Beach is clean with a free parking lot just above. At the entrance there's a nice little…read moreplayground, a concessions stand with actual options beyond your standard hotdogs and burgers. We came on a cloudy day so it wasn't really crowded and we found free parking in the lot up the hill, just above the beach. The lifeguard station is right there so there was a sense of added safety as my kids learned to surf. Beach was clean, people were chill, and we'll def be back!

We came here as a family and really enjoyed it. I actually believe this beach was recommended to…read moreme, and it was everything they said it would be. The beach was nice and the water felt really good, not too cold, which made it even better. My daughter had a blast playing in the sand and just being free, and my husband loved it too, especially since it was his first time being in warm ocean water. We were able to find a spot that wasn't overly crowded, which made it feel even more peaceful and relaxing. Overall it was just a really good beach day and I would definitely come back.

I have been here a handful of times and love coming here to watch sunsets, watch surfers, meditate…read more Today, I stopped in to catch the sunset. I told myself if the parking lot had an open spot, I would stop, otherwise, I would get back on the road to go home. I got lucky tonight and got a spot. This lot is always full but I have managed to get a spot a few times. You either need to come real early or later in the day. Sunsets here are gorgeous, its a bit further south, so you're going to get the sun setting more to the far right, so it wont be directly in front of you, but still very beautiful and unique in its own way. Tonight, there was an impromptu band playing and music was great! They played one of my fave songs Fade Into You by Mazzy Star and I almost cried. The views were so gorgeous and while the song was playing I saw two sparrow like birds on the most beautiful red flowers and it just felt like life could not be any better. The benches up top are a hot commodity, but people come and go quickly so I got a nice spot and sat and watched the sun setting for about 30 min more. I saw a guy bring his own foldable reclining chair and thats a great idea! I think I am going to do that too! This is the best spot to relax for awhile... I love this place and will be coming back often. I also hope one day to be out there surfing with all those amazing surfers!! There were so many out there today, was a site to see!!

I don't know what it took me years if not decades to review this fabulous surfers beach. Well, not…read moreonly surfers can enjoy it but you will need energy to go up and down the long stairs and compete for space with the surfers and their boards. The feeling of being in a exotic location is overwhelmingly beautiful. Total vacation vibes, a place of peace and joy. I went there after a long time a couple days ago on my way to interpret in the area and stopped for a picnic at the little park before you get to the stairs. All very clean and perfect even if small. Restrooms, grass stra, picnic tables, perfect trees and plants, benches. Just a few parking spots which means most probably you have to park nearby and walk. The vistas from above the beach are spectacular. The sand is warm and thin, perfect for long walks or taking a quick nap.

I dont know if there is more that I can add about this beach, and at this point, I am still trying…read moreto figure out which beaches might be more suited to my personality but all I can say as of now is that all these beaches I have visited in SoCal specifically San Diego all seem quite top notch! Tonight, I chose to do the 4 mile run which is from Culture Brewing from Solana Beach up to the Kook statue and then back. Initially, I had no idea what a kook is but a local runner friend explained to me. A kook is a surfer who looks awkward while surfing. OK, now I get it. While making my way to the Kook statue, I passed by the parking lot for this beach which had a sign to designate it. This beach was pretty busy today as we are right in the middle of summer and everybody was out enjoying the weather, the beach, soaking up the rays, and water. Gosh, SoCal is really paradise on Earth! Id love to come here another day and just enjoy the beach, but tonight it was also cool to jog by, the views are just amazing! I feel blessed to be able to enjoy this place and my hope is you will come to see this beautiful place, your heart will thank you!

Beautiful beach. There are some lovely sunflowers and other flowers around up top by the parking…read moretoo (which was plentiful). There's also some free parking on the street if you can find some. The beach is very nice and clean. Get out and enjoy it :)

I love running and tonight our Monday night run group had a route where we would pass this park but…read moresince I was already jogging solo and almost up to 3 miles of jogging, I took a short break & stopped here to take in how beautiful this beach park is. Its just beyond gorgeous and I know in the summer, there are concerts here (so I will come back for that). I didn't get down to the beach tonight (there are stairs down from the park) but I need to do that before summer is over. Restrooms available here too. Lovely park and there is a parking lot connected. I will definitely be back!

Been to this park a couple times .. once by myself and once with family. It's so nice here! There's…read morea small lot which makes parking kind of tricky, especially on the weekends.. however there are street parking and another lot across the street if you're lucky. There's a playground for kids to enjoy.. lots of park bathroom stalls available (with toilet paper and soap)! And the beach is only a short walking distance away. The views are spectacular and we all had a great time enjoying the scenery

Difficult to find parking but my friend and I parked far away and were there as part of our daily…read more10K steps challenge. For people going there to surf I see the difficulty in having to carry the board walking for a while Beacons is a wonderful beach like everything in Encinitas/Leucadia. Enchanting atmosphere, beautiful houses around, trees, flowers, birds...is a piece of paradise. I don't like too much having to go down that zig zag to go to the beach but it is always magical, especially when you haven't been for a very long time and rediscover this great spot.

