Visiting Laguna Beach with kids has become one of our favorite coastal escapes when we need a break from the Arizona heat.

We’ve visited several Southern California beach towns over the years — including San Diego, Carlsbad, Newport, and Laguna — and while they all have their own charm, Laguna always feels a little special.

The dramatic cliffs, the small coves tucked along the coastline, and the incredibly clear water make it feel different from the long, flat stretches of sand you find in many other beach towns.

It’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning exploring tide pools, grab lunch overlooking the ocean, and end the day watching the sunset from the beach while your kids attempt to bring home half the sand in their swimsuits.

And honestly? That’s exactly the kind of day we love.

Where is Laguna Beach Located?

Laguna Beach is located along the Orange County coastline in Southern California, between Newport Beach and Dana Point.

It’s an easy stop if you’re already visiting other popular destinations in the area.

Approximate drive times:

From Phoenix: about 5.5 hours
From San Diego: about 1 hour
From Los Angeles: about 1 hour
From Anaheim / Disneyland: about 40 minutes

Because of its location, Laguna Beach works really well as:

• A weekend getaway from Arizona
• A relaxing break from a Disneyland trip
• A stop on a Southern California road trip

Best Time to Visit Laguna Beach

One of the things we love about Laguna Beach is that it’s enjoyable year-round.

We’ve visited in spring, summer, and fall, and every trip has been beautiful.

Summer is the most popular time to visit, but coming from Arizona, the cooler coastal temperatures feel amazing. Even when inland Southern California is hot, Laguna usually stays comfortable thanks to the ocean breeze.

Spring is especially great if you want to explore tide pools, since lower tides make it easier to spot sea stars, crabs, and other marine life.

Fall is another fantastic time to visit. The weather is still warm, the water is often at its warmest of the year, and crowds tend to be smaller once school starts.

Even on cooler days, Laguna can still be a great beach destination. If the skies are clear, you can easily spend time walking the coastline, exploring town, or enjoying lunch with an ocean view.

Best Beaches in Laguna Beach for Families

Laguna Beach is known for its beautiful coves and smaller beaches, many of which feel tucked away compared to larger California beaches.

The truth is, there really isn’t a bad beach in Laguna.

When we visit, we usually stay near St. Ann’s Beach, which is close to several restaurants, ice cream shops, and some of our favorite lunch spots (including The Deck). We love being able to walk everywhere instead of packing up the car multiple times a day — which any parent knows can feel like preparing for an expedition.

Here are a few Laguna beaches that are especially great for families.

Treasure Island Beach

Treasure Island Beach is often considered one of the best beaches in Laguna Beach for families.

Located next to the beautiful Montage Laguna Beach resort, this beach is known for its wide sandy area, easy access, and excellent tide pools.

Reasons families love Treasure Island Beach:

• Easy stair access to the sand
• Large sandy area for kids to play
• Great tide pooling during low tide
• Bathrooms and facilities nearby
• Beautiful walking paths above the beach

If you’re visiting Laguna with kids, this is one of the easiest and most convenient beaches to start with.

Shaw’s Cove

Shaw’s Cove is a small, peaceful beach that feels a little more tucked away than some of Laguna’s larger beaches.

It’s known as one of the best snorkeling spots in Laguna Beach, thanks to its clear water and rocky surroundings.

Families love Shaw’s Cove for:

• Calm water for swimming
• Excellent snorkeling opportunities
• Smaller crowds compared to Main Beach
• Beautiful scenery

If you bring snorkel gear or want to try paddle boarding or kayaking nearby, this area can be a great place to explore.

Victoria Beach

Victoria Beach is famous for its iconic Pirate Tower, which looks like something straight out of a storybook.

Built in the 1920s, the tower sits right on the sand and has become one of Laguna Beach’s most photographed spots.

Things to know about Victoria Beach:

• Access requires walking down a neighborhood path and stairs
• The tower is best seen at lower tide
• It’s a fun photo stop if you’re exploring the area

While it’s not necessarily the easiest beach with younger kids, it’s definitely worth visiting if you’re nearby.

Main Beach

Main Beach is located right in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach and is one of the most popular spots in town.

