MAIN BEACH PARK @ LAGUNA BEACH Parking in the area is definitely difficult everything is mostly street parking. I'd highly recommend continuing to drive further away from the beach, as your chances of finding a spot increase the farther out you go. I came during Valentine's weekend, and the area was super packed. Everyone was either tanning, heading to the beach, or walking around the city enjoying the nice weather and all the public seating they have available. There are a lot of shops near the beach as well, which makes it really nice to walk around, explore, and stop by the water. The waves were pretty big when I visited, and I loved how many chairs and benches there were for watching the sunset. They also have a grassy area that's very well maintained, which added to the overall great vibe. There were lots of families and kids around, making the atmosphere feel lively and welcoming. One thing to note is that there are quite a few seagulls and pigeons that will try to take your food, so if you're planning on having a picnic, just make sure to keep an eye on it the whole time. Overall, I'd definitely recommend stopping by the beach if you're in Laguna Beach. read more

Main Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This is my first time here when there was a event. They had a college womans beach volleyball tournament with USC, UCLA, Long Beach and others. I watched a match between USC, and Beach. These ladies are really good. I love watching womans volleyball. I wish I was able to stay longer. Even with the crouds the beach and restrooms were clean. read more

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We found this area to be an easy one mile walk from the Capri Laguna Hotel where we were staying. Main Beach has a nice wide swath of sand: great for strolling, sunbathing or building sandcastles. It also has a small playground for the kids and a restroom. There are plenty of benches here, grassy areas and sand volleyball courts. All in all just a great place to hang out at the beach, with a variety of shops and restaurants nearby. read more

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Pound for point the best beach in South Orange County and maybe all of OC... shops and a significant amount of parking are right across the street, there are ample benches and the waves aren't massive so it's relatively kid friendly. There is also a table for chess as well as multiple volleyball nets and most importantly the beach is kept clean. read more

Main Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Similar to Seal Beach Park, just much more crowded. ;) Plenty of seating and lots of grass, a small play area, the beach, and clean bathrooms. Walking distance from Main St/PCH and dozens of eateries. read more

Main Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Great area for kids as well with playground. Busy on weekends Water is nice and clear. We come very often, and we will keep coming back read more

The good: The sand is so soft and fine here. It isn't polluted with trash and its fineness isn't broken up by rocks, seashells or kelp. I like that the beach sand area isn't super long like it is in Santa Monica so it's easily accessible. The palm trees and the rocks add to the beautiful view. I saw a painter here paint the landscape and thought that was a picturesque image. There are benches and a wooden pier to rest while walking. It's a dog friendly area with doggie bags and trash cans. The water here is brighter blue than in the South Bay Redondo beach area. The sand area is flat and it's walking distance to the downtown shops and restaurants. There's a lifeguard in the lifeguard tower. The beach is a nice area to run on because the sand is packed enough from moisture to be firm enough to run on. The bad: The gas station across the street isn't as cute to look at. The interesting: It's January but it was warm enough today for my toddler to run around in her diaper and splash a bit in the water. read more

Picture postcard perfection. First time here in years, the evening before Hurricane Hilary was supposed to come and storm things up. Maybe that's what caused the wonderful clouds at sunset that night! read more

Main Beach Park - Sunset from main beach - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The pacific is to cold and wavy for my preference to swim but is still like to walk the beach and people watch. Main beach is a great name for it .. there are several beaches close to adjacent but this beach is truly the main one. Close to restaurants and art galleries. people exercising .. yoga, volley ball, basket ball, running, walking their dog, playing with the kiddos. climbing rocks and exploring tidal pools. Rocks to sit on make great photo ops. In fact several people taking photos and selfies. Ohhh and the sunsets. my fav spot is from the path abover near the sculpture and further goin towards Heisler park. if your staying in the area i highly recommend Inn at Laguna Beach. read more

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This is the area where the original board walk was and the greeter hung out. Still an interesting place to people watch. Theres grass area to hang out on. Or hit the beach for cool down. Lots of people walking dogs and getting some steps in. Cool place to be! read more

