Seal Beach Reviews

We stayed in The Bali Bungalow, a VRBO in Seal Beach for four months March-June 2016.
Three blocks from Main Stree. This beach town has everything you need within a reasonable walking distance.
Many restaurants, shops, antique stores, bakeries, ice cream stores, coffee houses.
A very peaceful stretch of beach. Not too crowded. Not the constant hustle and bustle of neighboring Huntington.
Seal Beach is a laid back, enjoyable beach town

Nice visit to this hidden gem. Parking is difficult, as there don't seem to be many parking lots and no garages...mostly street parking. Lots of cute shops & restaurants, all down the strip of Main Street. It seems like a mostly local town with not a ton of tourists like some other beach cities. Very quiet and low key...we loved it!

Fun little California beach town. Loads of parking and the Seal Beach Pier is a must visit anytime its open. Check the pier entrance for open hours.

This is a small beach and half is currently under construction. Very nice pier to walk out on...looks like they are renovating it as well. The place is a great place to watch sunsets and the parking is FREE for 2 hours. watch your time because the POLICE do!! I would certain go back for a swim here. A navy ship was docked in the distance which was pretty cool.

It was my first time to come here. Thankful for my girlfriend for bringing me here. It was one of my favorite moments during our recent trip. Beautiful place. Weather was perfect.

Small town next to Naples CA . Full of nice small boutiques and a couple of fun Irish bars, that have live music on the weekends. 20 Minutes from downtown Long Beach. I you are looking for a quite small town Seal Beach might be the place. You can enjoy the beach or a stroll on the peer or just do some shopping among the many small unique stores. Safe to ride your bike with limited traffic on the ocean side of PCH.

Perfect for us: Near our hotel, not too crowded, shops and restaurants nearby and lots of sun and fun. Can't wait to go back!

Get there early to keep a parking spot. Lots of flat sand and places to grab a snack. Walk along the road and find any food you can imagine. Traffic is just LA normal

That's what Seal Beach is called. It's one of only 2 or 3 beach cities in California that doesn't have parking meters on the main street downtown (although they do chalk tires, especially in the summer). It's just a fun stroll down Main Street, out to the end of the pier (the end of which is currently closed, sadly), grab something to eat, watch the sea gull, inhale the fresh sea air and just relax a little.

With all the hustle and bustle of the LA area, Seal Beach is just the opposite! What a great little beach town. Very family oriented. The beach is perfect for families. The restaurants were all very good, especially Yucatan Grill and the bakery with amazing cinnamon buns!

This is my family's favorite beach in the LA area. Waves big enough for the kids to body board, but not so big that they get crushed. Parking can be tough, but there bathrooms at the peer entrance and a playground.

Quaint place with good food and nice people. Will definitely return for a future vacation or even just to visit and enjoy a dinner.

Very nice and very clean beach along with being very wide so it is not crowded. They have a nice playground for smaller kids. Plenty of parking in the area and much of it is free. Good spot. Nice view of Long Beach to the North.

I loved Seal Beach. First time in California and this was on top of my list. Just an adorable town - walking distance to nice restaurants on the water. I will be back!!!

We visited several piers as we worked our way north -- Balboa pier, Newport Beach pier, Huntington Beach pier and then Seal Beach pier. There is no comparison -- Seal Beach pier is the one. It is clean, well maintained, and has a lovely beach. It is also surrounded by a genuine beach town, not overly commercialized and full of real people.

If you have a chance to only visit one pier, go to Seal Beach.

So what happened with the social distancing? They can close the churches but not the beach? That's how people are going to get even more sick.

Truthfully, I almost want to say this place is terrible, so nobody else will discover it!! But, wow. What a place! We've been going to another "secret" little beach town called Moonlight Beach for years...tried this beach town this summer and fell in LOVE. Beach is clean, waves are awesome, wind is fresh, pier is beautiful and relaxing. The locals are sooooo nice. Next to the beach is a few rows of stores and restaurants, just awesome. And not priced ridiculously. We went to a little Mexican restaurant TWICE because it was so good (Taco Something? Sorry, owner, can't think of the name to give you a shout out). You can find icecream, mexican food, irish food, bakery, american fare...so many options. BTW we went the day after 4th of July, and there were hardly any people on the beach (which is HUGE....very wide sand area to accomodate a LOT of people...but nobody is there). Just awesome. We stayed at Ayres Seal Beach hotel, will write a review, but it was only a 10 minute drive. Everything is close. Next time we will def rent a little beach house, such a cute little community. Love it!

The quaint beach area is speckled with a small area of tourist friendly stores and an odd number of Irish Pubs. Like, more than five pubs on one single street. And this has to leave you to wonder, what has happened to this place? You can count more drunk irish wannabe's than you will come close to finding seals. Really. Not a single seal. Oh well. At least you can grab a Guinness.

There was a group who were taking lessons surfing. Even though the waves were gentle, it gave them confidence. A pleasure to watch.

Sandy and safe.great for boogie boards, young and old. Life guards on duty, shower very handy, clean beach, can be windy in afternoon, wonderful little stores and places to eat. We took our three children here years ago and now take our grandchildren.

So many beaches in SOCAL are detached from their towns. This one is ideal. Beach, shopping, dining, and local activities are all located together. Parking for extended periods is the challenge. The town needs to provide a better solution since -- the main thing I like -- it's designed to permit a full day of activities without moving your car...but very few parking spots fit that bill.

I was impressed with this beach in every way. Cleaned well maintained. Felt safe. Walking distance from our hotel. No vendors encouraging you to buy food or treasures.

We went to Seal Beach for our trip to So Cal this year we go to a different So Cal beaches every year for a week , it's a small town between Long Beach and Huntington Beach , they have a Merchant Strret with a lot of shops, We went to Walt''s Wharf for dinner good food and busy but we were able to get a table quickly it was outdoors which was fine. Afterward we went shopping there a clothing shop called Purple Golore there everything was mostly purple. I went morning fishing every day on the pier since pier fishing is free no license require on most California piers the beach was long and narrow compared to Huntington beach. Their restrooms were clean and at the entrance to the pier down one level.

The Seal Beach Police Department was having a "meet and greet" evening near the Seal Beach Pier. They had exhibits and plenty of offices showing off the many aspects of their hardware and the use of drones! Quite interesting and highly professional.

