Nothing not to like! Sunset Beach is pretty awesome. This might be one of the most low key, hidden gem beaches in Southern California that I've been to. I can't believe I've never heard of this place before. A few friends and I decided to rent a beach house here about a month or so ago. None of us had ever really been to this area, so we didn't know what to expect, aside from the pictures online. When we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised. The beach was quiet, spacious, and beautiful. This is the perfect place to go to if you're looking for a relaxing getaway. This beach has a couple poles for volleyball, but you'll likely have to bring your own net. We ended up purchasing one at a sports store nearby. Restaurants in the area are fantastic, and the properties are gorgeous. For a casual lunch, I highly recommend The Pocket Burger Shack. It was delicious and cheap as can be. Go ahead and check this place out! This beach will not disappoint. read more

Sunset Beach - View from our beach house - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

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Beautiful beach, very private and better water than going to Huntington next door. However the lifeguards are close to useless. When my boyfriend got stung badly by a sting ray (in between the toes and his whole foot went numb and he could not walk on it) they wouldn't even come down to help us or get any hot water for him. They would see me running over to them SEVERAL times asking for help bc he could not walk to get to his truck and they just said "he should be fine" and didn't move a muscle as they stared at me running back and forth trying to get help. Well, Chad (not his name but may as well be) he WASNT fine and it took luck and running the opposite direction to catch a fire dept truck to help us, and HE was able to get us some hot water to get all the poison out. He even agreed you two were absolutely useless and selfish. I understand that apparently my issue is unimportant to you, and you need to watch the water, however it doesn't help that there was a female life guard next to him who just sat on her phone behind him looking at me like "what are we supposed to do about it". They even suggested we drive all the way to the other side of PCH (lmao, sure Chad) to get some hot water for my bf's foot. Even if these were things the lifeguards really can't do, would it kill them to at the very least even LOOK productive rather than sit there making it clear they don't give a flying eff about us lol. Thanks for nothing Lifeguards, hope you're getting paid SPLENDID. read more

Sand, Sunsets, and Stingrays! I love this beach and still come here. 5 Stars but dangerous for kids in the water. Years ago this was a great surf spot we called "Andersons" down by Anderson Street. I guess I was a kid back then. They did something to help prevent flooding. It was never the same. So, I started swimming. The water is calm and a bit warmer. I would swim from Anderson down to Jack n the Box near Bolsa Chica and usually walk back up. I did this for many years until..... A stingray jabbed me with his barbs of terror. He got me twice or once through two toes. Turns out this is a hot spot for them. Ever since I was stuck, I would see people and kids stumble out of the water with the same pain. Lifeguards (US Lifeguards) not in sight. Parents not believing their kids about the pain. I would have to tell them. Sting Rays are common in these waters and, from my understanding, it is not publicized because it will chase off tourists. Kinda reminds me of Jaws. If you have never been jabbed by a stingray, you have no idea what pain is. It is easily treated by keeping the area in hot water..no not pee...it must be much hotter. Pretty much boiling water to denature the protein. The pain starts at the puncture site and progress like a fire. It feels like walking on broken bottles. Terrible Terrible pain. It is nothing like a jellyfish. Maybe 100x worse. I couldn't even walk and somehow managed to drive myself home ( I do not advise this). So, I admit I come here to swim now and again. The water is calmer and warmer because of the run-off...the reason the stingrays like it here. For sure, don't let your kids play too far into the water. read more

Certainly one of the better beaches to come and find your inner peace. Super quiet most of the time and clean. If you're not lugging too much parking and finding a good spot to spread out is quite easy. read more

Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

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Sunset Beach is located just south of Seal Beach over the bridge on PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy) between Long Beach and Huntington Beach. This small beach town has a slew of fast food, good, and great restaurants: Captain Jack's, Sunset Pizza & Pasta, Fish Camp (YES!), King Neptune, Roman Cucina, Super MEX, Jack-In-The-Box (haha, had to mention it), and my favorite breakfast place Harbor House Cafe (be careful parking). This is only a few, there are many more on PACH between Seal Beach Blvd & Warner. During beach weather (pick your time and temperature), the beach is just a parking space away between the homes located ON the beach and PCH. Normally, there is ample parking, but during the summer, you need to get there early to find a parking space (or Uber/Lyft it). It fills up fast and some days, it's virtually impossible to find one on the beach side of PCH. Overall, a great place to visit, but you won't spend more than a few hours shopping or looking. A better place if you want to beach it! Happy Beachin' Eatin' and Fight On! read more

