Beach recs, please!

Mrs_Shmoopie · July 2010

So what are your favorite local beaches? DH was just mentioning to me that we hadn't managed to take J to a beach all summer. Which, duh, it's been so cold this summer! But anyway, please recommend your favorite local beach so we can get our kid some sun and sand.

futrkingsley · July 2010

We usually go to Santa Cruz since it's just over the hill from us. I like the flat beach near the wharf, many of the others have hills to climb in and out which I'm not a fan of, and steep drop offs that make the day not so relaxing.

I want to take DS to the beaches in Monterey with tidepools that I enjoyed playing in as a kid, but they are cold on a good day!

Kellina71 · July 2010

I grew up going to Stinson (well, that and the nudey beach nearby w/ my hippy parents when I was really really little.) So- those would be my recs. Or Santa Cruz!

NorcalLinds · July 2010

I think your best bet for sun might be santa cruz. I think the beach is still really fun even when its cold. We like half moon bay, really close for us. I just explored dillon beach with my parents a couple weeks ago. See pic in siggy ;-)

Dillon beach is really nice, flat etc. However quite cold!

dblhappiness · July 2010

We just got back from a week at Stinson. I think we lucked out with amazing weather for 3 of the 7 days.

tiki_t · July 2010

I love the Rio Del Mar beach in Aptos (just past Santa Cruz). There is free parking, it isn't as crowded, even in the summer, there's a coffee shop right in the parking lot, a great walking trail, picnic benches, and wharf/cement ship. However, there aren't tons of restaurants around there.

If you want something a little less crowded than the Boardwalk beach, you can always head south to Twin Lakes Beach in Santa Cruz. It is right near the yacht harbor. Parking on the street is free (if you can find it but if you come mid-week, it shouldn't be a problem) or you can pay to park near the Crow's Nest. There's a cafe over there (can you tell that coffee is important to my survival? LOL!) and the Cafe El Palomar is VERY kid friendly if you want to have lunch there.

If it is after Labor Day, I love the beach in Capitola Village. It is crowded during the summer but after Labor Day, it is just fine. Yeah, you'll have to walk a ways to get to the beach from the free parking lot or you can bring quarters for the meters. Zelda's is right there and has patio dining, which is great because if your kid spills, the birds clean it up for you. An alternative to sit down dining is they have a Pizza My Heart pizza by the slice store right there. I love getting a slice with the kids and eating it either on the park benches or on the beach. Yeah.. there's even an ice cream and coffee shop right there too.

hersheykiss · July 2010

We loved Monterey and we have a family house at Stinson. **

Mrs_Shmoopie · July 2010

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I'll have to run them by DH and see what we decide to do... Of course there's always the possiblity that we get lazy and just stick around close to home, LOL.

amyfelice · July 2010

I like Tennessee Valley beach. It's right over the GG bridge in Marin. You have to walk about a mile after you park which turns some people off, so it's not as crowded (or at least it hasn't been when I was there), and it's a lovely little secluded cove. I find Stinson to be too crowded/tough to park. And Santa Cruz I don't know much about (except the big crazy busy beach at the boardwalk), but it's much further away.