On the way back home from La Jolla, CA, I decided to take a flight detour to listen to the waves…read moreand see the San Clemente pier. Upon arriving, the ocean, sky, and pier looked relaxing and beautiful. The sound of the waves was soothing and instantly relaxed me from driving on the freeway I had left only a few minutes earlier. The pier looked especially inviting, as it appeared empty from a distance. With the blue skies, white clouds, and the tan colored sand of the beach below, it was as though I was reading about the pier and ocean in a book. Everything was simply perfect. I love this pier so much, especially on a weekday like this, in which I feel as though I have both the beach and pier to myself.

I love this pier/beach. Parking can get kind of tough, but they do have a decent sized lot…read more There's a somewhat strong undertow at this beach. They also have the train going by constantly, which is fun to see.

Parking is $20 now. The beach is beautiful. Lots of hiking trails to explore, tide pools or a short…read morewalk down to the beach. The trail down to the beach is very short and steep in a couple lots. Some areas in the northern parking lots have a long boardwalk you can walk down and tide pools. There are several parking lots so you need to figure out what you want to do and which lot to park in for your needs. The parking lot closest to beachcomber they don't allow any parking unless you are handicapped for the restaurant. Don't really know why, it's a state run park.

This state beach is my personal favorite. We stay down the street at Marriott Newport Villas. They…read morehave a shuttle service that brings you directly to the Entrance. Today, we came to eat lunch at the restaurant so we had to find parking. The only problem is there isn't parking close to it. You have to park in a lot across the street and walk about 10 minutes. They have a tunnel for pedestrians but it was washed out from the rain today. They have a restaurant shuttle that charges $5 a person even if you are eating at the restaurant which I thought was a rip off. The beach itself is a nice mix of rocks where' the tide pools are and sand where you can swim. The cottages along the way have a bit of history and recently been renovated. I absolutely love walking through this long stretch of beach! They also have a museum near the rental cottages. It is small but has some fun facts and pictures.

Thousand Steps Beach is gorgeous and the cave makes it totally worth all of the steps down to it…read more There are only about 219 steps (not a thousand). The steps are no joke though. They are pretty steep and concrete. I wouldn't recommend them for little kids. Make sure you go at low tide. They close the cave area when the tide comes in. The cave is on the far left side of the beach. You have to go over rocks to get there. It can be slippery. There were lifeguards on duty. It's so fun to explore inside the cave. We parked on PCH. There is no parking lot. I definitely recommend going in the morning. It's hard to find parking if you try to go in the afternoon/evening on a weekend/holiday. There is a crosswalk and stoplight at 9th Ave. to cross PCH and then the entrance is right there. There is a bathroom, but it is the typical beach bathroom--not very clean. There's a volleyball net on the left side of the beach. There are no restaurants/cafes. Bring whatever you want with you.

1000 Steps Beach in Laguna Beach (off PCH and 9th) is absolutely worth the visit! First off, don't…read morelet the name intimidate you, the stairs are not literally 1000 steps one way or even round trip... unless you decide to go up and down a few times, then yeah, you'll definitely hit that number!! We went on a Monday and it was pretty busy lots of college-aged people, maybe even some high schoolers, but the beach itself still felt pretty secluded, and there were hardly any kids around maybe like a handful of them. It was overcast when we went, which actually made it perfect, not too hot and super comfortable. Parking is street parking only, just make sure to read the signs carefully. Once you head down, you'll find restrooms and showers right at the bottom of the stairs, which is super convenient. The restroom is clean earlier in the day (before noon), but like most beach spots, it gets a bit wet as the day goes on. There's plenty of space to set up and relax. One thing to watch out for--seagulls! They will go after your food, so definitely cover it with towels if you're hopping in the water. The stairs themselves are pretty narrow, and people usually stick to one side going down and the other going up, so just be mindful and take your time, they tend to also get wet as the day goes on so it's a little slippery.

Finally got a chance to visit the famed Treasure Island Beach. It was everything we had hoped for…read more We visited at the start of Spring Break so we were concerned about parking. It was very busy but we were able to find city parking along PCH. A short walk later, we found ourselves strolling down to Treasure Island Beach. I really appreciated it being handicap accessible right to the sand! The view was beautiful. Lots of space to lay out. Very clean. Great place to swim and take in the awesome tide pools. We were surprised to find to marine scientists available to describe the various species that live in the tide pools onsite on a Sunday. They were great. The beach was perfect. Will need to return with more time.

It's been 50 years since I've been on this beach. I used to live next door at Blue Lagoon. The…read morebeach is pretty much the way I remembered minus the wooden pier. The trailer park is gone too. I like Laguna, there's so many hidden beaches.

