So.California Beaches?

My family and I are going. Four of us 14,15 & 2 adults.
Somewhere near LAX Airport !
I was thinking about Long Beach, Venice Beach, or Santa Monica Beach. Which do you think would be a better place to go? positives and negatives. & Any other beach that you'd suggest. Oh and were going in Mid March. & Looking to spend only about a day there.

I'd go to Santa Monica.

Venice Beach is beautiful, fun, and you'll never forget it. BUT it's not necessarily the kind of place you wanna take your family for a "family-oriented" type of atmosphere. It's awesome, a total tourist trap with all kinds of knick-knacks and vendors you can buy from BUT yeah.... if you go there be prepared to see some crazy stuff like homeless people dancing to their own music, Rastafarian's smoking weed, crazy old guys trying to sell you bird whistles, etc.

Besides, the actual beach itself is kinda dirty. Now, if you're going to Venice for shopping or whatever...go for it. But don't go there just to hang out on the beach because it's kinda weird if you're not into that whole "free-spirit" thing.

Santa Monica has the most to do, nice beach, the pier is fun, the promenade on the bluff above the beach is a funt to walk or rent bikes. Plenty of good food, shops and attractions.

Venice is interesting, but it's not as accesible and there's less of everything that Santa Monica has.

Longbeach...meh, doesn't do anything for me.

Have fun!

Well Venice is right next to Santa Monica, and both are not to far from the air port, Santa Monica has the pier and Venice has the Southern Ca Stereo type down pat. Plus you get the bonus of seeing where many films and TV shows are filmed.

Long Beach is a good distance from the airport, and if you are talking about the beach itself, there is not so much to see. The Queen Mary is across the harbor, and the Pike amusement park is there but, I think if you only here for a day Santa Monica and Venice have everything you need.

The consensus is Santa Monica Beach, and I agree. You have the pier, Pacific Park (mini amusement park on the pier), Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and the historic carousel (Check out the opening credits for "Three's Company, or watch The Sting to see this).

How about this? Rent some bikes and go south along the bike path to Venice Beach. Get a Hot Dog On a Stick and a "Muscle Beach" Lemonade. See the street performers and vendors, then ride back. It's only a couple miles, and it's a fun ride if the weather's nice. I think 14 & 15 YO's are old enough to handle Venice, but you be the judge. They'll certainly talk about it when they get back!!

If I was 14,15 years old I would want to visit Venice Beach, also as an adult I would want to see Venice Beach..You only live once so why not see both beaches, like Obviousman mentioned, take a bike ride to Santa Monica if you wish, they are right next to each other..

If you become very tight on time, Manhattan Beach-Hermosa beach is 2 miles south of the airport. The bike path also goes through them as well (from Santa Monica). There are restaurants (on the pier base in Hermosa) as well as the seafood pier in Redondo. Manhattan has a small aquarium on their pier & shops & restaurants (more upscale) while Hermosa has quirky. This beach may not be as crowded as Santa Monica as these are smaller towns and attract a surfing crown that leaves after the am surf. You could look at each cities' web page.

Eww Venice Beach is gross and dirty. Santa Monica is alot better! Or maybe Manhatten or somewhere down there.

For a beach definitely Santa Monica....but there is a ton of stuff to do there and at Venice...they kind of blend together so you will have plaenty of time to do both..

Santa Monica ha more to do Venice is nice, Redondo has a good pier.

Even though Long Beach has 'beach' in the name you don't want to swim in the water. Last year it had the most polluted beaches in the state of California. Nobody goes to the beach in Long Beach.
Thanks to the San Gabriel River, the LA River and the Port of Long Beach the water is a toxic brew.
Go to Santa Monica, you will have more to see and do. Or Venice if you are open minded and don't mind getting asked for money so the person can buy drugs.

First off Venice is a FILTHY place; the water, people, crime, and homeless everywhere. Santa Monica is all right, but the water is dirty and there is absolutely no parking. I prefer Long Beach , especially the Belmont Shore area. Its a whole lot cleaner. In LB they got the Aquarium of the pacific, the Queen Mary, and The Pike.