After two days at Legoland we were looking for a nice beach nearby that had showers for rinsing and a changing area. This beach was perfect. Not only did they fulfill those needs, they also had a playground area for the kids, a great area of the ocean for kids, and plenty of lifeguards. This beach also had many other ammenties that others may enjoy like: - 3 or 4 beach volleyball courts - 5 or 6 barbeque/bonfire pits - Many picnic tables - A beach rental store (everything from boogie boards to beach umbrellas) - A snack bar with full meals - Bathrooms - First aid area (which we used for a band-aid for my 4-year old) Also, on the day we were there they were setting up a stage for a band. We had planned to leave at lunchtime to head back north so we just heard the sound check. Be ready for a bit of a hill from the parking to the beach, but that's not unusual in California. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Love this beach. Fond memories of my childhood here and still love it today! City of Encinitas has really renovated the place since I used to come here in the 80s. New showers and the building with the restrooms and the monument sign are all new. [Ish] Parking is still a drag. You're mostly stuck trying to find a spot in surrounding neighborhoods. But once you're parked and walk in all your beach paraphernalia you're good to go. Nice restrooms close to walk from any part of the beach, a little toddler play area, volleyball courts, etc. Not sure what the allure of this beach is, but it's sung it's sweet, enticing, song in my ear for over 30 years now and of course I will return to this siren again. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Beautiful beach in Encinitas. Super family friendly. Great for BBQ and bon fire. Nightmare getting a nearby parking space though.

Such a beautiful beach with amazing amenities to make your day enjoyable! There's a parking lot above the beach, with a wooden staircase to walk down. If you can't find parking there (I didn't), it's super easy to find close neighborhood parking. At the entrance to the beach, there is a concession stand, an outdoor body/foot shower, and clean restrooms (the NICEST beach restrooms I've ever seen). So convenient! The beach itself stretches along pretty far, so there's plenty of room to spread your towel on. A lot of people make the mistake of setting up their spot towards the front entrance, but there is more empty space if you continue to walk further! It's worth it. I came here around 1pm on a Wednesday, and it was PACKED. Such a random day and time, so I'm pretty sure this beach is always quite busy. Not a surprise, it really is the best! read more

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My family and I visited this beach after reading a few of my favorite Yelpers reviews. We came the day after the 4th of July. I was expecting it to be crowded since it was a holiday weekend but it wasn't bad at all. It was a little overcast and perfect. This was the best choice for my family for several reasons. I wanted a family friendly beach...check. I wanted a place that had showers to rinse off since we were going to be driving 3.5 hours home from here...check. I wanted a place that had bathrooms so we could change clothes...check. I also wanted a beach that had lifeguards...check. Bonus they had concessions, kayak rentals, tables with fire pits, and a playground. Only downside is the parking. There is a small lot and lots of hills so be prepared to hike a little. read more

I HATE LEAF BLOWERS! Aug 13, 2018 I am temporarily handicap due to surgery. Parked at 7 a.m. in handicap at Moonlight State Beach. Come back to my vehicle at 8 a.m. and see my vehicle being assaulted by two men on the beach doing sidewalk maintainace with blowers which were essentially creating a sandstorm hurricane, blowing sand right on my freshly washed car, washed at 6 a.m. that morning. So every single step I've taken in Encinitas this morning, I've been assaulted by leaf blowers starting at 6 a.m. at the gas station! As 2 min after my car wash at the Shell station...a man circles around me and blows shit into my car as I had the doors open and was vacuuming her. Then I go to a cafe, Lofty, to eat and not only is there a leaf blower going, and construction noise across the street but there is literally a tree wood chipper truck shredding trees and shrubs directly in front of the cafes/restaurants and between the leaf blower and the tree chipper, they have DIRTIED all the tables and chairs and the doggie water bowl! UNBELIEVABLE! I deplore leaf blowers and don't believe they should be used in the city! Even the concept is mystifying to me, as dirt should be swept up or vacuumed up, i.e. contained, not blown all over the place never mind the noise pollution! Sidewalks at the beach should be swept, not blown, esp not blasted onto people's cars. read more

My boyfriend took me here. Super nice beach love the benches on the cliffs and such a clean and pretty beach. Lots of nice stones and cliffs read more

Moonlight State Beach - Top before you walk down - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

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JACKPOT of a beach....They were doing some construction up top, but they have volleyball courts in the sand and when not working on the beach to improve it, you can walk through the sand down to the water. I should mention, parking can be a challenge here, but there is a lot up top. This place did have more handicapped parking right next to the beach and along the street then any beach I have ever been too. The sand is amazing and even though it was a windy day on this visit, you can walk along the beach, find yourself a place near the rocks out of the wind and enjoy the sand. The sand here is really nice, the beach really clean and you can swim or surf here. A surfing class of kids came down and it was fun watching them. The beach is patrolled often so safety is never a concern here. I would highly recommend this place as a spot to visit if you are looking for a clean, fun beach. Dogs are not allowed on this beach at all but the experience can still be enjoyed without the pooch. read more

