The OC Beach Scene

Named for the seemingly endless staircase that leads down to the sand (trust me, it’ll feel like a million steps after walking back up on a hot summer day), this beautiful South Laguna beach is well worth the trek! With its emerald blue water, white sands, and picturesque sandstone cliffs, Thousand Steps has long been a well-guarded local secret and is easily one of my favorite beaches in Orange County. However, not only does Thousand Steps offer stunning vistas and a calm, relaxing atmosphere, it’s also locally famous for its great waves, and on any given day you can be sure to see some amazing skimboard and bodyboard action!

Thousand Steps beach is divided into two distinct areas, with each seeming to attract a different crowd. Straight out from the stairs is 9th Street, so-named because–you guessed it–it is located just below the corner of 9th Street and South Coast Highway.
This stretch of beach is definitely more family oriented–expect to see plenty of beach umbrellas and Capri Sun stocked coolers. A nice feature for families is that a lifeguard is always on duty at 9th Street during the summer. South of 9th Street is 10th Street (creative, I know). While it is quite a walk down to this beach, its out of the way locale also allows for certain freedoms–such as alcohol consumption–that are less easy to conceal at family-friendly, lifeguard-patrolled 9th Street. Watch out though, as drinking is prohibited at all Laguna beaches, and you can–and will–be ticketed by the police that periodically patrol the area.

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