Main Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Very great playground area for kids. There are many great options of cafe. However, the waves are really strong here. We also had to park about a mile away. read more

Extremely beautiful clean waters. water temp was 75 degrees today according to my apple watch. lots of seaweed and kelp but thats fine! right off the coast highway and lots of places to eat nearby. theres a playground and volleyball. there's public bathrooms that can get a bit busy and a bit dirty. lots of space on the sand for a sunday. definitely a ton of tourists! read more

Love the area!! Beautiful and always a scenic stop along PCH. So many cute little shops to venture if the beach is too crowded. I stopped by on a recent early morning beach cleanup with Ryan Hickman, of Ryan's Recycling, the most entrepreneurial 10-year-old I've ever met. We parked on the street that morning with meters and it wasn't too crowded on an early Saturday morning. FYI~Today Show will air Ryan's event and an interview with this awesome young man on Monday Oct 21, 2019. Help spread the word and recycle. read more

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Beach next to shopping and restaurants what more could you ask for? Laguna beach is a beauty of a beach. I loved the fact that this beach had a couple restaurants and shops right along its sand, almost. The beach was clean and the waves were fantastic! We bought a boogie board from the local beach shop for the kids to play with. The waves can get really strong so be careful with small kids. The parking situation on the other hand was difficult. They don't have a parking lot along the beach like Huntington Beach. You will have to park across the street from the beach and walk over. It was a trek from the parking lot to the beach especially carrying beach umbrellas and chairs. You probably just want to go light on this beach. read more

Main Beach Park - Such a pretty beach day - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

OK during the daytime this is a great wonderful place to go! However, I don't know if anyone said this yet, or wrote this yet. But when there is an ocean breeze, you can smell the restroom, that's located right next to the park. And it is not a pleasant ocean smell. It's just a wonderfully cute park though. Great for taking pictures, great for the kids to play on the playground. But if they have a strong sense of smell, it not be a good thing. read more

Main Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I HEART LAGUNA... and can hardly wait to be SUN KISSED Again... MAIN BEACH, Laguna Beach, California! I think subconsciously, I'm updating this Review, to Share again, all the reasons Why I Love Main Beach! Not to mention, I'm ready to retire this Sweater Weather & Bring Back the "Sun's Out Buns Out", Warmer Beach Weather! But Seriously, Main Beach, located in the Heart of Downtown Laguna, is a Very Special Place! I've been up & down the Southern California PCH & this Charming Beach Community, is Very Unique! I personally don't enjoy Beach Crowds, and the Great thing about this Main Beach Popular Meeting Place, is you can easily head North or South from Main Beach & Find a Less Crowded & Perfect Beach Spot! Beach Parking in Laguna, can be very Challenging, especially in the Summer Months! My Recommendation is to get here early, think about getting a LYFT, or consider taking the Laguna Beach Trolley into Downtown! read more

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Feels like home here to us. This is the heart of Laguna and everyone comes here - whether you've lived here for years or just visiting you know to come here. Rooftop bars, the best sushi restaurants, pubs, beautiful beaches, beach volleyball, playgrounds etc. it's endless! read more

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Very nice atmosphere. My favorite beach. There are many shops and restaurants. No so many people on weekdays. read more

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Main Beach is the heart of historic downtown Laguna Beach. It has been the center of attention and activities since the earliest part of the 20th Century, and long before that for indigenous tribes. It is famous for its 1929 life guard tower, boardwalk, broad sandy expanse and the only location on this stretch of coast that allows easy access without the need to navigate the steep sandstone bluffs to the north and south. If you don't live here or park yourself for a few days in one of its gracefully aging hotels, it is likely the only beach you will see while visiting. That's unfortunate, because those other smaller pocket beaches are the true gems of Laguna, offering beauty, privacy and pristine blue green ocean that at high tide almost disappear, and at low tide provide a place to settle in, walk, swim and even surfboard (@Agate Beach). To be honest, Main Beach also has a transient character, with its share of California's homelessness, which is hard to (and should not) be ignored. On the other hand, there are entertaining basketball and volleyball games going on much of the time. If you're capable, strap on your rubber bottoms and step onto the court for a competitive pick up game. Perhaps the best way to view MB is from the heights on either side along Ocean Highway. Those bluffs offer excellent outdoor dining and drinking overlooking all the hubbub on the sand and woodwalk below. Great places to hang out, unless you prefer a blanket near the surf. read more

