Los Angeles Off the Beaten Path: Best Beaches

Every summer, throngs of family travelers head to Los Angeles, and one of the most popular places they visit is the beach. With incredible weather and the beautiful Pacific Ocean as your playground, it’s no wonder; but, as with any popular tourist destination, the city’s most well-known beaches can get quite crowded and aren’t always the best place to experience beach life like a local. For an off-the-beaten path experience on your next visit to LA, head to some of these spots locals swear by.

Abalone Cove

This quiet little spot isn’t necessarily the best beach in LA for swimming, but it is a great place to go tide pooling and enjoy the rugged beauty of the coastline. Abalone Cove also offers a beautiful view of the ocean from the parking lot above the beach. The half-mile hike to the beach is well-worth the effort when you reach the bottom and find yourself immersed in the local marine life. If you plan your visit during low tide, you are sure to find tidepools alive with a variety of sea creatures like sea anemones, starfish and crabs.

Topanga Beach

Topanga Beach, the lesser-known neighbor of the beaches in nearby Malibu, is the quintessential SoCal beach destination. Popular among local surfers, the soft sand is a great place to lie back and catch some rays while watching the waves or taking a swim in the refreshing water.

Crystal Cove

Although this spot is actually south of L.A. County in nearby Orange County, Crystal Cove State Park is worth mentioning for its stunning beauty. This spot is a perfect example of California’s natural, untouched shoreline, the perfect place for swimming, surfing and tide pooling, along with hiking and exploring the nearby artist colony or hiking the park’s hillside and canyon trails.