San Diego is a busy metropolitan city and county in Southern California, offering plenty to do and see both for tourists and residents of the city. San Diego county is a coastal area that is known for its beaches, and many of these are family-friendly. Not only do these beaches offer sun and sand, but they also offer entertaining attractions like boardwalks, amusement parks, playgrounds and other beach activities.
The Moonlight State Beach is located in Encinitas as part of San Diego County, and offers a wide sandy area that extends the amount of available beach by 75 more yards inland from the area's natural shoreline. The beach has separate designated areas for surfing and swimming. There are kelp beds located a quarter mile away from the shore that are a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The beach offers a children's playground, volleyball courts, a grassy picnic area, fire pits, snack bar and a lifeguard station that is staffed throughout much of the year. This is not a dog-friendly beach, and glass and alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the beach. Parking is available between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. and the beach is open between 4 a.m. and 2 a.m. daily.
Moonlight State Beach
B Street & 4th Street
Encinitas, California
Harbor Beach is located in Oceanside and offers extra wide areas so there is plenty of space for sunbathing, walking, jogging and other activities. This beach offers volleyball courts, a playground, sheltered areas for picnicking and evenly spaced lifeguard towers that are manned through much of the year. When the beach is crowded, separate areas are designated for surfing and swimming, with most surfers moving to the jetties. The Harbor Beach is one of the widest in the country, and is the largest of the beaches in Oceanside. The playground and picnic areas are located in the sand. This beach also offers a snack bar and fire pits, and neither alcohol or pets are allowed on the beach.
Harbor Beach
Harbor Drive South
Oceanside, California 92056
Torrey Pines State Beach is situated between La Jolla and Del Mar in San Diego County. This beach is approximately four and a half miles long, and much of it is hidden behind bluffs. A lagoon in the nearby state park empties out into the ocean near the main entrance to the beach, offering a shallow waterway for children to play in. This beach offers basic amenities like bathrooms and showers near the main parking lots. The beach is long and wide, offering plenty of space for shallow water play and sand castle building. The tides can come in fairly high at night, sometimes reaching the bluffs, so this beach is best for daytime use, especially with children. This beach is not pet-friendly, and alcohol and glass containers are not allowed on the beach at any time.
Torrey Pines State Beach
Torrey Pines Scenic Park N.
San Diego, California
