SoCal trip this weekend - Best Beach / pier to hang out?

[bhaveshp]

So we're going to SoCal this weekend and going to 2 theme parks with the kids - Contributing to the leaders other hobby.

I left Sunday open to go to a beach community - hang out, go to a pier, maybe shopping. Two families with kids ranging from 3 to 12.

Suggestions for where to go? We're thinking of Santa Monica / Venice Beach. Anything we should avoid?

[Buzz]

Belmont Pier... hang out w/ Harbourmaster B)

[anonymouse1]

Venice Beach.

[vision63]

Great beaches with fairly easy parking in my opinion include Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach beaches which are next to one another. There is "major" shopping right there and nearby. Redondo Beach has "King Harbor" with restaurants etc. Manhattan and Hermosa Beaches has nice piers and a great "strand" to walk or bike or skate down. I grew up fishing those piers.

[Mike Johnson]

I second vision63.

[RgrF]

Santa Monica Pier has a small amusement park, from there you can stroll, jog, skate, bike or drive to Venice Beach. You just can't swim it; well maybe if you're up to date on your penicillin and frigid water shots you can.

It's all touristy but that's what you want, right?

[bfd]

You might want to skip the beach this weekend - or at least check out the weather before you go. It's been cold and gray (typical) so far this week. Maybe things will dry out a bit by the weekend, but it'll still be overcast night and morning. Kids don't care, but you'll be cold if things don't change.

Wherever you go, take jackets.

[RgrF]

PS: If you want to drive 2 hours, head north to Santa Barbara. It's worth the trip. Avoid San Diego like the plague, bfd has a stake in too many adult souvenir shops there. : )

[Shakes]

Carlsbad and Oceanside beaches, they're clean and not wall-to-wall people.

[crispy]

I second SB. I live in SLO, just north of SB. Beautiful.