A Summer Place

It’s summertime and the beaches are easy--all 70 miles of them in Los Angeles County, stretching from Leo Carrillo State Beach at the edge of Ventura County to Marine Park in Long Beach. And that doesn’t even count the hundreds of more miles of sand along Orange, Ventura and San Diego counties.

There are beaches for children, surfers, volleyball players and beaches to just hang out and show off your new Roxy swimsuit. Whatever beach scene strikes you, there’s probably a spot along our coastline.

Scenic Beauty: You want wild, untamed and uncrowded vistas? Drive to Nicholas Canyon Beach, just south of the Ventura County line. The nearly one mile of pristine sand is virtually unsullied--there isn’t even a concession stand--making it primo surfing, walking and splashing grounds and a favorite wedding spot. Dubbed “Point Zero” by surfers, Nicholas boasts fairly good surf, great water quality and excellent skin- and scuba-diving areas. The erstwhile private beach was purchased by the county in the 1970s, and homes near the water were torn down, leaving wide-open spaces surrounded by a high bluff that shields the sand from the noise and traffic of the Pacific Coast Highway. If you want to gather some sand dollars, just walk to the tide pools a bit north at Leo Carrillo State Beach.

Breaking the Waves: Opinions vary on where to find Southern California’s best surfing. The perennially popular Malibu Surfrider Beach, just north of the Malibu Pier, has great waves and is reserved almost solely for surfers, but it gets crowded and the water quality isn’t great--in fact, the environmental group Heal the Bay gave it an F in its most recent report card because of sewage spillage. Still, the beach remains open under the auspices of the Department of County Beaches and Harbors, which enforces state health standards and closes beaches that don’t meet them. Good beginners’ beaches include Orange County’s Seal Beach, Bolsa Chica State, Huntington Beach and San Clemente State.

Dolphin Watch: Surfers also swear by Zuma Beach, north of Surfrider, which--according to lifeguard John Renaud--has the “most powerful surfbreak in the county.” Zuma attracts crowds of as many as 100,000 on a busy weekend day (though it’s so big you really can’t tell), thanks to its easy access and parking, wonderful sand and good swimming. As a bonus, a school of dolphins, usually traveling in pods of 20 or 30, rides the waves virtually every day. Swimmers aren’t encouraged to frolic with them, but the dolphins are pretty social, so it happens.

Bodyboarding: One of the country’s fastest-growing sports is headquartered in Orange County, and with beach breaks like Bolsa Chica State, Huntington State and Newport, it’s no wonder. A favorite is T-Street in San Clemente, which offers a challenging, shifty peak. Named for nearby Trafalgar, it’s about half a mile south of the pier. In the summer, go after 10 a.m. when the city boots surfers out of the water. Salt Creek Beach Park in Dana Point is also a good bodyboarding break, but stay north of the surfers. Bring lots of quarters to feed the meters.

People Watching: It may be cliche, but there’s no debate: The best place to watch people is Venice Beach, where the weird, wonderful and beautiful converge in a bizarre bazaar. Check it out, then go swimming elsewhere. A second choice is Laguna Beach’s Main Beach in Orange County--if you can find a place to park.

For Kids: Mother’s Beach in Marina del Rey (in front of the Cheesecake Factory) is tiny and cute and looks more like a little lake than an ocean. A half circle of sand in the middle of the marina, it has no waves, which makes it a favorite for moms. It also boasts lots of new playground equipment, built on a foundation of recycled automobile tires to cushion blows. A similar setup is found at the other Mother’s Beach, in Marine Park in Long Beach, which also has playgrounds, a roped-off swim area for kids and kayak rentals. Royal Palms State Beach in San Pedro also has a new playground. In Seal Beach, at the border of L.A. and Orange counties, the stretch of sand from the San Gabriel River mouth to the pier typically offers waves too wimpy to knock over even the most unsteady toddlers, making it popular with parents and kids.

Beach Volleyball: Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach have the courts and players. With a plethora of leagues and tournaments at all levels from which to choose, anyone is bound to spike a ball. Call the local chambers of commerce for more information. Many agree that Manhattan, with its bluff-free coastline, boasts the most beautiful sunset in the Southland.

Wind or Fire: Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro is so windy, aficionados call the nearby water Hurricane Gulch. The beach is also one of only two county beaches that has fire rings and thus permits bonfires until 10 p.m. (the other is Dockweiler State Beach just north of Manhattan Beach). The beach has lifeguards on duty until 11 p.m. Because Cabrillo is so close to the Los Angeles Harbor, however, water quality is not good for swimming, but making up for that is the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium that, among many other activities, hosts grunion watches, where you can see grunion lay eggs on the beach under the moonlight. Fire rings dot many Orange County beaches.

