Beach guide

Los Angeles County has 75 miles of coastline. With all these locations, it can be difficult to find a beach that has everything you’re looking for.

And for students who are challenged in the vehicle department, it can seem even more daunting to find a beach, but there are ways to reach the coast.

Here are a few suggestions to help find your perfect beach.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a good first-date location, with enough activities to stay entertained, but enough to be distracting if it’s not going well.

The pier is fun to explore ““ there is an amusement park ($21.95 for an unlimited pass, or $3-5 for single rides), complete with a Ferris wheel and a beautiful view. Cartoonists and vendors sit along the pier, and there is easy water access.

The flat surf is not exactly pristine, but it is cleaner than Venice.

If you’re more of a shopper than a swimmer, Third Street Promenade has a wide array of shops and restaurants.

Big Blue Bus lines 1, 2 and 8 run to Santa Monica. There is also parking on Colorado Avenue and 2nd Avenue, which is free for the first two hours.

For outdoor exploration, there are bikes for rent below the pier for $6 per hour, or $15 all day.

The bike trail extends 22 miles from Will Rogers State Park to Torrance.

Topanga

While this is not a beach for tanning in the Southern California sunshine, Topanga Beach is ideal for the people who want to be active in the water.

Branches and rocks are scattered across the sand, and the ruggedness is exacerbated by the windy conditions, but there are good waves.

A popular spot for kite surfers and both long and short boarders, Topanga breaks consistently.

The small beach is not crowded, and the water is cleaner than in Venice or Santa Monica.

The rocky bottom, thick seaweed and strong riptide make this beach less than ideal for novice surfers.

Metro Line 534 also stops at Topanga, as it is only a few miles up Pacific Coast Highway from Will Rogers State Beach. Parking is limited but close to the beach and available for $6.

Venice

“Peace, love and freedom to all of you!” echoes across the Venice Beach Boardwalk as vendors peruse the crowded path, trying to sell anything from homemade jewelry to medical marijuana.

Muscle Beach sits alongside the boardwalk, showcasing bodybuilders from ages 18 to 80. There are street performers ranging from classical pianists to men who can jump over five people at once.

Venice is accessible via Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus from the Hilgard Terminal and the corner of Westwood Boulevard and Weyburn Avenue, as well as Ackerman Terminal on weekends.
Line 2 runs directly to Venice, and Line 1 also stops there.

Bus fare is 35 cents with a BruinCard. There is parking on North Venice Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, but this can be crowded and expensive.

Venice attracts more than just your average sunbather ““ it invites characters, and with its dirty water and poor surf conditions, Venice is more suited for a day of people-watching than swimming anyway.

Will Rogers

To escape the bustle of Los Angeles, look no farther than Will Rogers State Beach.

With more seagulls than people, Will Rogers is secluded, less crowded and more relaxing than either Santa Monica or Venice.

Right off Pacific Coast Highway, the beach extends about 1 3/4 miles along the coast and has bike access.

There are also volleyball courts open to the public.

The surf is fair but only allows for short rides.

Of all the places visited, Will Rogers seemed the most appropriate for a quintessential day at the beach. Line 534 of the Metro L.A. bus stops at Will Rogers State Beach, although the trip will be more than an hour from UCLA. Parking is available for $6 next to the beach.