My ex picked this location because of possible seals. I told him to do a little research to make sure...we went anyway. There weren't any unless they possibly come up elsewhere. Last time we went to Santa Monica Beach so we also wanted to visit somewhere different. We found a parking spot that was 2 hr right across the entrance to the pier. We were on a budget and forgot a lot of the time you have to pay to park so that was perfect. It was nice, quiet and not overcrowded. We picked one of the two perfect days to go but for me it was still a little breezy. All that mattered was my daughter was having fun. It looks like a cute, quiet town during the day. Maybe at night it's busy because as we left we started to see more teens head out to the beach.

Small town feel! Great walkability to lots of little shops and restaurants. Beautiful sunsets and the pier is great for people watching and to watch the surfers. One of the best places in SoCal!

As we drove North up PCH ( Pacific Coast Highway ) from home, you turn left ( the scenic route ) at the Navel Weapons Station. This Sunday afternoon a ship in docked, Hull number 22, The USS San Diego. An amphibious troop carrier, capable of carrying 700 Marines to anywhere in the world. I have in the past seen the Nuclear Flag flying with other ships docked here. Meaning, Nuclear weapons were being loaded or it is a Nuclear powered ship, I believe. Did not notice it, perhaps missed it. Always nice to see the Navy in this area, their sailors getting shore leave? Reading about the Station, some 25 to 30 ships port here yearly. It is a very small dock and large ships cannot come into it. The downtown area is about 4 to 5 blocks long, dotted with shops, restaurants, a newspaper office, a couple of bars with Irish themes. Often parking is difficult, managed to find a spot with a two hour limit. Great time browsing, will be back...to eat and drink when we can.

Enjoyed an early morning walk to Main street and to the beach. It was peaceful and the weather was fantastic.

Family friendly, decent waves, great main street for food, drinks, & shopping. Watch out for the riptides. OK for surfing, better for body boards, Sea shells and small crabs are plentiful. parking is generally easy to find on the street or at paid lots. Nice pier for fishing, viewing of sunsets.

Drove from Anaheim to watch a sunset. Lots of free parking which I appreciated and restroom and outdoor showers. There is a perfect view of LA and the locals are very friendly.

I love this beach. Great place to go without all the tourists. Always relaxing and a place to hang for a day.

Driving the coast to see different beaches! Seal Beach was MAGNIFICENT! The cutest, quaintest little beach town! Like stepping back in time! Little souvenir shops as well as places to eat and other shopping! We loved Seal Beach!

The City of Seal Beach is a very beautiful place to visit but not worth it as their traffic/parking lots are predatory. Paid for four hours of parking through the parking app but got a ticket for having a plastic cover on my license plate for $66. This is totally predatory and is not fair. The violation is not posted on their city website so what gives. Oddly, the car next to mine was pouring urine out of the window onto the parking lot and I captured pictures of them but they had NO license plate to follow. How can the city allow the "unhoused" to beg from me, allow people to dump their urine, allow car chases and crimes up to $900 but give me a ticket for having a plastic shield on my license plate? I will NOT be spending my money at any shops in Seal Beach, and the city has to know and has to respond. There own website quotes, "we know parking is hard so we want to make it easier for you". I would highly, highly recommend NOT to shop in Seal Beach as they are famous for handing out these tickets and they don't care about being fair or being gracious to visitors. They only care about ruining your relaxing day at the beach.

The perfect small town beach resort with the perfect beach! Great for families, couples, or just time on your own to think and pray. Beautiful views.

Great place to walk around. Great shopping and great places to eat. We went there often! Really enjoyed this area!

Great little town with wonderful views, beach, pier and lots of shops and places to eat. First visit and in February so I have no idea how hopping it must be in summer!

This is a beautiful old fashioned cite Beach community with so many cute shops, bars and places to eat. Parking is easy the beach is clean and incredible.....

A must see, charming Main Street
Great pier, fantastic sandy beach, fabulous shops and restaurants and friendly people

The Pacific Inn has been our go to hotel since 2005. We discovered this gem when our daughter attended Long Beach State. The front desk staff are extremely courteous and go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied. The hotel location is just a few blocks from Main Street and the beach. The rooms were recently upgraded and the facility itself is immaculate. You will not be disappointed when staying here.

As you drive up the Pacific Coast Hwy it’s pretty easy to miss Seal Beach. You keep an eye out for Main Street and turn towards the ocean. You will then come to the center of town where you might want to park your car and take a walk up and down Main St, there you’ll find cute shops of all types. Clothing stores dominate but there are great bars and restaurants on the street. At the pier end of the street is a small bar/coffee shop with good drinks and pretty good food. A friendly staff highlighting the experience. Take a walk down the pier. Or on Sunday enjoy the Hot Rods that cruise down Main Street.

Pacific Inn exceeded my expectations for a mid-range hotel. Sitting off the PCH, it's quiet, close to the beach, and breakfast is not only included but actually decent. Staff are attentive.

Visited from NJ while out on business. Wanted to see the Pacific Ocean so I stopped by on a whim. I live very close to a resort town in NJ so am no stranger to placed like this. The town seemed amazing with lots to explore and do. Then walk out onto the giant pier or go fishing and enjoy the day. You can end the day by taking a trip up the pacific coast highway which is really amazing if you aren’t from the area. I think I’m going to have to come back to CA for this town. And I don’t like to fly.

Well, OK...maybe it is not cold to everyone, but for Texans venturing to these waters in September it was quite chilly. But this did not stop us from going, laughing and having a fabulous time. You need to pay for parking but this seems to be a very popular place for families and couples alike. The pier was open but still closed at the very end due to s recent fire. Main Street or the street that faces the water seems to have many restaurants and snack places. My kiddos loved it.

Seal Beach is a wonderful place to visit that has a small town feel! Cute shops on Main St. like Home by the Sea Shore, and great restaurants like Walt's Wharf, La Crema Cafe, Yucatan and Koi. Delicious gelato at Italyano next to Coffee Bean and Tea. Nice walk through Main St., Seal Beach Pier and the boardwalk!

Nice shops, lovely atmosphere.
The weather was so bad and cold so did not walk that much. But it look liked a surprising original and cozy village with very nice shops.

Seal Beach is called Mayberry by the Sea because of it's small town attitude. It's probably the only beach town in CA that offers free street parking that accommodates the numerous shops, restaurants and bars that line Main Street. There are a lot of quality restaurants and fun shops to keep you busy. The best thing about Seal Beach is that you can walk to everything including a grocery store and pharmacy. Once you park you may not need to start your car until you leave. Watch for the daily specials at the different restaurants to eat on the cheap! Stayed for 3 months and never got bored with the awesome waves and friendly people.

