Summer Fun: Baby Beach in Dana Point

I've been coming to this beach since I was about 5 years old. It's by far my favorite kid beach. Why? No waves, shallow water, grass picnic areas, clean sand, free parking, bathrooms, showers, nearby tide pools, Ocean Institute and tall ships. Yep, there's a lot to do here and it's a good family environment.

The swimming area is marked off by buoys (as seen in the photo). We arrived around 10am and a crew was just finishing cleaning up trash from the beach. The bathrooms were as clean as a beach bathroom can be and in the summer time, there is a lifeguard on duty. I definitely recommend the trip if you have little ones who aren't quite big enough to battle waves and rocky shores.
If you plan on visiting the Ocean Institute, keep in mind that they are only open to the public on weekends.

BABY BEACH OF DANA POINT
Directions from Inland Empire

Depending on where you're coming from, there are various ways to get to Dana Point.
Once you're heading on the 5 South, exit Camino Las Rambles/PCH 1 and turn Right.
You'll pass under the pedestrian bridge and turn left onto Dana Point Harbor Drive.
Take that all the way to the end. You can park on the left hand side or across the street for free. It's a very short walk to the actual sand.