Los Angeles: Southern California Beaches - TripAdvisor New! Find and book your ideal hotel on TripAdvisor — and get the lowest prices Los Angeles: Southern California Beaches Review a place you’ve visited JOIN Free Newsletter Interested in Los Angeles? We'll send you updates with the latest deals, reviews and articles for Los Angeles each week. Los Angeles Traveler Article: Los Angeles: Southern California Beaches Save Article Read more about Los Angeles Topics include Dining Scene, United States: For Foreign Visitors & more! Comments (0) SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACH COMPARISON Descriptions of the beach areas in Los Angeles and neighboring communities. Beach areas are listed from north to south. (Santa Monica and Venice are the beach communities that are closest to central Los Angeles). MALIBU Malibu is the "brand name" beach community of LA County, world-famous for: 1. Gidget and Elvis beach movies of the 50's and 60's as well as home to the fictitious address in the popular, current TV series “Two and a Half Men” 2. As a surfing destination 3. As a location of celebrity beach homes 4. As the name of a Chevy car 5.

And, as a word found on T-shirts sold around the world. Malibu has a single bus line along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) which connects to Santa Monica and to a bus transfer center in mid-Los Angeles at Fairfax Ave. & Washington Blvd. The bus to Malibu runs less frequently than most of the buses to Santa Monica or Venice. Malibu is a very elongated community with beaches, stores, and restaurants strung out along the road. Thus the bus to Malibu works acceptably for going to a single beach, but not so well for going to more than one part of the community. It is north (and west) of Santa Monica, beyond the sleepy, narrow beaches of Pacific Palisades, and is on the outer edge of the major urban area of LA. If you are imagining a gorgeous French-Riviera-like Eden with celebs visible everywhere, or by contrast, a tranquil seaside retreat, you may be in for a disappointment on both counts.

Most of Malibu's coastline is a narrow stretch of beach (some of it, private, with no public access and, in many cases, not visible to the public), running parallel to the multi-lane, high-traffic Pacific Coast Highway, affectionately referred to as the PCH, a 4 lane highway through the area. Because it is only major east/west road in the city, it can be very crowded during certain times of the day. The beaches are beautiful, windswept, boulder strewn, and natural. On the inland side of PCH (away from the beach) are the Santa Monica mountains, where there are many hiking trails of all levels, some residential neighborhoods, cliffs, canyons and mountain views of the Pacific Ocean. As you head west, the cliffs soften to hills (also covered in houses) and you approach Malibu Canyon Road, with Pepperdine University visible above. This area is the town center of Malibu, on Cross Creek Road, in a few tiny shopping centers on the inland side of the PCH. If you are of the star-struck persuasion, this is a good place to park, walk, grab a latte, and look for those stars and celebs.

You're as likely to be lucky here as anywhere, as many stars do have homes in Malibu, and these are the local places to shop and eat. The homes get bigger, with gated estates, as you go west in Malibu. For the most part, you still can't see the beach-- though now at least you can imagine Barbra Streisand, etc, behind those lavish gates. Heading much farther west in Malibu, views of the ocean increase, and there are some great beaches with excellent public access, at Zuma and Leo Carillo. It's a good long drive to get there though-- Malibu goes on for 28 miles. There are few hotels/motels in Malibu. Malibu has little in the way of tourist infrastructure; there are vast stretches of PCH with no restaurants nor shops. Malibu as a day trip using a car from Santa Monica and Los Angeles is excellent, bring a picnic to enjoy at one of the state parks (Leo Carillo or Pt. Mugu are remote and beautiful). Before you arrive in Santa Monica, you might note The Getty Villa sign.

The villa is a beautiful venue to see some of the Getty treasures, but a reservation is required, so refer to their website for details. SANTA MONICA Santa Monica is one of LA's most famous beach communities. It is a separate city of more than 80,000 on the far northwestern edge of Los Angeles. During summer weekends, the population can swell to one million people enjoying the seaside city. Santa Monica is an upscale city with a vibrant, urban character, and is the home of some of the most sophisticated restaurants, hotels and shopping in the LA area. There's always something to see or do in Santa Monica, but you'll be disappointed here if you were looking for a secluded seaside retreat. Santa Monica has some of the area's most deluxe oceanfront hotels, but like almost all hotels in Santa Monica, they're not cheap. As with most cities these days, there are homeless individuals in the downtown area. The core of the beach area here is a wide stretch of sand surrounding a pleasure pier with an historic, turn-of-the-century carousel, a small amusement park, arcade, small aquarium beneath the pier, and some restaurants, mostly seafood. The pier is fun, busy, with a diverse crowd.

A new addition to the downtown Santa Monica area is Tongva Park and the refurbished City Hall gardens and fountains. A fine place to stroll, excellent Pacific Ocean views, this park has a nice area for children that includes a fine water feature, so have the kids wear bathing suits. There's a bike path that runs along the edge of the beach, beginning at Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance, 22 miles long. The name is the Marvin Braude Bike Path for those who wish to research further online. Bike rentals are available at many places along the beach and renting a bike here is a great way to spend the day and see many of the beach communities. Santa Monica beach has many visitor amenities including the Annenberg Beach House - a public beach house with a pool, the original muscle beach near the pier, the original Hot Dog on a Stick, chair rentals, cafes with decent food and smoothies in nice seating areas with umbrellas. Restroom facilities are constantly being upgraded. Playgrounds dot all the beaches. Surfing lessons and yoga classes can be found at some places along the beach. Venice is just to the south of Santa Monica; parking in the South Santa Monica beach parking lots makes for an easy walk to Venice Beach.

