The name baby beach is not an understatement. That's exactly what it is, a baby beach. It's coved off by the harbor making it a safe area for your littles to play and enjoy the water. After researching, you definitely want to check the water safety before coming, because it's coved it's prone to higher unsafe levels of bacteria. This week it was in the green and safe. My son has Autism and we decided to try this beach out because it was know for it's coved off location with no waves and it gets my stamp of approval for safety. The beach itself is also very small so if you have an eloper it gives a sense of relief as well. I did a 360 degree video to show you. I rated this beach 4 out of 5 because there's very limited parking and the beach is very small. During peak season or weekends it may be difficult to find parking and the beach area may fill up. Some positive things are, parking is FREE! The restroom and showers are located right at the entrance, and there's a life guard tower. If you're looking for a safe place to bring your kiddos for a day at the beach, check this place out. One other thing, make sure to pack plenty to drink and eat. There is nothing near by without driving. read more

See all

Great for families with little ones. Very calm water designated for small children. Parents don't need to worry about their kids being swept away by waves. It was a sunny breezy day as my daughter and I visited this beach. Super busy for a Saturday afternoon. Parking is free, but can get filled up quickly. Plenty of grass and beach area to enjoy a picnic with your family. Then take a dip into the ocean. Perfect day to be spent relaxing on the sand. Water was a bit chilly, but nice clear water. Will definitely come back during the summer! read more

Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

What a cute little beach this is near the Dana Point harbor! Great for paddle boarding and you can rent some here. It's mellow and beautiful! Bring your dogs!! It was crowded today but still enjoyable and you can't beat the weather! read more

Baby Beach - Cool vibes - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

This beach is awesome! We went fishing and swimming so here's my review for both. Swimming: There are zero waves, absolutely none. So it's great for little kids and there's a barrier that shows the drop off zone so kids stay behind it and it's not that deep at all. So this little beach is awesome. There's plenty of sand, no seashells and no rocks but it's perfect for sand castles! The kids had a blast and OCSD comes out and sprays everyone and plays music, it's awesome. Fishing: We had a great time fishing too! Caught a couple fish, released, but it was fun. Everyone was super friendly and helpful also. The only thing is the paddle boarders have zero awareness and run right into your lines. I'm new to the area, so not sure what the etiquette is, since your fishing off a pier that is a dock underneath right by the beach loading dock, but it just seems like so crazy that paddle boarders and little boats are just not aware that you are fishing from the pier. Weird. But overall, the beach and pier are super clean and we had a blast! read more

See all

Baby Beach is such a cute section of the Dana Point Harbor. It is super mellow and great for kids and dogs. The water is really calm with no major tide or waves, perfect for the little ones to splash around. I'm pretty sure there is no life guard, so please make sure to keep an eye out. Also, you can bring food for a picnic and there's lots of little tables around. Lastly, it is right near the ocean institute, which is a great place to bring kiddos and adults to check out as well. read more

Perfect beach for little ones. Free parking, clean, lots of picnic tables and bbqs, grass area, public restroom that was clean, lifeguard on duty. Went on a Saturday morning and got a great spot. Very mellow water, my kids could splash around without me having to worry about them being swept away by a wave. A sheriffs boat came through in the afternoon and sprayed the kids with their hose. Definitely will be coming back! read more

This is so sad: Baby Beach has historically exceeded water quality objectives for fecal indicator bacteria (total coliform, fecal coliform, and Enterococcus) for water contact recreation and was listed for indicator bacteria on the 2002 303(d) List. Indicator Bacteria at Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor\ Just google it. Be careful out there. read more

This beach is perfect if you have kids. The sand is nice and soft and the area is roped off with buoys. There are no waves with the harbor so it is nice still water for little ones. Parking is also free which is a plus. Be warned on weekends it is very very crowded. During the weekdays it can be busy but still plenty of space. read more

This place is great for paddle boarding and for families with children! Nice little spot with a lifeguard tower, bathrooms, showers, tables, and bbq areas. Also has a nice little sandy area for the kids! My husband, SIL, and her kids came here on a week day afternoon to paddle board. It was not crowded at all so we were able to get a close parking spot to the nearby tables. We have our own paddle boards so it was nice to inflate them on the grassy area they have. You can paddle board around the harbor and the views are quite beautiful. Water was pretty calm during that time so it was a nice chill day. The children had fun paddle boarding with us and playing in the sand afterwards. Excited to come back to this place once it gets warmer, but I can definitely see this beach getting quite crowded. Recommend to come early and on the week days to avoid the crowds! read more