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Main Beach Park is located in the lovely city of Laguna Beach. We like dropping by whenever we are in town. Yes, the place is crowded. Yes, parking can be hard to find and expensive especially in the Summer months. Yes, there are transients bumming around at times. Does this bother me? Nope, it does not. There is plenty to do for people of all ages. There is a small playground for the kiddos. Grassy areas to sit, relax, and peoplewatch. Folks were playing beach volleyball, and it was fun to watch. The beach is awesome as is the water. Simply put, Main Beach Park is a terrific place to go. Enjoy! read more

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Lovely Laguna Beach. I've had the good fortune of staying in Laguna Beach twice and both times I have started my stroll from the main beach and headed south past the Sleepy Hollow, Oak Street, and Brooks Street Beaches and ended up at Arch Cove. This is nice smooth beach that is perfect to share with someone you love, whether they have two feet or four paws. If you stay on the main beach there are lots of benches to enjoy the view (and I'd recommend a steaming cup of coffee or delicious gelato) and the magnificent sunsets. Also a really nice play structure for the kids and basketball and sand volleyball courts for the bigger kids. If you head south there are lots of murals and other artistic displays on the bluffs to enjoy. And there is nothing like hearing those crashing waves and watching the kids frolic in the ocean. This is an expensive area to visit, but walking along the beach, feet in the sand and sun on my face is the ultimate (and free) S. Cal experience. Actually not completely free. I consider beach clean-up my admission price. This beach area is pretty clean, but I still managed to pick up bag loads of mylar ballons, bottle caps and misc. junk (not fit for public discussion). When we were walking a woman jogged by with her dog and asked, "Wonder what the weather is like in Cleveland?" I hope everyone gets to experience the power and majesty of this area at least once in their life. Especially in March for those of us who live in not so nice climates. :-) I've posted some photos for those who need a little mental sunbreak. read more

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Security is very lax here. There's a group of alcoholics drinking under the tree near the basketball court. They were very aggressive to us we had to leave. They told me it was their spot and they come here every day. Very frightening not the Laguna Beach I grew up in. read more

Being that this is my closest Beach, it holds a dear place in my heart. My family has spent many beautiful days here, gorgeous views, soft sand and not as crowded as some other beaches. Parking can be tricky on weekends or afternoons, we tend to go early and usually find metered parking. read more

This was my first time at Laguna Beach and since my bf loves the beach we decided to come here. After driving around for a couple of minutes we realized parking around here is super hard so we just put it in a lot $15 a day. There wasn't anything I didn't like about this beach but there wasn't anything I liked either. The beach itself is sort of small and I found it a bit crowded. I did find the rocks all the way to the right beautiful. Even being barefoot we were able to climb them and enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean. They were also filming a commercial that day which was fun to watch. Overall I had a great time due to the free entertainment and amazing company but I would try a different beach next time I'm in Laguna read more

Damn you, the NorCal snob that gave this place 1 star... It's time for an adjustment. This is a great beach park and the wooden boardwalk and benches here are what I really appreciate. The benches especially give you great views of the whole beach area. The only issue here is the parking but that's to be expected in this area. To get a great view of the Main Beach area, walk over to Heisler Park which is just up the coast and look down south. It's amazingly beautiful especially during the summer days (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/YqlLyu61vOzjQYBZvG_6QA?select=ko6hlsc02EORqkzydIS5eg#ko6hlsc02EORqkzydIS5eg). read more