Santa Monica is pedestrian friendly. There are several gathering places of note. Main Street has unique shops, some chain stores, and many bars and restaurants. There is a festive farmers market at Ocean Park and Main each Sunday morning with good prepared foods. Montana Avenue is upscale with shops and restaurants. One is more apt to spot a celebrity getting coffee or running errands here than anywhere else in town. 3rd Street Promenade and the Santa Monica mall in the downtown core have many shops of all price points on a festive street where no cars can drive. Although it isn't "central" for visiting LA, it is as central as any beach area gets. And it is very close to both Getty Museums (the Villa and the Center). If you have a car for visiting the rest of LA, it is a great place to stay. Santa Monica has good regional transit access and is served by multiple bus lines, including a bus from LAX and an express bus from Downtown Los Angeles. The city's bus line is called the Big Blue Bus. There are HOHO buses that start from Santa Monica, run by Starline Tours. Being 7 miles from LAX means taxi fare is reasonable.

Light Rail will be completed by 2016, which will connect Santa Monica with downtown LA. VENICE Venice is the beach just to the south of Santa Monica, famous as funky beach area on Oceanfront Walk full of, ah, " characters" and stalls of knock-off sunglasses, T-shirt, henna tattoos and other sundry items. The beach is bordered on by a 2 mile (3.2 km) walkway that serves pedestrians, bicyclists and skaters and skate boarders. The walk from central Santa Monica to central Venice takes about 40 minutes. The two beaches blend together; there is no special spot that separates the two. Off the beach, Venice has a distinct edgy character, and unlike some areas marketed as "artists' colonies" , Venice, doesn't really advertise this fact, but has long been home to many world-famous contemporary artists who open their studios to tours once a year. Abbot Kinney Blvd. has some of LA's trendiest restaurants. The Venice canals are lovely to stroll, hand in hand. Venice is an interesting place to visit, and has a very distinct personality, but is not the best base for a family vacation.

Venice has a number of regional bus lines serving it, including buses to Santa Monica and Westwood, Downtown LA and Culver City. MARINA DEL REY Marina del Rey has a relatively unknown beach called "Mother's Beach" aka Basin D. It's at the corner of Admiralty Way and Via Marina. The beach is a cove with two hotels (Foghorn Harbor Inn & the Jamaica Bay Inn) and 2 restaurants (the Cheesecake Factory & The Vu). The cove is off the inland waterway so there is little to no wave movement, here. The swimming area constitutes about 1/2 of the cove. The other half of the cove is enjoyed by windsurfers (sailboarders). Just beyond the swimming area is the start of the Marina so there will be hundreds of boats visible from the cove. Guests from the two adjacent hotels have balconies overlooking the beach and the restaurants have outdoor patio dining. There is a parking area at the corner of Admiralty Way & Via Marina for visitors to the cove. It's a 1/2 mile .8 km) walk from Basin D to the ocean beach at Venice.

Simply walk one block north on Via Marina to Washington Blvd, turn left and walk to the end of the road. There is also a number of dining options (in all price ranges) along the way. For visitors with a rental car who are looking for more budget accommodations near the beach, Marina del Rey is a fair option. PLAYA DEL REY Immediately south of Marina del Rey is the isolated little beach village of Playa del Rey. Quiet, serene, with wide, white sand beaches, the little residential community is reminiscent of mid-century beach towns. A scattering of local dives, some pretty good restaurants, and a quiet beach front gives the area its slow paced flavor. It is surrounded by the newly restored Ballona Wetlands, which are a treasure of coastal wildlife on the Westside. SOUTH BAY AND LONG BEACH The South Bay is generally recognized as beginning at Los Angeles International Airport, and moving south from there, including the south beach towns of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes and Long Beach. Right out of a postcard of Southern California, they offer sand that stretches out of sight, clean water, beach volleyball, and beachfront paths for rollerblading, cycling and walking.

Manhattan Beach: Manhattan Beach is an affluent, independent city just south of LAX airport. The Downtown area of MB is a mix of trendy restaurants, family friendly dining, shops and is topped off by the MB Pier where you can watch volleyball and the surfers. There are mid-range luxury hotels and more budget friendly hotels on Pacific Coast Highway (also called Highway 1 & Sepulveda Blvd) near the two shopping centers, Manhattan Village and Manhattan Gateway. It is a quieter alternative from Santa Monica for families and couples, but on a smaller scale and not as easily walkable. Hermosa Beach: Hermosa Beach is the beach community due south of and adjacent to Manhattan Beach. It can be hard to tell where one stops and the next starts. A beachfront sidewalk connects the cities and you can walk or rollerblade from the MB Pier to the HB Pier. Downtown HB is an eclectic mix of restaurants and bars and some shops, but hotels are limited in HB. Redondo Beach: Redondo Beach is the next city down and features the King’s Harbor small craft harbor with a variety of restaurants, hotels and shops.