What makes it great for families:

• Playground nearby
• Large grassy park area
• Volleyball courts
• Easy walk to restaurants and shops

This is also one of the best places to watch the sunset in Laguna Beach.

It’s a fun place to end the day — especially when kids can run around the grass while parents soak in the ocean views.

Things to Do in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach has a great mix of outdoor adventure and relaxed coastal charm.

These are some of our favorite family-friendly things to do.

Explore the Tide Pools

Tide pooling is easily one of the most fun activities for kids in Laguna Beach.

During low tide, the rocky areas around beaches like Treasure Island Beach and Shaw’s Cove reveal small pools filled with marine life.

Kids love searching for:

• Sea stars
• Small crabs
• Sea anemones
• Tiny fish

It feels a little like a natural scavenger hunt, and it’s one of those activities that keeps kids entertained much longer than you’d expect.

Just remember to look and not touch whenever possible to help protect the ecosystem.

Paddle Boarding or Kayaking

If your kids are a little older, paddle boarding or kayaking can be an incredible way to explore Laguna’s coastline.

On one of our paddle boarding outings, we even saw seals swimming nearby, which was such a fun and unexpected experience.

The clear water and beautiful cliffs make this area perfect for getting out on the water.

Even if you’re not planning a full excursion, you’ll often see sea life while walking along the beaches.

Walk the Heisler Park Coastal Trail

The Heisler Park coastal trail is one of the most scenic walks in Laguna Beach.

The paved path runs along the cliffs above the ocean and offers incredible views almost the entire way.

Why families love it:

• Easy walking path
• Multiple beach access points
• Picnic areas and grassy spaces
• Beautiful viewpoints for photos

It’s the kind of place where you can walk a little, stop to enjoy the view, and then continue on — perfect when exploring with kids.

Explore Downtown Laguna Beach

Downtown Laguna Beach has a fun, laid-back vibe with boutique shops, restaurants, and ocean views around almost every corner.

Laguna is also known for its artsy culture, and you’ll see galleries scattered throughout town.

While younger kids may not want to wander through art galleries for too long, downtown is still a great place to explore, grab snacks, or stop for dessert.

Watch Sunset at Main Beach

Sunset at Main Beach is one of those simple moments that always feels special.

As the sun drops toward the ocean, the sky lights up with incredible colors and the entire beach seems to slow down for a bit.

Kids run along the sand, surfers catch their last waves, and families gather to watch the sunset together.

It’s the perfect way to end a day in Laguna.

Visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Center

One of the most meaningful things to do in Laguna Beach with kids is visiting the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

This nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center cares for injured, sick, and stranded seals and sea lions along the California coast.

The center has been temporarily closed for renovations, but it is expected to reopen in 2026.

When open, families can:

• Learn about marine mammal rescue and conservation
• See rescued seals and sea lions recovering
• Explore educational exhibits
• Watch feeding and care routines

For kids especially, it’s a really memorable experience to see the animals up close while also learning how people help protect them.

It’s a great activity to pair with a beach day — especially if your kids have already spotted seals swimming offshore.

What to Pack for the Beach with Kids

If you’re planning a full beach day in Laguna, having the right gear can make everything much easier.

After several trips (and a few times forgetting important things), this is the beach packing list that works best for us.

Beach Essentials

• Towels
• Reef-safe sunscreen
• Hats or rash guards
• Water bottles
• Beach blanket or chairs
• A large beach bag

For the Kids

• Boogie boards
• Sand toys
• Goggles or snorkel gear
• Extra clothes
• A bag for collecting shells

One of the sweetest activities we accidentally discovered was bringing Crayola watercolor paints and a small paintbrush.

My youngest spent nearly an hour painting shells she found along the beach, and it kept her completely entertained while we relaxed nearby.

It’s a simple activity, but it turned into one of those unexpected travel moments that kids remember long after the trip.

Check ocean conditions:
Before entering the water, take a moment to check the surf conditions or ask a lifeguard about rip currents. Waves and currents can be strong at times along the Laguna coastline, especially for younger swimmers.

Where to Stay in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach has several great options for families depending on your travel style.

Surf & Sand Resort

A beautiful beachfront resort with incredible ocean views.

Laguna Beach House

A charming boutique hotel with a relaxed coastal vibe.

