Visiting the LA Beach Cities with Children
Which LA Beach Cities are the Best for Children?
In June of 2023, I planned a family trip to Southern California to visit Disneyland. Accompanying me on this trip would be my parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, and four nieces and nephews. One of the places that they wanted to visit was the LA Beach Cities, and I spent some time trying to decide which of the LA Beach Cities is the best for children. I settled on Manhattan Beach as our first stop.
Manhattan Beach is a location that I have visited before, and I always enjoyed how Manhattan Beach is not crowded. I figured that this would make Manhattan Beach the perfect location for kids, as my nieces and nephews could wade into the Pacific Ocean, play in the sand, and collect sea shells.
You can see in the photo below that I made the correct choice. Manhattan Beach was the ideal location for my nieces and nephews to enjoy the Pacific Ocean.
After spending a few hours at Manhattan Beach, I took my family to a second family-friendly LA Beach City. Santa Monica Beach and Pier was the perfect location to walk around after Manhattan Beach.
Visiting the LA Beach Cities with Children- Table of Contents
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Visiting Manhattan Beach with Children
Manhattan Beach is a great LA Beach City to visit with children. With many different access points, it is easy to find a location on the beach where it is not crowded. The lack of crowds enabled my nieces and nephews to be able to collect sea shells, play in the sand, and wade into the Pacific Ocean waves.
The kids even commented as the shoreline of Manhattan Beach came into view that they had their “very own beach” as there was no one around.
Cafe Wild - A Great Breakfast Location for Families with Children
Before we visited Manhattan Beach, we stopped at Cafe Wild for breakfast. This local restaurant is only open from 8 am to 2 pm and specializes in breakfast. My entire family of 11 people enjoyed a breakfast of bacon and eggs, French toast, breakfast burritos, smoked salmon, and breakfast hash. The staff was super friendly and said that our order was the longest order ticket they’d ever printed. I highly recommend supporting this local Manhattan Beach business before visiting the beach.
Walking Around Manhattan Beach
How to Access Manhattan Beach
After breakfast at Cafe Wild, we walked about 200 yards to one of the Manhattan Beach access points. The walk is at quite an incline, so visitors with children should take it slow and be sure to hold their hands.
Collecting Sea Shells at Manhattan Beach
The whole family was excited to walk the shoreline, and my sister-in-law gave the four kids bags to collect sea shells. Each of the children left Manhattan Beach with a bag full of sea shells, with one of them even finding a sand dollar.
Playing in the Waves at Manhattan Beach
My youngest nephew, age 4, absolutely loved the beach. He enjoyed wading into the water and running from the waves as they tried to “get him.” A few times they did, and he ended up soaking wet.
The kids had so much fun at Manhattan Beach that they spent over four hours playing in the water and sand. As we walked towards the Manhattan Beach Pier, the beach became more crowded.
Thankfully, the Pacific Ocean was calm, and the waves were just a few feet in height.
The smaller waves allowed the youngest member of our family to be able to wade into the water without too much difficulty. He even found a few sea shells during his time at Manhattan Beach.
Playing in the Sand at Manhattan Beach
The kids seemed to enjoy alternating between playing in the sand and the water. Below, my niece was working on burying herself in the sand. When my nephew heard that being buried in the sand was an option, he had to be buried too.
Regardless of age, everyone in my family had a great time at Manhattan Beach. Below is a photo of part of my family enjoying the beach.
Seeing a Dolphin at Manhattan Beach
The kids were super excited to see a “shark,” which was actually a dolphin. As we walked the shoreline of Manhattan Beach, a family of dolphins continued to surface.
Looking at the Manhattan Beach Homes
The oldest of my nephews, age 11, decided that Manhattan Beach would be a great place to buy a house if he ever became rich. There is no shortage of impressive houses lining the sandy shores of Manhattan Beach.
Taking the entire family to Disney had been something my mother had been dreaming about since her grandchildren were born. My parents financed the entire trip and said that everything was perfect, including our time at Manhattan Beach.
Walking to the Manhattan Beach Pier
We walked about one mile from the access point to Manhattan Beach Pier. As we walked the shoreline, a young girl was enjoying chasing the birds. Each time she scared the birds, it made for an impressive showing.
Right before we arrived at the pier, I saw a man surf fishing from the shore. I did not see him catch any fish, although I was not watching for long. There is fishing available off the pier, and with all of the dolphin activity, it was likely fish were abundant just off Manhattan Beach’s shoreline.
I also witnessed a couple enjoying a chair that was made out of sand. The “sand chair” even had a cup holder for the man’s Redbull.
Manhattan Beach Pier
With the kids, it took about two hours to walk the one mile to Manhattan Beach Pier. When we arrived at the pier, the children had to use the restroom and were pleased to see bathrooms and changing rooms for public use.
The current Manhattan Beach Pier was built in 1920, replacing the original pier that dated back to 1901, but was destroyed by a storm in 1913. My family enjoys fishing, and the nieces and nephews were curious to watch the locals fishing from the pier. Two signs below show the Manhattan Beach Pier regulations and some information about the species of fish that can be caught from the pier.
Manhattan Beach Pier is 928 feet long, which was the perfect length for the little legs of my nieces and nephews to walk.
The area by Manhattan Beach Pier is known for its beach volleyball, and the Beach City hosts a tournament in the summer with a purse of $250,000. During our visit, there wasn’t much volleyball being played, and most of the courts were empty.
The beach by Manhattan Beach Pier is much more crowded. If you are traveling with children, I highly recommend visiting the beaches on either side of the pier. It will be much less crowded.
At the end of Manhattan Beach Pier is the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium. During our visit, the aquarium was not open but the kids did enjoy seeing “Manny” the Great White Shark.