One of Redondo’s biggest charms is also one of its biggest drawbacks, it doesn’t have easy, direct access to freeways, you have to drive 15-20 minutes for the nearest freeway. On the plus side, it is close to the giant Del Amo Fashion Center, one of California’s largest shopping malls. Long Beach: Long Beach is an independent city -- not part of the city of Los Angeles. It features the Queen Mary, the Carnival Cruise Lines docks, an aquarium, a city beach and an airport (where discount flights like Jet Blue arrive). All of the beaches in and near the Downtown Long Beach area are inside the breakwater of the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. The best beach in Long Beach is the Belmont Shore at the extreme, south end of Long Beach. There are no hotels close by, but there are vacation rentals and a lively area of shops and restaurants. San Pedro/Wilmington: The official Port of Los Angeles where the commercial freight arrives for this region of the country. It is also the port for all pleasure cruises, except Carnival Cruise Lines, and whale-watching cruises. Cabrillo Marine Museum is here. There is a water-side shopping center of shops and restaurants.

ORANGE COUNTY BEACHES Further south are the beach communities of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and others, for information on them, click here Orange County Beaches . Share your knowledge Top 10 Southern California Beaches : Beaches : Travel Channel Video Top 10 Southern California Beaches Drive down the Southern California coast, and visit the best beaches in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. By Jennifer Plum Auvil Laguna Beach iStock Laguna is one of Orange County's most fashionable towns, as well as one of the most culturally rich, but the beach is a big draw, too. The water at Laguna is generally clean and calm, though occasionally the Pacific tends to be cool with strong tides. Clean, white and warm, Laguna's sands are perfect for strolling, volleyball matches or simply unwinding on a blanket. Coronado iStock For well over a century, Coronado's beaches have been its fortune, namely the seaside in front of the glamorous Hotel Del Coronado open since 1888. For non-hotel guests, the main beach, Coronado Central Beach, stretches 1.5 miles behind the great houses along Ocean Boulevard.

Swimmers, bodysurfers, boogie boarders, sand sculptors, tide poolers and, from December through February, whale watchers all take to the sand and sea. North Beach attracts surfers in the morning, and at the extreme north is Dog Beach, where leashless canines can frolic in the surf. Video: The Del on Coronado Beach Marianela takes a tour of Hotel del Coronado -- prime beachfront property. The Del on Coronado Beach Marianela takes a tour of Hotel del Coronado -- prime beachfront property. El Matador Beach iStock If you've come to El Matador to savor the beach rather than get sucked into the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, then you're in luck -- there's blissfully little else to do here other than bask on Malibu's most glorious stretch of beach. The best way to enjoy your time is to check the tide schedule, pack a picnic lunch or sunset dinner, grab a blanket, and trek down to one of El Matador's hidden nooks and coves to enjoy the incredibly romantic atmosphere. Venice Beach iStock No beach in the world is like Venice Beach. Sure, other California beaches have sand, surf and sunshine.

But they do not have a 3-ring urban street circus, complete with philosophizing artists, trash-talking hoopsters, preening weightlifters, barefoot sand sculptors and more. All of this frenetic activity happens on Ocean Front Walk, a 3/4-mile concrete boardwalk with stores, fast-food spots, flea markets and artists. Video: Venice Beach's Weirdness Marianela soaks in the weirdness and visits her favorite spot on Venice Beach. Venice Beach's Weirdness Marianela soaks in the weirdness and visits her favorite spot on Venice Beach. Santa Monica ThinkStock There’s never a shortage of seaside fun at Santa Monica Pier where the beach meets the boardwalk in a festive display of amusement park rides, aquarium wonders and festival food. It’s free to stroll the historic boardwalk and peruse the goods, and even if you don’t go for thrill rides, there’s no charge for the show-stopping sunset at the end of each day. Newport Beach iStock Trendsetters, jet-setters, and beach lovers in the know have been taking advantage of Newport Beach's coastal charms for decades.

There's the ritzy harbor most folks will only dream of docking a yacht in; beachside "bungalows" worth many, many millions; a shopping district so chic, Rodeo Drive looks discounted; and, oh yes, an utterly magnificent stretch of beach. This wide bed of sand, silky and blonde, rolls south from Newport Pier to Balboa Pier, and plays host to diehard surfers, serious sunbathers, trendy 20-somethings and families. Sitting by a weathered pier, gazing past wooden lifeguard stands toward a fiery sunset, one can't help but wax nostalgic for days when Beach Boys records and long boards were all the rage. Hermosa Beach iStock Hermosa Beach takes pride in its abundance of outdoor beach activities, which include surfing, swimming, paddleball, sunbathing and, of course, volleyball -- there always seems to be intense serving and spiking action on the 1.5-mile stretch of sand. By day, the Strand, a paved boardwalk that borders the beach, is a thoroughfare for bikers, bladers, joggers and strollers. At night, the Strand is a great people-watching spot as crowds fill the restaurants and bars.

