Orange County Beaches Overview
What's a visit to California without going to the beach? California is sure to have something for everybody from the rocky, tumultuous shoreline of its north coast to the warm, wide-open, sandy beaches to the south. If you're looking for lots of activity and amenities such as restaurants, cantinas and shops, go to a beach with a pier. Piers are always a hub for locals and tourists alike where the layed-back, California spirit can be absorbed.
NOTE: Unfortunately, many beach cities in heavily populated regions of the state have negleted to appreciate their valuable resource. Many popular beaches including Huntington and Newport Beaches in Orange County, and Mission Bay in San Diego have regular beach closures throughout the year due to raw-sewage spills. To check on the currently water quality conditions, be sure to visit the Heal the Bay web site for details. Volunteer programs are also available for those wanting to take an active roll in keeping our beaches clean.
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Seal Beach is the northern-most beach in Orange County bordering Long Beach. Seal Beach has wide, sandy beaches and a quaint Main Street that leads to its pier. At the end of the pier is Ruby's Restaurant (great burgers and shakes and "what a view"). The City of Seal Beach has taken great care in maintaining its personality over the years. Walking down the relatively, less-crowded Main Street gives the feel of a California beach community 20 years ago. The shops, bars and fish taco stands are all worth checking out. The Bay movie theatre plays classic films year round.
TIP: This is one of our favorite pier communities for its original feel. Also, all of my Hawaiian shirts either came from Hawaii or the Hawaiian shirt shop on Main Street. They have great prices and selection. You can't miss it.
Seal Beach
100 Main Street
Seal Beach, California 90740
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Sunset Beach seems to be the smallest beach city in Orange County and is squeezed between Huntington Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. This is one of the few cities that has no postal delivery and residents must pick up their mail from the Post Office. Look for the well known 'Water Tower House' and you know you're in Sunset Beach. Kayaking through salt water marshes and in the canals surrounded by multi-million dollar homes and yachts is a popular activity. Stop by Sunset Kayak Rentals and paddle these beautiful canals and marshes. On the ocean side, one can find wide sandy beaches.
Sunset Beach
Warner Avenue & PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)
Sunset Beach, California 90742
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Huntington Beach is a large metropolitan city with several miles of wide, sandy beachfront. Main Street, with its plethora of shops, bars and restaurants, ends at the pier. Huntington is the official 'Surf City' and once a year hosts one of the largest surf competitions in the world. Two state beaches are found here - Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches. Fire rings are available at Huntington State Beach and nighttime beach parties are common during the summer months. HB, as it's known locally, can get VERY crowded and admittance into the state beaches is sometimes restricted to one car out - one car in.
TIP: Want to try surfing? Go to a pier where there are lifeguards or try a surf school like Corky Carroll's Surf School.
Huntington Beach
Main Street & Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, California 92648
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Newport Beach is a mix of salt water estuary, rocky cliffs, harbor and wide sandy beaches. The northern portion of Newport is wide, white sand beaches where two piers can be found, the Newport and Balboa Piers. The Balboa Pier has a Ruby's restaurant (great burgers and shakes and "what a view") at the end. The harbor and back bay estuary split Newport Beach down the center. The Balboa Peninsula is a hub for entertainment. Boat rentals are available in the harbor. 'The Wedge' is short section of ocean along the north jetty that produces monster waves. These waves break too close to shore for surfing but body boarders and body surfers love it. Corona Del Mar features Orange County's priciest community which includes Corona Del Mar State Beach offering a large sandy beach or secluded cove with sea caves. Crystal Cove State Beach is found in the southern end and features a sandy beach, tidepools, rock outcroppings and an original beach community.
NOTE: See our Cool Towns page for more on Newport Beach.
Newport Pier
Balboa Boulevard & Oceanfront
Newport Beach, California 92663
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Laguna Beach is an artist community nestled in the hills of Laguna Canyon. Laguna consists of Main Beach and many large & small coves separated by rocky cliffs. A few miles south of Main Beach along PCH, watch for 'Beach Access' signs. Wooden staircases decend to hidden sandy coves known locally as 'Thousand Steps'. Just a little further south you will find Aliso Creek Beach and Salt Creek Beach, which is popular with the local surfers. Laguna has a great nightlife with several popular restaurants and bars. The best place for view and ambience is Las Brisas Mexican Restaurant just north of Main Beach. Every seat has a view and the paved walkway out back descends from the rose garden to the beach below.
NOTE: Laguna Beach is known for its large gay population. This is sometimes obvious on its beaches and in its bars. Also, check out our Cool Towns page for more details on Laguna Beach.
Laguna Main Beach
133 (Laguna Canyon Road) & PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)
Laguna Beach, California 92651
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Dana Point has a large beach area and consists mainly of a harbor. Most of the beach is Doheny State Beach with camping, snack food stands, picnic areas, sand beach and rocky ocean bottom. Back from the sand are hugh grassy picnic areas with picnic tables and wind blocks. The harbor offers fishing and sailing charters, restaurants, hotels, an aquarium and a historical tall ship. Tidepool exploration is popular around the cliff from the aquarium. Dana Point hosts many lively events including the Whale Festival, Tallships Festival and Doheny Days live music event featuring jazz, blues and surf music legends.
TIP: One of our favorite restaurants is up on the cliff from Dana Point harbor. Canons has great seafood and every table has an ocean view.
Dana Point Harbor
Camino Capistrano & PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)
Dana Point, California 92629
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San Clemente has a mix of narrow sand beaches squeezed by train tracks and cliffs, wide sandy beaches with a pier and hike-in beaches that are world renowned surf breaks. Surfing is superb in San Clemente with breaks like T-Street, Trestles, Churches and the pier. Shopping and entertainment is unusually limited at this pier. A great restaurant and bar are at the base of the pier. The pier has excellent fishing for bonita, sand bass and surf perch. A little further south is Trestles. Trestles is THE BEST Southern California surf break. If you want to see great surfers in action, this is the place.
San Clemente Pier
Avenida Palizada & Calle Seville
San Clemente, California 92672
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