Orange County California Beaches

If you tell someone that you're going to Orange County beaches they're probably going to ask you which one. Within approx. 40 miles of coastal beaches are perhaps 60 separate beach destinations with names of beaches and varied terrains.

The parking, the geography, the activities and the experiences change drastically from one beach to another in Orange County, so it's difficult to generalize which features and attributes you may find. Even within a single city you may find a variety of beach types, so you have to specific which beach you are seeking to explore.

If you're looking for massive flat sand beaches and ample parking, head to Huntington Beach.

If you're looking for more intimate experiences where you can rent a cottage or house on the beach, Newport Beach is your best bet.

If you're looking for small town appeal and a pier to enjoy, many from Los Angeles area pick Seal Beach because it is the closest beach to L.A., and it borders Los Angeles County.

If you're looking to see whales, head to Dana Point for the boat excursions from their harbor. They have a wonderful Salt Creek Beach with a parking lot on top of the hill.

If you're hoping for shopping, dining and fun things to see and do near the beach, maybe Laguna Beach will make a good choice.

And if you want to hop on an Amtrak train, pick San Clemente as your beach of choice. It is the only beach city in Orange County with Amtrak stops between San Diego and Los Angeles.

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