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As a born and bred Southern California gal, who has lived most of her 50 years in the great beach areas of Orange County, I have been to most of the venues as a small child, a teenager, young adult and then parent of youngsters and am now moving on to taking my grandchildren to some of the county's best family sand and surf arenas.

What's so great is that the "OC" has something for everyone. You want to take your furry best friend for a walk and then enjoy scenery? Head for the Laguna Beach area near Las Brisas restaurant and the Montage Hotel and Resort. Both have walking trails, private coves and beaches that the surrounding areas do not mind you using. All they ask is that you have your walking partner off the actual beach by 8 a.m.. My husband and I found a nice wood deck and planted our chairs with a mat for "Sunshine" (our lab mix) set up our own umbrellas and enjoyed the sea breeze and mist without being bothered for several hours. The Montage didn't mind our using the very clean restrooms one bit. Blue baggies for Sunshine were in convenient locations! Lots of artists to watch and talk too made for interesting conversation with them and fellow exercisers.

Into surfing? Most of the areas have great waves in the early mornings, especially the famous Surf City (Huntington Beach), Salt Creek, Crystal Cove and San Clemente. Those areas also have some nice piers, eateries, picnic tables as well as biking trails.

Wildlife preserves, tide pools are popular family spots at Doheny State Beach, Crystal Cove, Huntington Beach and a couple of hard to find spots off of Laguna Beach's 9th and Thalia Streets. Remember, tide pools are visible only during low tide!

Have little ones and don't like the waves and need some comfortable extras?
Alamitos Bay in Seal Beach has always been referred to as "Mother's Beach". Little lapping waves, typical beachy restrooms, sometimes a snack bar, volleyball nets and lots of families. Grassy areas with old shade trees toward the street areas. My mom took my sister and I. My college age friends loved it for the lack of "surfer dudes" bothering us and now, since my grandchildren live in nearby Long Beach, I look forward to meeting my daughter there to carry on the tradition. Main St. Belmont Shores is also close by and very quaint and family-orientated.

I've always loved the private area called Newport Dunes RV Resort and Aquatic Park. Entrance fees have shot up, but if you like a little "luxury" in your day at the beach-this is the spot! Clean inside bathrooms with private showers, pool area, park and grassy areas with a small market. Private lifeguards, swings, slides, and a historic whale that finds its way from the sand into the water during the summer months for jumping and diving. There's a rental area for bikes, paddle boats and the like nearby. Shown on several travel shows on the Travel Channel as one of the most luxurious RV resorts in not only the USA, but the world.

Of course, there are so many beaches lining Orange County from the very north (Sunset, Surfside and Seal Beach) to the other most southern tip of San Onofre, listing the many qualities of them all are to wide to narrow down.

Might I suggest taking your entire vacation (along with a picnic basket, sunscreen and a boogie board)to simply enjoy everything our fine county has to offer?

Learn more about this author, Carine Nadel.
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