My friends and I visited the Salt Creek Beach Park located at Dana Point. It's a favorite spot for…read morebeginner surfers. We saw almost a dozen surfers enjoying the water today. It is also a favorite spot for people to walk their dogs as long as as they keep their dogs on leash and away from the beach. Personally I always enjoyed the Salt Creek Beach Park. It has a large green slope facing the ocean, less crowded and not as commercial as the tourist hot-spot Laguna Beach. I saw on the beach a pond that flows into the ocean. I couldn't help but wonder whether it is the namesake Salt Creek I never found before. Whether it is or isn't, I had a great time today.

Love walking around this park with or without dogs…read more The place is packed just about anytime you visit. It's right near several resorts. So if you have reactive dogs or get overstimulated easily, this place is a no go. Parking easy especially if you have an OC Park pass. Dogs can't access the beach but you can walk around the paved area. There's very little to no shades in and around the park. Sunscreen and hats a must if you burn easily. I wish someone could tell me where on earth I can go that's by the sea in SoCal or otherwise that's not overcrowded all the time. I am just about through with seeing unruly kids or loud talking adults everywhere I go. Asking for a friend.

Our family visited Dana Strand Beach for the first time and had an amazing experience! We…read moreoriginally went to Doheny State Beach, and after talking with one of the state park workers, he recommended Strands Beach because it's a little less crowded and has beautiful crystal blue water. We're so glad we came! Parking was abundant, and while there are quite a few stairs to get down to the beach, it was incredibly peaceful and relaxing once we arrived. The bathrooms were also very clean -- honestly some of the cleanest public beach bathrooms we've experienced. Definitely a great spot for families and somewhere we'll be coming back to again. Highly recommend!

Unusual beach in Dana Point…read more We stopped by yesterday afternoon - parked on the Strand and walked 165 steps and a steepish slope down to the ocean (140 foot elevation drop according to my smart phone). There were rocks, tide pools, and sailboats on the horizon. What's not to like? Will be back!

The name baby beach is not an understatement. That's exactly what it is, a baby beach. It's coved…read moreoff 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.

Great for families with little ones. Very calm water designated for small children. Parents don't…read moreneed 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!

beautiful campground right on the beach! clean bathrooms and…read moreshowers. sites are very close together and smaller than other state beaches, but each site has foliage to provide privacy. other campers were pretty loud into the night, otherwise pleasant and family-friendly.

It's a decent beach but pay attention to the water quality alerts as it can get pretty gross on…read moresome days. It's a nice beach to chill and for beginner surfers. Parking has gone up though. It's $7.55 per hour up to 2 hours or $20 for the day. It used to be only a few dollars per hour just last year. Some days the sand is covered in seaweed and you can't play near the water which sucks for the kids trying to build their castles. If you're looking to more chill. Grab a burger or drink. Then this beach is great.

I decided to wait about a year before posting this review. As previous yelpers mentioned, your only…read moreway into this beach is by actually walking through a gated community. But note that ALL CALIFORNIA BEACHES are for the PUBLIC So, to do this, you have to come with only one friend or alone, don't bring any beach clothes or beach gear. Just bring your wallet, keys and phone, walk past the gate, turn left at the end of the road and go down the stairs (Hold your phone on you at all times). Once you are there, you will find a beautiful beach with blue waves. There are 3 arches and sometimes you'll find tide pools. Note there is also no lifeguard on duty. When my friend and i went we were greeted by a lovely yellow lab that was 3 months old. There was also a nice older gentleman who wished us a good day. We took pictures of the scenery and we sat down for a bit just enjoying the ocean. It felt wonderful, calm and safe. You will also find a bathroom thats very clean. There are picnic tables, surf boards and fire pits which i don't recommend using but if you do, again please be respectful and pick up after yourself. We stayed there for most of the day until sunset where we quietly walked back out the stairs and outside the gates. If you wish to visit this public beach and need to get through the gated community, go respectfully and you will have a better chance of enjoying the public beach.

5 STARS! Absolutely LOVE this Beach! Very Clean! Soft Sand!…read moreThey designed the steps down to the beach with some thought that's for sure, making it an easy walk down and up. Lifeguard was present yesterday 9/10/23. Volleyball Nets were up, Rinse off before going up with the showers at the end of the steps, clean restrooms, fire pits and picnic tables. The Surfers, Boogie Boarders and Skimmers all were having a great time! It was beautiful and the waves were breaking one after another yesterday! Made it a perfect day!

This is such a hidden gem of a place. Parking is free. It's dog friendly for portions of the sandy…read morearea. The views are absolutely spectacular. It allows you to walk right over to Doheny State Park thereby saving you money for parking. I have forgotten my state park pass on occasion and have been saved because I parked here instead. There are picnic tanks that make it perfect to eat al fresco by the sea. I personally love picking up my grubs from Kawamata Seafood right up the hill. The two goes hand in hand. To me, there's no better way to enjoy the two simultaneously.

I love walking and like to get my steps in so this is a perfect place to be especially when it's so…read morehot inland. You can enjoy a nice ocean breeze and take pictures of the natural beauty!

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.

The very best part of this beach is the parking! However, it's when you can get a parking spot as…read morewell in their paid lot - few dollars per hour, super reasonable. We went around 10:30 am on a weekday so we did find several spots available at that time. Not long after - within the next hour-ish, the lot quickly was full and you would see cars going around and around trying to find a car that was leaving. If you find a spot in the lot, the beach is literally right there and it's so convenient for carrying things or going back to your car for something. The water is very close and it makes for a really fun time. It's pretty clean and there's a kids park and jungle gym right next to the parking lot and there's a restaurant there as well - I haven't tried it yet, but will be for sure on another trip there.

Aliso Beach is easily one of my favorite coastal spots in Laguna! Finding a beach that is actually…read moreaccessible and stress-free can be a challenge, but this one nails it. ​One of the biggest wins is that it actually has two parking lots, which is a total game-changer for this area, especially if you're hauling gear. The layout is incredibly ADA accessible, and the tunnel under PCH makes getting from the extra parking to the sand safe and easy. You can also go to the lifeguard tower to ask them for a beach wheelchair. ​It's a fantastic, family-friendly environment with plenty of space to set up an umbrella and spend the whole day. Whether you're here for the views or just a relaxing afternoon by the water, the convenience makes it a 10/10 experience. Definitely a go-to if you want a beautiful beach day without the usual parking headache! There is a creek where sewage and other things run off that is connected to the ocean so just be mindful!

I was staying at the Waldorf Astoria resort and took the complimentary tram from the hotel lobby to…read morethis beach. They have complimentary beach, umbrellas and beach chairs for resort guests. An older gentleman named Paul was manning the table right by the steps when I visited early Tuesday morning and he was extremely friendly and helped me set up my beach umbrella and beach chair. This beach is as exclusive as it gets in this area so you're able to enjoy a relaxing day on the beach without the public masses. The Monarch Beach Club restaurant is right on the water so if you get hungry you can grab a bite to eat.

I didn't realize that this beach is connected to Salt Creek Beach. I thought I was visiting a brand…read morenew beach today. The cool thing about this beach, is that it has two hidden beaches, so it's kind of like 3 beaches in one. Clean beach, beautiful water, nice sand. One of my favorite beaches to go.

Great place for the young ones. No waves because the jetty blocks the rough waters…read more This cove has grass area behind the beach for shade and picnics. Public restrooms near by. Wonderful place if you want your young ones to play without worry and if you want calm waters to kayak or paddle board.

Great Outing Place With Your Fury Buddy . An Enjoyable Day For Stand Up Paddling. Some Fishing…read moreAs Well