Aliso Creek County Beach Steep shore creates powerful waves. All amenities and fire pits. Pay and display parking $1/hour. 31131 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.494.6573. Map I16
Balboa Beach Pristine sunning and swimming beach. All amenities. Metered parking. Along Balboa Boulevard at Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, 714.644.3044. Map N14
Bolsa Chica State Beach Good destination for grunion hunts. All amenities and fire pits. Fee for parking. Along Pacific Coast Highway between Main Street and Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, 714.846.3460. Map N9
Capistrano Beach Wide, unblemished. All amenities. Pay and display parking $1/hour. On El Camino Real at Palisade Drive, Capistrano Beach, 949.923.2280. Map F6
Corona del Mar State Beach Large, sandy beach with eight volleyball nets. Lifeguards, all amenities, fire pits. Fee for parking. At Ocean Boulevard and Iris Avenue, Corona del Mar, 714.644.3044. Map M16
Crystal Cove State Park Thousands of acres of hiking, bike trails, beaches, coves. Irvine Coast Marine Life Refuge offshore. Lifeguards, restrooms. Fee for parking. Along E. Coast Highway between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, Orange County, 949.494.3539. Map E4
Doheny State Beach Popular swimming beach, interpretive center. All amenities and fire pits. Fee for parking. At Dana Harbor, along Del Obispo and Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.496.6171. Map K17
Huntington City Beach Wide, sandy beach with amenities, including fire pits. Fee for parking. Along Pacific Coast Highway between Beach Boulevard and Main Street, Huntington Beach, 714.536.5280. Map N9
Huntington State Beach Wide, sandy beach with amenities, including fire pits. Bolsa Chica Wetlands are across highway. Fee for parking. Along Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Ana River and Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, 714.536.1454. Map N10
Little Corona del Mar Beach Moderate paved walk down to picturesque cove; tide pools great for kids. Good for snorkeling, scuba diving. Free street parking. Ocean Boulevard and Poppy Avenue, Corona del Mar, 714.644.3044. Map M16
Main Beach Large beach close to shops, restaurants. Great people-watching. Basketball courts. All amenities. Metered parking. At Laguna Canyon Road and North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.494.6573. Map F5
Newport Beach Municipal Beach Popular golden strand with many facilities, fine surf spots. All amenities, including fire pits. Metered parking. Along Oceanfront at Newport Pier, Newport Beach, 714.644.3044. Map N13
Newport Dunes Resort Beach on back bay lagoon has full-time lifeguards, giant inflatable in-water novelties (e.g. teeter-totter, climbing apparatus). Free. 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.DUNE. Map M14
Picnic Beach Picnics and panoramas. Lifeguard, picnic tables. Metered parking. At Myrtle Street and Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.494.6573. Map H15
