With 70-degree-plus days nearly year-round, Angelenos are spoiled with things to do outside. Whether it’s January or July, L.A.’s best hikes (including hikes with waterfalls) are rarely off the table—and the same can even be said for beaches, too. Now, you might not exactly want to actually go in the water (even in late summer, the ocean temperature barely hits 70), but you’ll certainly want to be by the water. And with miles of picturesque coastline from Malibu to the South Bay, the best beaches in Los Angeles are aplenty for outdoor enthusiasts, surfers, families, sun worshippers and beach bunnies (and at a couple of dog beaches, for pups).
If you’re new to L.A., there are a few oceanfront weather basics you should know: On hot days, the beach is typically 10 degrees cooler than central parts of L.A. and 20 degrees cooler than the Valley. (The exception: Long Beach tends to be in lockstep with L.A. temps.) Sometimes—particularly toward the beginning of summer—you might have clear blue skies inland but the beach is all fogged in; that marine layer tends to burn off in the afternoon, but sometimes it sticks around all day. From Venice and Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach and Playa Vista, here are the best beaches in L.A. to sunbathe, surf and play at.
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Just a heads up: Pacific Coast Highway is currently closed from Chautauqua Boulevard in Santa Monica to Sweetwater Canyon Drive in Malibu—meaning that all of the Malibu beaches in this list are only accessible via canyon roads south of the 101 freeway or by approaching from the west along PCH. There’s some good news, though: The state says PCH is expected to reopen by the end of May. Also, though you may still spot some post-fire debris, Heal the Bay says there’s not a significant risk of chemical contamination in the water anymore.