With several long days and short nights; life feels like it's slipping through my fingers. Sunset beach was a great find on accident. I stumbled across this beach after walking along S. Pacific Ave. and observing each homeowner's front door. Each home had its own character; flagstone rocks with a short and stubby red door, a yellow shingled home with turquoise shutters. A home is where the heart is. The thick, untouched sand caressed my feet as I walked along the abandoned beach. The warm, golden sun beamed and created shadows on the sand. It was a peaceful visit. No oversized umbrellas, no loud neighbors, nothing disturbed me. As the waves gently brushed along the shore I couldn't help but imagine what life will be like without happiness. As the wind whispered in my ear, I knew I wasn't alone. Only three elements of feng shui were present, maybe that's why it was abandoned! A little girl was busy collecting shells while her mother insisted she take all the pretty ones. Visitors passed while a couple nearby huddled to keep warm. A lonely volleyball court patiently waited for players. Three young men began showing off their body boarding moves. I sat down on the warm golden sand for quite sometime while cuddling with my jacket. I couldn't ask for a better day. read more

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I would love to love this beach but it is just always covered in trash. Covered. Poor beach. There are lots of trash cans but alas, the people don't care. Free parking. Easy access and a ton of sand. read more

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I love this beach because of its privacy. I am not fond of crowds so this beach is perfect. One star off because the time we visited this beach, we had to leave. We didn't get to enjoy the quietness as much as we could. There were STINGRAYS!!! Knowing my boys were in the water didn't make me comfy and relaxed; i was always on the look out to make sure they were fine. read more

Stunningly beautiful beach! Found this place while driving around looking for a beach. The water was cold, sand was warm, and not too many people. I rested on the beach for a few hours and it was very peaceful. Parking was a little crowded, there were spaces at 10 AM when I got there. I went to my car to get more weed and just in the couple of seconds I was at my car I had three cars pull up, desperately asking for my spot. I hope to come back soon! read more

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Amazing spot to spend some time! Good vibes and nice sand. Would definitely recommend stopping by if you are passing through! read more

Beautiful spot for a Saturday visit with my friend and her family last weekend. Parking was the toughest part, but isn't that always the case? Since we had a toddler with us and knew we wouldn't stay for the entire day, we opted out of the all day parking (still not a bad price at $15) and meandered around looking for a spot. When we finally snagged a spot (for freeeeee!) it led us to the absolute perfect location on the beach. There were so few people near us on a stunningly sunny day so it felt like we had the space to ourselves. Bonus - there were disgusting but convenient bathrooms close by in the parking lot so that beat having to seek one out further down the shoreline. My friends recently moved to Long Beach so they're still discovering what's in the area but based on this visit, they'll definitely be back. Only wish it wasn't a flight away for me! read more

One of my favorite SoCal beaches. Not too crowded. Found parking right away! That's a plus. Two other friends came at different times. They also found parking pretty quick. We were by tower 22. The lifeguard went into the water about 7 times. Just to warn the swimmers about the strong currents. He told my nieces to get closer and move away from the current. I'm very appreciative about that. Saturday was just a perfect beach day. Sooo many surfers. Pretty much the entire time we were there. Water was not too cold. Saw a few kite surfers later on in the day. I've been to this beach serval times. I will continue to go to Sunset Beach. read more

Most Beautiful Sunset I have ever seen! Definitely the best view out of all the beaches nearby. read more