La Jolla Cove ThinkStock With its small crescent of sand tucked between towering sandstone cliffs, La Jolla Cove is one of the smallest but also the most photographed beaches along the Southern California coastline. And things are just as lovely below the surface at this is popular spot for scuba-diving and snorkeling, thanks to visibility that extends up to 30 feet and wildlife protected by the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. Catalina Island ThinkStock Located 22 miles off the Southern California coast, Catalina Island is known for its myriad of outdoor activities like snorkeling, scuba, horseback-riding, kayaking and hiking. After an active day, stroll around the quaint social center of the island at Avalon for window-shopping, gallery-hopping and a gourmet meal. Bring a camera as photo opportunities present themselves at almost every turn; shutterbugs should be on the lookout for grazing buffalo. Boats depart from Newport Beach, Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point; for jet-setters who don't want to waste any time traveling, helicopter trips are also a possibility.

Crystal Cove State Park ThinkStock A secluded beach stretching some 3.5 miles, an official "underwater park" teeming with reefs and 2,000-plus wooded acres for exploring make Crystal Cove State Park a remarkable escape from the crowds and bustle of Newport Harbor. Tide pools and coves delight visitors to the beach year-round, though rangers advise exploration of these during winter, when lower tides present clearer views of the aquatic life. Carved into the park's ridges and canyons are more than 23 miles of mountain-biking, horseback-riding and hiking trails, many of which feature steep, rocky climbs. The Hot List L.A. Beach Cities Coastal Real Estate Home BUYER, SELLER, AND INVESTOR GUIDES BY AndyONLINE Community Discussions, Lifestyles & Events, Market Reports & Analysis on LABeachCitiesHomes.com Buying, selling, and investing in real estate in Los Angeles’ beach cities and ocean front neighborhoods are all very different undertakings and you’ll need to know the basics involved before you dive in.

AndyONLINE’s dedicated web pages and 10-step guides for buyers, sellers, and investors offer you information, tips,and assistance along with the essential elements of the most common types transactions that you’ll encounter in an easy to understand, chronological format so you’re prepared to find, negotiate, and close the deal on your California dream. L.A. BEACH CITIES REAL ESTATE WEBCASTS ON UStream Join Us Every Week for AndyONLINE’s ‘TUESDAY NITE AT THE BEACH’ Webcasts LIVE! Watch or join-in AndyONLINE’s weekly webcasts for news for current real estate trends, lifestyles,, events and more in Los Angeles’ one of a kind beach towns along with tips for finding and closing the deal on the best estates, houses, condominiums, multi units, and land for sale . LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS & ANALYSIS An Overview of Houses, Condominiums, Income Properties, & Land for Sale in L.A.’s Ocean Front Communities View market data and statistics on local sales in each one of L.A’s unique beach towns including prices, the number of homes for sale, and how long it took for them to sell.

Notes by AndyONLINE about recent and long term trends in each area help you navigate the ever changing real estate market and focus on the properties that are the best fit for you. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE FEATURES & INFORMATION on LABeachCitiesHomes.com Looking at listings, blogs, and maps online can only give you so much information when you’re looking for a new home. There’s nothing quite like being there… but video comes close. You’ll find AndyONLINE’s Neighborhood Video Tours of L.A.’s beach towns on both our video home page and each local community page. Narrated walkabouts feature the local attractions and background for each area, along with lifestyle and and market information plus plenty of views to give you a better feel for what each community has to offer.

NEIGHBORHOOD VIDEO TOURS & Features at Our Los Angeles Coastal Real Estate Channel on YouTube.com AndyONLINE’s Beach Real Estate Blog gives you local profiles, market analysis, and special features exploring the best properties for sale in L.A.’s beach cities from the postcard perfect homes of contemporary Malibu and stunning variety of urban lifestyles in Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey to South Bay’s gentrified surf towns of Manhattan, Hermosa & Redondo Beaches and the soaring heights of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. L.A. BEACH PROPERTIES BLOG & FORUM Community Discussions, Lifestyles & Events, Market Reports & Analysis on LABeachCitiesHomes.com COASTAL REAL ESTATE GUIDE features & navigation Los Angeles is known for it’s legendary beach towns, but you may have no idea where to start when it comes to finding your own piece of the California dream. Get all the listings, information, and resources that you’ll need to buy or sell a house, condo, multi-unit, or land in all the dynamic ocean front communities featured on LABeachCitiesHomes.com.

Each page of LABeachCitiesHomes.com gives you all the tools you’ll need to find the best properties for sale in every one of Los Angeles’ fabulous coastal communities. Every up-to-date MLS listing for all the houses, condos, estates, luxury homes, income properties and land for sale in Los Angeles’ one-of-a-kind Beach Cities features complete market reports, community information, aerial maps, & much, much more. Video Tours , UStream Webcasts , L.A. Beach Blog , About Us , Help Follow the links to any of our local homepages to see all the listings there pre-sorted by price and property-type along with Relocation Guides , Neighborhood Video Tours , our L.A. Beach Blog and Market Trend reports by Andrew Jones of Horizon Pacific Realty in Venice Beach. ‘Please feel free to start a text or video chat with me LIVE! online about any of the estates, houses, condos, multi-units, and land that you find on LABeachCitiesHomes.com. Also visit our L.A. Beach Properties Blog , the Coastal Relocation Guide and my L.A.