This is our family's go to beach! We love going here because it is very family friendly. On the weekends they tend to have a beach soccer game or a volleyball game going on. There are a few shaded areas to lounge in for my daughter, who doesn't like the sun, sand or water. Yeah, not typical kid behavior but we lay out our large beach blanket and she's good. There isn't as much kelp on the shore as other beaches, which I enjoy! I hate going into the water and getting my legs caught on the kelp, weird, gross feeling! Parking is above the beach and there are steps leading down. On weekends it can get pretty packed but my husband and i like to park on a nearby street and walk over. They also have a play area with slides and swings for the kids. My daughter almost always asks to go there. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Surfing area. Not many surfers at 1pm during the middle of the week! - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Moonlight beach is an awesome beach!! They have a lovely area and such a wonderful clifftop view if you don't want to get into the sand. I love coming to the beach every single summer to just meet up with my friends and met new people and have a nice little chat with people in the area. In the summer, the children can go and play at the playground area that they have set up on the side. There are private bathrooms and family bathrooms there. They also even have a little snack shack on the beach. There's a lifeguard tower so closer there, and the lifeguards are so friends to help you out in any situation. I went one summer, my friend and I got dragged out in a rip tide. The lifeguards were right there helping the both of us out at one time, and I am always so grateful for them being there. Also, one summer my friend was out surfing and cut her leg out in the ocean, and we went up to the lifeguard tower and they cleaned off my friends leg and bandaged it. The beach also has separated areas for surfing and swimming. read more

Sure this beach can be seen as a family beach with a playground for children, but it's waaay too crowded. I came here on a Friday and everyone was so cramped with no room for the kids to run around. Needless to say, we didn't stay long. If you have a bunch of little ones who you would like to allow to run around, I'd fork out the $15 and go to Cardiff State Beach instead. PROS: Popular beach destination, free street parking, playground, and volleyball courts. CONS: Popular beach destination, limited street parking, VERY crowded. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

We paid Moonlight State Beach a visit recently during a vacation to the San Diego area. We went on a weekday, so parking was easy in the lot just above the restroom area. On a weekday, the beach had a decent number of people, but it was not too crowded at all. The restroom facilities and playground right outside that area were great to have. Our son spent most of the time on the beach, and we found the sand to be clean, and the lifeguards to be actively watching the crowds. This beach was so enjoyable on our visit that it made me wonder if we should retire here one day...! read more

This is my favorite beach in Encinitas. The sun sets here are absolutely amazing! The beach is very wide with tons a space to host a very large number of people that want to take in the sunsets. It never feels crowded. There's plenty of nearby parking as well. The bathrooms are nice and there's even a snack shack with some tasty bites to eat. I love to plan a long day of beach activities with friends and family. At the end of the day we usually end up using the bonfire pits to roast marshmallows and cap off a fun beach day. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Love you moonlight Beautiful beach. One of my favorites to just come and listen to the waves. There's great areas to sit without having to get in the sand if you don't like that. There's good parking, an awesome look out. Fun play ground for kids and a snack bar. If you're visiting San Diego moonlight is a fun chill beach. read more

The first time I came here was for a family photo shoot, the photographer suggested this place. We were impressed, after the photoshoot, my daughter played at the playground for a few hours and we told ourselves we would come here more often. It's not a bad drive for us, the place is beautiful, sand is softer, cleaner, and family oriented. You don't see any drunken idiots around here. There's a few volleyball courts for you to play, playground, clean bathrooms (for a beach), and a snack shack nearby. It's also a quick walk away from all the restaurants. We came back again this past weekend and my husband forgot just how much he loved this specific beach. My daughter and I spent hours playing in the surf together, sand was soft enough for my daughter to bury my husband, and plenty of space for us to get settled in with our umbrellas and chairs. It always seems like it's packed, but we don't mind it because everyone seems to be friendly and they're all families anyway. It seems like the place got a lot cleaner since last year, I'm glad the city is putting in efforts to keep our beaches clean. read more

What a great cozy beach with a few fire pits which are very popular. There is parking above the beach which is kind of small for a beach but the beach it's self is a little small. The facilities at the beach are wonderful I couldn't believe how nice the men's restroom is. They even have a dressing room inside the restroom. Not only that they have a family restroom which is pretty rare at a beach. At night this beach seems to be the place to be but parking is a lot better at night. This is just a really nice comfortable beach with a cool vibe. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Super nice beach but super busy. Very nice food place available on site super tasty and healthy Yum yum !! read more

