Los Angeles Beaches

Los Angeles beaches may almost be as much of an icon as Disneyland or the Hollywood sign. With twenty-plus beaches in Los Angeles County to choose from, you may have a hard time picking one or two to visit during your vacation. We've compiled a list of the best Los Angeles beaches by type and interest to help you choose.

See Them Now: Photo Tours

We've listed the beaches below by the activities they're best for, now why don't you tell us which one you like best? Vote now, or see what other people just like you think.

What is your favorite Los Angeles beach?

• Dockweiler Beach
• El Matador Beach
• Manhattan Beach
• Redondo Beach
• Santa Monica Beach
• Venice Beach
• Zuma Beach
• Paradise Cove

Best Los Angeles Beaches by Type

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Surfing: Zuma Beach: Locals love this beach north of Malibu for its good waves and clean water, but if don't want to make the 20-mile drive, you'll find lots of surfing buddies in Manhattan Beach.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: People-Watching: Venice Beach: Los Angeles' quirkiest beach can be its most interesting, attracting a cast of characters fit for any Hollywood movie.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Walking: Manhattan Beach: A long, paved walking path with Santa Monica Bay views makes Manhattan Beach our favorite place to take a walk.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Beach Experience: Paradise Cove: This small, private beach offers a charming, old-fashioned beach experience and a great beachside restaurant.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Beach Volleyball: Manhattan Beach: Where else but the birthplace of beach volleyball and home of the world's first beach volleyball tournament?

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Bonfire: Dockweiler Beach: Actually, it's the only one of the Los Angeles beaches where you can have bonfire.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Romance: El Matador Beach: This secluded, little pocket beach north of Malibu is a great place to watch the sunset with your sweetie.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: For Kids: Redondo Beach: Lots of sand to play on, a pier full of amusements and a long, paved path for biking or skating make this a place you can take the kids to and let them run until they're exhausted.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Amusements: Santa Monica Beach: The beach here is nice, but most people also come for the amusement park on the pier.

• Best Los Angeles Beaches: Weekend Getaway: Redondo Beach: Beach, pier and marina serve up plenty to keep you busy all weekend (or not).

• Los Angeles Beaches to Bare it All: There are no nude beaches in Los Angeles County. Your nearest option is San Onofre.

The Truth about Southern California Sunshine

The Beach Boys weren't quite telling the truth when they crooned about West Coast sunshine. If you've never been here before, you may find Southern California less sunny than you expected, especially at the beaches. When temperatures rise inland, so does the air, pulling cool, moist marine air onto the beaches like a foggy blanket. It's so predictable in early summer that local residents dub it "June gloom," but it extends into July and August, too. Some days, the fog and low clouds disappear early, but on other days, like a hungover beach bum, the sun may not put in an appearance until mid- to late-afternoon. Be sure to layer on the sunscreen even on these overcast days because the UV light goes right through the clouds.