6 of us. In-laws and kids ages 8 & 12 .
Which is the better day trip beach? Is there others we should consider?
Thanks
Are you taking the day trip from
Disneyland? Or just touring So CAL in general? Huntington Beach is another option, and closer to DL if you that's where you're staying. It is very similar to Newport. It has a pier, surf shops and restaurants. Wide sandy beach. It is "Surf City USA" because they hold annual surfing championships there. So if you are planning to spend a lot of time in the water that is a good one, in addition to Newport. Parking will be on the street with meters or in a paid lot.
Balboa Bay (part of Newport) is fun if you want to rent a kayak or small boat. Because it is protected by the peninsula the water is totally calm. As the other poster mentioned, Balboa also has the "fun zone" which is basically a couple of rides and some arcade games, but it is fun for kids. Parking will be on the street with meters or in a paid lot.
Editing to add: the "boardwalk" sidewalk connects Balboa Peninsula all the way to Huntington. If you have bikes, rent them or just love to walk you can try it! Think about round trip for where you parked though!
Laguna is more scenic. The city is in a canyon that butts up to the beach, so there are cliffs everywhere around. There are also shops and restaurants on PCH, just like the others. Parking will be on the street with meters or in a paid lot. Driving from the freeway to the beach through Laguna Canyon Rd is beautiful.
Couple more options to confuse you...
South of Newport, North of Laguna is Corona del Mar. "Little Corona" is a small protected cove with tide pools and rock structures out in the shallow water. It is a popular place to take portraits because it is very pretty. It is a very steep walk from the street parking above, down to the beach so be warned. I go there often and take my daughter in her wheelchair though, so it's not rough and wild terrain. Just steep. Parking is free on the streets above if you can find it. Not hard if you go during "non peak" beach times. Impossible on a warm weekend in the summer.
One last one.
Crystal Cove State Beach is also in between Laguna and Newport (just south of Corona del Mar). It is also somewhat rocky and beautiful but much more secluded than the others. You drive in and pay a small fee for day use to the guard shack. There is a casual (moderately priced) restaurant right on the sand, and there are beach houses that you can rent through the park system. This is where the Better Midler movie Beaches was filmed. (Last house to the south).
Have a great visit whatever you choose!