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Strand Vista Park

4.9 (16 reviews)

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Sandy B.

What a hidden find! This is a great spot to watch the sunset. There is great free parking and lots of green patches to sit alongside and look out over the ocean. Picture perfect views. Bathrooms available.

John S.

I wanted to hate this park because at first it felt like some breadcrumbs thrown to the masses from the ostentatious and frankly ugly--most of them, at least--mansions recently built in the gated community between Selva Road and the beach, but the more time I spent here, the more I realized that the selfsame owners of those mansions are probably very annoyed that we riffraff have more or less complete access to the beach and even get to traipse down stairs right through the middle of their neighborhood to get to the beach. We don't even have to pay for parking, which is a rarity for beach parking in Orange County. You probably come here just to park and go to the beach, but if you forget your bathing suit or flip-flops or just don't want to get sand in your car or don't have much time, there are little trails up near the park that are good for wasting a half-hour or so, and you can catch some beautiful ocean views without going down a single step. The park is pretty well hidden, and it wasn't too crowded on the beautiful weekday we went. It's also very clean, and there is a constant trickle of people walking along the path, so it feels very safe. It really was nice to come across this spectacular place almost by accident.

Breathtaking views!
Angela W.

Breathtaking views. Free parking. What more can you ask for. Perfect for sunset watching. Stairs down to the beach. Loved it.

Sidewalk up top

I have never been to this location after being here for 12 years. I was impressed by this location. Free parking in the lot which is decent size. Beautiful view uptop and you can also take the stairs down to the beach. You do have to lug all your stuff down so pack light. there is an elevator but I heard it's not always working so you don't want to rely on that. There are lifeguards down on the beach and you can walk over to Salt Creek Beach as well. No weeds on the beach so that's always a plus. I would totally go back! SYOY!

Gorgeous view!!
Zach W.

By far one of the best beaches in Southern California. If you are visiting or even if you live locally you have to come to Strands. The walk down to the beach is steep but it is well worth your time. There is a elevator that goes down to the beach on the right side of the parking lot. You can choose between stairs or a pathway down with some stairs as well. This beach is definitely where a lot of locals hang out. This is my go to beach during the summer. The parking at strands is free and there is usually plenty of spaces available. It's a huge parking lot. Don't fight for parking at another beach or pay for parking at another beach.

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Review Highlights - Strand Vista Park

There is great free parking and lots of green patches to sit alongside and look out over the ocean.

Mentioned in 7 reviews

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Baby Beach - Beach

Baby Beach

4.3(137 reviews)
0.6 mi

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!

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Baby Beach - Beach

Beach

Baby Beach - From water to handicap parking is not far at all

From water to handicap parking is not far at all

Baby Beach

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Three Arch Bay - First set of steps down to the beach

Three Arch Bay

4.2(28 reviews)
1.9 mi

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!

Photos
Three Arch Bay - Stairway down to beach

Stairway down to beach

Three Arch Bay - 3 arches rock formation

3 arches rock formation

Three Arch Bay - Second set of steps down to the beach! Rinse off with the Showers at the bottom.

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Second set of steps down to the beach! Rinse off with the Showers at the bottom.

Thousand Steps Beach - 8/13/22 - Can you spot baby fishies? There were some in here.

Thousand Steps Beach

4.5(807 reviews)
2.6 mi

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.

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Thousand Steps Beach - Steps Down

Steps Down

Thousand Steps Beach
Thousand Steps Beach - 1000 steps lifeguard at top of the steps on PCH

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1000 steps lifeguard at top of the steps on PCH

Aliso Beach - ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California!

Aliso Beach

4.4(192 reviews)
3.7 mi

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!

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Aliso Beach - ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California! (4/8/26 Sunset)

ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California! (4/8/26 Sunset)

Aliso Beach - ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California! (4/8/26 Sunset)

ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California! (4/8/26 Sunset)

Aliso Beach - ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California!

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ALISO BEACH, South Laguna Beach, California!

Strand Vista Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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