Kids run down the path from to Main Beach in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach, California's Main Beach and Main Beach Park are located in the heart of the city. What's so enjoyable about this destination? The number of beaches visitors can enjoy, the tide pools to explore, the strategic location between Los Angeles, Disneyland and San Diego and finally, the number of hotel rooms at the beach that include affordable to luxury resorts.

As you stroll along the sidewalks, the beaches and dine in the establishments of Laguna Beach, the atmosphere is a blend of California modern and European tradition.  The demographic of visitors to Laguna Beach seems to contain a higher concentration of Europeans than surrounding areas. Though our observations are not scientific nor based on studies, Laguna Beach actually feels more continental than the surrounding beaches that market themselves to surfers, paintball teams and spring break youth.

As a family beach destination, Laguna Beach features 20 parks, beaches and scuba locations and a nightlife that's geared for adults and families. Its next door neighbor, Dana Point, likewise offers many great opportunities for "married with children" adults. The beaches are smaller, more intimate and sometimes situated in protected coves. Unlike the broad sand expanses to the north in Newport Beach and Huntington Beach where strong winds and large waves can often be daunting, Laguna Beach is not known for surfing, nor does it boast  hosting over 11 million annual guests. Instead, it focuses on the arts, culture, color and intimacy of hotel rooms that sit on sand beaches overlooking the blue, blue ocean. In Newport Beach you'll find only one hotel that actually is on the sand overlooking the ocean, Balboa Inn. In Huntington Beach there are no hotels directly on the sand. Laguna Beach has them like no other destination in Orange County. One of the most asked questions to this website it about hotels on the beach. To offer visitors a selection, we tell them to check out Laguna Beach or San Diego, your two best bets in all of Southern California.

Main Beach is the largest and most popular stretch of beach in Laguna. It is located in the middle of the town where Broadway and Ocean Avenues intersect Coast Highway. The best known landmark on this beach is the white lifeguard tower located in the middle of the beach. This beach is mostly sand bottom (rocky at the northern end near Bird Rock) with shorebreak type surf which makes it very popular with swimmers, bodyboarders, and body surfers. Surfing is not permitted on Main Beach during the summer months. The surf can be large and dangerous with numerous rip currents and heavy shore break waves.

Popular activities at this beach are basketball (there are two courts at the north end), volleyball (there are several courts on the beach) and other sand activities. There is a boardwalk that runs the length of the beach so it is a nice place to take a walk or people watch. Shower and restroom facilities are provided on both ends of the beach. Since it is in the middle of the town, it is a short walk from the beach to the numerous restaurant and shopping areas that are downtown.

Main Beach in Laguna Beach offers a beach view, oceanside Inn At Laguna Beach.