It was a beautiful day but this is one of the more crowded beaches. I prefer to be around less people at least in my close personal vicinity. Still had fun regardless and the shopping nearby is good too!

Have visited numerous times because family lives here. It has maintained its small beach town appeal. I've noticed over the years that some of the beach towns in Southern California have become overly commercialized. However, when you get right down to Main Street, in Seal Beach, it's still quaint. The small stores and restaurants are charming. The pier at the end of the street is a great view of the ocean and occasional seal frolicking amongst the people standing in the ocean close to the beach. ( I'm not so sure all of the beach goers are as amused when the seal pops up next to them).

This beach was crowded but clean for the most part. The bank is very steep and has a drop. Be careful. Other than that the view was beautiful and we enjoyed walking along the coast. I think I prefer Manhattan beach. We saw no seals. :(

we had never been there. this place is great and tucked away south of long beach and north of Huntington. it has a quaint small town downtown but still has all the shops and bars and restaurants that Huntington has but more laid back.

Charming cafes, restaurants, shops are housed in small, quaint, 1800's preserved buildings along Seal Beach's old town Main Street. Worth a leisurely jaunt - and an edible and/or drinkable experience (outdoor dining b.t.w. right now, due to COVID)! Enjoy!

After traveling up and down the south California coast visiting beautiful beaches this trip I would still pick seal beach as the best and here's why. Many of the soughg after beaches are crowded and hard to get to. We went to treasure cove in Laguna. You have to park far away and hike down into the area with all of your stuff. There is parking right in front of the beach near the pier at seal beach and its reasonably priced. $3 per 2 hours or $10 for the day. There are showers and restrooms right by the pier and there are plenty of restaurants and shops, reasonably priced right on main st which is an easy 5-10 minute walk from the beach. I would recommend Taco surf. Unlike other reviewers I actually enjoyed seeing the tankers in the distance... The waves are great for body surfing but a little rough for really small children. If you are worried about that there is a beach called Mothers Beach nearby (10 min drive) that had smooth water and a great park right near the water! We went there after visiting Seal Beach and we were kicking ourselves for not setting aside more time to play there. I would highly recommend both beaches for families with children. By the way we did bout see any seals. If you want to do that I'd recommend driving down to La Jolla cove, it's worth the drive!

Not my favorite beach city in California. Might be up there with one of my least favorite. Nice wide sandy beach, but the vibe is just not good. There are some decent restaurants and shops along the main drag. But the city and beach is just not somewhere I want to spend much time. The only reason I came to seal Beach today, there is an electrify America charging station in town. Nearest one to Long Beach.

We took our son on a college graduation trip and decided to visit a local beach for a “break” from our fast paced CA 10 day tour! The pier was beautiful and the views spectacular! We enjoyed the beach for a couple of hours. Watching surfers was fun! Very low key compared to where we had lunch in Huntington Beach.

It's hard to find quaint beach towns in Southern California, but somehow Seal Beach has survived. It's Main Street is a hub of activity with shops and dining. For the lucky few who can afford to live here, its paradise found. For the rest, enjoy your vacation and leave with warm memories.

Stay at The Pacific Inn located in Seal Beach. Excellent service from Driver picking up at Long Beach Airport, Entire Lobby Staff, friendly, knowledgeable and loving their guests. Fantastic Full breakfast.

Iconic beach of SOCAL is a must see on your list of attractions. Uncrowded, very wide beach. Bring a chair or blanket, book and/or picnic and enjoy the sand, surf and beach. Day or night, this is a great place to visit.

Enjoyed the lovely beach, friendly people and watching the surfers. Great day at the beach. Loved this location.

Walked out on Sesl Beach Pier close to sunset and before dinner. Was a little breezy, chilly but enjoyed the sunset. A boat brought in workers from the oil rig while we were there.

What a cute lil beach! We hopped over one day while in the area for Disney. There's an old pier that you can fish off of or just walk on. My daughter had fun playing in the sand and surf. If you're into birding, lots of shore birds hang out right on the beach. Large pelicans, sandpipers, gulls, etc. Leading up to the pier is a main street with lots of cute shops and restaurants. We ended the day with ice cream and watched the sun set.

It's been several years since I spent a day at Seal Beach. I remember it being a nice, quiet place to spend the day. It is still surprisingly quiet...but now I know the reason why is because the beach is kind of gross. The sand feels sticky and oily. The is quite a bit of trash on the beach. And there is a lot of goopy red stuff (I assume some kind of seaweed) in the surf. It feels gross against your skin, so I didn't swim. But my grandkids did, and my granddaughter has curly hair. A bunch of that red stuff stuck in her hair and it took two long sessions of washing and hair detangler and combing out to get it all out. It was disgusting. I won't be going back there. And I realize it isn't Seal Beach's fault...this situation just is what it is. But I was really disappointed that I wasted a day off to spend it at a gross beach. So hopefully I can help someone else avoid that!

This is a beautiful, clean and quieter beach. It is close to wonderful shopping and restaurants. Very friendly people!

Was such a fabulous town with beautiful clean beach 🏖- lots of shops & restaurants.
Definitely will go back prior to busy summer- small beautiful town with friendly great service

Nice clean and peaceful beach, not too busy even on a hot summer Sunday, great to stretch out and relax but not too good for swimming due to the surf and the sharp drop off of the beach.

We came to Seal Beach early on Saturday. So, we were easily able to find a parking spot. The beach was clean, the air fresh, and the waves were crashing on shore. Our family was able to see and wade in the Pacific Ocean. Some of us walked out on the pier for an even better view.
We paid for parking at a kiosk, all automated, and easy to use. While we were there, the restrooms were cleaned so they were of good quality, even though it was a porta potty. There were lifeguards on duty for safety. Everyone had a good time.

One of the most original and special beach cities in California. Not a planned community with artificial enhancements, but an old school California beach town full of charm and locals.

Very unique! We only stayed two nights on our way to take a cruise from Long Beach CA. Well maintained sites, a small shopping px close by. Best feature was a large RV coin operated wash.

I have never seen anything like this, there were tons of sea lions all sunbathing on the beach for a 3 mile radius. Definitely a must stop on Highway 1, it’s near the Hearst Castle.

Seal Beach is a great alternative to more well known beaches in SoCal. I’ve always enjoyed this quaint beach city my entire life and return year after year.

