#Little corona del mar beach for free
#Little corona del mar beach free

Rocky tide pools with marine animals are the main attractions at this popular beach that is accessed by a steep concrete path. Access is a steep staircase that’s marked but easy to miss.

#Little corona del mar beach free

Go early to find free parking in the neighborhood, or park on the other side of PCH and hike down. Sea lions often lounge offshore on Seal Rock. Swimming isn’t terribly safe here because of rip currents, but there is good snorkeling and diving, or just get some sun and enjoy the beauty. Enter off Pacific Coast Highway via Cliff Drive in North Laguna. This stunning beach is a local secret because of its lack of public parking and hidden location inside a neighborhood. Parking is free, even in the cute downtown, but beware of strict time limits, as the parking enforcement can be swift and ferocious. The shallows attract stingrays from the nearby river, so shuffle your feet. There’s a small grassy lawn at the top, a long pier for fishing or strolling, and a broad, sandy beach with good waves.

This beautiful beach and pier are easily accessible off Pacific Coast Highway at Main Street and Ocean Avenue. The lack of waves means it’s safe for toddlers, too. This pocket beach near the Ocean Institute doesn’t have the most sparkling water, but it does have picnic pavilions, grills and free parking, making it a great location for cooling off and getting wet. People can board the shuttle near the Main Street entrance, adjacent to the police station. The shuttle leaves from the civic center parking lot (2000 Main St., at Yorktown). weekends, making stops at Main and Orange, and Fifth Street at the Strand. Drive Pacific Coast Highway through Laguna Beach and you can’t miss this icon of Orange County.Įveryone knows about the beach here, but did you know you can avoid all the parking and driving hassles on weekends this summer? You can park free at the Huntington Beach Civic Center and ride a free shuttle downtown every half-hour on weekends, Labor Day and Tuesday nights, and then it’s an easy walk to the beach. Be prepared for a good walk, especially in the summer.

#Little corona del mar beach for free

Drop off your stuff at the turnaround on the north side of the beach and then hunt for free street parking in the neighborhoods. There’s something for everyone at Main Beach: a grassy area for people who hate sand, a boardwalk, beach volleyball, basketball court, kids’ playground and beautiful sandy cove. The city fathers created one of the most fabulous public beaches in California when they bought an old building here and demolished it to create this small but gorgeous playground and window to the sea right in the middle of the town. Get there early or late for the best parking, and read the signs carefully for street cleaning or other restrictions. But these days, you encounter hefty parking fees at every golden strip of sand, right? Shh – don’t tell anyone, but there are some beaches you can enjoy without paying a cent, though you generally have to hunt for free street parking. There’s no question that beautiful beaches are among the crown jewels of Orange County.