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Sunset Beach is a little strip of beach that only locals generally visit as most people zip past it on PCH trying to get down the highway. It is located south of my hometown of Seal Beach and north of renowned "Surf City," Huntington Beach, which I avoid like the plaque because of the craziness and crowds. As I frequent two of my favorite restaurants, Captain Jack's and Fish Camp here in Sunset Beach, I am in this area often even though I now live in South Orange County. Waves aren't super big here but can get larger during high surf times. You often see people surf fishing at this beach. It is generally very quiet and peaceful at Sunset. For that reason, you can take in the beauty of the ocean here without a lot of usual beach crowd noise and distraction. There are many shells on the sand, also. I used to find a lot of sand dollars washed up on the shore here. Be aware that during the rainy season, when the tides come up really high, the berm (big, long sand wall) is erected as a buffer between the surf and beachfront property to try and help prevent flooding. You have to trek up and over the berm to get from the sand to the ocean. This area of PCH on the highway is often closed, too, during periods of heavy rain because of flooding, so don't even attempt to travel down PCH during these times because you can't get through. Parking is free along the beachfront area between the residential area and stores lining PCH. I generally just enter at light at the famous water tower and start driving down to find an available parking space. Recently on a gorgeous sunny February day, I stopped by just to take in the gorgeous views and get the sand and surf between my toes. I love the ocean as my parents have lived in nearby Seal Beach for over 40 years, and I have been around the water my entire life. Sunset Beach is a great hidden gem if you want to explore the beach in North Orange County with less crowds. read more

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A beach where you can go, relax and listen to the amazing waves. I always bring my family here. This is our family go to beach. A hidden gem. I would recommend it. Parking is limited but first come first serve thing. Hungry... jack in the box is near. Walking distance. What can I say... my all time favorite spot. Go check it out!! read more

A gorgeous beach without swarms of people and tons of seashells? Sign me up! I was searching Yelp for a peaceful beach to spend Saturday afternoon and decided to give Sunset Beach a try. Not too far from Long Beach and Seal Beach, Sunset Beach is a lovely throwback to the sleepy beach towns of the past- cute yet unpretentious beach homes, no crowds, just the ocean waves and shell-filled sand. I found free parking easily on Pacific Avenue near 16th St. and was greeted by a friendly local as I headed to the beach. As a beachcomber, I loved finding several intact seashells! There were very few people on the beach and they kept to themselves, so it felt like it was my personal beach as I waited for the sun to set. If you aren't looking for huge crowds and just want to unwind, this is the place to go. I'll be back and will have to explore the surrounding shops & eateries next time! read more

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My all time favorite beach. Parking is free and open. I think it is more of a resident beach meaning locals only. However, I never had any issues when I came here. It is a super vacant beach and my favorite place to go and just think. i will ALWAYS come back to sunset beach :) read more

I loved this beach!!! We had a few hours before a cruise and had our Lyft driver drop us off at a dead end street with beach access. It was tricky hauling our suitcases to the water but so worth it. The sand was super clean and the beach was almost empty besides a few people running and walking along the shore. The water was pretty cold but it didn't stop us from getting in. There were tons of shells to collect and we had a relaxing time waiting for our docking appointment for our cruise in Long Beach. I hate to talk too much about how great it is- part of the charm was for sure how uncrowded it was. This might have also been because it was a colder Monday morning. I hope we get to come back again soon. read more

Definitely didnt come here for swimming. My intentions were to see a sunset and a sunrise for my overnight visit. I have frequent this beach numerous a times like my other so cal beaches around me. But I ended up here on labor day weekend because it was close to home. The sand is over populated by seashells. Some whole some not. It's not as crowded. And my visit to sunset beach served it's purpose. Just needed to get away from reality and create a new world even for one day, one night. This helps me step outside of my world so I can have a better view. And it did. It's a place to take long walks on the dry and wet sand. It's a place to take in the fresh air and blow out all the toxins in your soul. It's a place where you can dance to your favorite slow jams under the moon light being caressed by your bodyguard=) It's a place two people can just hold each other and listen to the amazing waves crashing in. And it offers a pretty sunset indeed. I was thankful for a special person who was able to accompany me on my overnight getaway. He crossed several county lines to be with me. That says alot in Chel's world. It really does. So salamat! #Leos#@#heart read more