Beach Real Estate Channel on YouTube!’ AndyONLINE The ocean is a big part of what Southern California is all about and each one of Los Angeles’ beach towns enjoys its own unique view of what the blue Pacific has to offer. Whether you live in a classic beach house, a hill side estate, or a hi-tech condo on the sand the sea is the center of life in these vibrant coastal communities. There’s an astounding choice of properties, lifestyles, & opportunities to pick from in L.A.’s diverse beach front neighborhoods and villages. The available options can change from block to block and you’ll need to find an experienced professional who appreciates your California dream and knows how to make it a reality. From the famous breaks and celebrity beach pads of Malibu to the thriving urban center of Santa Monica and infamous boardwalk of Venice with it’s alternative lifestyles and southward to the classic surf towns of South Bay and panoramic vistas of the Palos Verdes Peninsula… the choice is your’s. LABeachCitiesHomes.com helps you get get top value for your real estate dollar in a changing market by providing online listings, market analysis, tools, detailed local information, and online services for both buyers and sellers all in one place.

Personal assistance is always available and every client is welcomed as a new opportunity to discover the best in L.A.’s Beach Cities. Please let us know what you think about the interactive video, text chat, IM, & phone features on our website. We’re hoping this exciting new ‘virtual’ real estate office environment will take the services our clients use every day to the next level by helping you finish buying or selling your home where it began… online. WHAT MAKES US different Video of Serene Vintage Properties & Cutting Edge Homes in L.A.’s Most Unique Neighborhood Learn more about real estate trends in your neighborhood today. Ask AndyONLINE about free public records, comparable home sales in your area, and a free property evaluation without obligation. Get a complimentary package detailing how we can help you get the most out of listing and selling your home in a changing market. Sometimes all the Internet listings, tips, and blogs in the world just aren’t enough and you need some help. Tell us what your California dream is and AndyONLINE will send you all the properties for sale in L.A.’s fabulous beach towns that are the best fit for you. Out-of-state and foreign buyers are always welcome. HOW DO I sell my house?

HELP ME buy the perfect home El Segundo ($800k - $2.5m) Least expensive properties by the water in L.A. Manhattan ($1M - $15M) Suburban neighborhoods and amazing ocean views by the Strand Hermosa ($800k - $6M) More homes & view properties for a bit less in South Bay Redondo ($700k - $3M) Best values by the beach south of LAX Palos Verdes ($700k - $4M) Affordable homes, panoramic views & more on the Peninsula L.A. BEACH CITIES open houses & neighborhood price guide Malibu ($1 - $15M) Properties on the sand estates, ranches, & homes on the bluffs & hillsides Pacific Palisades ($1M - $10M) L.A.

homes & estates in the hills overlooking the ocean Santa Monica ($1M - $8M) Everything from suburban homes to trophy properties by the sea Venice ($800k - $5M) Eclectic mix of classic & cutting edge design in L.A.’s hippest community Marina del Rey ($800k - $6M) Good Values on both suburban homes and water front properties ‘Your Online Real Estate Expert in Los Angeles’ Amazing Beach Cities’ VISIT ALL Our LABeachCitiesHomes Neighborhood Homepages for Detailed Information on Each One of Los Angeles’ Unique Ocean Front Communities from Palos Verdes & South Bay to Marina del Rey, Venice, Santa Monica, Palisades, & Malibu GET FREE Local Market Reports, Sales Comps, Home Evaluations LA's Best Family Friendly Beaches - Los Angeles.com Share LA is know for fantastic beaches, but not all beaches are created equal, especially when it comes to family friendly beaches. However, there are several well-groomed beaches frequented by families, featuring clean water, lifeguards and safe swimming conditions, bathroom facilities and family-friendly attractions nearby.

Here are some of the best options LA has to offer: Annenberg Beach House This relic of newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst was formerly a sprawling 100-room estate. Much of it has since been torn down, however the heart of the original building still remains and apart from boasting a fantastic piece of California’s golden history (complete with exhibits that both parents and kids can enjoy), the Beach House features a splash pad perfect for toddlers, a public pool and play area. What’s more, the Beach House is just a walk across the parking lot to the actual beach, so visitors can get the best of both worlds. Zuma Beach 30000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu Zuma has the cleanest water of nearly any beach in the Los Angeles area, as it sits at a point far away from any storm drainage. Zuma also offers much better swimming conditions for youngsters than some of Malibu’s more Westward beaches such as Point Dune. This is because Zuma has a longer sand shelf, which makes for waves that are usually more gentle than other beaches in the area. It offers multiple lifeguard locations and bathroom facilities and there’s even an LA County Sherri’s Office branch at the beach.