My family spent about thirty minutes walking around the Manhattan Beach Pier. At this point, my nieces’ and nephews’ little legs were pretty tired. So instead of walking back to the cars via the beach, my sister-in-law and I walked back to the cars and drove them to the pier to pick everyone up.
While everyone else waited for us they enjoyed a little more time at the beach.
For those interested in only visiting Manhattan Beach Pier, there is five-hour parking available for a fee. The meters cost $0.25 for fifteen minutes.
Visiting Santa Monica Pier with Children
After a great time at Manhattan Beach, we spent about an hour driving to Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica Pier is also a great place for kids, although the surrounding beaches are very crowded.
As we approached Santa Monica Pier, we passed the original Muscle Beach. Although there were great spots for doing pull-ups and climbing rope, my nieces and nephews declined the option to work out.
Walking Around Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier was much more crowded than Manhattan Beach Pier. With the kids, they needed to stay close to an adult to avoid being separated.
Santa Monica Pier - The End of Historic Route 66
Santa Monica Pier is actually two piers that have been connected. The piers date back to 1909 and 1916. Santa Monica Pier also marks the end of Historic Route 66, which was one of the original numbered US Highways. Route 66 connects Santa Monica Pier to Chicago, Illinois.
We only visited Santa Monica for the pier and did not spend any time on the beach. Santa Monica Beach is much more crowded than Manhattan Beach, and the kids had already played in the water for four hours.
Walking to the End of Santa Monica Pier
At the end of Santa Monica Pier is an observation deck and fishing pier. Not all of the kids made it this far as they were quickly distracted by the amusement park and arcade.
Near the fishing deck, there is a location where you can see under Santa Monica Pier. It is amazing to think that the entire pier is held by these wooden beams.
By the time I got to the end of the pier, I was alone, as the rest of the family members were watching the kids in the amusement park and arcade. As I looked out into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, it was amazing to think that I had seen this same ocean from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Vancouver, Alaska, and Hawaii.
I also was able to use my zoom lens to see Manhattan Beach. The red and white colored smoke stack is fairly close to Manhattan Beach, where we began our day.
Santa Monica Pier - Fun for the Whole Family
As I walked back towards the arcade and amusement park, I ran into my family, who posed for a group photo. Pictured below are my parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews.
The Arcade, Rides, and Other Fun at Santa Monica Pier
Although we had visited Disneyland the day before and would be visiting California Adventure the next day, it was impossible not to let the kids go on some rides. My older niece and nephew enjoyed the rides at Pacific Park. The various rides cost between $5 and $12, or guests can purchase an all-day pass for $45.
My younger niece and nephew spent some time in the arcade, which was inexpensive because my four-year-old nephew just enjoys pushing the buttons without putting any money into the arcade games.
We spent about two hours at Santa Monica Pier. At the pier, there were many food options, but most of them had a seafood theme. With picky eaters (including me), who don’t like seafood, we decided to have dinner at Claim Jumper instead of eating at Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica Pier was a perfect way to end our visit to the LA Beach Cities.
Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and LA Beach Cities Tours and Packages
Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica Pier can easily be seen without the use of a tour agency or guide, especially if you have a rental car. I do know that some people prefer to be led around by a local expert, so I have posted a few tours and package options below. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a package using my link, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.
 Manhattan Beach Bash Scavenger Hunt - $27.00 Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! |
 Santa Monica and Venice Beach Tour from Los Angeles - $199.00 Get an introduction to the famed beaches of Los Angeles, from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, on this 3-hour tour. Travel by comfortable Mercedes van, hopping out to explore each destination on foot with a guide. Sights include Santa Monica Pier; Venice Beach Boardwalk and its Muscle Beach; and the affluent seaside communities of Marina del Rey. |
 Santa Monica Scavenger Hunt: The Dessert of L.A. - $12.31 Let’s Roam is the #1 app-led scavenger hunt company. Walk to all the best landmarks and hidden gems, answering trivia questions and solving challenges. Work with your team or compete against them, as you learn new facts and create memorable experiences. Let’s Roam Scavenger Hunts are great as an everyday activity, or for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, corporate team building events and more! Each player chooses an interactive role, with challenges varying by person. |
 Santa Monica and Venice Beach Segway Tour - $199.00 Explore Santa Monica and Venice Beach by Segway on this attraction-packed morning or afternoon tour. See top area attractions including the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Boardwalk. Riding a Segway allows you to cover much more ground than walking and to blend in with the quirky, colorful character of these lively southern California communities. |
 Hyper Chopper Ride over the Redondo, Manhattan Beach - $170.00 Chopper Surfing over the West Coast |
 2-Hour Private Surf Lesson in Manhattan Beach - $156.00 We are an ocean conscious surf school on a mission to teach people how to protect and enjoy the waves we love! We use surf lessons as a way to share the fun of surfing and the importance of ocean conservation with the public. |
 Private LA Coast Tour and Beach Day/Scenic Hike: Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu - $240.00 This private tour for up to 6 guests is a unique blend of sightseeing along the most naturally beautiful parts of Los Angeles and seaside relaxation. There are excellent photo opportunities at every location, gorgeous beaches, plenty of time to enjoy the sea, and a guide to let you know more about the special history of these mythical seaside neighborhoods. You can stay or stop in famous seaside attractions according to your interests while having the guide's full attention to your needs. Start your tour at the Venice Canals and Boardwalk, take a walk through picturesque Santa Monica Pier, go to Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach for a taste of the Malibu lifestyle, then have a relaxing afternoon by the sea at Point Dume, which offers beaches, hiking trails and incredible views. This private tour includes free pickup from your hotel or AirBNB, use of a cooler with snacks and drinks, beach chairs and towels to enjoy the sea, and live tour commentary from your personal driver guide. |
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