This beautiful beach is just perfect for parents with kids. My 5 years old daughter loves to play there and meet new friends read more

Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

Great spot for a quick dip with your bay bay! This was my son's first time in the ocean and it really is a baby beach. Literally babies everywhere which is good and bad. Good because every parent is standing at the water watching all the kids and bad is that there's literally kids... everyyyyywherereeee. This place does get crowded so get here early and claim your spot because people camp out here for the long haul. There are two parking lots and a little bit of a street parking. If you don't count the ocean, there's one restroom spot, that I could see. Baby beach, we will see you soon. Have a summah! read more

See all

Kid friendly beach! We got here close to 10 am on a Thursday. It is cloudy, 64 degrees. Many families with little children. There are restrooms. Parking is free. read more

Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

This is a great beach for young ones. This review is wayyy overdue. -Abundant parking. -Steady waters. -Roped off swim area for young ones. -Easy access. -Sandy Beach. -Not crowded on weekdays. read more

This is my first time coming to Baby Beach. It's a nice spot to bring your little ones to the beach. The lifeguard tower, bathrooms, showers, and bbq areas are all very close by. There is a separated area for the little ones to play in the water that is not deep, and lastly, there is an area where you can launch kayak's or paddle boards. if you don't have your own equipment, there is a place very close to the beach where you can rent paddle boards, kayaks and small sail boats. This is a family friendly spot. If you come late, parking may be a problem. I came around 9:15am on Sunday and there was no parking except one handicap spot. Be prepared to wait for parking. read more

Perfect day.... Family friendly place for paddle boarding, canoeing and play!!!! I can't wait to come back again. read more

Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

Baby Beach is for the babes! My sister introduced me to this spot last year and we're avid fans and paddle boarders of this spot. I've heard from regulars that if you're not here by 7:30 a.m. it's a gamble getting a parking spot, but honestly I've been able to find a parking spot here and the longest I've waited is maybe 15 minutes? My other friend said people come and go in waves, so you have the early birds that start at 6:30 a.m. and are leaving around 9:30/10 a.m. and we've been here around that time in the past and the lot looks full but five minutes later a person is leaving and we get a spot. Once on the beach we go paddleboarding around the harbor and the views are beautiful. It's a short paddle around the harbor and you can go around multiple times or just hang out. Be weary of fishing lines as you can easily get caught in one and there's always a sea lion sighting either in the water or on the dock which is always fun. I've only been caught in a rip tide or high wind once and that was a crazy challenge as I had to zig-zag paddle to get back to shore, but my advice is don't panic, just keep paddling and you'll figure out how to get back. I almost yelled at nearby boats to tow me back in but I figured it out. There's bathrooms, bbq pits, tables and benches for get together's etc. You can also rent a kayak or paddle board on the beach if you don't have your own. It's not a big beach but it's one of the cleaner more beautiful beaches with little to no waves which is why it's great for kids or baby's. read more

Her harbor is always welcoming and stretches out wide for the open ocean. So futile and rich with wild ocean creatures, it provides a place for fishing on a small pier. A small beach to enrich and grow other wildlife such as little kids to run, play, swim, and sail. Just stay for awhile, and you will see wild long fish jump high and majestically splash for a little peak boo of what is under the her soft waters. She swell and rises with the tide with no waves. Her sand is well prepared and smooth each morning for new day. Her soft sand is delicate like velvet here. She is cuddled by a strong cliff which he provides an early shaded area especially in the summer as the sunsets behind her cliff just like how lovers rest after sweet spectacular day. He hugs and spoons; protects through the night. As it rains, he also flows with a watefall that magically greets you as you drive and enter her shore. This is my place during the pandemic to let my kids play and sometimes I bring my laptop to get work done while she entertains my kids with her cool water and gentle carasses during the blistering summer. A place I dont take for granted. So come. Spend a day till the sun goes down. You wont regret it. Take a yoga class on the grass or on her water with a paddleboard. Whatever position you choose to see her, she is open. I hope you come back for more adventures! read more

Baby Beach - Yup! - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

This is probably the closest beach to me where you can swim (safely), kayak and paddle board. There are two lots for parking -- note: summer weekends they fill up early. You can also "street park" along Dana Point Harbor Drive... if you don't have a heavy paddle board :-D I highly recommend arriving early anyway -- if you are kayaking or paddle boarding, the conditions are much more favorable in the early mornings. Afternoons can get windy here. There are racks and a bucket so you can wash down your kayak or paddle board, which I appreciate. (Also two water fountains and some outdoor showers, if you need a rinse.) Nice for walking around, too! 2020: 18/100 read more

Great Beach, perfect for families with small kids. Took my family to try a new beach and it was great, Very clean!