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Sunset Beach in Hawaii is known for surfing. It's located on the North Shore of Oahu (my island), but I don't go there because the water is rough and dangerous. Sunset Beach in Southern California is relatively calmer. There were challenging waves and I was still able to swim...meaning that it wasn't flat and the water was not freezing! Sand quality is fine. ...It sticks everywhere. When you change clothes, you wonder where it came from and how it got there! LOL! There are pieces of seashells scattered all over. ..just dig through and you may find a sand dollar!! The parking was free in the late afternoon. ..just waited for someone to leave. The shower was convenient. ..just push the button because it seems to be on a timer. Restrooms are available. Thanks to LA Elite Yelper, Chel, for the great review and beautiful photos of this place that I had bookmarked! Mahalo also to LA Elite Yelper, Tim, for being an accommodating chauffeur (I had to drag him to the beach. ..heh heh heh)! Appreciate you both for your Aloha Spirit! read more

Sunset is where my heart is!!! I've been here numerous times to surf, catch some ray, and even hang out late at night with friends. What can I say, this was my spot to have a good time and be a typical Southern California girl! I have so many awesome memories here from my high school days up until to the present day! Sure the waters are infested with stringray, but that's why you jump on top of your board to paddle out or shuffle those tots like no other. I've taken many pieces of nature from here like sand dollars, drift wood, and even bamboo sticks when Hawaii had a huge storm and littered Sunset with massive amounts of it along its coast. From the sand to the awesome little restaurants in town, Sunset will ALWAYS be my unincorporated slice of heaven. ..AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT.. http://www.savesunsetbeach.com/ read more

Free parking always seems available. Clean beach, lots of wave and my kids enjoyed finding large white shells. My family said the bathrooms were sub par but that kinda goes with all beach bathrooms. read more

Quiet. Spacious. Perfect. Any day is good day here. SB is one of those beaches where the typical beach scene consisting of hard bodies, boobies and sun worshipers are non-exisitent. Thank goodness. Its a beach that summons the surf, impeccable waves and wispy ocean breezes. Good times are definitely to be had. Not into swimming or surfing? SB is perfect for walking on the sand, seashell collecting and sandcastle building. bring the kiddos! Perks: Great dining, bars, cafes and shopping around. Beach is fairly clean and has cool views of Long Beach and Huntington Beach if you look around. Downsides: Parking is rough - not too many public parking spots, also street parking can be difficult. Be cautious. OverALL: Fun. FUN.Fun. Spend the day. Build a sandcastle, and catch a wave! read more

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Easy parking access (if spots are available) that is close to the beach so if you want to drive to the beach and watch the sunset or clear your head you can do so without the parking hassle. Also had an instance where a local resident saw me rushing to catch the sunsetting and she told me to hurry and that it was beautiful. Nice knowing that people aren't irritated that you are coming to enjoy the beach & sunset. read more

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Multiple visits in a span of a couple weeks means I have found my new favorite beach. 1. Free parking - yeah you might have to drive around a bit, but patience pays off 2. Short walk to shore - if you're a regular at HB, you know that the walk to the water is a LONG one, but Sunset beach is a perfect distance from parking to water 3. Not as many crowds - sure it gets packed, as any beach during summer should, but if you get there around 11am you're sure to find a good spot 4. Great waves - better for bodyboarding than surfing. Skimboarding seems to be popular too. Watch out for the riptides. Now, for the not so great things.. 1. Lots of seaweed, kelp, flotsam & jetsam. Parts of the beach are basically crushed shells which can hurt your feet 2. Feathers - lots of bird feathers in the water which made me feel pretty grossed out, but they seem to come and go Sandy areas were fairly clean, I saw some people littering (shame shame!!) but overall, it wasn't like I was finding trash with every step I took. read more

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Beautiful quiet local beach without the tourist-y components. Sand isn't that soft, but I'm not complaining. Very clean because people actually clean up after themselves here. Perfect for flying kites, throwing the ball/ frisbee around, but not so much bike riding or roller skating around since there are no sidewalks by the sand. The only difficult thing about coming to this beach is the parking. It's FREE! But you have to look for it! And they're almost always not available. Other than that, I enjoy laying out and enjoying some time with family and friends here. read more