The beach is quiet and not crowded, while the town offers plenty to eat, drink, and shop.

If you’re into the glitzy or bar scene beach towns, Seal Beach may not be the place for you. If you enjoy spending time with your family and avoid crowds, try Seal Beach.

Head west off of PCH at Main in Seal Beach, go through the little town with eclectic store fronts, and you arrive at the entrance to the pier. Public parking is available on two small paved lots at beach level on either side of the pier. It is pay parking, but not too expensive, and the machine does take credit cards. The north side of the beach is perhaps a little less shore break, and my grandson aged 7 really had no problem. the south side has a little more shore break, but all in all both sides have more gentle rollers breaking. Sea shells include clam, mussel, scallop, but no snails that we found.

This is a nice relaxing beach with convenient parking and very close to some cool shops and restaurants. We came on a Sunday afternoon in late May. Parking was plentiful and the beach wasn't too busy. It was a little cooler and windy that day, so maybe that factored into it. Unfortunately the pier was closed due to a fire just the day before at the old Ruby's restaurant. The old wooden pier is my favorite part of this beach, I hope they repair and reopen it. Don't miss a chance to explore the shops and restaurants in the little town of Seal Beach. Had a great day with the family and will definitely be back next time I'm in southern California.

Love this little town with unique shops like Harvey Girls and cute restaurants not franchised or corporate entities. We need more towns like this since every other town has Starbucks, H&M, Ann Taylor, etc.

My husband was working so I had the day to myself. I wandered Main Street looking at the shops and restaurants and walked to the end of the pier (as far as you can go as it is under construction) and watched the fisherman and the surfers. The beach is wide and long with a big dune for sand riding on one side of the pier and flat on the other side. There were tons of surfers and lots of other people playing on the sand or in the water. You can walk on the sand for a long distance or on a cement walkway along Ocean Avenue.

What a place. Everyone was friendly with a ton of local non chain restaurants. While we were there on business. I could see spending a vacation there. Pier was clean with wonderful views and atmosphere.

Loved this little place. The developers really got it right here, no high rise buildings to be seen at all and a real lack of concrete....truly picturesque and the whole place has a great vibe!

We didn't stay long were on a long drive.... but glad we stopped. It's clean, well kept and a great place for a visit, walk or just to enjoy the ocean a short ways from LA.

Omg ,.. I love coming to California! We visited seal beach was so nice for sunset!
There is a parking fee 10$ until 10pm

My family and I spent the day at seal beach. There was plenty to do in and around the water, as well as a playground the kids enjoyed. Great little downtown ti walk around and explore.

I visit family in the area and it is always a great time! Walking the Pier or playing on the beach, also the main street has a variety of food and shopping. It has a small town atmosphere to it! Just Lovely!

What a lovely beach and town. We spent a couple of hours walking on the beach, pier, taking in the houses and having an excellent lunch/brunch at Crema Cafe. The broad walk is not long made a mile in length, the beach is very wide. There is off street parking for a limited time we parked at the beach car park for $2/ hour. A delightful atmospheric town well worth the time. Would think of going back if could find a good rented property but for no longer than 1 week

I like the view of the ships and Catalina Island. It’s a quiet peaceful beach and lots of the folks are walking dogs.

Lived here for a couple of years. This place is awesome of you are in socal you have to check it out. Great beach, resteraunts and shops.

Love this little town, the beach, the little shops and even walking the streets and checking out the cool little houses and shacks. Enough to do to spend the weekend. Sweeter and much, much smaller than Huntington.

We travel to Seal Beach often and it never gets old walking down Main Street looking at the shops, walking down the pier or the greenbelt on Electric Avenue. This little town is tucked away in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Southern California just off of the Pacific Coast Highway yet when you are there you feel like you are far away from the hectic city life. I am amazed at the City of Seal Beach and how they are able to coordinate so many activities for the Main Street area, such as Sidewalk Sales, Art Shows, Holiday Activities, Fun Runs, Music Festivals and the annual Fish Fry .As you travel down PCH, be sure to stop by Seal Beach and relax as you stroll along Main Street and enjoy the great restaurants too. You won't be disappointed!

The beach is beautiful with easy parking (so important). The pier is really pretty. I can see why this is such a well known beach. It's fun to just sit and watch all the surfers.

Stunning location, wonderful shops and very inviting friendly shop owners, clean, amicable residents. I would definitely include this area again in my next visit to California. LOVED IT!

Numerous shops to explore, and after walking Main Street many bars and grills to choose from. Italian, American, B-B-
Q, Thai, Sushi or just your favorite libation.

Seal Beach is a nice beach with the boardwalk and a main street for shopping.

But the area is not safe during covid-19. This is definitely anti-masker territory. Most shops ignore mask requirements. People crowd on the sidewalks and on the beach without face coverings during a major surge in covid-19. Avoid Orange County all together until the covid-19 pandemic is gone.

Lots of small diverse stores. Gormet Oil shop, flags, gifty places, clothing stores and lots of restaurants.

Low-key, beautiful, with a small town feel. Visits from actual seals. Fun pubs, great dining and affordable shopping.

Main street USA, before ostentatious success. A personal litmus test is the hardware store on Main Street; check. Unpretentious offering of a great variety of stores. Plan on a full day with lunch and happy hour, add a day for the beach and pier.

We like to come down here to eat, some really good restaurants on Main Street. Also a great Italian gelato place on Main and Pacific Coast hwy. After we like to stroll down by the pier and watch the sunset. It stays cooler here since it is close to the beach. There are some fun stores along Main Street. Parking can be tricky but we usually find some along the street.

We visited on the recommendation of a friend and wasn't disappointed. Follow the signs on the Pacific Hwy to the pier area. Free street parking in along the shopping area. You will find several shops and bars/restaurants and a wide range of food offerings. Plenty of shops some offer surf goods.

A nice long pier to enjoy watching the surfers and wild life. Very picturesque and a pleasant way to spend the day.

Picked Seal Beach to stay while two of our party attend a wedding in LA. Feel very safe and looked after.

Great little village with interesting shops located a stone's throw away from a nice, quiet beach (I went during the week in mid-May). If you want to see the shops, get there before 5:00 p.m. as that is the time they all seem to close. A nice way to spend the afternoon in this area. Convenient pay parking.