Just Plain Swimming: Picking the best swimming beach is like “choosing the best chocolate,” says Ken Johnson, chief of Community Services and Marketing for Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors. South Bay beaches have the advantage of parking that’s close to the water. Dockweiler is quite wonderful, if you don’t mind the Hyperion Plant directly behind it. It also has a recreational vehicle park at the foot of Imperial Boulevard, and those fire rings.

Beach Biking: The path goes nearly 20 miles, all the way to Will Rogers Beach in Malibu. But its birthplace is Torrance County Beach, which makes it a good reason to visit this South Bay city and its next-door neighbor Redondo Beach. Both are classics that also offer good swimming.

Star-Gazing: The quintessential L.A. beach show “Baywatch” is shot during the summer before your very eyes at Will Rogers Beach, where the lifeguard headquarters is part of the series’ set. “Baywatch” is so entrenched in the scenery that a truck sells T-shirts, hats and other “Baywatch” souvenirs to looky-loos.

Party Time: If you’re planning a big party to celebrate a special occasion or even throwing an informal wedding, pay the fee ($25 and up) to reserve an oceanfront picnic site, equipped with a grill, at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point. Call (714) 496-3617.

Free Sideshow: At the tip of Orange County’s Balboa Peninsula, next to the breakwater protecting Newport Bay, is the Wedge. Through an accident of physics, the jetty causes waves to double in size during storm-generated south swells, which occur more frequently in the summer. Because the wave is so steep and short and breaks so close to shore, few surfers attempt it. To catch the next spectacle, call Newport Beach lifeguards at (714) 673-3371.

Take a Dive: Catalina Island boasts excellent diving all around the island. On either side of Avalon, you’ll find two easy-access sites. At Lover’s Cove, snorkelers can see at least 20 to 30 species of local fish, including garibaldi (the bright orange state fish), sheephead, bass, calico bass and oblai. At Casino Point, scuba divers can see more of the same, plus a lot of kelp.

Nude Sunbathing: For full-body tans, try the informal scene at Bates Beach in Ventura County, eight miles north of Carpinteria. Topless sunbathers find secluded spots at Point Dume in Malibu, where difficult access and tough parking guarantee small crowds.

Camping: Think south. San Onofre State, on the northern edge of San Diego County, and San Clemente in Orange County offer campgrounds with scenic views of the ocean, but beach access can get tricky. Doheny State Beach has Orange County’s only sea-level campsites, making activities in the surf considerably easier. RVs are welcome at Bolsa Chica State.

Doggie Dunes: No dogs are allowed unleashed anywhere in the state, and dogs are not allowed on L.A. County beaches at all. Pet lovers can take their dogs to Orange County, where several beaches allow dogs on leashes before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. San Onofre allows leashed dogs in the southern end of the beach.

Speaking of rules, other no-nos in L.A. are fires (except in beaches mentioned above), barbecues or alcohol. Most beaches, with the exception of Cabrillo and Dockweiler, have no lifeguards after sunset and swimming is not allowed without lifeguards, although people still do. There are 24-hour lifeguard shifts at Zuma, Santa Monica and Hermosa Beach.

Times staff writer David Reyes contributed to this report.

* The Web meets the surf in The Times’ online beach guide at https://www.latimes.com/HOME/DESTLA/BEACHES2.

* YOUR BEACH: Tell us your favorite beach in Southern California and why it’s so special in 30 words or less. Send to Calendar Weekend Favorite Beach, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, e-mail to calendar@latimes.com or fax to (213) 237-4712. Include name, address and daytime phone number for verification. Selected responses will be published in Calendar Weekend.

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Summer’s Beach Events

Heal the Bay Cleanup at Zuma Beach: Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. (310) 581-4188.

Junior Lifeguard Program: Throughout the summer in various beaches. Last swim test Saturday. (310) 305-9587.

Bud Light Ocean Festival: July 4 and 5 (Zuma Beach), July 12 and 13 (Surfrider), Aug. 24 and 25 (Manhattan Beach). 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (310) 305-9546.

Grunion Watches: July 6 and 21, 8 p.m., at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. (310) 548-7562.

Hennessey’s Tavern Paddleboard Race: July 19, Cabrillo-Torrance. (310) 316-5652.

International Surf Festival: Surfing, volleyball, runs, sand castle contests, swims and more. Aug. 1-3 at Manhattan, Redondo and Hermosa beaches. (310) 305-9546.