It was Memorial Day weekend. Warnings of high traffic, oversold hotels, too many tourists, and many headaches were given. We were dreading the worst. But here at Sunset Beach, there was none of that! It ended up being vast stretches of sand, beautiful and warm, with barely a soul on it. The houses lined up peacefully behind us as we walked past a small group of fishers, a few family with children, and a couple adults tossing a frisbee. When we sat down, we were not even close enough to anyone to hear our conversations. It was a perfect day at the beach. As we lay there, letting the waves kiss our toes, we looked up to see dolphins jumping out of the water! They were playing with each other, racing and darting back and forth. It was quite a magical scene. I've been to Huntington Beach before, but it was a nightmare with parking and crowds. I will definitely go to Sunset Beach from now on! read more

Very Pretty beach it's best to come on warm summer days came yesterday 12-27-2021 before we got there the fam and I we ate at the restaurant Harbor House Cafe it was nice nice walk to and from parking in the back it was nice and Sunny then got cloudy mind you it is winter time but In Cali needs to be warm definitely coming back with the family and when I get a girlfriend in the future definitely going to take them back it is a family friendly oriented beach you can surf and everything the only downfall this is why I'm giving it 4 stars is because of the rules like it seems like you can take dogs on here that's one of the rules you can't so it's kind of ridiculous cause it seems like it's a dog friendly beach like every beach in the world should be anyways the list goes on read more

1st time coming to this part of the beach and we loved it ! Maybe because it wasn't crowded at all ! We found so many small shells to play with in the sand , then it had a beautiful sunset . We found parking spot ( free )right away and its was just calm , I will definitely come back again read more

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Sunset Beach is so awesome that people are hesitant to write five star reviews and give it attention. Sunset Beach is an extremely small stretch of beach just north of the touristy and bro-heavy Huntington Beach. Sunset Beach is like a sleepier, more "adult" Seal Beach, which borders on the north. Resting between beautiful wetlands, Sunset Beach is almost island-like, with the underrated Bolsa Chica Beach for beach fun and a harbor area for kayaking. The city also has a weekly farmers market, a house owned by Sandra Bullock, and a weird but striking tower landmark that serves as a beach bum's Eiffel Tower. Other than the severely missed Nadine's Irish Mist pub, I've never felt comfortable in the bars there (Turc's, Mother's), but Sunset Beach has some of my favorite restaurants, including Harbor House (best late-night meal), Himalayan Grill (best Indian in OC), Pelican Isle, Daimon, Super Mex, Brix, Taco Surf, Schooner at Sunset, and the very special Captain Jack's and Don the Beachcomber, all of which I have reviewed. Along with Seal Beach and Naples, Sunset Beach is one of the three places I would live if I won the lottery... until then, you can find me in the ghetto. read more

Sunset Beach in southern California is a great beach. Lots of seashells on the sand (that are not broken) and volleyball nets on the beach. Free parking and never crowded like its neighbor Huntington Beach. One of my favorite California beaches, I'll be there every summer...and the sunsets are gorgeous! read more

One of the best beaches in So Cal. Came on a weekend and it wasn't crowded or anything. The sand isn't rocky or anything and relatively free of trash. It has volleyball nets and lifeguard stations also. Definitely it's one of the more hidden beaches in the area. The downside is that unlike Venice or Santa Monica there aren't any ships really close to the beach itself. They're maybe all 3-4 blocks away. I went to fly some kites and the breeze was good and since there weren't that many people at the beach, no "traffic" for my kites. Parking: lots of free angled parking right off the beach. It's in lots that span the entire beach. If not there is also street parking available too. Every time I've come, I haven't had a hard time finding parking. Bathrooms: in the parking lots, there are some bathrooms that are relatively decent for a beach, meaning it's not grossly trashed. Overall: highly recommend you come here if you just want a sense of the calm beach without too many tourists. read more