When I'm dog sitting I like to walk to this beach as the views are beautiful... especially during…read morethe sunset. The doggy enjoys this walk as well. The top area was a bit of a hazard, as they had a few sinkhole issues. From recent visit I see they have improved the area and it looks really nice, and much safer. I have walked all the way down to the beach a few times, but the long trail down can be exhausting especially when carrying all your beach necessities. Overall, love the views and will continues to enjoy the walks.

Camping at Carlsbad State Beach is unmatched…read more This campsite offers the best of both worlds: city life + beach life. It sits right on the ocean bluff with two sides, bluff-side (oceanfront) and streetside. Obviously bluff-side is preferred, but staying on the streetside is still a treat. A few things I love about this camping experience: - They allow all forms of camping. Tent, RV, van, etc. - The site has clean bathrooms and warm showers. Just be sure to purchase tokens at the front for the shower. - Dog friendly! You can bring your pet along but they must be on leash and aren't allowed on the beach. - Carlsbad has the most captivating sunsets, and if you're lucky, you'll even see a few dolphins. Truly the most memorable 32nd birthday activity with all my favorite people.

Carlsbad is a beautiful city with a lot of nice restaurants and little shops so I opted to try the…read morebeach here today rather than Oceanside where I usually go. I lucked out and found a super close parking spot in the neighborhood across the street. The beach itself was VERY short compared to sand length at other beaches so people were almost on top of each other. There was a pretty intense drop off about half way down the sand so it limited space for people to put down their stuff and lay out. I'm not sure how normal it is at this spot but there was a TON of rocks. It was way too much to be able to enter the water without having them beating your feet and ankles. My friend was bleeding after trying to check out the water. The surf was also a little intense that day so I'm wondering if that had any effect on the rock situation? This was a very clean beach with restrooms at the bottom of the ramp from the street so it did have that going for it but we decided to leave and head for a beach where we could safely go into the water that day. I'll have to come back another time to get a better idea.

For the people who don't like beaches with stairs...just don't go there. The name of the beach says…read moreit all. I think it was my first time ever yesterday and I enjoyed it to the max. Parking was not an issue and the streets nearby the beginning of the stairs are gorgeous, well maintained, safe, flowers and surf boards as decor. Even pink quartz on the pavement. Yes, that kind of level. The stairs were not an inconvenience for me but I. My case I wanted to make it a workout so in fact was perfect. By the time I made it to the steps I had already collected a mini flower bouquet and felt delighted just being there. Beautil long beach and not overpopulated. Everyone looks fit and happy. All was great.

A must stop if you are in the area. There is limited parking at the access, but we had no trouble…read morefinding a spot on a Friday morning in November. My husband surfed here almost 50 years ago, so was a trip down memory lane for him. Quite a few steps to the beach, but you get a great view from the overlook so the steps are optional. Very cool surrounding neighborhood, too.

The Moonlight Beach Overlook is my favorite spot to go to. I get to watch the beauuutiful sunsets,…read moresunrises, moonrises and moonsets along with keeping up with my physical activities down on the beach like leisurely walks, yoga or running for the 5K. There's a lot more going on when I'm at this scenic blufftop overlooking the Pacific Ocean...I see picnics, volleyball games, surfing just to name a few. I just looove it! Definitely worthy of 5 stars!!

Whenever I visit one of my very good friends in Encinitas, this overlook is the first place I come…read moreto. There are a only a handful of parking places but I always seem to get lucky, score a perfect spot and it's free. After the long drive from home, I can get out of the car, feel the fresh ocean air, stretch and take in the views of the mighty Pacific Ocean. My visits vary from 30 minutes to a couple hours. I just need enough time to unwind from the drive, meditate and relax. What a stress reliever! TIP: Sunsets are epic from this overlook!

A popular stretch of sand, especially beloved by surfers…read more I first stumbled upon this spot while walking from a nearby beach where I always park for free. Here, parking requires a fee, but the beach does offer helpful amenities like restrooms and water stations. That said, you can find similar amenities at other nearby beaches without parking charges, such as Moonlight and Fletcher Cove. What really caught my attention is the sheer number of surfers in the water and the crowds gathered to watch them. Thanks to the reef known as Seaside Reef, the waves here are larger and more consistent, making it a prime surfing destination. In winter, there's a charming tradition: someone places a Christmas tree right in the sand. It's a festive, unexpected touch that brings extra joy to the season. Next year I'm going to bring an ornament to place on this tree. Whoever keeps this tradition alive, thank you!

Catch the surfers here.... Where else can you find a Christmas tree in the sand…read more... We stopped for a little rest used the restroom watched the surfers and the walkers and felt safe..