Beach is clean with a free parking lot just above. At the entrance there's a nice little…read moreplayground, a concessions stand with actual options beyond your standard hotdogs and burgers. We came on a cloudy day so it wasn't really crowded and we found free parking in the lot up the hill, just above the beach. The lifeguard station is right there so there was a sense of added safety as my kids learned to surf. Beach was clean, people were chill, and we'll def be back!

We came here as a family and really enjoyed it. I actually believe this beach was recommended to…read moreme, and it was everything they said it would be. The beach was nice and the water felt really good, not too cold, which made it even better. My daughter had a blast playing in the sand and just being free, and my husband loved it too, especially since it was his first time being in warm ocean water. We were able to find a spot that wasn't overly crowded, which made it feel even more peaceful and relaxing. Overall it was just a really good beach day and I would definitely come back.

A slice of heaven. Huge state beach with plenty of solitude. A paid lot with lots of spots. Dogs…read moreroam free at lot 1 entrance. Thousands of crystals to adore, tiki huts to occupy or build, beach life and habitat to appreciate and much needed relaxation.

This beach fills up on parking as it's has many locals surfing with state beach parking pass…read more Sometimes wait can be up to 3hrs as parking is limited. I ride my bike here and avoid it all but the beach and surf are worth the wait.

First review for Tavern Bay Beach Club though we've been coming here for 15 years. This is as well…read moreas Burnt Mill, a private beach so you must show your Lake Arrowhead Association card to get in. Between Burnt Mill and Tavern Bay, Tavern Bay I believe is more child friendly. They've always had a better playground and even better now since they renovated a couple of years ago. Better food consesseion (a must with kids) a larger beach (not so much this year) and a larger swim area. They have a large covered picnic area as well if you want to stay clear of the sun. If you want to paddle board, Tavern Bay is second to Burnt Mill. You cannot use your board in the swim area and where your able to paddle board, the water is typically choppy from the boats so this is where Burnt Mill wins out which has a larger no wake zone and a easy paddle to Lone Pine Island. Tavern Bay also has a large overflow parking lot which is great on a busy weekend.

Spotlessly clean, decent amount of parking, playground, snack bar and plenty of chase lounges at…read moreyour disposal. That's all good and well but the two real highlights are: 1. Looking across the water to the teeny, tiny swimming area buoyed off for UCLA as compared to what you have; makes you feel real fancy. 2. As long as its not glass, they let you pass. Feel like getting nice and buzzed up at 9:00AM then going for a dip to feel fresh water kelp comb between your toes? The world is your oyster my friend (BYOB).

I like walks on the beach. Or more like, by the beach. A favorite of beach trails that I've enjoyed…read morecoming to - lots to see and explore with vibrant flowers, the horizon of the ocean, the sounds of the Amtrak and Metrolink trains passing by. All of it is just amazing. And the best part is, there's so many ways to just have a good time and a good workout on this trail. The Beach Trail is about 2.3 miles long in total, but it can feel like a pretty long walk. AND that's only one-way. Coming back, you have to do another 2.3 miles, if you're returning to the beginning of your route. But you'll really see everything. Love the Beach Trail!

This is a nice little beach walk going from North Beach to Calafia. Its only 2.3 miles. The scenery…read moreis beautiful. You are steps away from the ocean. Every so often an Amtrak, Metrolink, or BNSF train will pass by. Its a well kept trail and perfect for all walkers. There was a detour and I had to walk on the beach. Good thing it was low tide. You had to time yourself between the waves. Today was the first Saturday of the month and there were two beach cleanup crews. The Surfriders were by the pier, and at Calafia Orange County Coastkeeper were working. This group also does cleanup on the 2nd Saturday at Huntington Beach tower 9 at Magnolia st. from 9:00 to 11:00. I got there late or I would have helped.. I already signed up for Huntington next week. Every time I come to San Clemente I enjoy walking the trail. After eating its a nice way to burn off a few calories.

I don't know what it took me years if not decades to review this fabulous surfers beach. Well, not…read moreonly surfers can enjoy it but you will need energy to go up and down the long stairs and compete for space with the surfers and their boards. The feeling of being in a exotic location is overwhelmingly beautiful. Total vacation vibes, a place of peace and joy. I went there after a long time a couple days ago on my way to interpret in the area and stopped for a picnic at the little park before you get to the stairs. All very clean and perfect even if small. Restrooms, grass stra, picnic tables, perfect trees and plants, benches. Just a few parking spots which means most probably you have to park nearby and walk. The vistas from above the beach are spectacular. The sand is warm and thin, perfect for long walks or taking a quick nap.

Favorite beach! Even if you get farther parking you can walk on the beach to get to the main stairs…read morecase area or you can walk the trail which are both really good views A great spot for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, reading, jogging etc Love to come here all day to tan, eat some sandwiches and enjoy the cali sun!