For us flatlanders the beach is special. It’s truly wonderful that Californians have such a long stretch of beach that is accessible to everyone. We were there at sunset, and it was magical

The fact is, if you have kids, Annenberg is the only beach that is kid friendly and clean. Sadly the situation on LA beaches has gotten worse and worse over the years with the rise of poverty and homelessness, resulting in a severe homeless problem. The beaches are particularly bad because this is where thousands of homeless sleep and take showers. But here at Annenberg they keep things clean and safe for families. And it's a great beach too where the water is often a little more calm and shallow. We've been going here for years and even as adults this will always be our top pick.

This spot makes you feel like you're visiting your fortunate friend. Drive into the drive and park. The parking fee is cheaper than other lots. There is a cafe with good food, not fast food. They have a small park area for the kids to play on gym equipment. There is a pool with 113 capacity and as many lounging chairs. They have an event center for rent. Check out the second floor observation deck. There are tables and chairs next to the Marion Davis guest house. It's closed right now due to Covid but usually open for tours. You can rent a bike to ride the dedicated bike path. You can sun/swim on the beach til closing. This place feels private but it's open to all. We went on a week day in February so it was not crowded. What a fabulous place. We'll rent bikes on our next visit.

The Beach House Cafe lacks many vegan options. The tofu scramble is bland but veggies and potatoes tasted fresh. Love that no plastic straws or containers are used- yay! Can’t beat the beachfront ocean view and top-notch, friendly service. The cafe gets very busy for lunch so it’s best to get there early or make a reservation.

This is a great place to go spend a day at the pool, have a private event or meeting, or to go and take a tour of the Marion Davies House. The tour of the house is awesome and very historical. The tour guides were great and gave a lot of fantastic information about the historical significance of the house and the area. Come check it out and spend some time in the sun at the beach. You can not go wrong!

We love this place! Pool is heated a bit, so even on an overcast day it's still warm in the water (but can get cold when you're not in the water so bring a jacket if it's overcast). Splash pad is simple, but has seating around it if you just want free fun. The swings are a big hit too, but those are also public so just a little wait if there are a lot of kids. And there are two handicap swings that are reclined which is awesome if needed! Parking in the actual lot fills up quickly, but there are plenty of public lots just south of the beach house ($12/day) so try those. It's an easy walk on the beach walk. Also, bring lots of towels, snacks, etc. Just no glass! Such an amazing place!!

Worth visiting for lunch/brunch or early evening dining. Bring children with you, to play on the sandy playground by The Back on the Beach Restaurant. They will love it ❤️.

Great location and beach with great views. It's an uncrowded beach with plenty of parking. It's $12/day.

Beautiful space for celebrations, receptions, corporate events and training. Fairly easy to get to as far as beach properties go. Lots of parking.

Did the flowers for a wedding and it was great!

I love anything that has to do with Hearst Castle. The design and the story behind it all. It was a cool experience

loved it. busy for a weekday-70% full, fee is very reasonable. lined up 1 hour before opening to get tickets. can't imagine what a weekend day would be like. parking was $12 for the day, lot right beside the pool. heated pool was great, very clean and despite being full, lots of space in the pool as most ppl were adults lounging on the chaise. one lifeguard on duty-no rowdiness allowed.

Beautiful spot to share lunch at the tables and chairs with umbrellas! It is kept clean and well maintained. Great view of the beach, comfortably from the tables and chairs. Convenient parking close by. 🏖

This was my 1st time at this beach.. The community center set up was very clean, laid out nicely nicely, surprisingly not too crowded (early August 2022). I really liked that there was a paved boardwalk that boardwalk that went rather far out to the beach which was a great way to avoid frying your feet. Renting umbrellas for the beach was easy. The kids liked the food, And while there was decent food options like if your vegan or vegetarian, it's not necessarily diet restriction friendly for those of us with more allergies. The pool was nice, But it's for kids who can swim or for kids who are with their parents. There is no real shallow end where weak swimmers can walk around, I think the shallowest area was almost 4', Which was fine for me and my kids who are good swimmers it swimmers but if your child does not a strong swimmer You really need to go in the pool with them, you can't watch from the side. It looked like the toughest thing was the parking lot, if you don't come early it will fill up, We got there around 9:30 and There were still a number of spaces but it was definitely close to getting filled up.

Gorgeous stretch of the beach to go for a walk or a bike ride! Parking is hourly with the pay machine, $3/h, fills up quickly on the weekends.

The annenberg community beach house looked very clean and well taken care of , offers plenty of activities to do and enjoy either individually or as a family or couple.. boasts an indoor pool and best of all it is open to the public. Metered parking $3 an hour right on the edge of the beach, highly recommend.

Fantastic docent led free tours. Took a group of seniors there. They loved it

Really beautiful and fascinating little stop. Guided free tours at the right time really helps understand everything. A gem

It was a cold California day (60’s)! But this is a nice place with plenty of activities. My husband & I went for a nice walk along the path. If we had more time l, we probably would have walked to the Santa Monica Pier. I’d love to return!

