Last updated on March 26th, 2024 at 09:25 am
Looking for fun things to do in Laguna Beach with kids? I’ve got you covered!
Located between San Diego and Los Angeles, Laguna Beach is one of Southern California’s premier destinations. With its stunning coastal setting, beautiful beaches, and myriad of activities, Laguna Beach is a great place to visit for a beach getaway.
Here are the best things to do in Laguna Beach with (or without!) kids, from a Southern California local who visits often!
Things to Do in Laguna Beach with Kids
A visit to Laguna Beach, California can be as relaxed or adventurous as you want it to be. There are so many wonderful things to do in Laguna Beach! We live in Southern California and visiting Laguna Beach with kids often, especially in the summer months.
From the many beaches to challenging hiking trails, water activities and art galleries galore, you’ll find it easy to spend a few days in this charming beach town. Visiting Laguna Beach is truly one of the top things to do in Orange County.
1. Spend Time at the Beaches in Laguna Beach
If you are visiting Laguna Beach or anywhere along the coast in Orange County, you’re going to want to spend some time at the beach! As a Southern California local, we’ve spent plenty of time at the sure and I can say from personal experience that Laguna Beach is one of the best and most scenic areas to enjoy the surf and sand.
Laguna Beach has some of the most picturesque beaches in all of Southern California. With seven miles of coastline, spending time at the beach is one of the most popular things to do in Laguna Beach with kids.
Bring your chairs and a beach blanket and find the perfect spot to lounge in the sun and play in the waves. Its gorgeous cliffside location makes the beaches of Laguna Beach one of the most scenic spots to spend a day.
Main Beach is probably the most popular Laguna Beach beach, as it is located right in the center of town. As with most of the area’s beaches, get there early for your best spot at finding good parking.
Laguna Beach is an ideal swimming destination. First of all, there’s almost always calm water to be found at one beach or another. Second, the bodysurfing breaks are some of the best in the nation. And third, the city’s lifeguards are well trained, rigorous, and happy to guide visitors. It’s a pretty wonderful combination for anyone eager to swim.
Here is a list of beaches in Laguna Beach with links for more information about each one!
- Aliso Beach
- Agate Street Beach
- Brooks Street Beach
- Christmas Cove
- Cleo Street Beach
- Crescent Bay Beach
- Diver’s Cove
- Fisherman’s Cove
- Main Beach
- Moss Cove
- Mountain Street Beach
- Oak Street Beach
- Picnic Beach
- Rockpile Beach
- Shaw’s Cove
- Sleepy Hollow Beach
- St. Ann’s Beach
- Thalia Street Beach
- Thousand Steps
- Treasure Island
- Totuava
- Victoria Beach
- Woods Cove
All Laguna Beach beaches are open year-round from 6 am to 10 pm.
Some of the more popular family-friendly beaches in Laguna Beach include Aliso Beach, Main Beach, Thousand Steps Beach, Picnic Beach, and Treasure Island Beach.
Traveling with furry friend? Laguna Beach is dog-friendly! Dogs are allowed on city beaches before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. in the summer season, and during regular beach hours from during the rest of the year.
You also might want to check out Crystal Cove State Beach, on the north end of town up Pacific Coast Highway, bordering Corona del Mar and Newport Beach. With its expansive, white sand beach and endless ocean views, Crystal Cove State Park is one of the most beautiful places on the Pacific coast and our personal favorite beach in Laguna.
Laguna Beach also has more beachfront and oceanfront lodging than any other city in the state of California!
2. Explore the Laguna Beach Tidepools
One of the most interesting things to do in Laguna Beach is check out the tidepools. The shoreline is dotted with them! Tidepools are a habitat for tiny marine life, including shore crabs, snails, anemones, starfish, and other sea creatures. Kids will love observing these wonderful creatures in their natural environment. But remember, the tide pools are protected wildlife habitats, so please don’t touch! (Photographs however are totally encouraged and make great souvenirs.)
Where can you find the tidepools? You’ll often be able to spot them on the beach at Treasure Island, Main Beach, and the Heisler Park area. Find out more about tidepool ecology at the Laguna Ocean Foundation website.
