Our family visited Dana Strand Beach for the first time and had an amazing experience! We…read moreoriginally went to Doheny State Beach, and after talking with one of the state park workers, he recommended Strands Beach because it's a little less crowded and has beautiful crystal blue water. We're so glad we came! Parking was abundant, and while there are quite a few stairs to get down to the beach, it was incredibly peaceful and relaxing once we arrived. The bathrooms were also very clean -- honestly some of the cleanest public beach bathrooms we've experienced. Definitely a great spot for families and somewhere we'll be coming back to again. Highly recommend!

Dana Strand Beach is a small quiet beach with free and convenient parking nearby. Not crowded and…read moreno vendors here, it's a good place to relax and enjoy the sun/waters. The area is clean and well maintained with paved steps and wooden boardwalk. We've seen runners going up and down the steps multiple times for intense workout. Definitely need to bring sun protection here as there's no shade anywhere. If you don't feel like driving, you can take the free Dana Point trolley and walk down from the bus stop (PCH & Selva) as part of day tripping down in south OC.

The name baby beach is not an understatement. That's exactly what it is, a baby beach. It's coved…read moreoff by the harbor making it a safe area for your littles to play and enjoy the water. After researching, you definitely want to check the water safety before coming, because it's coved it's prone to higher unsafe levels of bacteria. This week it was in the green and safe. My son has Autism and we decided to try this beach out because it was know for it's coved off location with no waves and it gets my stamp of approval for safety. The beach itself is also very small so if you have an eloper it gives a sense of relief as well. I did a 360 degree video to show you. I rated this beach 4 out of 5 because there's very limited parking and the beach is very small. During peak season or weekends it may be difficult to find parking and the beach area may fill up. Some positive things are, parking is FREE! The restroom and showers are located right at the entrance, and there's a life guard tower. If you're looking for a safe place to bring your kiddos for a day at the beach, check this place out. One other thing, make sure to pack plenty to drink and eat. There is nothing near by without driving.

Great for families with little ones. Very calm water designated for small children. Parents don't…read moreneed to worry about their kids being swept away by waves. It was a sunny breezy day as my daughter and I visited this beach. Super busy for a Saturday afternoon. Parking is free, but can get filled up quickly. Plenty of grass and beach area to enjoy a picnic with your family. Then take a dip into the ocean. Perfect day to be spent relaxing on the sand. Water was a bit chilly, but nice clear water. Will definitely come back during the summer!

beautiful campground right on the beach! clean bathrooms and…read moreshowers. sites are very close together and smaller than other state beaches, but each site has foliage to provide privacy. other campers were pretty loud into the night, otherwise pleasant and family-friendly.

It's a nice beach in terms of the view. It seems like an excellent beach for surfers (confirm with…read morea surfer) as there were many catching the waves. The waves were constant and came crashing in. There were a lot of rocks once you walk into the water so it wasn't comfortable for my bare feet. Although it was 90 degree heat, the water was cold. There is a cafe nearby, restrooms, tables and grills. I even saw several nets for those who play volleyball. Loads of families with kids of all ages. Summertime so it's to be expected.

5 STARS! Absolutely LOVE this Beach! Very Clean! Soft Sand!…read moreThey designed the steps down to the beach with some thought that's for sure, making it an easy walk down and up. Lifeguard was present yesterday 9/10/23. Volleyball Nets were up, Rinse off before going up with the showers at the end of the steps, clean restrooms, fire pits and picnic tables. The Surfers, Boogie Boarders and Skimmers all were having a great time! It was beautiful and the waves were breaking one after another yesterday! Made it a perfect day!

I decided to wait about a year before posting this review. As previous yelpers mentioned, your only…read moreway into this beach is by actually walking through a gated community. But note that ALL CALIFORNIA BEACHES are for the PUBLIC So, to do this, you have to come with only one friend or alone, don't bring any beach clothes or beach gear. Just bring your wallet, keys and phone, walk past the gate, turn left at the end of the road and go down the stairs (Hold your phone on you at all times). Once you are there, you will find a beautiful beach with blue waves. There are 3 arches and sometimes you'll find tide pools. Note there is also no lifeguard on duty. When my friend and i went we were greeted by a lovely yellow lab that was 3 months old. There was also a nice older gentleman who wished us a good day. We took pictures of the scenery and we sat down for a bit just enjoying the ocean. It felt wonderful, calm and safe. You will also find a bathroom thats very clean. There are picnic tables, surf boards and fire pits which i don't recommend using but if you do, again please be respectful and pick up after yourself. We stayed there for most of the day until sunset where we quietly walked back out the stairs and outside the gates. If you wish to visit this public beach and need to get through the gated community, go respectfully and you will have a better chance of enjoying the public beach.

