Beach Overview of Southern Californias Beaches at the Pacific Coast from the north to the south:

Santa Monica State Beach:
The beach at the  Santa Monica State Beach is locatad in visual range to the Santa Monica Pier. A parking fee of $7.- is charged at the Santa Monica State Beach (as at: September 2011).

Santa Monica Beach & Pier:
The world famous dreambeach at the city of Santa Monica is a wide leveled sandy beach. The waves at the Santa Monica Beach are small. The Santa Monica Beach is a popular beach in the Greater Los Angeles Area (LA) and in Southern California. Walking paths and bikeways exist at this beach. An amusement park is located at the Santa Monica Pier. No entrance fee is charged at the Santa Monica Pier. The carousel at the Santa Monica Pier is well known as the filming location of the movie “the Clou” starring Robert Shaw and Robert Redford. Lifeguards, sports equipment,  restrooms and showers are provided at the Santa Monica Beach and Pier. No entrance fee is charged at this beach. A parking fee of $8.- is charged at the Santa Monica Pier. Parking spaces with parking meters and parking lots with a daily parking fee are available at the Crescent Bay Park. The parking fee is $1.- per hour (as at: September 2011). The metered parking is limited to a maximum of 5 hours.

Venice Beach (Muscle Beach):
Venice Beachs Muscle Beach is situated north of the Venice Beach Pier. Lifeguards, shoers, restrooms, souvenir shops and sport equipment are provided at the Muscle Beach. The Muscle Beach at Venice Beach belongs to the most famous beaches in the Greater Los Angeles Area. A parking fee is charged at this beach (as at: September 2011).

Venice Beach Boardwalk:
The beach at Venice Beach is a wide sandy dreambeach. The waves are small at the Venice Beach. The Venice Beach is a popular beach in the Greater Los Angeles Area (LA) and in Southern California. Lifeguards, showers and restrooms are provided at the Venice Beach. A famous area is the so called Muscle Beach, where lots of bodybuilders are working out. No entrance fee is charged at the Venice Beach, the Venice Beach Boardwalk and the Muscle Beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. A parking fee is charged at this beach. Metered parking ($2.- per hour; coins and creditcards are accepted) and parking lots with a daily parking fee are available (as at: September 2011). Showers and restrooms are provided at the Venice Beach.

Del Ray Lagoon Park (Dockweiler State Beach):
The Del Ray Lagoon Park is located at the northern end of the Dockweiler State Beach. A playground and a few  parking spaces are provided. No parking fee is charged at the Del Ray Lagoon Park (as at: September 2011). A short trail leads to the Dockweiler State Beach. Volleyball fields, showers, restrooms and lifeguards are provided at this beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand at the Dockweiler State Beach. Airplanes that are departing from or landing at the Los Angeles Airport (LAX) are flying over this beach. Therefore it is sometimes pretty loud at the Dockweiler State Beach.

Dockweiler State Beach:
A wide sandy beach is located at the Dockweiler State Beach. The beach is about three Miles long. Picnicareas, lifeguards, volleyball fields (most of the volleyball fields are in the central area of the beach), showers and restrooms are provided at this beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Airplanes are passing the Dockweiler State Beach while flying to or from the Los Angeles Airport (LAX). The southern part of the Dockweiler State Beach isn’t as loud as the northern part. No parking fee is charged along the roadside. Parking along the roadside is limited! The parking fee at is $10.- at the Dockweiler State Beach (as at: September 2011).

Manhattan Beach:
The wide sandy beach at the Manhattan Beachs is located in the south of an industrial complex. No entrance fee is charged at the Manhattan Beach. Free parking space is available in the side roads (as at: September 2009). Restrooms and showers are provided at the Manhattan Beach. Although the waves are rather small, there are lots of surfers at this beach.

Manhattan Beach (27th Street):
A wide sandy beach is located at the Manhattan Beach. Lifeguards and volleyball fields are situated close to the Manhattan Beach Piers. A small parking lot is located at the 27th Stree beach access. The parking fee is 1 Quarter (25 Cent) for 10 minutes (as at: September 2011).

Manhattan Beach Pier:
A wide sandy beach is located at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards, showers and restrooms are provided at this beach. A parking fee is charged at the parking lot next to the Manhattan Beach Pier. Metered parking is available at the road. The parking meter accepts coins and creditcards (as at: September 2011). The parking time is limited to 5 hours at the Manhattan Beach Pier and up to two hours in front of the shops.

Hermosa Beach:
The leveled sandy beach at the Hermosa Beach is a beautiful place to spend a day at the beach. No entrance fee is charged at the Hermosa Beach. Metered parking is available along the roadside. The parking fee is $1,25 per hour (as at: September 2011). No restrooms are provided at the Hermosa Beach.

Hermosa Beach Pier:
Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand of Hermosa Beach Pier. Shops and cafés are located near the beach. Lifeguards, showers and restrooms are provided at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Metered parking is available at the parking lot of the Hermosa Beach Pier. Metered parking is also available along the roadside of the Hermosa Boulevard ($1,25 per hour) (as at: September 2011).

Redondo Beach:
The Redondo Beach is a wide leveled sandy beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards, showers and restrooms are provided at the Redondo Beach. A pier, restaurants and shops are located at the Redondo Beach Pier. During the daytime, there are usually lifeguards on duty at the Redondo Beach. Metered parking is available for 1 Quarter (25 Cent) per 10 minutes (parking lot at the Veterans Park). More parking space is provided at a parking garage (as at: September 2011).