Montage Laguna Beach

A luxury splurge with amazing views and direct beach access.

We personally love staying in Airbnbs when visiting Laguna Beach. Our favorite one-bedroom condo sits right on the beach and has the best patio for morning coffee while watching the waves.

Being that close to the ocean makes everything easier with kids — we can walk back and forth from the beach without packing up the car every time.

It’s also right across from a grocery store, which makes grabbing snacks or breakfast supplies super convenient.

Once we arrive, we rarely drive anywhere — we just walk to restaurants, ice cream shops, and the beach.

Where to Eat in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach has some fantastic restaurants, and many are very family-friendly.

Nick’s Laguna Beach
One of the most popular restaurants in town and consistently excellent.

South of Nick’s
Amazing Mexican food and a great dinner spot.

Bear Flag Fish Co.
A casual seafood spot perfect for lunch.

Zinc Café
A great option for breakfast or lunch with fresh, healthy options.

The Deck on Laguna Beach
Oceanfront dining literally on the sand — a really fun lunch spot. The food is great, the views are even better, and I even spotted a Real Housewife here once, which made the experience feel very Laguna.

Gelato Paradiso
The perfect after-dinner stop.

La Sirena Grill
A local favorite and great for a quick lunch.

Best Coffee in Laguna Beach

If you’re anything like me, the day doesn’t really start until there’s coffee involved — especially when traveling with kids who wake up at sunrise because they’re excited about the beach.

Luckily, Laguna Beach has several great coffee spots that are easy to stop at before heading down to the sand.

Laguna Coffee Company
One of the most popular coffee shops in town and located right near downtown. Their cold brew and breakfast burritos are both great if you need something quick before starting the day.

Urth Caffé Laguna Beach
A beautiful café with a large outdoor patio and lots of breakfast options. It’s a great place to sit for a while and ease into the morning before heading to the beach.

Bear Coast Coffee
A smaller local coffee shop that’s perfect for grabbing a drink to-go before walking the coastline.

Jedidiah Coffee
A cozy café with excellent specialty coffee and pastries. It’s a great stop if you’re exploring downtown.

Pro tip: grab coffee before heading to the beach in the morning — it’s much easier than trying to convince kids to leave the sand once they’ve started playing.

A Simple 2-Day Laguna Beach Itinerary

Before getting into the itinerary, I should say something.

I’m usually a very structured planner when it comes to travel. I like having a plan, reservations made, and activities mapped out.

But when we visit Laguna Beach, I try to do the opposite.

This is one of the few places where we intentionally slow down.

I might book a dinner reservation or plan one activity like kayaking or paddle boarding, but otherwise we let the day unfold naturally — beach time, snacks, sunset walks, and whatever else sounds fun.

So think of this less as a strict itinerary and more as ideas for how you could spend a couple days in Laguna Beach with kids.

Day 1

Morning
Treasure Island Beach

This is one of the easiest beaches for families thanks to convenient access, tide pools, and nearby bathrooms.

Lunch
Bear Flag Fish Co.

Casual seafood that’s perfect after a beach morning.

Afternoon
Walk the Heisler Park Coastal Trail

A beautiful and easy walk with incredible ocean views. You can walk as little or as much as you want.

Dinner
Nick’s Laguna Beach

One of the most popular restaurants in town and consistently great.

Sunset
Main Beach

Let the kids play in the sand or run around the grass park while you watch the sunset.

Day 2

Morning
Breakfast at Zinc Café

A great start to the day before heading back to the ocean.

Mid-Morning
Shaw’s Cove

Perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or simply enjoying a quieter beach.

Lunch
The Deck on Laguna Beach

Oceanfront dining literally on the sand — kids usually love watching the waves while eating.

Afternoon
Explore downtown Laguna + Gelato Paradiso

Walk the shops, grab gelato, and enjoy the relaxed coastal vibe.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Laguna Beach with Kids

Laguna Beach is one of those places that somehow feels both relaxing and adventurous at the same time.

Between the beautiful coves, incredible ocean views, great restaurants, and small-town coastal charm, it’s the kind of destination that’s easy to return to again and again.

Whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway or adding it to a larger Southern California road trip, Laguna Beach is a place that’s easy to fall in love with.