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This 2-mile (3-km) lovely beach is a secret even from locals, because of its isolation and distance from the city. It hugs the base of a bluff and is a great place for those seeking solitude. Work on the tan, or sit watching the waves kiss the sand.

Rugged, secluded, and dotted with large boulders artistically eroded by nature, this small cliff-backed beach is one of LA’s finest. Its remoteness, limited parking, and cumbersome access via a gravelly trail keep the crowds at bay. There are no facilities available, but you can explore tide pools, hide in a cave, or take a dip in the water. Clothing is optional.

This 2-mile (3-km) ribbon of fine, sparkling sand is one of LA’s most popular beaches. Its clean water and mostly mid-sized waves are great for sports such as bodysurfing, boogie-boarding, and swimming. It teems with families and hormone-crazed teenagers on sunny summer Sundays but is nearly deserted the rest of the week, making it perfect for quiet picnics and extended walks along the beach.

Wedged in between the Malibu Pier and the Malibu Colony gated celebrity enclave, this popular beach offers many diversions. Watch surfers shred the waves at Surfrider Beach. The eponymous lagoon is a major stopover for migratory birds, while the nearby Adamson House with its idyllic gardens overlooks Malibu Pier and Malibu Lagoon. The house showcases pretty ceramic tiles (see Malibu Adamson House & Malibu Lagoon Museum).

This easy-to-access beach is one of LA’s busiest. Families love the (see Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Pier) with its pretty historical carousel and amusement park. Fitness buffs can get their kicks from pedaling or skating down a paved path running past the recently restored Muscle Beach, the birthplace of the Southern California exercise craze back in the 1930s.

The beach itself plays second fiddle to Venice’s outlandish Ocean Front Walk, which is a magnet for freaks and those who love watching them. Against a backdrop of trinket shops and cafés, your encounters may include chainsaw jugglers, hulky musclemen, or even a singing Sikh on roller-bladess (see Venice Boardwalk).

The Beach Boys, who grew up around here, found inspiration for their inimitable surf music in the white sands and glorious waves of this upscale yet relaxed seaside town. Longboarders still compete for the perfect ride, especially in the area around the Manhattan Pier, which is home to an aquarium (see South Bay).

South of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa (see South Bay) has a busy bar and restaurant scene right where Pier Avenue meets the sand. Beach volleyball is the local pastime and national tournaments take place throughout the year. Only the paved South Bay Bicycle Trail that runs from Marina del Rey to Palos Verdes lies between the sand and private homes.

The colorful sails of windsurfers flutter like giant butterflies along this beach on the breakwater of LA Harbor. Visit the nearby Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to learn about marine life.

Head to this low-key ocean playground just south of the San Gabriel River for a taste of small-town America. Warm waters and small to mid-size waves make it ideal for swimmers and surfers. A 1,865-ft (600-m) pier with a diner anchors Seal Beach.