3) Crystal Cove State Park, Laguna Beach
If you want to experience the Southern California beach scene but are looking for a quieter, slightly cheaper vacation you might want to consider visiting Crystal Cove State Park. The entire state park comprises of 3.2 miles of Pacific coastline so is by no means a coastal hideaway but all along Crystal Cove you can find small secret crescents and quaint beach cottages for rent. The surf is usually pretty child-friendly, bad news for surfers, and the local fisherman always provide fresh seafood for the local restaurants and guesthouses. Crystal Cove State Park also features inland hiking routes where families, couples and friends can try their hand at mountain biking and horse riding.
