Sun, sand, and serenity: Unveiling LA's best-kept beach secrets

With miles of coveted coastline, some of the best beaches in Los Angeles are the most sought after for sunning, surfing and simply enjoying the sand and sea. From celebrity-studded Malibu to laidback Long Beach, these sun-kissed havens offer the quintessential SoCal lifestyle. As summer approaches, Angelenos look forward to more carefree days enjoying the ultimate luxury: a wealth of beloved beaches. Here is the list of the best beaches in Los Angeles you can’t miss this summer.

Santa Monica ranks as the crown jewel despite its reputation for being overcrowded and expensive. Its iconic Santa Monica Pier, bustling Third Street Promenade, and abundance of shops and restaurants cement its status as a premier tourist destination. But underneath the commercial glitz lies a terrific beach stretching over 3 miles from Venice to Pacific Palisades. Lifeguard headquarters and towers dot the sand while surfers and bodyboarders ride the waves.  

Locals and tourists alike flock to these storied beaches in droves. In Santa Monica, visitors battle for parking spots amid families flying kites, couples biking on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, and teenagers playing pickup basketball or skateboarding by the graffiti walls. The iconic Santa Monica Pier also beckons with carnival rides and arcade games. When the famous marine layer clouds finally burn off, Santa Monica dazzles under golden sunshine. 

Just south in Venice, the scene turns funkier and artistic. Street performers line the colorful Boardwalk, an eccentric oceanfront bazaar where artists and merchants hawk their wares amid strolling tourists. Muscle Beach pays homage to Venice’s roots as the bodybuilding mecca of the 1930s that brought the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The wide sandy beach is filled with sunbathers, and the crash of waves accompanies skaters at the concrete skatepark. Vibrant murals splash color on alleyway walls throughout this edgy neighborhood as Abbot Kinney Blvd and Rose Ave have gone increasingly upscale in recent years. But the ocean remains Venice’s crown jewel.

For some peaceful respite from the scene, beaches like Abalone Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes offer an escape. Abalone Cove’s seclusion stems from the Palos Verdes Peninsula’s inaccessibility from more densely populated beach areas to the north. Along the shoreline, hiking trails skirt the bluffs while rocky tidepools offer prime spots for observing anemones, crabs and other marine life. To the south lies the remote sandy beach, mostly empty even on hot summer days.  

Los Angeles also serves as a surfing mecca, thanks to a combination of prime waves and iconic beach culture. Zuma Beach is considered a surfer's nirvana for its vast sandy stretch under gently crumbling cliffs with clear water. The beach doubled as a filming location for Baywatch, further popularizing its waves. 

In upscale Manhattan Beach, families revel in a taste of Middle America meeting the Pacific. Wide and sandy with a picturesque pier, Manhattan brings the California dreamin’ beach vibe. As the epicenter for beach volleyball, courts and nets abound, with leagues and tournaments nearly year-round. The laid back atmosphere continues along The Strand, where the paved biking and walking path stretches down the South Bay coastline with stunning ocean views—trendy cafés, beachfront restaurants and high-end shops round out Manhattan’s charming landscape.  

Hermosa Beach also dazzles with some of the region's best sunsets and surf. Its friendly waves at the north end of El Porto regularly draw surfers and boogie boarders of all levels. Nearby Hermosa Beach is renowned for its two-mile stretch of relaxed luxury, dotted with beachfront homes and scenic pedestrian paths. Pier Avenue bustles with renowned brew pubs and restaurants with ocean views, while the Hermosa Beach Pier offers serene sunset vantage points. 

Beach culture also thrives with amenities tailored to locals’ interests. Canine lovers congregate in Long Beach at Rosie’s Dog Beach, an off-leash pooch paradise prime for meetups like “Cowboy Bebop Corgi Cosplay Beach Day.” Humans can simultaneously picnic or fly kites at adjacent Oxnard Beach Park. Further south, families and friends ride the ferry to soak up summer charm on Santa Catalina Island. The hour-long cruise rewards passengers with snorkeling, water sports or lounging at Descanso Beach Club’s “truly primo” cabanas and full bar.

On the Channel Islands, Catalina is an idyllic weekend getaway unique to Southern California. This jewel amongst the archipelago lies just 22 miles offshore yet feels worlds away from the urban jungle. Ferries and high-speed catamarans provide easy passage across the Catalina Channel to Avalon, Catalina’s quaint sole town. Under the translucent waters, snorkelers and divers gape at the kelp forests, Garibaldi damselfish and other wonders framing this underwater paradise. Coastal buffs lace up their boots to traverse the island’s rugged interior with secluded coves and camps only reachable on foot or kayak. Catalina offers an unspoiled island escape, whether lounging on the beachfront or exploring further inland.

Ultimately, Los Angeles County beaches excel at providing that idyllic California lifestyle long romanticized in movies, magazines, and imaginations nationwide. Miles of coveted coastline link cherished communities rooted in surf culture, cuisine, the arts and more. As endless summer beckons, plan to soak up the surf and sun at an iconic Los Angeles beach. With sublime weather, terrific waves and plenty of coastal access points, residents bask in an embarrassment of sandy riches year-round.