EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Feature Story
|
||||
|
"Watch the sun," advised my editor in his encouraging assignment note on this year's review of OC's best family beaches. For sure, summer sun, beach and family outings go together like, well, sand and sunblock. That is, summer vacation is typically scheduled to coincide rather clumsily with foggy "June gloom," last year commencing in early May and ending in August. Our answer to the likely extremes of heat and SoCal marine layer? In addition to the right SPF, pack warm clothes, bring the right toys, and look around for the right beach for you. Adapt and appreciate. This might mean reorienting your beach chair toward gazing a bit beyond only beach and ocean, to include a view of canyons, hills, wetlands and boardwalk. Or leaving the cooler at home and, instead, organizing your beach stroll to conclude at a favorite child-friendly diner. As it happens, 5 beaches we recommend this year are rich, diverse environments full of both natural world and human entertainments. Whether your vision of a family day beachside is extreme kid sports (skimboarding or rock climbing) or building a sand fort and licking a cone, you'll also want to consider water quality, parking and availability of emergency services, including lifeguards. My 2-year-old likes nothing better than to drink the gnarliest water in the "Pucky Pond" at El Morro Beach at the south end of Crystal Cove State Park, despite postings by the county. Yes, generations have waded, splashed, drunk the water, but after snorkeling or diving nearby I wash out my own ears with isopropyl alcohol. At least give your child a hot shower afterwards. Best advice: Keep baby comfortable this summer away altogether from outfall pipes and what the pros call "ocean/drainage interface areas." When near surf, stay in full view of red shorts-wearing rescue staff. Respect the waves. Notice where you are. You'll have a safe, fun summer, sunny or not, because, well, you're in paradise. Crystal Cove State Park Probably the best all-around beach in the county, for sheer variety of recreational options. Hiking parents will appreciate easy-access trails on both sides of Pacific Coast Highway, with modest treks for little ones. The interpretive center on the canyon side of this jewel of the state parks system (2,700 acres total) features taxidermy incarnations of foxes, coyotes and badgers. Real-life shorebirds, tidepool creatures (look, don't touch!), ravens, pelicans and hawks call the 3 miles of beach and cliffs home. This broad bay's water is consistently ranked cleanest, though stay away from standing pools near run-off pipes at Muddy and El Morro creeks. The nearby Shake Shack's sandwiches and drinks are worth the wait. This landmark eatery overlooks the upper beach, adjacent to the beachside parking lot, with its historic cottages and the gentlest of waves. Dolphins perform a regular feeding rodeo, churning up bait fish just yards offshore. State park rangers and smart docents offer weekend walks and nature talks in both the canyons and along the beach. Lifeguards arrive after Memorial Day. Beach access at Pelican Point, Los Trancos, Reef Point or El Morro Beach entrances, with parking available at each. Pacific Coast Highway, between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. Doheny State Beach For those wanting to ditch the car, Doheny is easily accessible via public transit and the San Juan Creek Bike Trail, and even accommodates cyclists who want to camp overnight. Great interactive center (free admission), with indoor displays including a "touch tidepool" perfect for the real little ones; plenty of parking, lifeguards, rangers. But occasional lousy water. Everybody's heard, or should have, that Aliso Beach and Doheny are pretty darn stinky, so check with the ranger or log onto the Heal the Bay or county websites. The kiddie beach ranks a consistent F grade, so take the opportunity to teach your child about ocean ecology. A massive picnic area, lawn and barbecue pits make this state facility more than just a day at the beach, nasty water or not. It's perfect for birthday parties, picnics, Frisbee or football. Del Obispo and Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. Huntington State Beach Surf City. The big (165 acres, 2 miles of beach) summer classic. Fire pits for evening, though getting one - by reservation only - is a challenge. Bolsa Chica is next door, as are the terrific wetlands. Watch surfers and kite boarders from the pier. This is a big, sometimes windy beach. You'll need to bring shelter. And, yes, this is the one for the cooler and cold drinks. Rangers and lifeguards on duty year-round. Best of all, you can rent any of a variety of whimsical pedal-vehicles at Wheel Fun Rentals, including a "surrey" seating 4, a go-cart, scooter or basic strand cruiser. Anticipate likely pollution problems, though the city is doing its best to fix last year's problem in time for summer. Beach Boulevard, parking. Pacific Coast Highway, Beach Boulevard to the Santa Ana River, Huntington Beach. Main Beach, Laguna A world-class destination where you'll overhear exclamations about this beach's postcard perfection in dozens of languages, in between the guitar-strumming troubadors and radios. This is the one for the grandparents and babies, out-of-town visitors who want the California experience. The short, friendly boardwalk, beach volleyball courts and popular playground keep most folks occupied, not to mention enchanted. Chess players, soap bubble artists, jolly Laguna eccentrics. A toy store, God help you, next to the playground! Main Beach is a favorite dog-walking destination, but the hounds are kept off the clean, sandy beach. Just steps to the north, past the lifeguard station, discover great tidepools and rock gardens. Well-maintained public restrooms and showers make it easy to change for an end-of-the-day visit to a local coffeeshop, pizza and taco places or the Wild Oats in downtown Laguna Beach. Best to get here early, as public parking is limited and summer weekends are nearly impossible after midday. Water quality: excellent. Broadway and Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. Pocket Beaches, Laguna North Laguna's series of so-called "pocket beaches" are terrific, but probably best for the adventurous, those with the right solid footwear, and foresight enough to bring a change of clothes and sack lunch. These lovely, secluded, small "secret spots" off Cliff Drive - Crescent Bay, Shaw's Cove, Fisherman's Cove and Diver's Cove, continuing south to Picnic Beach near Heisler Park - are well worth it. California sea lions, seals and scuba divers share space. If you are into clambering over rocks and following some fairly sketchy trails, you are also likely smart enough to be aware of the risks. Crescent Bay has restrooms and lifeguards, as does Picnic. Explore and enjoy these crystal clear coves. Cliff Drive, off Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. Andrew Tonkovich is a Silverado Canyon resident. Fast Facts What parents should know about skin cancer: - More than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. - Sun exposure is cumulative. Most adult skin cancers are the result of exposure before age 18. - Even a single blistering sunburn in childhood can cause skin cancer later in life. - Sun protection is especially important between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun's rays are strongest. - Playing in sunlight stimulates children's bodies to produce vitamin D, which children need to prevent rickets. But sunburn should be avoided. - All children are subject to sunburn, but children with fair skin are most susceptible. - Males are twice as likely as females to develop basal cell carcinoma and 3 times as likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma. - To provide children with the benefits of playing in sunlight without the risk of sunburn: dress them in sun-protective clothing; make sure they wear a hat with a brim; apply sunscreen with a high (30) SPF number on exposed skin and reapply frequently. Source: Coppertone Sunwise UV Technology |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
