SeeCalifornia.com

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to California beach vacation. No sir! Pictured are left to right: Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach. Here’s the scoop on these prime OC beaches for dream vacations.

• Distance to Disneyland – all 3 beaches are within 45 minutes, though technically, Newport Beach is closest and will get you there the fastest.
• Best vacation rental options – Newport Beach offers the most vacation rental homes and cottages on the sand. Hands down–the best!
• Best hotels on beaches – Laguna Beach has the most hotels on the beach including luxury Montage Resort. Huntington Beach has hotels across the street from the beach with chain hotels Hyatt and Hilton in a resort atmosphere.
• Best activities for kids – Newport Beach has bike and surrey rentals, roller blading options and a fun zone with arcades. Huntington Beach has bike and surrey rentals, roller blading options and beach bonfires.
• Piers – Newport Beach has 2 piers plus about a dozen more public fishing piers. Huntington Beach has one pier.
• Best shopping – Huntington Beach offers the most extensive shopping for sports and youth clothing, while Laguna Beach offers the best mix of boutiques for women.  Newport Beach has fabulous Fashion Island with Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Macy’s.
• Dining – Laguna Beach is great for gourmet. Newport Beach excels in eclectic, fine dining but also offers great tourist snacks. Huntington Beach is known for its tourist-pleasing pizzas, pastas and tacos.
• Nightlife -Huntington Beach is known for its bars and dancing at night, attracting a 21 and older crowd on the prowl for a good time.  Laguna Beach has intimate club atmosphere in bistros and restaurants. Newport Beach features bars, restaurants and some clubs.
• Prices – 3 beach cities – similar costs for hotels, food.
• Pet friendly – Laguna Beach has Pacific Edge for pets; Huntington Beach has Shorebreak Hotel and Hilton Waterfront Resort for your pet.   All three OC beach cities allow pets on beaches, though locations and hours vary.
• Best special events – Huntington Beach is known for its 4th of July and US Open of Surfing events in July; Newport Beach is known for 4th of July; Laguna Beach is recognized for its three art attractions and events that include Pageant of the Masters, Sawdust Festival and Art A-Fair.
• Getting around – Laguna Beach features a free beach trolley to take you up and down the coast between hotels and shops. Huntington Beach offers a free beach shuttle from a remote parking lot at City Hall to Main Street and the HB Pier. Newport Beach has a special treat, Balboa Ferry. It’s a joy ride.
• Attractions – Newport Beach is the only beach to offer boat cruises to Catalina Island and Avalon. It is the only city of the three to also feature Hornblower Dinner Cruises & Events.
• Most restrooms at the beach, most parking – Huntington Beach offers the most public restroom facilities and largest expanses of easily accessible beach entertainment.  Newport Beach has limited summer parking, and Laguna Beach parking is challenging during summer months.
• RV camping – Huntington Beach features “on the beach” RV camping while Newport Beach’s privately run Newport Dunes provides RV camping options, too.
• Best beach hours – Laguna Beach has the best beach hours. It is open 5a.m. – 1 a.m.; Newport Beach 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; Huntington Beach 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Tidepools – Laguna Beach and Newport Beach both have tidepools and diving opportunities.