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Post by deafpea on May 18, 2017 17:27:36 GMT
Hello peas!
Next week my family is going to California for our family vacation. We will be there for a week. Most of the time we will be at Disneyland so we are staying at a condo hotel right by Disneyland. We are planning to spend Memorial Day at the beach.
My questions:
What beach in the LA area would you recommend? We're not surfers or anything so we would love a beach that's not rocky and doesn't get deep quickly.
What time should we plan to arrive at the beach on Memorial Day so we can get parking? Last year we stayed in a condo on the beach so we just walked down from our condo.
How's the highway traffic on a holiday?
Thanks,
Merilee
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Post by its me mg on May 18, 2017 17:34:43 GMT
I would just get an uber down to the beach and back to the hotel. With metered parking, you'd have to go feed the meter every 2 hours/move the car. Down in Manhattan Beach they mark your tires. Traffic pretty much blows all day long. I live on the 91 fwy ..... I am all too aware.  |
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Post by katlady on May 18, 2017 17:36:48 GMT
If you are staying near Disney, I would suggest Huntington Beach. It is straight down Beach Blvd from Disney (a little bit of a drive though). They have quite a few parking lots for about $15/day. Just up from Huntington is Bolsa Chica which is also a nice beach.
Traffic on a holiday weekend is usually good (except for Friday afternoon/night and Monday afternoon).
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Post by papersilly on May 18, 2017 17:45:50 GMT
yeah, if you will be at Disney, Huntington will be your best bet.
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Post by ~summer~ on May 18, 2017 17:47:43 GMT
My favorite beach is Laguna Beach - particularly south a bit from the main beach. For a smaller beach I also like Carona Adel Mar - or Crystal Cove is super nice too (and you can see the house from Beaches  |
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Post by bc2ca on May 18, 2017 17:47:52 GMT
I'd head to Huntington Beach and be there before 10.
I'd also watch the weather and have a back-up plan. We have had some very cool days (low 60s) and rain this month.
Traffic will be heavy, especially in the afternoon as people hit the road heading home at the end of the long weekend.
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FurryP
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Post by FurryP on May 18, 2017 19:02:59 GMT
Personally, I think 10am is way too late, even on a regular weekend.
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Post by katlady on May 18, 2017 19:31:24 GMT
Personally, I think 10am is way too late, even on a regular weekend. We used to go to Huntington on a regular weekend, getting there between 9 and 10, and parking in their lots was never much of an issue. But if you want a pit (which I don't think the OP does) we would get there by 8, or at least someone in our party would. Not me.  |
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Post by hennybutton on May 18, 2017 19:37:53 GMT
I live by Huntington Beach. Definitely your best bet from Disneyland. I do avoid holiday weekends though. Way too crowded. At 15 dollars for parking (at State Beach), it will be a cheap day.
If you could spend one of your weekdays there, it will be easier.
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caangel
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Posts: 6,025 
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Post by caangel on May 18, 2017 23:08:02 GMT
Do you really mean LA or near Disney? Disney is in Orange County so i would recomend an OC beach. Huntington is great because it is a BIG beach with lots of space, very long (north/south) and deep (from PCH to the water, depending on where you are).
If you are actually wanting to go to LA Hermosa and Redondo are nice. Parking will be awful.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on May 19, 2017 1:26:05 GMT
I also love Seal Beach (south of Huntington?). It has a cute main street and nice beach. Not sure what the parking situation would be that weekend.
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Post by cadoodlebug on May 19, 2017 1:30:16 GMT
If this is your first time to visit, just be aware that the water tends to be cold. I can get in up to my ankles then they start hurting. I'm a Gulf of Mexico kind of gal.  |
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caangel
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Post by caangel on May 19, 2017 1:31:44 GMT
I also love Seal Beach (south of Huntington?). It has a cute main street and nice beach. Not sure what the parking situation would be that weekend. Seal Beach is North of Huntington, Newport Beach is South. |
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Post by theroadlesstraveledp on May 19, 2017 1:33:57 GMT
Traffic will suck. I'm not gong to lie. Disney will also be crazy psycho busy. I'd make sure I downloaded the Disney Parks app and Mousewait.
Crystal Cove is one of my favorite places, so I'd go there as well.
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seaexplore
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Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on May 19, 2017 1:54:58 GMT
I'd avoid both Disney and the beach like the plague Memorial Day weekend. Both places are going to be CRAZY! But then again, I don't like people so I'm probably a bit biased.
If you are dead set on being at the beach Memorial Day, get there are sunrise. Serious.
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leeny
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Post by leeny on May 19, 2017 2:23:10 GMT
I also love Seal Beach (south of Huntington?). It has a cute main street and nice beach. Not sure what the parking situation would be that weekend. Seal Beach is North of Huntington, Newport Beach is South. Thanks! I am definitely directionally challenged! |
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Post by papersilly on May 19, 2017 3:49:30 GMT
I'd avoid both Disney and the beach like the plague Memorial Day weekend. Both places are going to be CRAZY! But then again, I don't like people so I'm probably a bit biased. If you are dead set on being at the beach Memorial Day, get there are sunrise. Serious. I agree with this. I would avoid both places that weekend too. Both will be so crowded. tourists are none the wiser but locals know better. It's not worth the hassle. |
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on May 19, 2017 4:02:21 GMT
Huntington Beach, for sure. It's an easy drive from Disneyland, even if traffic will be busy. Lots of shops and restaurants, iconic pier. You'll have a great time in spite of the crowds!
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Post by Clair on May 19, 2017 4:14:10 GMT
The key on a holiday weekend, no matter where you go, is to get there early and get your car parked. There are only so many spots and a boat load of people spend the day at the beach.
There are usually lines to get into the parking lots at Bolsa Chica on the holidays because of the fire pits.
My personal favorites are Sunset and Seal. Huntington has more going on, Sunset is totally quiet but very limited parking. Seal is a sleepy beach town with a pier and Main Street.
South to north it's Huntington, bolsa chica, sunset, seal - then you are into Long Beach which has a breakwater but there is an aquarium and nice bays for swimming and kayaking.
It's May Gray so don't expect the days to be all sun. The sun will probably come out later in the day.
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Post by jenn on May 19, 2017 13:51:14 GMT
I grew up south of HB in San Clemente, so I prefer those beaches. My favorite beach that is close to my house is down in the Crystal Cove area. Just be careful ...there are many rocks that are hidden by the tides AND we are having a little issue with sharks. 😳
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pinklady
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Post by pinklady on May 19, 2017 14:22:34 GMT
If you're expecting pretty blue water you're in for a big surprise. It will be brown and foamy! I've lived here all my life and I wouldn't stick my big toe in the water in Huntington Beach.  |
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