Neptune’s Net , a classic California coastal fish stand just up the road on PCH, is a great option for a snack on the way home. Redondo State Beach Torrance Blvd and Esplanade Ave, Redondo Beach Redondo is the best beach to take kids in all of the South Bay. It is removed from the party atmosphere of Manhattan and Hermosa beaches, offering a much more quiet scene away from the riff raff of the crowded bars. Families can walk along the Redondo Beach Pier, which is rife with kid-friendly shops and it even has an old-school arcade. There is ample parking in several structures along the beach. Will Rogers State Beach Pacific Coast Hwy and Temescal Cyn Rd, Malibu Will Rogers offers parking very close to the sand, which is great for those who don’t want to walk across the parking lot in bare feet. The beach also has a very short and navigable hiking trail, which is a fun departure from the water and is one of the only beaches in the L.A. area that has a playground. Showers, lifeguards, and all of the usual accoutrements are available.

Malibu Surfrider Beach 23200 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu Surfrider might not always be calm enough for the kids to swim, but more often than not, the waves are only a foot high, or so. Parking is easy, and unlike some of the more central beaches such as Venice and Santa Monica, the water quality is pristine since Surfrider sits on a point. The beach is also huge, giving plenty of opportunity to set up a private camp where you won’t be disturbed. There are restrooms, lifeguards and volleyball courts. Main Beach Park Pacific Coast Hwy and Ocean Ave, Laguna Beach This is the first of a long string of beaches in the affluent community of Laguna in Orange County just south of LA, and by far the best for kids. It offers a protected barricade with rocks on its North side, so the water is calmer than much of the other beaches along the coast. There are bathrooms, showers, lifeguards on duty and a paved ocean-front walk. Bikes can be rented nearby, and there are multiple ice-cream shops and shops within a few blocks. Find more things to do in LA with the LosAngeles.com Attractions Guide .

Gated Communities - Los Angeles Luxury Homes Gated Communities Gated Communities Bel-Air Bel Air Crest/Upper Casiano: Developed in the early 1990s through the 2000s enjoying magnificent vistas of Los Angeles’s Westside, Bel Air Crest is a 286 planned urban residential development with 24 hour guarded community. Bel Air Crest is comprised of two residential sections – the Canyon Homes and Custom Homes. The Canyon Homes are located in the northern section against the Mountains of Bel Air and feature six-floor plans ranging between approximately 2,452 to 4,900 sq. feet. Depending on location, the Canyon Homes, offer views of the Bel Air canyons that meander southward toward the city. Average lot size is 8,000 sq. ft, with no side-yard setbacks. The Custom Homes section in the southern area of Bel Air Crest, features 6,000 to 20,000 sq. ft.-sized homes on 16,000 sq. ft. to 30,000 square foot.-sized lots.

Some of these exceptional homes feature tennis courts and most have swimming pools with ocean and canyon views. This is an active community that features the semi-annual Bel Air Crest barbecue, Halloween Party, Spring Easter Egg Hunt, and other activities throughout the year. The community also offers with three tennis courts, two paddle tennis courts, children’s playground, basketball courts, and even a small pitch/putt course. The Bel Air Crest Clubhouse has a spacious “great room” with a professional catering kitchen for meetings and private parties, plus a fully equipped gymnasium, pool, and spa. What makes Bel Air Crest so wonderful are its landscaped public areas and roadways. Most streets are cul-de-sacs, which ensure a safe, quiet lifestyle in one of the Westside’s most desirable residential communities. Zip Code: 90077 Gate Location: Bel Air Crest Rd & 405 Number of Properties: 286 Average Home Price: $5M to $10M BEVERLY HILLS BEVERLY PARK One of the most expensive and famous gated communities in the entire United States is Beverly Park Beverly Hills.

Divided into North Beverly Park and South Beverly Park, this private neighborhood offering Beverly Hills luxury homes is located in the hills just above Beverly Hills between Mulholland Drive and Sunset Blvd and Coldwater Canyon Drive and Beverly Glen Blvd. North Beverly Park, with a main entrance at 13100 Mulholland Drive on the south side of Mulholland Drive, is the bigger 64-home section and has the largest homes; South Beverly Park consists of 16 homes. Established in 1990, the 250 acre community was built by Los Angeles developers Brian Adler and a partner using land that was originally intended to be a golf course named after Dean Martin. This wealthy gated community is known for its concentration of exceptionally large houses, up to 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2), and for its famous residents. The price of a completed house is $15 million for the smaller houses and can exceed $50 million for the largest houses. Because of its seclusion and security, by constant patrol by guards and use of security cameras, the neighborhood is popular among high profile celebrities and business executives.

The residents of Beverly Park have included Denzel Washington, Rod Stewart, Faith Hill, Robbie Williams, Samuel L. Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Magic Johnson, Barry Bonds, to name just a few. Zip Code: 90210 Gate Location: North Gate: Summitridge and Mulholland Drive / South Gate: Summitridge and Beverly Park Number of Properties: 80 Average Home Price: $15M to $50M BEVERLY HILLS MULHOLLAND ESTATES Mulholland Estates Beverly Hills : This 24-hour guard gated community is located on prestigious Mulholland Drive between Beverly Glen Blvd and Benedict Canyon Drive. Mulholland Estates Beverly Hills is one of the most exclusive gated neighborhoods offering Beverly Hills luxury homes and providing residents with a desirable location in close proximity to UCLA, the San Fernando Valley, Bel Air and Beverly Hills, breathtaking city and mountain views, and 24 hour security. A majority of these multi-million dollar homes typically ranging in price from $4 million to $10 million in Mulholland Estates where constructed in the early 1990’s and on average are 8,000 square foot houses on 30,000 square foot lots.