Very nice experience. Was a bit of a challenge to locate and to park. Not at all crowded and very clean. No issues at all

Living in hb we either go north to sunset, seal and Los alamotosbay or south to Laguna.... for summer date nights.Seal still has the old coastal town charm that hb pch lost when the bear was bulldozed and has some smallish gathering type restaurants. Look at reviews (we didn’t and got caught in a few spots we didn’t love but have also found spots we dig big. I love the ace hardware on Main Street as they have awesome toilet handles that are a massive hit at my house - still talked about years after I’ve bought. Hang out bar- at the bar happy hour yum!

A great little seaside town that has character, especially along the Main Street area with small shops and restaurants.

Beach-front parking was a breeze for me on a Saturday morning. What a pleasant surprise! The beach itself is clean but eventually became quite crowded. Surfing, bodyboarding and bodysurfing looks divine out there, but the slope is quite steep from shore so there is a minor amount of shorepound. All in all a great experience.

Nothing beats a meal, a stroll down Main Street then wander down to the beach and the pier for sunset. The Beach is great with lots of surfers. Always a special spot to while away the time.

Seal Beach is lovely, very low key and you'll actually find parking! There's a nice pier to walk out on and the beach is busy but not crowded. There's plenty of nice restaurants in all price ranges and the marina has a few upscale seafood restaurants to choose from. The best place to stay, in walking distance to the beach and downtown, is the Pacific Inn.

Very clean and quiet beach. If you’re looking for lots of amenities this is not the place. But if you want lots of room to spread out and have fun this beach is great.

we enjoyed this area and walked out on the pier and walked along all the shops and eateries and ate at a quaint place that had excellent fish and chips and tap beer.

Easy to walk around and enjoy the beautiful beach, pier and shops. We felt very safe at night walking back to our hotel.

Great Beach, only swimmers with surfboards were allowed in ocean. Not sure if this is standard for this location or temporary.

What a great spot to take the family in CA. Seal Beach has plenty of restaurants around, a great pier and the beach is perfect for a family. Quiet spot compared to a lot of places in SoCal.

I arrived there about 2 and it was great! My hotel gave me a chair and I sat, did some work and just enjoyed this beach. I didn't want to leave!!!! If you are looking for. Nice beach convenient to shops and food this is the place! I so enjoyed the day!!!

Seal Beach is a very cute, small, beach community. Sometimes the parking can be a little bit of a pain, but overall it has that cozy small town feel.

small,not populated. friendly people, walk directly onto main street.
cant come up with 100 words, stupid review

This is a really fun, old school beach town. No glitz, truly a wonderful experience. Friendly people, lovely pier to stroll, great shops and restaurants.

My nana owned many apartments on Seal Beach when I was a kid so I spent much of the 70's and 80's hanging out there. She passed away, the apartments were sold, and I didn't visit for 20+ years. When I went it was so awesome, like time had stood still. I'm so pleased that Seal Beach hasn't exploded with fancy malls and shops...it feels and looks very much the same as when I was a kid. What a wonderful place!

This is a day stop. It is not a large place but there is a wonderful beach and a decent small town to wander through that is filled with a lot of good bars and restaurants. Throw in some interesting antique shops and some truly eclectic other shops and you have a good place to spend a day.

don't miss this sleepy little beach town amidst al the OC and LA bustle. lovely little neighborhood, great Main St with shops , bars and restaurants, be sure to stroll the pier and the beach itself is nice and small but still has plenty of room. Warning, parking is very difficult/limited.....they do have public lots at end of pier (and bathrooms) but don't even bother trrying to park in the neighborhoods without a permit

Overall a pleasant town with quite a few options nearby especially if you had rented a car. Disneyland is 30min drive away; There's a few good Malls around; Dining selections are wide and accessible; The bonus would be the beach where you can try out some surfing. Not quite the tourist area but ideal for a business traveler.

Such a wonderful stop to make while driving along highway 1 in California. Lots of parking available and lots of viewing areas where seals come ashore. Interesting to watch and learn about for all ages. No fees to get in or out. The views and ocean air were great.

Love this town and pier. Many restaurants and shops to explore. On clear days you can see Catalina Island and Long Beach in the distance. Art shows and music are often happening! Love the “smaller town feel!”

There’s nothing you can say about seal Beach that is bad. Beautiful water, plenty of wildlife, a wonderful place to walk and contemplate.

Seal Beach is beautiful beach that is well groomed in a trendy neighborhood. When I visited you could see the snow capped mountains in the distance and take a dip in the ocean at the same time.

I almost hate to recommend this town as the best because I don't want it to be spoiled by high crowds. This is a real family friendly town, A great downtown for shopping, many fine restaurants as well as quick bites. Quaint shops for that one of a kind items. The pier is special with great views of Catalina and incoming shipping ships. There's plenty of parking available at the pier as well, They have a special sand building contest in August that is a must see because the sand in Seal Beach is special that holds water the best. Don't go to seal beach if you don't want a quaint town with plenty of amenities.

Lovely beach town where the Main Street leads right to the pier. There are loads of dining options and fun shops to poke around in.

What can I say, the Mayberry by the ocean. The nicest people, great weather most year round, fun restaurants, great pier, the mighty pacific. This place is small and sleepy, great for lovers and families it has it all. We love Seal beach!

we've lived in and around Seal Beach for over 30 years. We always enjoy Main Street and the great local restaurants and shops.

We spent only four hours here on a Saturday afternoon, met friends for lunch at Walt's Wharf (very good). We walked the pier to enjoy the view. It seems like a popular beach destination that also features many shops and restaurants. I noticed that it was a clean area. There is a pay parking lot next to the pier; not expensive.

Seal Beach is truly magical. The beach itself is great with easy access from the street and lots of parking. There are public washrooms and showers by the foot of the pier and of course no end of wonderful dinning establishments after your day at the beach. The sea gulls are well trained and if anyone leaves their 'stuff' unguarded the gulls are in in a heart beat and off it goes. Pretty entertaining as long as it is not your stuff being stolen!

My cousin, best friend, and I decided to take a cruise to the Mexican Riviera, but stayed in Seal Beach prior to the cruise. We absolutely loved it here. The town is so quaint, friendly, and beautiful. Felt very safe. It was fun to walk out on the pier. It was a bit windy, but we enjoyed the sun, watching the people and a few surfers. Also, great shopping and great food!