Torrance Beach (Esplanade):
Limited parking space is available along the Esplanade Street. Stairways lead to the sandy beach. The metered parking fee is 1 Quarter (25 Cent) for 15 minutes (as at: September 2011).

Torrance Beach (Miramar Park):
Lifeguards, vending machines, volleyball fields, showers and restrooms are provided at the Miramar Park in Torrance. Washed up parts of plants and small pebble stones are lying in the sand at the shoreline and in the water of the ocean. A parking fee is charged at both parking lots of the Miramar Park in Torrance Beach. Metered parking is available at both parking lots. The parking fee at the northern parking lot is 1 Quarter (25 Cent) for 15 minutes (as at: September 2011).

Cabrillo Beach:
Two beaches are located at the Cabrillo Beach. The beaches are separated by the pier. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards, grills, a playground, showers and restrooms are provided at the Cabrillo Beach. The parking fee at the Cabrilo Beach is $1.-per hour the (maximum parking fee is $9.- per day). The first 20 minutes are free (as at: September 2011).

Long Beach (beim Jachthafen / Marina):
This beach is located east of the marina in Long Beach. Wshed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards, volleyball fields, showers and restrooms areprovided at this beach. Metered parking is available at this beach. The parking fee is 1 Quarter (25 Cent) for 15 minutes (as at: September 2011).

Junipero Beach:
At the Junipero Beach, you have a good view of the Queen Mary, the ships and the harbor. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards, showers and restrooms are provided at the Junipero Beach. Metered parking is available at the large parking lot. The parking fee is one Quarter (25 Cent) for 15 minutes (as at: September 2011).

Mothers Beach / Marina Park Beach:
The beach at the Mothers Beach rep. the Marina Beach Park is a rather small sandy beach. Lifeguards, a playground, restrooms and showers are provided at the Mothers Beach / Marina Park Beach. Metered parking for one Quarter (25 Cent) per 15 minutes is available (as at: September 2011).

Sunset County Beach:
A wide sandy beach is located at the Sunset County Beach. Shells and washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards are provided at this beach. Restrooms are located at the parking lot (at the 13th Street, 7th Street and 4th Street). A playground is also located near the parking lot (at the 4th Street). No parking fee is charged at the Sunset County Beach.

Bolsa Chica State Beach:
The Bolsa Chica State Beach is a three Miles long wide sandy beach. The Bolsa Chica State Beach is located at the north of the city of Huntington Beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. Lifeguards, restrooms, showers and a campground are provided at the Bolsa Chica State Park. The parking fee is $15.- at the Bolsa Chica State Beach (as at: September 2011). Free parking space is available at the Sunset County Beach, which is situated right next to the Bolsa Chica State Beach.

Dog Beach of Huntington Beach:
Dogs are allowed at the Dog Beach in Huntington Beach. Because of all the unleashed dogs, it is not the best beach to spend a day at the beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand. During the season, lifeguards are provided at this beach. Restrooms are located near the parking lot. A small parking lot with metered parking spaces is situated at the Dog Beach of Huntington Beach. The parking fee is $1,50.- per hour. The machine accepts Quarters (25 Cent) and creditcards (as at: September 2011).

Huntington Beach Pier:
A wide sandy beach is located at the Huntington Beach Pier. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand of this beach. Lifeguards and restrooms are provided. Metered parking along the roadside is available for $1,50.- per hour resp. 1 Dime (10 Cent) for 4 minutes. An additional parking lot with metered parking is located at the Huntington Beach Pier (as at: September 2011).

Huntington City Beach:
A wide sandy beach is located at the Huntington City Beach. Washed up parts of plants are lying in the sand of this beach. Lifeguards), showers and restrooms are provided. The Huntington City Beach is located next to the Huntington Beach Pier and the Huntington State Beach. Metered parking along the roadside is available for $1,50.- per hour resp. $0,50.- for 20 minutes. The parking fee at the beachs parking lot is $15.-. Creditcards are accepted (as at: September 2011).

Huntington State Beach:
A two Miles long leveled sandy beach is located at the Huntington State Beach. The beach is situated right next to the Huntington City Beach. WI-FI / WLAN is available near the Visitor Center. The range of this access point is about 150 feet (about 50 Meters). Restrooms, showers, volleyball fields and lifeguards are provided at the Huntington State Park. The parking fee is $15.- at the Huntington State Beach (as at: September 2011).

Corona Del Mar State Beach:
The Corona Del Mar State Beach is a popular beach in Southern California. The sandy beach at the Corona del Mar State Beach is about half a mile long. Rocks are located at the sides of this beach. This beach is popular for swimming and for surfing. Lifeguards, volleyball fields, showers and restrooms are provided. The parking fee at the Corona Del Mar State Beach is $15.- (as at: September 2011). This beach is run by the County. Therefore the day passes from the State Parks of the State of California are not valid at the Corona Del Mar State Beach!

Laguna Beach:
The leveled wide sandy beach at the city of Laguna Beach is a famous and popular beach. The waves are rather small at the Laguna Beach.

Alisio Beach County Park:
Washed up parts of plants are lying at the sand of the Alisio Beach. A playground, lifeguards, showers and restrooms are provided. The parking fee at the Alisio Beach County Park is $1.- per hour (as at: September 2011).

Informations at USAXL.com: Channel Islands Nationalpark - Joshua Tree Nationalpark - Los Angeles - San Diego - Yuma