Great place for the family! Showers and a playground with a swimming and boogie board only section. This beach has it all. Rental shop with boards, wetsuits, kayaks and more. Concession stand that I did not use but looked decent. Bathrooms with showers and changing rooms. A swimmers only area. Tons of beach. Volleyball courts Playground. Lifeguards on duty. Aside from the Santa Barbara and Mission beach, this is up at the top. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Moonlight Beach Beautiful name for a beach in my opinion. I never really ventured into Encinitas before. I also know it for it's reputation for a quiet beach town, away from the hustle and bustle one would think at places like Mission Beach, PB, or even La Jolla Shores. Parking didn't seem that hard. We were able to find a good spot right away. It was so so weather that day. I didn't venture out as the waves were pretty flat. Later in the evening it picked up a bit, but not enough for me to venture in my rashguard and board shorts. The drinking ban on most city beaches was expected. My impression was that it didn't apply to county beaches as well, but I guess I was wrong. However there are other ways to drink on the beach w/out making it known. I'll leave that up to your discretion. Pros: chill atmosphere, good place for a late night with the significant other. Volleyball courts set up already for you. Cons: I didn't like how the firepits were too close together. A little more spacing in between would have been nicer. Didn't see much of any nearby bars. Overall: Quiet/chill atmosphere. At least the weekend I went. No drama as you can possibly expected at Mission Beach or PB. Good place to take the family. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Clean, free parking, playground, restrooms, food, rentals and family environment. We had a great time here. read more

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Very nice beach. Very conducive to hanging out in large groups. There is an abundance of seating, it it east to get to and of course the view is amazing. read more

Nice, clean beach, and lots of space. They have fire pits here, but only a handful, so you have to snag them super early. You can bring your own bbq though (we did)!! There are lifeguards on duty until about 8pm, and they let you know for sure when they are leaving. If you didn't bring food, there is a concession stand available near the emergency tower. We were lucky enough to visit this beach on a day of a wedding. It really made for a beautiful venue over the cliffs, if you're ever looking in the area. All in all, this is a great beach to spend the day with family! read more

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Hands down the BEST beach you and your family can enjoy. I love how its not overly crowded and is easily accessible. There is a huge parking lot and tons of street parking. The beach is clean, and has restrooms you can use along with changing facilities. By the concessions and restrooms there are also shower rinses which is nice. No one likes to drag tons of sand into the car. Lifeguards are on duty as well. If you have kids, there is an awesome playground they can run off their energy at. There are volleyball nets, along with fire pits. Highly highly recommend this beach. read more

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Beautiful park. Free parking available (if you can find a spot) around the area. SMALL! Bonfire pits are pretty much right next to each other. Beautiful views... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/E0f0gA0uRM9t02PhVnZWmw?select=uiMwlx2yH22Wp-bZh8wyIw And of the sunset http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/E0f0gA0uRM9t02PhVnZWmw?select=lg6dwyphxj9ZTNDB2RoOvQ Beautiful. read more

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This might be our favorite Carlsbad beach! Parking is nice & so are the amenities! Ran into so many people from home too-- so it must be a favorite! Coming from Carlsbad you pass through the cutest town with lots of shops & great food! On our last day there they did declare the water contaminated so I would suggest if swimming and playing you stick as far south as possible on the beach! read more

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This is a beautiful beach at the very bottom of Encinitas Blvd. and one of the more popular beaches in this beach town as it has a lot to offer. From barbecue stations and enclosed fire pits which are always taken on the weekends to three volleyball courts which are always in use to a cafe and rental shop (only opened during the summer), Moonlight is a fun time. The fire pits are fun at night as parties seem to linger past closing hour... In the summer they hold concerts on the weekends and always have events such as a local carnival or surf classic. About twice a year you can catch the Woodie Show featuring the old woodie cars from surf days of yore. The beach itself sits at the bottom of a sandy hill and is spacious but does get packed when the weather is warm. There are showers and bathrooms on hand and a full lifeguard station. Very popular with families as there is a swimming zone where surfers have to stay clear. At the front of the beach sits a playground built in the sand and surrounded by a grassy knoll also great for kids b-day parties and other gatherings. read more

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What a place to enjoy the surf, sand and sea, just pray for parking ! There is a reason this place gets so much love, from locals and tourists, simply put this beach has it all....except for ample parking. That being said twice in the opener you will be glad you finally do score that spot. Thankfully there is an unofficial drop off and pick up point making the trek to the sand with your beach going goodies that much easier. I would consider this one of the family friendlier beaches, well paroled by lifeguards. The beach sand is soft and smooth and most are conscious of not leaving behind trash. Thankfully we didn't see or encounter any cigarette buts, plastic or other left behind garbage that clutters so much of our beautiful Cali coastline. Did I mention the water temp here tends to be on the higher side so fear not when wading in, it's warm and inviting. Infrastructure is also close by including restrooms, outdoor showers to clean the sand off and some limited food options. The day we were there they were having a free outdoor music performance. There is a small public parking lot but it's pretty full with throngs waiting for spots. Best to drop off and have the driver scour the local streets for free parking. So plop down that blanket, unfurl that umbrella and enjoy some of the best the Pacific ocean has to offer. read more