Besides the unparalleled views and security, the amenities offered within this subdivision are some of the best which Beverly Hills luxury homes have to offer including three lighted tennis courts, two racquetball courts, a children’s play area, and even an enclosed dance studio. Mulholland Estates Beverly Hills residents praise the level of security, stunning natural surroundings and landscaping. Many high profile celebrities and business people who live in Mulholland Estates including (past and present) are Paul Anka, Tom Arnold, Charlie Sheen, Paris Hilton and Avril Lavigne. Zip Code: 90210 Gate Location: Mulholland Drive and Clerendon Rd. Number of Properties: 80 Average Home Price: $6 to $8M BEVERLY HILLS THE SUMMIT “The Summit” Beverly Hills is a guard gated community in the Beverly Hills Post Office area with 24-hour security and car patrol. “Beverly Hills Post Office” is a section of Los Angeles adjacent to Beverly Hills on the north, but the address comes with a Beverly Hills, 90210 zip code.

It is located at the top or “Summit” in the hills above Beverly Hills where Coldwater Canyon and Mulholland Drive meet, bordering the areas of Sherman Oaks and Franklin Canyon. There are just over 80 Beverly Hills luxury homes in this modest size gated community made up of only 6 streets. Most of properties in the Summit were developed in the 1980’s, although there are several newer construction homes as well. An eclectic mix of home styles in this gated community include Mediterranean, Colonial, Traditional, Tudor, contemporary and others. Home prices in The Summit generally start around $2,000,000 and can go to upwards of $5,000,000 and more, depending on the square footage, features of the lot, views and home condition. Their Interior square footage typically falls in the 4,000 to 8,000 square feet range with generous lot sizes starting at 15,000 and larger. As you might expect, The Summit is home to many high profile L.A. entertainment professional, from A-list celebrities to successful business executives.

Some notable residents of The Summit have included Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Ed McMahon and Hillary Duff. Zip Code: 90210 Gate Location: Coldwater Canyon and Mulholland Drive Number of Properties: 80 Average Home Price: $5M BRENTWOOD CIRCLE Brentwood Circle is a beautiful 24-hour guard-gated community of 67 luxury homes located in the exclusive suburb of West Los Angeles known as Brentwood within easy walking distance to Brentwood Village, a quaint shopping area featuring fine restaurants, shops, offices, beautiful parks and its own post office. Zip Code: 90049 Gate Location: N. Woodburn & W. Sunset Blvd Number of Properties: 67 BRENTWOOD COUNTRY ESTATES The exclusive 24-hour gate guarded community of Brentwood Country Estates was completed in 1991 by the Hilton family of hotels’ fame. Brentwood Country Estates is located minutes from Brentwood’s fine shops and dining in the exclusive suburb of West Los Angeles. There are only 14 estate sites in this 250-acre enclave, which assures undisturbed privacy and security.

Each site averages 3.85 acres with flat building pads ranging from 30,000 square feet to over 2 acres. This unique development combines a serene country setting with breathtaking views of the ocean, city and mountains. Many high network individuals are drawn to the privacy and security of the community such as Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel spouse, Gisele Bundchen. Zip Code: 90049 Gate Location: Mandeville Canyon Rd & Chalon Rd Number of Properties: 14 BRENTWOOD MOUNTAINGATE Mountaingate is a popular gated neighborhood because of its ideal mountain top views and weather location just north of the prestigious Brentwood area in West Los Angeles. Developed in the 1970s the area includes 4 communities for a total of 307 residences consisting of 187 homes and 130 townhomes/condominiums. Amenities of the community include a pool, recreation room, community park and tennis courts.

The private Mountaingate Country Club features a professional golf course with 2 golf layouts of Par 70 and Par 71 that is regarded as one of the top golf experiences in Los Angeles. The Club also offers a very active recreational calendar with six tennis courts, a restaurant, snack shop, pro shop and other amenities including a spa and locker rooms. Most of the Mountaingate community is served by 24-hour guard-gated security, and guards patrol all neighborhoods on a regular basis for added security and privacy around the clock. Coming soon, Mountaingate will be home to a new development of 27 to 29 single-family homes on estate-sized lots. The development is currently in for plan review and environmental impact studies, but it is expected to start in the near future. Zip Code: 90049 Gate Location: Mountaingate Dr & 405 Number of Properties: 307 HANCOCK PARK Fremont Place is a privately owned gated community with guarded security 24 hours/7 days a week. This exclusive neighborhood is located just south of Hancock Park on the south side of Wilshire Blvd and East of Rossmore.

