Stopped here on our way back from Malibu. The parking lot was for a restaurant and there was a…read morebeautiful, samdy beach area in front of it with not too many people. Parking was around $15 for the day. Sat in our chairs and watched the waves and birds (and people). Very enjoyable.

$15 for parking, and there's loads of it! This beach is definitely not as family friendly as Zuma…read more(my usual). Bathrooms are few and far between, as well as lifeguards. The nice thing about this beach is that you don't have to walk very far to get to the sand. I found the crowd here is way more hipster here. Lots of boogie boarders! The beach is really clean and chill overall. Close to the action in Santa Monica!

Santa Monica Beach is a great time, especially for someone who has not been to town. It is safe…read moreand nice. If you use Pacific Ave. to get to the ramp leading down to the Pier parking you can stop at Palisades Park. It is lovely there and you are above the beach. You can take great photos from there, especially at sunset and when you want a large photo of the beach or pier. Parking is for a fee at the Santa Monica Pier parking. It is below the pier. From there you can go to the beach and lay in the sun or swim. The water looks so clean, but it is not. Beware of fish hooks and just don't swim there everyday, it is not as clean as it looks. It is a walk from parking to the beach because the because the beach is wide with sand. You can get to the Pier by using the steps that go right up to the Pier. Around this area you can walk, there are great places to eat and the Pier is super fun with rides and places to eat and games. It is also a great place to take photos. Have fun. Oh, you can also use your bike, get on the path anywhere and it will take you to the beach. On the boardwalk is Muscle Beach, which has a lot of gym equipment and you will see lots of very well built people working out there. Don't ever leave your bike unlocked, ever.

One of the first places I came when I arrived in California. It's one of the reasons I moved out to…read moreLA from NY. The energy mixed with calm at the time was refreshing for me. The workout area became one of my outdoor gyms. In the ocean became my sanctuary. It's also a great place to people watch. Never a dull moment, but there is certainly also calm moments as well early in the morning.

This park is frequented by people who enjoy the beautiful outdoors. I saw so many people either…read morejogging through the park or doing a group exercise class on the geen spaces. The paved paths are mostly smooth except where the earth is settling or where the brown squirrels have dug out the ground near the railings that overlook to the beach. There are plenty of food vendors to buy a lunch and enjoy a picnic. There is paid parking lots and bicycle parking as well. There are bathrooms that a secured by an attendant at the entrance. I loved the people watching and the views of the beach area. It was very relaxing.

I have walked through this park many whenever I am visiting the Santa Monica Pier. Mostly because I…read morepark on the PCH and have to walk through this park to get to the pier. Palisades Park is a long linear park that stretches over twenty-six acres along Ocean Avenue. I love the view of the beach from here. There are picnic areas, benches, restrooms and monuments throughout the park. It is a nice park to take a stroll and enjoy the cool breeze from the ocean. Some things to check out while in the park are the Santa Monica Camera Obscura and some civil war canons near the iconic Santa Monica Pier entrance sign.

Creating a review of this seems pretty broad. I guess you can review whole oceans now, or it seems…read morelike it. This is probably just referring to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. A bit more of a focus on this area. You can find lots going on around here, from the famous pier to hip bars and restaurants. A lot of fun things around the pier on the coastline. It's got the beach of course, the best part. The City of LA doesn't have much coastline, only west of the airport and the exclusive neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, so many come to Santa Monica for that. Going to the pier is the best place to start here. There's miles of beaches on both sides. Be careful in the water because there's sharks and other mean creatures. This place is known for that. Another option is to just enjoy the beach. The activities on it include volleyball and other sports. Get here by using public transportation to avoid parking hassles. It's best to take the E Line straight to the pier. Then you can go to the beach or wherever.

It's a nice long stretch of beach and gray sand. Lots of surfers out here trying yo surf the waves…read more It's lovely to be out here and listening the crashing of the waves. The only thing is certain people are not responsible taking up their own trash and thus many are left on the beach. When I was there I saw a man walking on the beach with a plastic bag and a long picker to pick up the trash along the beach. I thanked him for his good heart. I also saw a girl threw a plastic wrapper on beach. I called her out and asked her to pick up her own trash. Please keep everything how nature places it wherever you go. Pick up your own trash and keep America clean.

This Pacific Palisades neighborhood has a good amount of stairs, hills, scenic overlooks, and…read morepretty houses, so it makes for a nice walk/urban hike. To get there, navigate to 17574 Pacific Coast Highway and park on the street or in one of the metered lots on the beach side. Walk over the highway overpass to the first set of stairs. For a full 1.5-hour loop through the neighborhood, you can follow these instructions: 1. Turn left on Posetano 2. Turn left on Revello and go down the stairs after the house at 17712 3. Turn right on Breve Way until Porto Marina Way 4. Take the stairs up at 17737 Porto Marina Way 5. Turn left at the top of Castellammare and walk up the hill 6. Keep right onto Vicino Way (another uphill) 7. Keep walking right onto Tramonto Dr 8. Keep walking onto Tramonto Dr until you reach Revello Dr and keep right 9. Follow Revello down until you reach a short bridge 10. A bit after the bridge, there is a staircase going down on the left 11. Turn right onto Posetano and keep going down as it turns into Stretto Way 12. Turn right onto Castellammare and keep going (it will turn into a dirt path and then it'll turn into a paved street again) 13. Voila! You are back at the first staircase where you started

