1. Moonlight Beach
Over in Encinitas, CA, you’ll find Moonlight Beach. In addition to beachfront bliss, the state park offers grassy areas for picnicking and kids to play in. Additional family-friendly amenities include onsite bathroom, a snack bar, and a playground.
Families also love the gradual slope of the beach, meaning kids can play safely without a significant drop-off. Plus, even with such a slow slope, lifeguards are on duty to keep an eye on beachgoers.
2. Coronado Beach
Coronado Beach is among the best beaches in San Diego for families due to its proximity to the Hotel del Coronado. In fact, the beach starts right on the hotel’s property line!
This particular beach is ideal for families who enjoy surfing, boogie boarding, paddle boarding, or just splashing around in the waves. Tidepools are also at the beach. Make a family activity out of spotting aquatic life and plants within each tidepool!
With a mile and a half of beachfront, the beach also boasts a rather flat and gradual slope. Parents won’t have to worry about their children suddenly dropping off into the water. Although, if something were to happen, the beach has lifeguards on duty during the peak season.
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3. Mission Bay
The largest man-made park in the country is made up of many points jutting out into the bay, some coves and a couple of islands. This entire area is very family-friendly. Ski Beach is perfect for picnics and family parties, while Playa Pacifica Park has playgrounds and perfectly manicured grassy areas. Check out our map for more details on each of these family-friendly beaches.
4. Cardiff State Beach
This white sandy beach is located a bit north of San Diego, and the best part (other than the obvious) is that you can park right next to it. This means you won’t have far to haul your snacks and sand castle provisions. There are also plenty of public bathrooms available to use, and during the summer, food trucks have been known to park nearby. When the tide allows, you can walk on the sand to Tide Beach Park. Swimming is allowed here, but there are rip tides, so we wouldn’t recommend it for children.
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