Why Laguna Beach is a SoCal Favorite for Families

By Tanvi Chheda
March 18, 2026
6 Min Read

Laguna Beach is the quintessential California family beach vacation. Halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s spectacularly beautiful, with hidden coves and sage-covered canyons plus a walkable downtown lined with art galleries and cafes. Best of all, families can choose to be as active or relaxed as they wish, from hiking and tide pools to building sandcastles and sunset strolls. As for accommodations, the laid-back beach town offers a range of options, including splurge-worthy resorts, boutique hotels and fully equipped vacation rentals.

Read on for our guide to this beloved coastal SoCal enclave.

A sweeping coastal view of Laguna Beach captures sandy coves, weathered sandstone cliffs, and clusters of tall palm trees lining the bluffs, with beachgoers scattered along the shore and turquoise water meeting rocky outcroppings in the foreground. Sun-bleached hillsides dotted with residential homes and green slopes rise behind the coastline beneath a vivid blue sky. — Despite being a relatively small city, Laguna Beach has more than 30 separate coves and beaches along its 7 miles of coastline. Photo by Caleb Bennetts on Unsplash

Laguna Beach Vacation Highlights for Families

What to Do

Surf’s Up

Experiencing Laguna from the water is a must! Two decades on, surf shop-cum-outdoor adventure outfitter La Vida Laguna remains the local favorite for ocean activities. Book a small-group surf lesson at beginner-friendly Thalia Street Beach (surfboard and wetsuit provided) or a guided kayaking tour that takes you past secluded coves. Keep your eyes peeled for sea lions, dolphins and Garibaldi (California’s state fish) along the way.

The white modern exterior of the Laguna Art Museum features a striking angular glass facade, with bold black signage on a white wall to the right. A woman in a red top, black pants, and a straw hat strides past the entrance, with small sculptural objects and desert plantings lining the base of the building. — The Laguna Art Museum began in 1918 as the Laguna Beach Art Association, formed by the *plein air* painters who had gathered in the area. Photo courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach

Arts Scene

Founded as an artist colony, Laguna Beach is home to several art galleries, museums and arts festivals. Focusing on California art from the early 19th century to the present, the Laguna Art Museum houses more than 3,500 permanent works. The town also boasts nearly 50 art galleries ranging from California impressionism and plein air painting to contemporary art, sculpture and photography. Lastly, the summertime Sawdust Art Festival brings some 180 local artists together to showcase their works and offer hands-on workshops, while the legendary Pageant of the Masters is a 90-minute nightly production that recreates famous works of art with detailed sets, lighting, real people as the subjects, and an accompanying orchestra.

The view from Crystal Cove State Beach at golden hour. Photo by Daniel Salcius on Unsplash

Hiking in Crystal Cove State Park

Spanning nearly 4,000 acres, Crystal Cove State Park encompasses beaches, bluffs and backcountry wilderness. Try the El Moro Canyon Trail, which can be done as a short or long loop (2.8 miles versus 5 miles). Gaining about 800 feet in elevation, the trail climbs to a sage-covered ridge with fantastic ocean views. Note, the park does charge a $15 day use parking fee.

A large whale fluke rises above the surface of a choppy blue-gray ocean, with water streaming from the edges of the tail as the whale descends into a dive. A pale blue sky stretches across the horizon behind the open water, with no land visible in the frame. — In season, whale watching is among the highlights of a trip to this part of the California coast. Photo by Ty Tomlinson on Unsplash

Whale Watching Tours

A premier whale watching destination, California’s coast attracts tremendous marine life. The nutrient-rich waters are a well-known feeding ground for blue and humpback whales, typically spotted during the summer and fall months. If you’re very lucky, you may even see one breaching. From December through April, migrating gray whales can be seen just offshore as they travel between Alaska and Baja California (where they give birth in shallow lagoons). Fin and minke whales, as well as dolphins, sea lions and pelicans, also appear year-round in southern California.

Just south of Laguna Beach, Dana Point Harbor is home to several local whale watching tour operators. Join Captain Dave’s daily Dolphin and Whale Watching boat tour or consider having a Ciao Bambino Travel Advisor book a private charter for just you and your crew.

