I wanna start coming down, to get out of LA madness & to be at the beach!

I'm totally unfamiliar with the area!  Which beach side towns are accessible & pretty for a mini-vaca?

Been to Newport & loved it but Laguna looks awfully cute too...those are the only places I know about.

Thank you & see you soooon!

Brennan

Brennan,
There is a boardwalk / bike / walking path from the wedge in Newport to Sunset Beach.
Huntington Beach does not really have places available on the beach, but does have a very active beach area where surfing and volley ball events are regularly hosted. Plenty of shops, restaurants and bars.
I lived on the beach in Newport for 15 years. It is ideal if you enjoy biking, roller blading, volleyball, sunning, great restaurants and bars. If you want quiet, go to the Balboa pier area down towards the wedge. The wedge is known for surfing.
More activity and louder is anywhere near the Newport Pier. Issues anywhere on the penisula is parking and traffic after mid June.
Balboa Island offers local shops and easy access to Jamboree, which gets you to Fashion Island.
Corona Del Mar also offers a beach area with lots of shops, but is more pricey.
Laguna is very charming, but has heavy traffic aftre mid June on PCH.
Further south you have Dana Point and then San Clemente. All of the above have shops, restaurants and bars as well.

Lastly, you probably want to avoid June in certain parts of OC beach areas as it experiences "June Gloom" "fog" during parts of the month.

PM me if you want more info on Newport / Balboa, such as a rental agent.

I hope this helps.

Newport Beach attracts a younger crowd and is a bit rowdier.

Laguna is much more quaint. After reading your posts, I would peg you as a Laguna Beach kinda gal.

I think I will try Newport first!   And hopefully have a chance to thank you all personally for helping!

Happy Weekend!

Brennan

Any OC beach is better then most, because OC RULES!!!

No really,  San Clamente has some nice spots, along with Dana Point

"A"