🕶️ The Easy Beach Day: “Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey should be at the top of any list of SoCal beaches for families—it even has ‘mother’ in the name! It’s a peaceful little cove, protected from waves. You’ll find a playground on the sand, bathrooms, plus easy parking. Rent a paddleboard, or just throw a blanket down and let the kids wade into the water. There are restaurants and fruit carts galore. It’s casual, quaint, and walking (or biking) distance to (the less-relaxing) Venice Beach."

🕶️ The Easy Beach Day: “Right at Mother’s Beach is the mother of all family-friendly restaurants: The Cheesecake Factory. From finger foods to flatbreads, egg rolls to enchiladas, this is, quite literally, a factory of family favorites...not to mention the phone book–size selection of specialty drinks for the adults.”

🕶️ The Easy Beach Day: “We’re spoiled in California with sandy beaches, temperate weather, and delicious California-grown produce. Drop in on a Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to explore the Marina del Rey Farmers’ Market, which sets up right near Mother’s Beach. There are fresh fruits and veggies for the kids, flowers for mom, and tons to peruse.”

🏖️ The Huntington Beach Outing: “Skip the bustle of Main Street in Huntington Beach and explore Sunset Beach instead. Parking is less of a headache, and you’ll find yummy Cali burritos, fresh fish tacos, and trendy, TikTok-worthy cafés. It’s also just north of beautiful Bolsa Chica State Beach, which is another family fave—and you can trust this chica; I used to live near there.”

🏖️ The Huntington Beach Outing: “There’s a really cute little area at this beach where you can take an equally cute little boat out in the marina. On the boat you’ll be seated around a table where you can snack and chat on the water with your crew, enjoying a little salty air and salty conversation. You’re surrounded by beautiful homes, too, so tons to look at while you putter around the harbor.”

🏖️ The Huntington Beach Outing: “Harbor House Café is safe harbor for early risers looking for some celebratory grub, post-Little League tourneys or turnt-up tap recitals, with stacks on stacks of hotcakes for the kids and hot coffee for sleep-deprived parents. In an era when new eateries bow to the latest trends, this awesome breakfast spot has been slinging good food and good vibes since 1939.”

🏖️ The Huntington Beach Outing: “Nightlife and family life meet in Huntington Beach, with family-friendly bars and breweries that welcome all walks of life, from barflies to parents to pet owners. The local gold standard is Golden Road Brewing. With one eye on the marina views and the other on your kids, enjoy elevated pub fare with plenty of vegan options, and an ice-cold golden pilsner to wash it all down.”

⛴️ The Catalina Day Trip: “If you have a day where you want to do something different, hop on the Catalina Express! The ferry departs from Long Beach, as well as San Pedro and Dana Point, and they have plenty of parking at the terminal. If you and the family want to make a weekend of it while making lifelong memories, there are also boutique hotels, incredible hikes, bike rides, and even mini-golf, allowing you to enjoy a lil’ taste of the island life without going far from home.”

⛴️ The Catalina Day Trip: “I have several core memories going out to Catalina with my biology class, on day trips with friends, or even camping in college. If you fancy a swim in the cool water and a place to chill in the sun, grab a sandwich and stop at Middle Beach to relax and take a dip in the ocean.”

⛴️ The Catalina Day Trip: “Luau Larry’s is a fantastic and oh-so-cute tiki bar with creative island-inspired drinks and food, and it’s right by Middle Beach. You might even hear our radio station coming in hot on the speakers! Wonderful food, an assortment of cocktails, and streaming Apple Music Hits—so you know they have great taste!”

🎡 The Leisurely Santa Monica Visit: “Everybody wants to go to Santa Monica, so it can get pretty crazy, not to mention parking can be ridiculous. My suggestion is to start at Perry’s Cafe: There’s a massive parking lot, restrooms, and the food’s casual and tasty. Chill with your toes in the sand on their beach patio and sip oversize drinks while the kids play oversize Jenga. You can rent bicycles or beach gear, and it’s a nice ride or stroll on the bike path down to the pier from there.”

🎡 The Leisurely Santa Monica Visit: “What’s better than Ferris wheels and fried foods? It’s so fun to stroll the pier, play games, go on rides, commission horrifying caricatures of you and your family, and grab a snack or sip of something tasty. I love to take a bike ride from Perry’s down to the pier, or take the kids down to the beach to boogie board or check out the surfers. Excellent photo opportunity for those who have seen this iconic landmark in the backdrop of their favorite movies."

🌊 The Malibu Move: “How do you make Malibu a little more convenient? My hack is going to Gladstones, the legendary beachside restaurant. You can park there for a fee, access the beach, and have your ‘I’m in Malibu’ moment with your Maliboos and Malibaes—without having to brave crossing PCH. The restaurant is casual (my daughter has eaten there in her bathing suit), you can sit outside and have drinks, and the food is really good. That’s my cheat for getting a quick taste of Malibu!”

🌊 The (Other) Malibu Move: “The farther up the coast you go, the harder parking can get along PCH, but, if you want the full Malibu experience, one way to do it is to hit Surfrider Beach. It’s the place to be for kids and kooks alike, with beautiful views of the Pacific (and of local surfers).”