These stairs will take you through some of the most beautiful ocean scenery not to mention walking…read morepast some of the most spectacular mansions L.A. has to offer. The stairs on the lower end start just past Gladstones restaurant and after the pedestrian overpass. You will feel a bit of nostalgia as these stairs take you past silent screen star Thelma Todd's old restaurant and right past her opulent mansion of yesteryear. These different sets of stairs is really a wonderful way to spend a day with the incredibly beautiful views you will have of the ocean from the top of the hills and of the stairs. It is a little over 3+ miles with about 518 steps. Some of the staircases seem pretty steep and like I said the view at the top is well worth getting to! This pathway will also take you through a lot of natural beauty as there are many types of trees and shrubs that are well manicured and incredibly picturesque around the staircases. It was so peaceful and serene at this location of hidden stairs when I went with my husband and daughter that I felt like I was kind of at some sort of self realization retreat. This place definitely gets five stars from me because after walking these stairs and witnessing the glamour and beauty of this area I just felt so inspired. I highly recommend checking out these stairs because the whole experience was just beautiful!

I always enjoy a great beach for the pups! The beach itself is a mix of sand and smooth rocks, so…read morebring sturdy sandals if you're picky about where you step. The water is really clear here, and on a calm day it's perfect for wading or just sitting at the shoreline. Lots of surfers in the mornings, so it has that laid-back local vibe instead of the packed tourist energy you get at Santa Monica or Venice. My favorite thing is the view cliffs on one side, wide open ocean straight ahead, and those classic Malibu sunsets that look like they're filtered even when they're not. It can get windy, and the rocks make it less ideal for classic beach lounging, but if you're looking for a peaceful spot to relax, walk, or watch surfers, this is a solid choice.

Small. Dirty. Not much to see. Off an extremely busy road so it's super hard to get in out of…read more There were 4 off leash dogs running around barking at everyone so it kind of topped the already sucky beach. Was able to get a nice sunset picture though.

Cool little beach a lot less crowded than Santa Monica. Not really a place you would go swimming,…read morebut great spot to hang out, go birding, and overall just enjoy the ocean. Tip: During the winter (when I went) you can find street parking along PCH. You can find some surf fisherman there as well.

Beautiful beach that wasn't too crowded which makes it enjoyable if you wanted to unwind. Even the…read moresunset is beautiful which was the reason I've gone here.

Great vibe with lots of fun people watching. Parking wasn't too bad with the meters…read more There were shops on board walk as well.

What could be better than watching your 8-year old grandson play basketball on a perfect, sunny,…read moreSunday morning at Venice Beach? I really enjoyed the vibe here and it was relaxed, fun and enjoyable. There is aooo much to see here and with the LAPD substation a mere ten yards away from the basketball courts, you would hope that everyone would do the right thing which during my visit, it was all about fun and having a good time. There are many food options in the area and many stores to purchase souvenirs. The basketball courts are in GREAT condition and well-maintained. On this day, several former NBA players came out to coach the younger kids and a fun time was had by all. Definitely a place to visit and relax while working on your tan

Absolutely a gorgeous area at sunset if you're near LAX. We parked on the street in the…read moreneighborhood across the way and walked along the beach for about a half hour, taking in the sky and horizon that looked almost too perfect to be real. It was like a painting. There are paved trails for bikers and runners and public restrooms (not very clean but I'll discount that because it was end of day). I've enjoyed the beaches in CA quite a lot but recommend going either at sunrise or sunset for the optimal combination of smaller crowds, less heat, and vivid scenery.

If you want a low key chill beach, then this is always a good beach to venture out to. The beach…read morefeatures nice white sandy beaches, volleyball nets, a nice bike/walking/running paths and bathrooms. Nested right in the city close to shops and restaurants. The only challenge with this beach, is the lack of parking. There is some street parking that align the beach area and more parking throughout town. During the summertime, finding a spot at this beach can be challenging. Tip: Head to Playa Provisions across the street for a cup of coffee to take to the beach, note on the weekend mornings the line can be long.

The "renovation" of Mother's Beach Playground was very disappointing. Instead of actually improving…read morethe playground, the swings were simply removed and never replaced. If the swings were considered unsafe, why were they removed instead of repaired or replaced with new ones? At the same time, there are still loose or missing bolts on some play features and open gaps on the elevated structures where a child could potentially fall. If safety is truly the priority, why were those issues left unaddressed? Now the playground offers much less for young children. Kids can't spend the whole time using only the slides. The swings were one of the best parts of this playground, and many local families came here specifically because of them. Please explain why the swings were removed and consider bringing them back. This playground was never truly renovated--it feels like the only major change was taking the swings away.

Been coming here since I was a kid. Marina Beach is so underrated. More and more people need to…read morevisit this beach at least once in their lifetime. I love the vibe and water here. Me and my girl went paddle boarding here. Little bit of surfers come here. Not much of a surfing beach, but its a fun family atmosphere here.