This beach is really family friendly and easy to navigate. Waves are perfect for younger kids, but the beach gets really windy in the afternoon. However, all the oil tankers and platforms floating in the waters take away from the ambience of the ocean. The sun sets over a power plant and oil refinery. If you want a beach experience that's low cost, this is your place. If you want blue waters, sun setting over the mountains and miles of coast line, head to Santa Monica.

We come every few years to visit our family in this area. Seal Beach is a wide enough to not look crowded even on a Sunday of August. There is a niece Pier that you can walk and people watching from there. The streets around Seal beach are nicely done, cute shops with, nice restaurants. I will totally recommend visit this beach.

Seal Beach is just perfect, unless you need 80 degree water, then try a different coastline. The town, the water, the shops, the people - all are perfect. Our favorite thing to do is grab some fresh bakery items from a shop on Seal Beach Blvd and then walk out on the sand. We have relaxed by the pier and out by the jetty. It's not usual to see folks out there just taking in the sea breeze and listening to the sound of the waves. We are from TX but have been to Seal Beach 3 times in the last year alone. We are already planning our next trip out there.

First time here. Very popular on Labour Day. Lots of little independent shops line the main street to the beach. Pier is very nice long walk. Lots of people fishing. Kids saw a seal that they were very excited about. Beach is very nice and busy but still plenty of spots to pitch your umbrella or mat. Waves are quite strong so be careful. I saw one family enjoying the beach with their blanket and provisions when a huge wave crashed into them and soaked them. There are life guards which is good and police patrolling the area. Kids saw 2 dolphins swimming. Beach has a small playground which is nice. Washrooms and outside showers to wash the sand are good. The showers get quite busy and sometimes people don't know to wait their turn. Parking is hard and you have to pay. I recommend parking at the many spots along the main street and walking. We try to go to a few new beaches each time we visit LA and this one will make the come back again next time.

Cute little shops on Main Street but view obscured by oil derricks & dock cranes. Pier was not exceptional. Food good, parking ok, best to pass on through

When the rest of California is blazing, Seal Beach is a grand getaway with cute shops, a beautiful beach, and a great pier.

Seal Beach is quaint and friendly. Unlike Newport or Huntington Beach the town is small and only holds so many people with limited parking available. Bicycle traffic is abundant and the many pubs and restaurants are all very inviting, something for everybody.

I loved Seal Beach! This was the last beach I went to before leaving California. It's not to far of a walk to get to the waters edge. The water was warm and very inviting.

Nice, quiet, smaller beach which is nice for families with younger children. They were able to play and find lots of seashells! Parking is ample in the parking lot and very reasonable price per hour ($2/hour)

We had a great time in seal beach. Parking is free along side streets. There are a variety of great shops where you can window shop or even make delightful or yummy purchases. We chose home made ice cream after out walk down the pier. A few brave souls in the water, but many sunbathers and at least 4 parasurfers gliding about.

This is a great place to visit. We have family in the area, and have been visiting for years. Very nice small town feel. Nice main street with several options for dining. Some very casual places for lunch while in swimwear. Pier area has restrooms. Town is very walkable. Very family friendly. Concerts by the pier once a week in the summer.

What a beautiful sunset from a hudge beach and what a view...... There is a long peer here to and you can walk a little ways and get food drinks or a hotel

On Pacific Coast Hwy in Orange County CA. During the day 3 blocks of shopping and restaurants leading to the pier at the Pacific Ocean. Affordable and friendly easy and free beach access. This is a community of families and singles who support the many local activities e.g. Car show, rough water swim, Run for Seal Beach.

Absolutely in love with this place!! Such cute little shops!! The locals are very friendly, and helpful!! Planning on spending more time here!! Love love love it!!

What a great place to get away from the big crowds like Santa Monica beach. We went on a Saturday morning and even then it started to get crowded but nothing compared to other beaches along the coast. The old town has its cute Main Street where all the cool shops, liquor store, restaurants, and bars are located.

Only had a few hours before sunset,the beach is so large and wide.People were riding the waves, fishing off the pier. We would love to return.

Wonderful to stand alongside children, families- all ages- watching the seals surfing the waves onto the beach, climbing on rocks, sunning themselves. There’s also pelicans, squirrels... plenty to watch. Can’t go down to beach as breeding season. Must see for just watching simple beauty of animals having fun

As noted in a review from a couple of years ago, Seal Beach has been a regular stop for us when traveling to the L.A. area. The status of the facilities at the State parking area are still woefully lacking. At least there are still doors on the restroom stalls... Ther has always been enough parking when we have come, but can see how it may be tough to find a place to park in peak times.

It's a bit of a walk from the parking to the actual beach, but it is a nice beach to play at.

We did find another state beach this time that we really loved and so may not make it back in the future.

We walked the pier and the beach and then got something to eat. Lot of beach space. Parking can be difficult, but we got lucky and found a free parking spot on the street.

Small, cozy beach town with a 3-4 block downtown area filled with pubs, shops, spas and a nice assortment of places to eat. Beach is usually clean, except right after rainstorms. Parking can be a problem. No place to dance or karaoke, but some live entertainment on weekends.

This is a beautiful beach was great sand. Lots of shells even though most of them were not whole anymore My kids still loves gathering them. It was a clean beach and was not overcrowded at all. Parking was easy and convenient. We could’ve spent several more hours here! It was really fun to see the ships out in the distance.

Love living at the beach and the community activities. Good for families. Nice old town near the pier with good restaurants.

We strolled the town every day for 4 days and found new shops and parks each day. Quite a variety of places to go, shop, and view.

Peaceful beach with a cute downtown food and shopping area. It wasn't crowded and everyone was really friendly.

We love Seal Beach and it's our dream retirement location. It has several quaint shops, restaurants and bars. The beach is vast and beautiful with a pier. The neighbourhood is clean and well kept. I feel safe walking about here alone during the day and night.

great place with family, clean and not many people, the waves were good and access to beach was good

I just love this area. It's absolutely gorgeous. Very clean and spacious beach to dip your toes in the waves.
I love the location....perfect spot to catch the sunset

We stopped, because i thought there would be seals, but no, just a statue of seals! The town is very cute with little shops and restaurants along a main street that leads to the beach. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

We enjoyed this area. It was fun watching the seals and birds play near the pier as people fished. There are a lot of nice shops and restaurants too. We had a wonderful seafood lunch. I want to go back when it is warm enough to get in tye ocean. The beach was clean and the water seemed so as well.

