: Hermosa Beach is the beach community due south of and adjacent to Manhattan Beach. It can be hard to tell where one stops and the next starts. A beachfront sidewalk connects the cities and you can walk or rollerblade from the MB Pier to the HB Pier. Downtown HB is an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars and some shops, but hotels are limited in HB.
Redondo Beach: Redondo Beach is the next city down and features the King’s Harbor small craft harbor with a variety of restaurants, hotels and shops. One of Redondo’s biggest charms is also one of its biggest drawbacks, it doesn’t have easy, direct access to freeways, you have to drive 15-20 minutes for the nearest freeway. On the plus side, it is close to the giant Del Amo Fashion Center, one of California’s largest shopping malls.
Long Beach: Long Beach is an independent city -- not part of the city of Los Angeles. It features the Queen Mary, the Carnival Cruise Lines docks, an aquarium, a city beach and an airport (where discount flights like Jet Blue arrive)
San Pedro/Wilmington: The official Port of Los Angeles where the commercial freight arrives for this region of the country. It is also the port for all pleasure cruises, except Carnival Cruise Lines, and whale-watching cruises. Cabrillo Marine Museum is here. There is a water-side shopping center of shops and restaurants.
San Pedro/Wilmington: The official Port of Los Angeles where the commercial freight arrives for this region of the country. It is also the port for all pleasure cruises, except Carnival Cruise Lines, and whale-watching cruises. Cabrillo Marine Museum is here. There is a water-side shopping center of shops and restaurants.
Newport Beach: Newport Beach’s beaches are split into four distinct areas, the long unbroken Newport/Balboa beach, the large Corona del Mar Beach, the smaller cove beach of Little Corona Beach that includes some of Orange County’s best tide pools and Crystal Cove State Beach, a large undeveloped beach area with good parking options, but you do have to walk down cliffs to the beach. They are well developed trails, but might not be the best option for those with mobility issues.
The Balboa Peninsula beach has two pier areas, the Newport Pier and the Balboa Pier; each pier has a variety of shops and dining in close proximity and parking lots that fill quickly at peak times. The Balboa Pier, constructed in 1906, was the terminus of the Pacific Electric Railway Red Car that brought weekend visitors from Los Angeles at the turn of the last century. Close by the pier is the iconic Balboa Pavilion, also built in 1906, and a small amusement area, the Balboa Fun Zone and the Balboa Ferry that shuttles cars and pedestrians to Balboa Island. By the beach Newport Beach has smaller hotels, but many vacation rentals. The larger hotels in Newport Beach are inland on the bay or in the Newport Center area. NB has good access to John Wayne Airport (SNA) and freeways and is a good location for other day trips in Orange County.
Laguna Beach: Laguna Beach is Orange County’s most picturesque beach city, said to resemble the French Riviera. There is a large beach in the Downtown area and many cove beaches as the city stretches south. LB has many hotel accommodations in all price ranges and is one of the most popular areas for foreign visitors. LB came to fame as an artist’s colony in the 1920s and remains the home of numerous art galleries, museums and art festivals including the annual Sawdust Festival. It also has the famous Pageant of the Masters every summer where actors recreate classic pictures. Downtown Laguna Beach has many restaurants and shops and good access to the freeways, but north or south of Downtown access is more limited and you have to factor in that travel time if you select LB for a vacation spot.
(Source: Trip Advisor)
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