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Main Beach is the first large and densely populated beach you come to upon entering North Laguna Beach. It's famous for it's little lifeguard tower and it's border along front of the historic Hotel Laguna. Parking can be a pain, especially in summer or on hot, weekend days...look around off Forest ave. for a pay lot...there are plenty of them along with metered spots here in there. Get there early to ensure a spot. It's a great family beach as it has a HUGE play area, the waves are meek and break lightly...you can have a dog on leash. There's a nice little boardwalk made of wooden planks on which to walk and you are only steps from shops and a few ice cream places to wet your palette! Volleyball is the sport of choice here so bring a ball...or a Frisbee. If you want to just relax...skip this beach and head south to one of the many coves along PCH. read more

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Park on a side street, avoid Chantilly's - and after that - you're all set to enjoy an afternoon at Main Beach. There's a few volleyball nets and two basketball courts that line the park, so it's great for a bit of people watching. It's a nice place to stop and get a bit of sunshine. Seaweed lines the sand, so bring a towel. Note: today there were a lot of anti-war protesters out who kept trying to shove flyers at me. A bit annoying. Also, it honestly smelled like sewage today. :-/ Hopefully just a rarity... read more

The beach is beautiful, but I'm confused since online it says pet friendly, but the lifeguards kicked my husband and I off the beach before we even sat down. I'm 9 months pregnant, so walking down to the water was a challenge in itself haha, but as soon as we got down there, the lifeguard came over and said special rules going on right now and dogs aren't allowed until 6 PM.... I asked if that was posted somewhere and he didn't know, but he made us turn around and walk right back after we had already paid for parking and unloaded our stuff for the afternoon. So if you are coming with your dogs, I guess temporarily don't attempt this beach! read more

Great beach to visit. Water was a little choppy and the pelicans didn't care how close to you they got read more

Main Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Soft fluffy sand, nice and uncrowded in the morning, wonderful and clean bathrooms that include many spacious stalls, sinks, mirrors. The only downfall was the excessive amount of seaweed that gets wrapped around your feet as soon as you walk in the water. It is in excess all over the beach, making it unenjoyable to get in the water. Also the floor of the ocean in the shallow part is a little rocky. I did not see a spot to get rentals or any food. The closest food place we could see you were a Starbucks, which is across the busy street. read more

One of the biggest differences between coastal communities in NorCal and those in SoCal is the amount of development. In NorCal you go to the coast to get away from people and zone out in nature; in SoCal going to the coast usually means the opposite. So if you're looking for a beach where you can get lost in the coastal wilderness or revel quietly in the beauty of the ocean, this isn't it. I'm a NorCal boy who grew up on NorCal beaches so this oceanside park is alien to me in so many ways: The sound of the waves are drowned out the by sound of dozens of people yelling/chattering, kids shrieking, and cars vroom-vrooming by on the PCH. The traffic and crowds and parking situation are awful, even on an "off-peak" weekday afternoon, which is when I was there. The beach itself is pretty clean by SoCal standards; by NorCal standards it's dirty. The smell of the ocean air is absolutely smothered by the smell of the exhaust from the cars, people smoking or smoking out, and the awful perfumes wafting off the warm bodies of the Lauren Conrad wannabes. That thick smudge you see extending out from the coast into the ocean isn't a marine layer; it's smog/pollution. OC? More like Oh Hell No! The photos some kind Yelpers posted of this park unfortunately do not capture the busy, frenetic, and dirty nature of this recreation area. This isn't a beach, it's a busy, upscale, "see and be seen" downtown shopping and dining area with a strip of sand and a small manicured park attached. If that's your idea of a coastal hangout, then great, but if it's not, then move on quickly. If you want to get away from the crowds, some of your options, from nearest to furthest away, are to: walk north along the beach into the Heisler Park area, where it's less crowded; drive a short distance up the PCH to Crystal Cove and spend time hiking the fairly empty north end of the beach away from the busy historic district (the north entrance is where Newport Coast Drive meets the PCH); or drive about an hour down to Torrey Pines for cleaner waters, much better hiking, a more laidback vibe, and fewer crowds. read more