The tide was low so maybe we did not get the best experience. My brother and father went there to go fishing and ended up with one fat slug. At least they didn't get skunked? Anyways the dock is a floating dock, and since the tide was low the ramp, which has no stairs, was very steep and made for a dangerous climb up and down. I'm just glad we all ended up safely back in the car. read more

Baby Beach - One hot nudibranche - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

Love this beach, beautiful restroom nice parking Would 10000/10 go again To just relax and take a swim There are lots of boats since it's a harbor and they have nice names This might be one of my favorite places!! We took so many good pictures read more

See all

We have always loved baby beach! So perfect for younger kids who are afraid of the big waves. Parking is so easy, free, and convenient. The beach is pretty small and closed off on both sides, which makes it easier to keep an eye on the little ones. The sand is always kept clean and does not have rocks, seaweed, or sticks and debris like most other beaches. And there is a lifeguard there too. read more

This was the perfect beach setting for my little kids. We met some friends here and just sat and watched as our kids played in the sand and waded into and splashed around in the shallow, calm water. It was very ideal for little kids. I did find that Google took me to a beach that wasn't exactly Baby Beach. Make sure you continue driving way over to where the marina ends. There is a free parking with very easy and convenient access to the beach. Very little distance between the parking lot and the sand. read more

Location is a great place to standup paddle board if you are okay to go out early morning from 6am - 10am Looking forward to going back for more fun and pics. read more

Baby Beach - Standup paddle boarding @ Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

It might be just me.... It's a nice beach, I agree with all the moms, with the water being so sheltered and calm for the kiddos, but man it was so freaking windy it's not enjoyable at all! We spent most of our time dealing with the wind blowing sand all over, food being blown away, cleaning up messes than actually enjoying the beach with the kiddo. At least The kiddo had a lot of fun! Also the water was so cold, but that's just how Californian beaches are, which I'm not a huge fan of. There were food trucks in the area maybe due to the maritime festival? The Mexican food was good but geez $15 for a fish taco plate!? and they didn't even put prices on the menu which was quite cunning. The same for the sandwich place, no prices on the menu either. Pastrami sandwich plus fries cost $30 at the end but because of the wind the food flipped over and buried in sand so it went straight down to the trash. I'd imagine if the day was not as windy it would've been nicer. The wind speed was 12 mph..... it wasn't a windstorm yet but I saw umbrella turned out and uprooted, and things blown away along with the sand. Maybe we'll try again another day...? read more

We went a couple weeks ago on a really hot Saturday so I expected it to be crowded. We arrived about 930 in the morning and there was no parking in the parking lot but we found street parking not too far away. There are bathrooms right next to the beach which is very convenient since there are many babies here lol. This beach is perfect for little ones, the water is calm and very shallow. read more

Baby Beach - Clean sand, beautiful backdrop, calm waters - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

The Bay Bay beach is the perfect little getaway for your kiddos in Dana Point. Especially for those whose kids aren't the best swimmers. My kids won't be challenging Michael Phelps Olympic records anytime soon, but they had a blast here! We built sand castles.. well more like a pile of sand that dad called a "sand castle" and soaked up the sun while we relaxed. Kids brought their beach toys and we made a day out of it. The boats and harbor were beautiful. There was a life guard on duty throughout the day. People stayed 6 ft apart. It was a good safe beach day! read more

See all

great beach for toddlers.. parking is free and nearby.. good shade under the trees.. water is not that cold.. bathrooms are nearby and cleans read more

See all

This Beach is specially dedicated to Babies! There is a barrier to stop big waves from crushing into the little peaceful and safe beach. Your baby will love it. read more

Baby Beach - Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

Oh baby beach how I love thee! My toddler is terrified of the waves at the beach so when I was reminded about baby beach, I knew we had to go. He LOVED it! The calmness of the water really helped him to relax and brave his way in. Located conveniently in Dana Point harbor area there is plenty of free parking. Weekends tend to fill up a bit more however. The beach has a lifeguard on duty and a shallow booey area for the kids to stay safe. The deepest was about waist deep at most. Outside the booeys people are able to paddle board and such but not inside the baby area. In the parking lot area there are very nice public restrooms with outdoor showers to rinse off in which was awesome. Plenty of grassy areas to play and benches for a quick rest, this place is fun for all ages. My great grandmother used to bring my brother and I when we were younger over 20 years ago! Such a fun experience to now share with my own son. So if you and your littles are looking for a calm beach to beat the heat look no further, baby beach is the place for you! read more