Fremont place features just 73 homes with the first home built in 1915. Developed by three gentlemen, Charles Ingram, David Barry and George Briggs, they intended to build an exclusive district of homes on the 50 acres site bounded by Muirfield Road, Olympic, Lucerne and Wilshire boulevards. There are four gateway entrances to the gated community – one at each intersection of the north and south drives. Each gateway is of granite construction 76 feet in width and 18 feet in height. The beautiful gated entrances, designed by J. Martyn Haenke, originally cost $12,000 to build. Employing the best engineers and landscape architects, the developers created the track with beautiful landscaping and broad, winding drives. Martin Henry Mosier, an oil man, built Fremont Place’s first mansion (number 55) in 1916. The Italian Renaissance home was designed by architect John C. Austin and interior decoration was done by Tiffany. Heavyweight boxer Mohammad Ali and his wife restored the home in the 1970s when they lived in Fremont Place.

Fremont Place homes exemplify the best period architecture and the residents have maintained the neighborhood as it was intended. This private community has also been home to celebrities such as King Gillette, Mary Pickford, Elizabeth Taylor and Prince. Zip Code: 90005 Gate Location: Freemont and 9th Number of Properties: 73 Average Home Price: $5M LOS FELIZ LAUGHLIN PARK Rated by Los Angeles Magazine as one of the “top five” neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Laughlin Park is secluded behind five ornate gates and connected by quaint through-traffic free roads. As a construction boom occurred in the 1910s and 1920s, lavish homes and estates were built in the gated community of Laughlin Park by Hollywood elite such as Cecil B. DeMille, W.C. Fields, Charlie Chaplin, Carole Lombard, Antonio Moreno, Deanna Durbin, Lily Pons and Andre Kostelanetz. A wide range of homes style reside in Laughlin Park such as Craftsman, Spanish, Italian, Mediterranean, French, English Gothic, Traditional and Modern homes.

A cross-section of the elite of contemporary architects worked in Laughlin Park including Roland Coate (the former Lily Pons/Andre Kostelanetz house), Gordon Kaufman (the former Chick Corea house), the Carole Lombard house by Lester Scherer, Julia Morgan (of San Simeon fame) and Lloyd Wright, who figured prominently in the design of more than five Laughlin Park homes. Hollywood stars of today still continue to flock to this private haven and include Lily Tomlin, Natalie Portman, Dermot Mulroney, Catherine Keener, Tina Lifford, David Fincher, Will.i.am, Casey Affleck, Portia deRossi, Chick Corea, Jenna Elfman, and Lee Horsley. There is a voluntary homeowners association that maintains the gates and the private streets.

Zip Code: 90027 Gate Location: 3 gates on Los Feliz Blvd and 2 on Franklin Avenue Number of Properties: 60 Average Home Price: $3M to $5M LOS FELIZ THE OAKS The Oaks in Los Feliz is a neighborhood of hillside homes between Beachwood Canyon and Griffith Park bounded by Fern Dell Drive on the east and Foothill Drive to the south. The area got its name due to the majority of the neighborhood street names have the word “Oak” in them such as “Spreading Oak”, “Live Oak”, “Red Oak”, etc. . This neighborhood has a feeling of privacy and seclusion with its winding, hilly, tree-lined streets. If you don’t know your way around it can be easy to get lost in the winding streets, some of which end right in Griffith Park. Many homes have canyon and city views all the way to the ocean. The Oaks in Los Feliz offers a mix of architectural styles with a large number of mid-century and traditional style homes built in the 1960′s as well as 20′s and 30′s Mediterranean homes with lots of square footage, big yards and views for miles.

.The Oaks is a draw to many in the Entertainment industry. In its heyday, it was home to stars like Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. The area still attracts Hollywood celebrities both in front and behind the camera. Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie have been buying homes on their street in the Oaks for their own personal compound and now own close to 1.5 acres. But this exclusive neighborhood is not only for the rich and famous. The Oaks has a very active homeowners association and the neighborhood pride of ownership and loyalty is something not seen in many other areas of Los Angeles. It seems once someone moves to the Oaks they are unlikely to leave the neighborhood, simply moving to another home within its borders. Zip Code: 90027 Gate Location: Foothill Dr & Canyon Dr Number of Properties: 0 MALIBU Malibu Colony, first known in the 1920s as the “Malibu Beach Motion Picture Colony”, is a hidden enclave of luxury beach front homes. This exclusive gated community lies on a private stretch of pristine Malibu coastline. This ocean front property features exclusive estates situated on a wide expansive dry sand beach just feet from the vast Pacific Ocean offering residents magnificent views.

Featuring some of Malibu’s most prestigious properties, Malibu Colony has long been recognized as a beach retreat for the rich and famous including high profile executives from the entertainment and business. Malibu Colony is located within walking distance of world-class shopping, dining, nightlife and numerous beach activities. From classic bungalows to spacious mansions, luxury real estate seekers will find a diversity of homes in Malibu Colony, all featuring sublime craftsmanship as well as uncompromised views of the Pacific. Malibu Colony features 24-hour guard-gated security to ensure privacy for its residents, which include the likes of Sting, Mel Gibson, Bette Midler and Tom Hanks. Zip Code: 90265 Gate Location: Malibu Colony & Malibu Road Number of Properties: 0

Question: What "quiet beach community" just north of Los Angeles is a popular place for celebrity mansions?
Answer: Malibu