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What a beautiful and peaceful beach! This beach gives different vibes and less crowd than nearby beaches like Del Mar and La Jolla- i decided to walk on the beach until the sunset- it was so peaceful and beautiful at the same time- saw lotta surfers enjoying the waves- there were so many Sea plants or seaweed thingie on the sand.. And there were lotta knits?!! Well the little fly look-a-likes were around them so they gave me goosebumps in the beginning, but the breathtaking view took my attention away- Overall, I really enjoyed the area and will def come back to get fresh air:) read more

Would have given it 4 stars but near the end of our visit we saw children playing in the sewage trail of water that leads to the ocean. That really should be locked off or have better signage. Other than that we had fun playing at the beach and playground. Didn't use the bathrooms or concessions. Free parking read more

So very busy all the time! It's definitely worth it though. There's a private lot and plenty of street parking. There's all kind of activity areas, and the view is absolutely gorgeous. Read the other reviews, they speak for themselves. The biggest pitfall is the other people. Sometimes it's hard to carve out your own space, or to get a bonfire pit, because people have been hogging multiple pits since early in the morning. Seriously? Be there by 8am if you want a pit. Earlier if you don't want to fight for it, even if you don't plan on using it until 8pm! read more

We visited on a Sunday in late afternoon. Parking for this beach is a bit of a challenge but we were lucky and found a spot in the neighborhood just next door. There is rubber runner down to allow people with wheelchairs or strollers to access the beach. The beach was very crowded but we took a short walk down the beach and it was much less crowded there. The beach has plenty of the pretty round rocks but no shells. This was a great spot to sit and the watch the sunset. There are fire pits available on a first-come-first-serve basis. All were in use when we were there so they must be pretty popular. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Get to Moonlight Beach in early July each year for the BroAm. This is your chance to spend a fun filled day with 15,000 of your closest Switchfoot friends. The annual celebration helps raise funds for various San Diego charities. Surf competitions kick the day off and surfers and environmentalists coexist at the Bro-Am. Single-use plastic water bottles are a no go so bring your Hurley )( water bottle and fill up at the free H20 stations across the beach. Since we are San Diegans and eco-friendly, the BroAm uses solar-powered sound and staging. Catch live performances in the afternoon from various groups which leads up to Switchfoot taking the stage typically at 4PM. I've found that parking is usually pretty tough so keep that in mind and be willing to walk. The earlier in the day you arrive, the more easily you'll find parking. Hundreds of local restaurants and vendors supply attendees with good times and good food. However if you aren't able to make it to San Diego, the day is live-streamed on the web, so people around the world can tune-in and catch the action. Be a part of a day where life happens in the glorious terrible space between waking and a dream. This is where we live, and where we make our song. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Life is short. Live it well. - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Affordable and peaceful location. Restrooms are clean. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

Huge beach near Encinitas that also has a playground, BBQ grill, picnic tables, concessions area, bathrooms, rinse off showers, and volleyball nets. The only thing missing is parking space. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

I went here on a weekday, so it was not at crowded. Very peaceful and mellow. Not much activities to actually do here, it's more like a beach to relax and lounge at. read more

Moonlight State Beach - Playgrounds Near Me - Encinitas, California

We had such a nice time walking and just people watching. We went in the evening but the day seems just as nice. You can do bonfires and roast your pleasure in them. Great place to take your family and have a fun day - reminds me of the movie scene in Karate Kid when they have a soccer beach day and roast hot dogs after. Ours would be vegan dogs !! read more

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This is one if the best beaches to go to because there are 3 volleyball nets, the water looks beautiful, the sand is so soft and the day I went there were good waves to boogie board. There are lots of people at this beach but there is plenty of space for everyone the good thing too is that lifeguards are on the lookout, there are some water equipment rentals, dressing rooms, shower heads to rinse off and restrooms read more

Beautiful and clean beach, I highly recommend it. Make sure you go with plenty of time it's hard to find parking sometimes.

Such a great beach for many reasons! Parking is free in the neighborhood streets and you can usually find a spot not to far. There is a concessions stand to buy food and they have shaved ice! The Lifeguards are on point! They are very good at keeping track of rip tides and swimming out to small children to help them avoid them. The only major downside is how small the beach is - it can be a challenge to find a spot on a crowded weekend. read more

The best beach in SoCal hands down. Summer and weekends can be a bear to park. Many life guard stands, concessions all summer and all winter on weekends. Great pick up sand volleyball scene. Great swimming for kids but big kids and those hat want to body surf this is the place. Sandy, not rocky. read more