3. Check Out the Local Arts Scene
One of the things Laguna Beach is famous for is its thriving art scene. There are more than 100 art galleries in downtown Laguna Beach, as well as many lovely shops, restaurants, and boutique hotels, all within walking distance of the beach.
Granted, kids may not love exploring the art galleries in town, but popping into one or two is a nice way to add a little culture to your family’s beach day!
Be sure to explore the Laguna Art Museum, which happens to be California’s oldest museum. The Laguna Art Museum not only showcases great art, but is focused on the unique history of Laguna Beach and art in California.
End your day exploring downtown Laguna Beach with dinner or a cocktail overlooking the ocean.
4. Enjoy Pageant of the Masters
When it comes to things to do in Laguna Beach, nothing is more iconic than the Pageant of the Masters.
One of the most unique productions in the world, the Pageant of the Masters re-creates famous works of art. It comes every summer to Laguna Beach, as part of the Festival of Arts. Watch art come to life right before your eyes in an outdoor amphitheater under the stars. For tickets and information, visit foapom.com.
5. Visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Say hello to seals and sea lions at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. This sanctuary and rehabilitation center is family friendly. Kids will love learning about the sanctuary’s ocean creature residents. Most of the seals and sea lions here are eventually released back into the wild.
6. Try Out Ocean Kayaking
Laguna Beach offers many options for sea kayaking, for all levels of expertise. La Vida Laguna offers lessons and rentals, and the calm waters of Laguna Beach are the ideal environment for kayaking in the sea.
Traveling with young kids? Special kayaks let little ones sit safely in the middle while two grown-ups (or an older sibling) do the paddling.
You can also try out stand-up paddle boarding, skim boarding, or surfing.
7. Ride the Free Trolley
Here’s a wonderful perk you’ll find in the summer months! Laguna Beach offers free rides aboard the open-air Laguna Beach Trolley. Not only is the beach trolley convenient for getting around town, but it is fun, too!
8. Enjoy an Ice Cream Cone
What visit to a beach town is complete without an ice cream cone or gelato? Laguna Beach is known for its handmade gelato, and you can find it at many shops within walking distance to the beach. So grab an afternoon snack on your way back to the car or your hotel.
9. Take a Hike
When you’re ready for a break from the beach, take a hike at Laguna Canyon. This inland wilderness area is just minutes inland from the coast, and has lots of trails for all age and skill levels. One of the best things to do in Laguna Beach, enjoy beautiful vistas and a lovely natural landscape on your hike.
10. Visit the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Speaking of natural landscapes, the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is a 7,000-acre wilderness park on the way to Laguna Canyon. The park offers lots of trail options for mountain biking, hiking, and even horseback riding.
Start off at the Nix Nature Center, and hike your way up to incredible views of bluffs and ocean vistas. You’ll find family friendly activities and workshops on the weekends at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.
11. Go Whale Watching
If you want to get out on the water, consider taking a whale watching cruise, another family friendly activity in Laguna Beach. Whale watching off Laguna Beach is exceptional, and you will likely see gray whales in the winter, as well as dolphins! Gray whale migration reaches its peak from November through April and giant blue whales and finback whales from May through mid-October.
Laguna Beach California at Christmas
I wanted to include a section on Laguna Beach during the holiday season, because most people don’t think of visiting a beach town in December but it is one of our favorite times to visit! Laguna Beach has tons of holiday offerings, events, and restaurant specials during the holiday season.
On weekends in November and December, trade the sand for snow at the Sawdust Winter Fantasy Festival. Shop for handcrafted gifts and art, and experience three entertainment stages, photos with Santa, winter themed art classes and demonstrations, a petting zoo, puppet shows, falling snow, carolers and more.
Catch a holiday show at the Laguna Playhouse, check out holiday decorations and Christmas trees on the beach, and don’t miss the Surfboard Menorah on display in Main Beach during the eight nights of Hanukkah.
Pin These Laguna Beach Activities for Later!
Planning a visit to Laguna Beach in Orange County, California? Pin the image below for future reference!
Linzey says
We lived in Laguna Beach for most of 2020 and LOVED it. I loved having the kids there; we met so many great people and had easy access to art… it’s EVERYWHERE! I loved being somewhere that incorporated art so much in its culture and daily life. This is a great list; so excited to go back… hopefully for good! -Linzey @thefamilyfuntour