See all

We love this beach! Great for kids there is no waves. What's great is that the parking is free although sometimes it could get really busy and you have to wait for a spot. The best time is early mornings. read more

Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

Visited Baby Beach for the first time yesterday and it was so cool! A lil crowded but still a great time. A lot of kids under 5 which was great.... no wild teenagers or girls in thong bathing suits lol so it was a nice family day with my two little ones. Nice grass area by the sand where we flew our kites after we dried off, no waves so the kids splashed safely in the water, there are restrooms just feet away but i didn't go in them to know how clean they were, theres also a lifeguard on duty, water toy rentals, showers, free parking everywhere, and bbq pits w picnic tables. I see a lot of comments regarding the water looking dirty and murky.... lol..... the water was not dirty. Looked like regular ocean water to me. We don't live in the Caribbean, i don't know why people are expecting clear water and white sand haha. Cant wait to go back! read more

See all

Very nice clean place. Free parking right next to the beach as well as restrooms ( always there is a line!)

The Baby Beach is great. The sand is cleared of rocks. So, everyone can walk with ease. The water seemed warmer here than at other beaches. There was good, free parking. This area is perfect for anyone from small children to adults. There are facilities to buy drinks also rent kayaks and go paddle boarding. read more

Baby Beach - The view from the beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

What a beautiful little beach. As the name states, it is perfect for families with small children as the water is calm and shallow. It does get pretty full here, but the little ones can make friends easily and be occupied all day. Plenty of easy parking, great beach for a family friendly day at the beach! read more

See all

Do not go in the afternoon. When the tide goes down... the beach looks like a puddle, water is dirty and the place is kind of gettho and over crowded. read more

My kid may have been born in a cold and foggy city, but he is clearly a SoCal baby at heart. He loves warm weather, swimming in the pool, and going to the beach. What kid doesn't like the beach? There's nothing like playing in the sand, splashing in the water, and chasing seagulls around. Sure, it's all fun and games for the kiddies, but what about for moms and dads? I don't know about y'all but going to the beach with a baby or toddler is not exactly my idea of a relaxing day in the sun. Schlepping toys and beach gear, chasing the kid chasing the seagulls, time-outs for throwing sand in another kid's face, sand in the diaper (ugh), sandy sandwiches, and trekking home with sand spilling out of the car is not exactly fun. Not to mention that I keep finding sand in unusual places for at least a week. Seriously, how does one get sand in the ear? Sand. The bane of my summer existence. There's obviously not much I can do about the sand. Or the seagulls. But a day at the beach with small kids shouldn't always have to be such a hassle. That's why I'm so happy I discovered Baby Beach in Dana Point. This beach is perfect for kids, especially for babies and toddlers. Unlike most other SoCal beaches, the parking lot is adjacent to the beach so you don't have to walk what seems like a mile to get near the water. There is a little grassy area with picnic tables and BBQ's and the very clean bathrooms and showers are just steps away from the water. As for water safety, there is a lifeguard on duty and there are no waves at all because of a jetty that surrounds the harbor. At the beach, there is a buoy line that indicates how far kids should go out. The buoy lines change depending on the tide level. There are small boats and kayaks in the water, but they are never allowed to cross the lines. The beach itself is simply beautiful. The cliffs of Dana Point surround the east side of the area and the views of the harbor are beautiful. The location is also great because there are few fun things to do within walking distance. Located next to the Dana Point Youth Group, the Baby Beach is also close to the tall ships and the Dana Point Ocean Institute. There are some restaurants and shopping close by as well. Easy. Convenient. Safe. Baby-Friendly. What more does a mama need for a nice day at the beach? Oh. Yeah. Sand-repellent. read more

Baby Beach - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

I am a happy fishermen their it beavers diapoonts me and I am going to try kayaking and paddle boarding there soon read more

Baby Beach - Surf perch - Beaches Near Me - Dana Point, California

Tip try to avoid going on the weekend. It's crazy busy. Parking is free and the beach is small with lots of picnic tables and bbqs around. In the summer time there is a free trolley so you can avoid the parking zoo and scarcity of parking spots by parking up off Del prado and violet lantern and hoping on the trolley which takes you right down into the harbor About the beach- it's small but you can launch kayaks and paddle boards right from the sand. There are restrooms and showers nearby read more

Good: local flavor Bad: The Baby part of the location doesn't mean "Baby" like in the rap song way ("holla atcho baby gurl") but instead all the other reviews identify that there are an assload of toddlers around. Petition to rename Baby Beach to Toddler Beach because there is no gangsta' rap way to not understand that. It's a nice view if you disregard all the obnoxious toddlers. read more