L.A. area beach suggestions please
 

My husband, two young kids, and I are traveling through the Los Angeles area mid-week and are hoping to make an afternoon stop at the "best" beach in the area. I'm looking generally between Santa Monica and Huntington Beach, but are willing to look outside of that zone.

We won't be swimming, so just a place where we can easily park, walk along the shore, maybe wander through some shops, and have dinner with a nice view.

Beach and restaurant suggestions are both welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

I'd suggest downtown Manhattan Beach. Walk out on the pier, walk along The Strand (pedestrian/bike paths on the beach) and decide which house you'd buy after winning the lottery. There are plenty of places to eat, drink, shop right in downtown MB.

I like MB also. Only downside, is you'll probably have to pay for parking. But there are not many beaches where you don't :(

Third vote for Manhattan Beach, lived there 19 years, lovely town. Where are you staying? Huntington Beach is nice but if staying in LA area, is in the next county south. Good beach to visit if staying in Anaheim/Orange County area though.

Gosh. I would think that with 2 kids, 4 and 6, Santa Monica would be a slam dunk.The beach is wide and the pier is quite substantial. There’s a 1922 carousel that is very popular, and Pacific Park, which has a number of rides, including a big ferris wheel, all of which are aimed at pre-teens and under.

http://santamonicapier.org/fun/

I agree with Santa Monica as a place to visit the beach.