What to do and see in Orange County, Orange County: The Best Beaches

May 30, 2021 Jeremy Dunfee

Beyond its epic theme parks and perfect weather, Orange County is celebrated for outdoor dining, entertainment and beach-bound adventure. Treat yourself at South Coast Plaza for the finest in luxury shopping and superlative restaurants. Spend an afternoon aboard a whale watching cruise in Newport Harbor, or cast a reel from the Huntington Beach Pier. Stop to smell the flowers at the Sherman Library and Gardens, or explore Laguna’s vast variety of boutique shops along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Restaurants in Orange County

1. Table Rock Beach

31621 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651-6978
Excellent
78%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 60 reviews

Table Rock Beach

Reviewed By V7456AGjoyl - Los Angeles, United States

A small beach with easy access from the Coast Highway. The entrance is near coyote Grill. Great place to see the sunset. Never really crowded since most visitors go to Thousand Step Beach.

2. Marina Park

1600 W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663-4511 +1 949-721-2000
Excellent
78%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 18 reviews

Marina Park

Reviewed By 105marionc

This Park has only been open for a few years. It has a restaurant, playground for children, sailing lessons and a lifeguard in the summertime. I love to swim there in the Bay by the lifeguard station. Paid parking is available as well as handicapped parking. There are restrooms and places to rinse off.

3. Dana Strands Beach

Salt Creek Beach Park Strand Vista Park, Selva Road west of Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, CA 92629
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 64 reviews

Dana Strands Beach

Reviewed By Z4886QWannev - Monterey, United States

If you are looking for a beautiful beach for a walk, surfing, tide pools and to watch surfer Strands beach is the to go to. I moved away from Orange County four years ago and when I visit this is the first beach I want to visit.

4. Treasure Island Beach

7 Montage Way, Laguna Beach, CA 92651-4220 http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/marine/beaches/treasure_island.htm
Excellent
83%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 58 reviews

Treasure Island Beach

Reviewed By emhtravelfood - Pasadena, United States

We have traveled to many beaches in Southern California and I'm not sure we've ever been to one more beautiful or breathtaking than this beach. And the tide pools are utterly fantastic, with kind docents who are eager to teach young ones about the abundance of sea life.

5. Wood's Cove

Diamond Street Ocean Way, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/marine/beaches/woods_cove.htm
Excellent
80%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 25 reviews

Wood's Cove

Reviewed By OurOCAdventures - San Clemente, United States

We absolutely love this beach! It is like a slice of Hawaiian paradise here at home. The parking is tricky, but that is part of what keeps this beach so special. It was once a spot that only locals knew about, but social media has helped others discover the beauty of Woods Cove. You can snorkel and tide pool here or just sunbath and soak up sun.

6. Crystal Cove State Park

8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 949-494-3539 [email protected] http://www.crystalcovestatepark.com/
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,230 reviews

Crystal Cove State Park

Reviewed By 691ac - Los Angeles, United States

This is such a special place to visit! Starting with the short bus ride from the parking lot to the beach, this park is worth at least half a day to visit. You can walk around the cottages, and spend time on the beach. There are various hiking trails on the grounds and the Beachcomber restaurant of course. It is a lovely and serene place to visit.

7. Pirate's Cove Beach

Ocean Blvd and Heliotrope Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92625-3202
Excellent
60%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5 reviews

Pirate's Cove Beach

8. Newport Beach

Newport Beach, CA 92660-3267 http://www.newportbeachca.gov/
Excellent
66%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,447 reviews

Newport Beach

Reviewed By 723lisak - Richmond, Canada

Newport Beach is a beautiful area that always feels safe and is so clean. They take pride in their beautiful piece of paradise and it shows.

9. The Wedge

Newport Beach, CA
Excellent
66%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 319 reviews

The Wedge

Reviewed By davidmR4183QL - Vero Beach, United States

I made my firs visit recently (I'm from Florida) on a green-flag day at the lifeguard stands (gentle conditions). A bunch of kids were in the water enjoying the mostly 2-3 foot waves with occasional 4-5 foot outbursts. A few weeks earlier, there had been a memorable spell of waves July 3-5. There are splendid videos at YouTube. There is no parking lot nearby, but parallel parking on the nearby residential streets, except on street-cleaning days. Time of visit matters: The Wedge is open to surfboards and bodyboards before 10 am and after 5 am in the summer; bodysurfing and swimming only, from 10 to 5. This is where bodysurfing was more or less invented on the US mainland, using swim fins. In turn, at least two brands of surfing/lifeguard swim fins were invented at or near Newport Beach. Main reasons for visiting the spot are the impressive jetty (and the boats coming and going) and the waves near the jetty. Even on a small day, they tend to smash rather directly on the beach, unlike the waves at Newport Pier (the Point), a much better place for casual beach visitors to be in the water. Waves bounce off he jetty, creating unusual patterns that surfers of various sorts can ride. The waves also create large rip currents on large-wave days that allow experienced users to get out beyond the surf. The big rips (here and also elsewhere in the area) have led to the distinctively Californian system of using lifeguard boats to pick up rescued swimmers (rather than attempting to return them directly to the beach) and taking them to safer points to return to the beach or, occasionally, to the harbor. It can be worthwhile to check Surfline, the online beach camera and surf prediction service, before visiting. Conditions vary wildly and large waves can happen here on days when nearby beaches are not nearly so large. Note that extremely big days bring out crowds. It can be worthwhile to show up before dawn.

10. 1,000 Steps Beach

31972 Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Excellent
70%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 340 reviews

1,000 Steps Beach

Reviewed By Thesorotas05

We checked the tides and have a lovely time climbing through the cave as the tide went out and discovering the secret pools. We went in the morning. Looks like when lifeguards are on duty that the cave is closed. We were asked to leave by the lifeguard around 10am.

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