This is a great, beautiful spot in Laguna Beach, even though pretty much all the areas here are awesome with great views in Laguna Beach. The only reason this spot didn't get 5 stars from me is because it gets too crowded with tourists since it is "Main" beach. PARKING: Good luck! haha. There is no designated parking lot for this beach. You have to park somewhere on the street in the downtown area. There are a couple parking lots a few blocks away, going away from the ocean. LOCATION/VIEW: Located somewhat in the middle of Laguna along the coast obviously haha. I use it as my divider for north and south Laguna. The view.. of course it is beautiful! AMENITIES/ACTIVITIES: This beach has more to offer then beautiful views. There is a playground for kids, plenty of benches to sit and relax and to eat (I use to work a block away and would eat my lunch here all the time!), basketball courts, bathrooms, and a boardwalk. It is also in a prime spot of downtown Laguna with a lot of shopping and restaurants very close by. read more

Ahhh, the beach! I have visited Laguna Beach numerous times over the years and I always enjoy the Main Beach Park. It is an OK beach/park and it will get the job done when you madly need some beach time! This beach also has some fun tide pools to explore. The tidal pools are small and usually don't have too much in them, but fun none the less. This park also has a playground, which is great if you have kiddos with you. I gave this beach a 3 star rating for several reasons. First off, it is really crowded and always seems to be packed. I have been here in the AM, mid afternoon, and late afternoon and it always seems to have people everywhere. I don't mind sharing the beach, but a little space between me and the next group would be nice. Secondly, the seaweed is overwhelming. I don't know what it is about this beach, but there is always seaweed all over the place. It is like the whole seaweed colony off the coast floats in with the tide each morning. The problem with it is that it brings little annoying bugs with it. If you can find a spot without seaweed, it is quite nice. Thirdly, the bathrooms and shower area are lacking. Public restrooms are hard to keep clean, but beach cities really need to have nice bathrooms in my opinion. The ladies was almost ok, but still smelly. My husband said the men's room was uber-yucky and had been peed all over. Eeeewwww! Also the showers were hard to use. The buttons to push to turn the water on required a lot of force. Also some of the shower heads were broken, so while you were holding the water on, you also had to direct the shower head and balance while trying to rinse off. This is even harder when you are trying to rinse off a 19 month old toddler. Fun stuff...not! Overall, it is an OK beach to hang out, just keep an open mind. read more

I was drawn here for its relaxed atmosphere, and great views. There are a lot of stores nearby within walking distance. May be difficult to find parking. read more

Laguna Beach, California is a short drive west from the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. I continued to return as I drove up and down the Pacific Coast Highway. read more

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Nice central beach in the Laguna area. The bodies (men and women) are incredibly tan and toned, the location is walking distance to all the cute shops/eateries, and the atmosphere is pleasant. I rather like the little wooden boardwalk along the sand. In terms of parking, I usually park far up in the residential roads and trek down. While this beach is nice, you should really walk further along south coast highway to one of Laguna's many alcove beaches if you want to enjoy more privacy read more

Over three decades in California and I never knew about this location. The playground is great for little kids, big kids can play in the beach. Once you find parking, in a pretty condensed area there is the beach, the playground, shopping, food, all within walking distance for a relaxing afternoon. Came here with my daughter and after we were done playing and walking around, we walked through one of the buildings which was like a mini shopping alley while going to our car. Ice cream shop was open so... got an ice cream. Awesome, wasn't even expecting to find shops among the alleys. read more

Main Beach I love you. You brought me so much joy when we lived in Laguna and I greatly enjoyed our morning walks, evening strolls and frolicking through the waves. The beaches in San Diego just don't quite fill the hole in my heart now that I can't enjoy you everyday. If it weren't for all the insane tourists you would be perfection. read more

Crowded beach. Especially in the summer. Multiply that by a factor of 4 if it's the weekend. Lag B Beach is the go to spot for me on the winter since it's not as crowded with a lot less tourists and people coming from inland CA. Still it's fun at anytime and worth checking out read more

I went with my husband and two-year old daughter for the first time and had a good time. Parking was probably the only reason I didn't give it a fifth star. I liked that the beach wasn't packed and not sure if canopies are banned because I didn't see ONE anywhere. Easy to find right off of the 133 and PCH. Great playground right in front of the beach so even better if some ppl want to hang on the sand while the kids play. read more

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