We didn't have a lot of time and were pushing someone in a wheelchair, so Seal Beach was perfect for us. Free street parking was easy to find, and the sidewalks and boardwalk were wheelchair friendly. There are lots of restaurants to choose from and cute stores to shop in. Some of the stores and restaurants weren't easy for wheelchairs, however. Very cute town to spend a few hours - did not visit the beach, but it looked nice and not as crowded as some other popular beaches.

We love that Seal Beach is still quaint with a small town feel, and the non-franchise shops and beautiful old town neighborhoods.

I have been going to Seal Beach since the 60's and love this beach. It's very good for families, with a small play area, bathrooms are kept clean (as clean as they can be at the beach) lol. Parking is pretty much right on the beach. Close to lots of small restaurant if your looking for someplace to eat within walking distance plus ice cream, bakery's and small shops.

Beach was pristine. When I got hit you could seek relief under the pier in the shade

Families. Boogie boards. Quaint restaurants. Local bars. Great place. Great day

We took the AquaLink (not AquaBus) from long beach pier

Parking is difficult and you need coins or credit card to pay in machine. Coming from Midwest, not used to strong winds. However, I still enjoyed the experience.

We have been coming to the beach for years. We would always stop here when we would go to Disneyland. It is close enough for our kids to see the beach and we could still get home at a decent hour. The beach is not as crowded as other beaches and that is something I appreciated.

We went in March as a couple, and although there was fog, it was still beautiful. We walked around a bit, and then went down Main Street. There is a Cold Stone right across the street that is always busy. The shops are all unique. The places to eat were all packed with people having a great time.

Family oriented, surfing beach. Close to lots of restaurants. Boardwalk. Easy to park if you go early. Pretty place, it was a little cold (end of March) but sunny.

Beautiful and clean! Water was still cold, but we enjoyed being in it. Got to watch a lot of big ships and enjoyed walking the pier. Bathrooms near the pier.

Real convenient to shops and restaurants. Grab a burger and hang out on the beach for a real zen lunch!

There were many surfers by the pier when we went, but since it was a chilly day in January there were not many other people. Lots of kids and many people taking pictures. Parking on the street is free but in the lot you have to use the pay station. The beach was clean, but I didn’t see any lifeguards.

The trash on the beach was horrid! My husband found 2 syringes within minutes of being there. I use to frequent this beach as a teenager in the 1980s. The garbage didn’t seem to faze anyone. I’m just shocked! I will choose another beach in the future.

My husband read about this hidden treasure, so we decided to check it out. What a great beach! We went there twice during our week stay in Anaheim. The waves were fun and the beach was clean. One suggestion though is to stay to the right of the pier if you’re looking at the ocean. Don’t miss this beautiful place that God created.

Seal Beach is the northern-most beach in Orange County. We are small by beach standards especially in contrast to our neighbor to the south, Huntington Beach. We are about 25,000 residents and there truly is a small-town feel and appeal about Seal Beach. (Most of the population is in Leisure World, and College Park East and West. The immediate beach population is Old Town and Marina Hill aka, "The Hill.") There is tremendous commraderie and connectiivity in our community. Main Street and environs has great restaurants and shops. There is something for everyone. It is a great place to live. I love it.

The pier is wide and easy to walk. It was clean and not crowded. Good views of Catalina Island and the ships coming and going to the Long Beach Port. Beautiful Sunsets!

Hubby stayed here for work over 20 years ago and we came back for a little trip down memory lane .
Some ift He same restaurants were still here , Hennessys, Walt's but new ones were everywhere.
Walked down the pier and ate in a nice little Italian.
Recommend a visit if you are in the area

Small beach community . Everybody is very friendly . Many little shops, restaurants and bars.
If you are in the OC it's a most place to visit

12/30/17 - Saturday - very overcast day - visited the downtown area which was very nice but along the shore visibility was very limited.
Too bad nice 80’ day !

This quiet Beach town has a lot of cute boutique clothing stores, gift shops and restaurants and bars. It is the opposite of the tourist laden, loud, 20 something age group at Huntington Beach!

The pier offers sweeping views, benches for sitting, fishing. The sandy beaches had a few families enjoying BBQS and playing in the water. There were a few surfers trying to catch a wave. A very relaxing place.

Perfect! Clean and not busy. Lots of beach space. Public bathrooms nearby that were clean. Parking free. We didn’t walk out on the pier since we ran out of time.

We greatly enjoyed this town as a stop in our west coast adventure. Plenty to do and see, and safe to explore on foot. Worth a stroll at least, or perhaps even a few days!

If you enjoy walking around a small community of shops and restaurants you will like Seal Beach. We usually go there every time we go to So California. Nice Beach

Normally this is a serene beach a little crowed this time but non the less was worth it. Found lots of sea shells with my girls. The bathroom over by play area for young kids was nasty and the pier was repaired finally. Beautiful fun shops, pubs, ice cream parlors to load up on the memorabilia and trinkets to bring home.

Spent a few hours at Seal Beach with my other half and enjoyed every minute. As expected there was a stiff, cool breeze off the harbor, it's a good idea to carry a light coat for some. The commercial area is clean with plenty for shoppers to browse. There are many eateries although we did not have a snack or meal. Street parking was a problem during the afternoon hours, lots of spaces but all taken. There were a couple of options at the beach but I recommend that drivers take the first available spot and walk. That could easily mean a 10-15 minute walk to the commercial or beach area. Seal Beach is clearly a tourist attraction but a nice one indeed. Best.

this is always my pic for a nice day at the beach, the only problem is that sharks seem to love it as much as I do

Cute little downtown with incredibly good food everywhere. The Pier is beautiful and you look north toward Long Beach. We rented bikes from the Main Street Bike shop and ride the seven miles north to the Long Beach Lighthouse. The ride along the beach was beautiful...and plenty of bathrooms along the way. Getting back to downtown, there are some antique stores, different clothing shops, and touristy type shops.

Just a really pleasant little beach town with good shopping and a couple of outstanding restaurants.

