A beach is a beach is a beach, right? Not really! All along the Southern California coast, the…read morebeaches vary geographically. Some are more sandy and some are more rocky. I was looking for one that was relatively clean, with not a lot of people, and lots of sand with few rocks. Tamarack State Beach is that place! Tamarack is the kind of beach that would make a nice spot for a picnic or a place to watch the sun set. I did neither of those things -- just stayed for a while to let my children get into the ocean and bury themselves in the sand. But they loved this beach so much that we visited twice during our visit to Carlsbad. There was a lifeguard on duty, set up closer to the parking lot where the majority of the people were. If you walk a little ways away, though, there is no lifeguard and the people are fewer. The parking can be a little limited, and you have to pay to park. There is also some street parking, but that's even more limited. Your best best is to hit the parking lot first and maybe circle a couple of times.

Tamarack state beach is a nice beach but this time there were so many rocks along it. My grandkids…read morewere getting hit on the legs with the rocks once the water receded. The parking lot is really small, and we were able to find 3 spots after 10am but it's a hassle trying to get out! You get one car waiting for someone to pull out and it blocks and stops everyone else. My husband literally had to ask the guy to move over a bit because 8 cars were waiting in the line behind him to get out. There has to be a better set up to get out of there. All in all, everyone still had a good time, regardless of the rock situation.

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 looove going to this public beach! I always enjoy myself....people watching, basking in the sun,…read moreR&R, sunset walks, practicing yoga, and doing other fun beachy stuff. There are plenty of restrooms around. If you need a bite to eat or in the mood for shopping, you have a lot of options downtown. It's a popular spot on the Coast for sure...always have people there. I'm sooo lucky to be nearby!! I definitely recommend this beach to the Yelp Community :-)

I really like this city, and the beach is highly accessible. The townsfolk are nice and it just has…read morereally good Beach vibes. It makes me want to retire and live in San Diego.

This is definitely a hidden gem amongst the San Diego beaches…read more There's a smallish strip of beach that sits between a bluffside hotel and a jetty. There's limited free parking, but there's a pay lot at the south end that is smallish for a beach parking lot. I think it is $15 but not sure. We arrived a little after 10am and some of the early crowd was just leaving so we got a spot off the road. This weekend....what a relief! It was 100+ degrees in most of San Diego but because of morning marine layer it was maybe mid-70s. Obviously, all of the beaches would be similar in that regard, but there weren't a lot of people while we were there and that was the huge win. There is an upper and lower beach that was separated by a rocky patch that was likely eroded sand. We set up shop on the beach that was closer to the water, unsure if the tide was going to come up and wash us away. It didn't though, so it was perfect!

Restrooms and parking area available. It can get crowded on Summer months but less than La Jolla or…read moreEncinitas.

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

Love love love this cove and park! Breathtaking views, nice park, and easy access to the beach. My…read morefavorite!! I am hooked on this spot Such a peaceful experience. The flowers here are beautiful and really add to the park ambiance as well. Bring a picnic, enjoy the views, and soak it all in. This place really makes you appreciate the beauty all around you.

Lovely beach. Very close distance from where we stay. Would recommend. This is the only beach we go…read moreto while Visiting Cali.

Our yearly beach visit. We stay close by at the worldmark at wyndham timeshare. We been coming here…read morefor 14 years. Then on the walk back, we visit the ice cream shop. Nice beach and easy walk. Thanks Oside!

I came by on a Sunday for a quiet fun day…read more We rented kayaks and played around for 1-2 hours. The sun was out and it was a relaxing time. The price is reasonable too. Bring the kids. This is a good old time. The restrooms could use more maintenance though.

Brought my family here for the weekend, and I was quite unhappy…read more The staff exhibited unprofessional behavior and displayed rudeness, along with inappropriate comments. The water was extremely dirty and had a foul odor. I won't be bringing my family back to this filthy lagoon.

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.