Fantastic! Clean bathrooms, showers. Very clean beach! I loved to see Clean Air Vehicle spots.

The tour is ok. The parking lot is small & price average for the area. The pool is closed during the winter months, but does get pretty busy when open. A lot of mom's have their kids playing in the sand play area. The cafe is nice and also priced for the area.

8 year old birthday at the beach ⛱️ What a fantastic day! There's a play area also, splash/ water pads. The volleyball net area is available. Restrooms If you want to have lunch there's a restaurant. It is a very clean and well maintained park. Pay parking.

Great place for a get-together or meeting. Ocean views, clean bathrooms and nice outdoor seating. Parking was $12. Went for an IT security conference and everything was top notch.

Great place to visit. South parking usually fills up fast, but there is a North parking lot that is better to park at. As soon as you drive in, hang a quick right and down the narrow road to the back. Parking is $12 for the day.

Great place to spend the day with your family or friends! There is ample parking, a small playground, a splash pad, cafe, and more! You can get a free tour of the guest house weekdays from 12pm-2pm. Beach access as well! Annenberg has tons of options and even has wheelchairs to use in the sand!

My son's football team had their annual banquet here and boy were we impressed. They have a full staff of people who serve top notch meals while you enjoy scenic views and calm atmospheres. Right on PCH, the access to the beach is very close and the space is all open. Tall windows let you see all the way to Malibu and you can smell the ocean. We keep looking for a reason to come back here. We had food options, from chicken to beef and veggies. The staff is super attentive and upbeat. Highly recommend this place for large groups and charity events. Go SaMo High football!!

Loved the place. The whole staff is very accommodating. And the views...

Always a beautiful time there. The staff has always been friendly and it’s the best hidden spot in a community center in LA! Great views, great place to write a book and a show there. I did both!

Less crowded than Venice Beach ⛱️🏖️ Two lanes for cyclists (one going and one coming), and same for pedestrians. Venice Beach ⛱️🏖️ doesn't have the same setting.

Just an overall great story

This is a very nice location. Kind of a hidden gem. Facility is very well maintained and clean. There's a lot of room and a lot of different areas that you can access from private patio areas to pools and conference rooms. The bathrooms were nice as well.

Amazing management people, nice lady

Food is always delicious. Great portion sizes. Definitely a great place to enjoy a beautiful view of the West Coast.

Was here the whole day with the kids. So many different activities to do. There are public pools, splash pad, playground, restaurants and of course a very large beach front with lots of volleyball nets and a bike path along the entire beach front. I was so pretty and peaceful. The kids had a blast. Finished the day having dinner on the beach and watching the sunset. It was a perfect day.

RESTROOMS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC... COOL FOR YOUNG KIDS.. PLAY AREAS SWEET!!! WITH ONE UNFORTUNATE EXCEPTION THE POWER OUTLETS SEEMED TO BE DAMAGED AND DIMINISHED THE VALUE OF THE LOCATION ITS EITHER AN AVAILABLE AMENITY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR NOT!! THE PUBLIC IS TO APPRECIATE THIS OR IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY BE CUT OFF ACCORDING TO FIRE CODE (ELECTRICITY)!! I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE CAN CHARGE THEIR PHONES, ETC. AND STAY UP TO DATE AND HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY Need IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT EVER LIFE MAY THROW AT THEM

Great spot on the beach. The lot is small but worth it. There is a pool that you can use for a fee. There is a great restaurant right on the beach. The original Greek Revival servamts quarters from the mansion built by William Randolph Hurst still stands a short way away from the pool he had built.

Quite nice, just got to entrance buy tickets and until they close you can stay. Pool is very big and nice to swim in, not to cold. Also changing rooms and nice.

Great view!

Easily one of the most beautiful and meticulously maintained locations in the city of Santa Monica.

As a digital nomad! I have to say this place is wonderful. A nice patio area is separated from the beach and makes a great space for online work. The beach includes volleyball nets with bike and beach accessory rentals next door.

Solo visit. Pros: inna very nice condition, right next to the beach, with a swimming pool kid-friendly and umbrellas. Cons: Parking is really tough, even if you are attending an event (reservation would be great!)

Excellent. If you have never seen the beach house, GO! It's history, put the place on your bucket list.

Great little beach house to tour. Docents were kind and informative. Free to public.

A living landmark from William Randolf Hurst's Golden Days

Great vibe, easy parking and a really nice pool. Perfect beach destination whether local or tourist.

Fast service. Super friendly. Loved that the beach is part of the Cafe. Love the mini kids playground. 1 mile away from the Pier. Food was amazing! Had the Back on the Beach Burger - delicious!! Has a great kids play area if you want to eat and the kids want to play. Edit: the tacos were amazing. The margaritas strong and delicious ;)

This is an amazing event venue. It has great views of the beach, but also has a lot of bright and airy spaces. Parking is ample, and not too far from the end of the 10 freeway for those coming from farther out. Very kid friendly if your event also has young children. Can't wait for the next event we attend there! Also has a great pool.

Went here to see the ocean and dip my toes in the water. It was beautiful and peaceful.