01
Best overall pick
Huntington City Beach
Downtown Huntington Beach • Classic Surf City Strand • Best All-Round Day Trip
A long, lively beachfront with a true surf-town feel, good facilities, and plenty to do before and after you hit the water.
If you only drive out to one beach from San Antonio Heights, Huntington is the easiest crowd-pleaser. The wide sandy stretch by the pier has volleyball courts, bonfire pits, and consistent surf, with metered parking lots lining Pacific Coast Highway. Main Street is a short walk away for tacos, coffee, and a rinse-off before the drive back up to the foothills.
02
Most energetic scene
Newport Municipal Beach
Newport Beach Peninsula • Lively Pier-Front Beach • Great For Active Groups
A busy stretch of sand by the Balboa and Newport Piers with bike paths, bars, and classic pier-front energy.
Newport’s main beachfront along the peninsula blends wide sand, good surf, and a lot of people-watching. The paved oceanfront boardwalk is ideal for biking or skating, and you can bounce between the Balboa and Newport Piers for different scenes. Expect heavier traffic in summer, but you’re rewarded with sunset views, casual seafood spots, and that unmistakable Newport buzz.
03
Prettiest coastline
Main Beach, Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach Village • Scenic Cove And Art-Town Beach • Best For Coastal Scenery
A picturesque curve of sand backed by palms, tide pools, and an art-filled little town that feels like a mini getaway.
Main Beach sits at the heart of Laguna, where rocky points, tide pools, and a gently curving shoreline make the coast feel more intimate than the big open strands to the north. The beachfront park has basketball courts, grassy lawns, and benches that are perfect for lingering over golden-hour light. When you’re off the sand, you can wander into the village for galleries, boutiques, and sit-down dinners before heading inland.
04
Most relaxed family stop
Corona del Mar State Beach
Corona Del Mar • Sheltered Family Cove • Top Pick For Young Families
A sheltered cove-style beach with gentler waves, good amenities, and a calmer feel than many bigger-name stretches.
Tucked below the bluffs at the south end of Newport, Corona del Mar feels a bit more protected and manageable, especially if you’re bringing kids. The beach has restrooms, showers, and a big pay lot at the bottom of the hill, so you’re not circling side streets for parking. Rock jetties and nearby tide pools add just enough exploration to keep younger beachgoers entertained between dips in the water.
05
Best classic LA beach day
Santa Monica State Beach
Santa Monica Oceanfront • Iconic Urban Beach • Best Mix Of Sand And City
An expansive city beach with a famous pier, bike path, and easy access to shopping and dining just off the sand.
If you don’t mind a slightly longer drive from San Antonio Heights, Santa Monica delivers the full postcard version of an LA beach day. There’s plenty of room to spread out on the sand, plus the pier’s rides and snack stands for a boardwalk-style detour. The beachfront bike path and nearby downtown blocks make it easy to turn a simple swim into a full afternoon of exploring before you head back inland.