This is such a hidden gem of a place. Parking is free. It's dog friendly for portions of the sandy…read morearea. The views are absolutely spectacular. It allows you to walk right over to Doheny State Park thereby saving you money for parking. I have forgotten my state park pass on occasion and have been saved because I parked here instead. There are picnic tanks that make it perfect to eat al fresco by the sea. I personally love picking up my grubs from Kawamata Seafood right up the hill. The two goes hand in hand. To me, there's no better way to enjoy the two simultaneously.

I love walking and like to get my steps in so this is a perfect place to be especially when it's so…read morehot inland. You can enjoy a nice ocean breeze and take pictures of the natural beauty!

This is an amazing place to go and have fun! Parking is on…read morethe street so u gotta wait if it's to busy, Please make sure to pick it up your trash lets keep clean this amazing place I would come back again for sure !

If you're looking for a great outdoor workout with an amazing reward at the end, Thousand Steps…read moreBeach is one of my favorite spots in Laguna Beach! Despite the name, there definitely aren't 1,000 steps it's closer to about 250 but don't let that fool you. You'll still feel the burn on the way back up! I love bringing my kids here because they're soccer players, and running up and down the stairs is an excellent workout for building endurance and strength. I usually only make it up once because it's no joke! If you're looking for a free cardio workout with a beautiful ocean view, this is the place. The beach itself is gorgeous, with clear water, soft sand, and stunning cliffs surrounding it. It feels a little more secluded than some of the other Laguna beaches because you have to make the trek down the stairs. That's part of what makes it so special. I've visited several times around 6:00 AM, and it's always been peaceful. It's never felt crowded, although you'll definitely see other people getting their morning exercise on the stairs. I've also gone during summer evenings around 7:00 PM, and it's still a beautiful time to visit with cooler temperatures and incredible views. I still need to check it out around midday to see how busy it gets. A couple of things to keep in mind: there are no lifeguards on duty at all times, so be cautious if you're swimming, and the climb back up can be challenging, especially if you're carrying coolers or beach gear. Wear comfortable shoes for the stairs and bring plenty of water. Overall, this is one of my favorite beaches in Laguna Beach. Whether you're going for a workout, relaxing by the ocean, or enjoying the incredible scenery, Thousand Steps Beach is absolutely worth the climb.

This is a beach, not a business per se. There is plenty of close-up parking with benches right by…read morethe copious sand. It's not nearly as crowded as the beaches in Laguna Beach itself. There is a food place tho' I've not been there. It was rated highly by some friends It is a great place to view sunsets after ur swim & sunbathing. Highly recommended for families with kids, grandkids, & great grandkids.

The very best part of this beach is the parking! However, it's when you can get a parking spot as…read morewell in their paid lot - few dollars per hour, super reasonable. We went around 10:30 am on a weekday so we did find several spots available at that time. Not long after - within the next hour-ish, the lot quickly was full and you would see cars going around and around trying to find a car that was leaving. If you find a spot in the lot, the beach is literally right there and it's so convenient for carrying things or going back to your car for something. The water is very close and it makes for a really fun time. It's pretty clean and there's a kids park and jungle gym right next to the parking lot and there's a restaurant there as well - I haven't tried it yet, but will be for sure on another trip there.

I was staying at the Waldorf Astoria resort and took the complimentary tram from the hotel lobby to…read morethis beach. They have complimentary beach, umbrellas and beach chairs for resort guests. An older gentleman named Paul was manning the table right by the steps when I visited early Tuesday morning and he was extremely friendly and helped me set up my beach umbrella and beach chair. This beach is as exclusive as it gets in this area so you're able to enjoy a relaxing day on the beach without the public masses. The Monarch Beach Club restaurant is right on the water so if you get hungry you can grab a bite to eat.

Seriously........ just go! Great beach spot located in northern Dana Point. Large and wide…read morestretch of great sand with local surfers cutting the waves. Some hotels around shuttle guests to the spot, so there is usually a bit of activity going on. This last visit was with my wife and it had been a decade or more since we had been there, not much had changes at all. It's a bit of a walk (on an incline) from the parking lot, so bring some good foot coverage otherwise your feet will get black from the pavement (there are worse things in life).