Sunset Beach - Sunset at Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

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Where to go when you don't want to be with the crowds at Huntington and Bolsa Chica? Come here! Much more relaxing and free parking along the streets. (in small lots between N. and S. Pacific) or some along PCH. Sure there is no bonfire pits nor any place that will rent out bike. However, the better part to that is there is no drunken stupidity frat boys/sorority girls and less crowds. Way less. Yes, there are some bathrooms and places to wash off along the route in those lots between the N. and S. Pacific. There is even a small playground on the border of Bolsa Chica, by Jack in the Crack. I like it here, though I don't think I'll ever be able to afford it here. This is one of the few places here that is waterfront view. You literally step into sand that is also your backyard. I come here on my long runs or if I need to get away from it all. You probably will see more and more check ins of this place from me. read more

It is a beautiful and quiet beach. I am so glad I discover this beach. I almost don't want to advertise it and keep it a secret. If you want to avoid the tourist crowd and those "commercialize" beach and just want to enjoy some quiet moment, this is the perfect one for you. It has breath taking beautiful sunset view, this is how it's name come from. Yes, you need to be patience in order to find a parking, but it's free so I don't see a reason to complaint. Now the cons: Yes, the sand may not be soft enough, lots of seashells and seaweed but to me is no big deal. I still like this beach a lot! I think it should be four and a half star actually! read more

Sunset Beach - Breath taking sunset! - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

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My friend lives in Long Beach and invited us to the beach one day. I was kind of skeptical to go because I thought we were going to the beach in Long Beach which issssss quite dirty. She actually took us to this beach which issssss amazing. One of the best beaches around. It's clean in comparison to the surrounding beaches. It's usually never packed either. I have returned a few times after my first visit and all visits have been on weekends. Same great experience for them all. However, I did take my daughter the first time (She is 2 years old.. Not the best swimmer) and the waves were a little rough for her size. But as far as surfing, this is a great spot for a beginner. My daughter did enjoy digging for baby hermit crabs which were everywhere. read more

This is one of our favorites when we are at Huntington Beach. Parking is free but limited. Mostly locals but due to parking we never see thw crowds luke HB. Nice year round and not a bad beach break for surfing. read more

Sunset Beach - Busy dig, nice sandy beach - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

This is without a doubt my favorite beach in Southern California. I've been to the popular ones, HB, Seal, Newport - but they are all too dirty, too pretentious and too crowded for my tastes. I stumbled onto this little gem of a community about 3 years ago and haven't visited any other beach then. I prefer a quiet, low key, well maintained beach and Sunset hits all the marks - plus free parking! The parking can get a little hairy as its free so people are going to hop on that ASAP. Timing is key with both parking and location - the surfers come early so parking is impacted but they tend to clear out by 11, which does free up a good amount of spots. The bathrooms and shower areas are clean and very well maintained - which you will NOT find in HB. Not a fan of HB at all and this place is like the anti HB - which is what got me hooked. I am here at least 3 times a month - it's my place of peace. I'm like Julie P. in that I don't want people to know about my hidden gem so I can keep it to myself but I am a hard-core Yelper and I'm here to help - maybe...just don't take my parking spot ;) Love Sunset Beach!!!! read more

What a lovely beach, like other reviews it's not very crowded and is great nearby beach for seashell collecting. My five year old had a blast picking up whatever washed up by the shore, even found a few sea glass pieces. Perfect for those who like "long walks on the beach....." Parking was fairly easy, maps pretty much helped us where to turn and BAM parking was right in front of us. read more

Sunset Beach - Around 5PM during September - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

Sunset Brach is nice but you are parking in a residential area and like all beaches, There are a lot of people walking to and fro and backing out of their garages. I am sure it is a pain to live there sometimes. This beach is good for families. I did not see any dogs though . read more

Quite possibly my favorite beach, next to Zuma. I like this place for several reasons: not too crowded, somewhat decent parking, good food nearby, quiet, good place to drink(at night), and a great place to watch the sunset!!! read more

Sunset Beach - Sunset Beach - Beaches Near Me - Sunset Beach, California