A docent gestures toward an outdoor marine mammal rescue facility enclosed by chain-link fencing, where a shallow rehabilitation pool is visible alongside educational display panels, as a small group of visitors listens nearby. Purple flowering plants and a brick pathway line the foreground, with a red building and tree-covered hillside visible in the background. — Docents lead free tours of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit that is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating marine life and then returning it to the wild. Photo courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach

Pacific Marine Mammal Center

The only center in Orange County licensed to rescue sea lions, seals, sea turtles, dolphins and whales, Pacific Marine Mammal Center is dedicated to animal rehabilitation as well as education and advocacy for a healthy ocean. Visit and join a docent-led tour of the newly expanded facility. Littles will love it!

Four children run along the shoreline, stepping into shallow ocean waves on a sandy beach. A rocky cliff rises in the background under a clear sky as the water splashes around their feet. — Nothing beats lazy days of playing in the Laguna sand and surf! Photo by jtaricani on Pixabay

Beaches and Parks

No visit to Laguna Beach is complete without strolling the boardwalk or exploring the tide pools of Main Beach. For ocean views and to catch a stunning sunset, head to popular Heisler Park, a well-maintained green space that’s perched above the shoreline. Families with younger children will want to keep Bluebird Park in mind, where a rocket ship-shaped play structure is the star attraction.

A blue Laguna Beach Transit trolley is stopped on a street lined with trees and buildings. Two pedestrians walk across the crosswalk in front of the vehicle, with greenery and a bike rack visible in the foreground. — The Laguna Beach Trolley is an exceptionally fun way to get around town. Photo courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach

Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley!

The Laguna Beach trolley is a great way to get around along coastal and canyon routes without having to worry about parking; plus, it’s free and runs year-round. Download the Laguna Beach Trolley Tracker app and track it in real-time.

Let us take care of the details so you can savor the journey.

Tell us where you’d love to go, and we’ll pair you with an expert Travel Advisor who handles the planning from beginning to end: custom itineraries, private guides, immersive local experiences and handpicked hotels. Click to get started!

Where to Eat

Coffee shops and casual cafes serving avocado toast and breakfast burritos are abundant in town. Among the standouts: Zinc Café & Bar, an OG Laguna Beach spot with a sunny patio; Urth Caffe, close to Heisler Park and great for picnic provisions; and the Pantry, across the street from the beach with good coffee.

For a slice of Laguna history, visit the Orange Inn, open since 1931 and beloved for its date shakes and homemade orange cranberry muffins.

Come dinnertime, newcomer Piatti will win over the whole gang with pizzas and pastas (and wine for the grownups).

Aerial view of a large luxury resort complex perched on sandy bluffs above a turquoise Pacific cove, with a central pool terrace, manicured lawns, and multi-story guest buildings extending across the property. A wooden staircase descends the cliffside to a private crescent beach where gentle waves meet the shore. Green hillsides dotted with residential development rise behind the resort beneath a clear blue sky. — With oceanview pools, a fabulous spa, multiple restaurants and an outstanding kids’ club, the Montage Laguna Beach is among the best luxury resorts in the area for families. Photo courtesy of The Montage Laguna Beach

Where to Stay

Montage Laguna Beach

This beachfront luxury resort has all the bells and whistles you could want, from a mosaic-tiled pool overlooking the water to a robust kids’ club and 20,000-square foot spa. The concierge team can arrange just about anything, including a helicopter coastal tour and picnic. Book one of the 262 rooms, suites or villas and soak up the sun.

The Ranch at Laguna Beach

Nestled in Alison Canyon, this low-key 97-room property offers spacious digs, spa and golf facilities, onsite restaurant Harvest, and local programming such as visiting birds of prey from the Orange County Birds of Prey Center. And let’s not forget nightly s’mores under the stars!

Surf & Sand Resort

Perched just above the shore, this boutique hotel is fresh from a top-to-bottom makeover last summer. Rooms are sprawling (around 500 square feet) with hardwood floors, marble baths and balconies overlooking the surf. Don’t miss the restaurant, Splashes, with its own custom Dale Chihuly glass chandelier, or the Bella Vista Terrace with cozy firepits.

Relevant Links:

Browse all destinations and accommodations in California on Ciao Bambino

A grand California family road trip itinerary

Southern California college tour & vacation itinerary

An easy, breezy family escape at the Montage Laguna Beach

Surfin’ USA: 8 kid-friendly vacation spots to catch a wave

Best family beach vacations for kids at every age

Fun things to do in Palm Springs with kids

A fabulous parents-only Ojai weekend getaway

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.

Family Travel Blog

View All Posts

Why Laguna Beach is a SoCal Favorite for Families