Don't go here if you want a clean beach. Actually dirty not good for nature. sights of tankers and freight ships. lots of pollution in air and sand. poor choice.

pier is fair nothing special but its a public beach. main street shops king of cool

if your a beach goer. skip.this place

Locals know that there is "north-side" and "south-side" which refers to the pier. If you choose to go to the north of the pier, you will find the waves to be a little bit easier for little ones to deal with, as they roll into the shore a bit more. The streets for north side go from Main to 1st street. Around 8th street you can watch M&M surf school (or try it out for fun!). As you travel all the way down to 1st street, there you will find more surfing, and you can watch paddle-surfers and surfers battle it out for waves by the "river." Just keep in mind that north side it is a long walk from the street to the water. South side of the pier has the little kids "tot-lot", which you can walk to from north side if you stay close to the pier. South side waves are known to be "shore-breaky" which means they crash onto the sand, rather than roll in like the north side. If you are comfortable in the water, it is a fun place to swim. The streets for south side go from Main to the end of the boardwalk 17th street/Seal Beach Blvd) It has a boardwalk with homes, and the walk from the street to the sand (or the lot) is not as far as it is on the south side. The closer you go to Seal Beach Blvd. the quieter the beach will be, as tourists tend to stay near the pier.

We usually do Huntington, but this vacation we had two beach days so we picked Seal Beach for our 2nd day. Very nice, quiet, clean. Parking was close to pier and we just kept feeding the meter because we didn't want to say. I think we were there almost 6 hours and paid $9. I think you can do day pass for $10, but we weren't sure how long we would stay and close to beach, so easy enough to just pay as we went. Walked little shops after done with the beach and ate at the Hangout, which was fun and great view.

I have been coming to Seal Beach since I was a kid and the tradition lives on with my kids..who have been coming since they were babies. now teens, twenties and thirty yr olds.and they still love this beach. This is a fun safe family beach with a quaint seaside town that is so fun to take a stroll thru..before or after you walk on the pier. Such a different atmosphere casual..with people walking around in their swimsuits..contrast to other nearby beaches that have been very commercialized. Come early in the am or late afternoon to get a parking spot in the lots on either side of the pier or there is some street parking and metered lots available as well. The pier parking lots are inexpensive and take debit/credit cards as well as cash. Sometime we stay all day and pay for all day parking or you can pay for a couple of hours. When we stay all day..we pack a lunch and bring plenty of cold drinks and snacks and play in the water for hours. My kids and I are fair skinned..so we also bring an umbrella and plenty of sunscreen. Beach is nice and clean and usually not crowded. Water and waves are usually fun to play in and you can search for shells and build sand castles on the shore. We like to boogie board..sometimes there are surfers in the am, there is a surf school here..most surfers go to other nearby beaches. Many times we have seen dolphins playing in the water. There are some showers near the pier next to the restrooms for rinsing off the sand. Then we pack up our beach gear in the car and take a fun walk for an hour or two around the town and the pier. One of our favorite spots to go is the California Seashell Company on Main St., my kids absolutely love this place and "Say can we go to the shell store now Mom"? For a few dollars they can get awesome souvenirs. Many different kinds of shells and starfish from 10 cents on up..also ocean theme jewelry,knick knacks and signs..even ocean theme christmas ornaments. My boys love the sharks and jelly fish in glass. Check out the clearance section..always interesting items at slashed prices..This place is a must see every time we go to Seal Beach..always something new..Then it's on to get some yummy snacks..the bakery there has scrumptious smells and cinammon rolls that can't be beat. Frozen yogurt at Coldstones is always a favorite as well. Many really good places to eat..pizza, tacos, burgers, seafood..plenty of choices and always good. Next it is off to the pier..sometimes they have a concert or plays in the summer or craft fairs on the grass near the pier. A seal sculpture greets you at the beginning of the pier and my kids decided that petting the seal was good luck..so they just have to do that..every time/ We love walking on the pier and checking out what the people fishing have caught and most people are friendly and in a good mood. Beautiful ocean views and cool breezes..walking on the pier is refreshing and energizing..a family favorite as well. There is a nice enclosed playground for smaller kids next to the pier..my kids are too big for it now..but they loved being at a playground on the beach and we used it often when they were small. If you don't have kids..many couples are taking a nice romantic stroll on the pier as well..especially in the evenings..we don't live far..so sometimes we go late afternoon to play on the shore and visit the town and pier...we get some awesome pics of the sun shining on the water and the sunset as well, so don't forget your camera. Hope you enjoy Seal Beach as much as our family has and make your own treasured memories..

We went to Seal Beach because it was close to Anaheim and we had read good reviews. The City itself is pretty neat. The Main St. shops are cool and a fun place to walk around and check everything out. The beach, the main reason we were there, was not clean nor well kept. There was trash and the atmosphere was not as great as other beaches I had been too while I was in the area. Maybe it is the time of year, but I would not return to this beach to relax or get the beach feel.

Love the Seal Beach. Friendly, clean and accessible to town. The staff is always helpful. The rooms are nice and the beds are great!

So we are probably the only people who didn’t know there are no seals in Seal Beach. Beautiful views from the long pier and I’m sure the wide beach is perfect in warmer weather. We had a great lunch at the Hangout bar/restaurant right across the street and then spent time in the many shops downtown. Lots of other restaurants to choose from.

Seal Beach is a beautiful little beach town with plenty of shops and restaurants. The beach is great for all ages, plus walking path. Take a stroll on the pier...great views of the coast. We miss eating at Ruby's on the end of the pier.

Great place to eat shop or just stroll..very family friendly..twinkle lights at night.Lions fish fries, car shows,bands on the sand during the summer and an adorable Christmas parade..with marching girl scouts,boy scouts,dance groups,school bands,fire trucks...very funky, family oriented,fun old town parade!!

I got my steps in by walking the length of Seal Beach, and never in my life have I seen so many people bringing legit landscaping tools to the beach. I observed a few groups of people digging rather deep holes and burying in each other in them. Maybe this is an Instagram thing? I don't know. Whatever, Seal Beach is a great spot to bring the family for a day at the beach. There's a small playground near the lifeguard station, and the town itself is quaint and charming; a great place to grab a bite to eat and soak up some of the local color. One cool thing to note is the Pacific Electric Red Car Museum, just a few blocks from the beach, where you can see an actual streetcar that made this area livable back in the days before the automobile and the gasoline-powered city bus.

Been several years since we have been to Seal Beach, but for us our favourite of all the beaches!! Love the walk to the end if the pier and the buzz of Main Street. Plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops.

This is hard to call a beach as it is a patch of sand with a bunch of over priced houses right on top of it. Why would you come here when HB state and city beaches are right next door. This is an alright beach for taking a stroll and maybe dipping your feet in the water.

Can't go wrong where the ocean is involved...absolutely GORGEOUS and seaside shops were very quaint :0)

My go to "happy place" since I can eat, exercise, shop and put good, clean salt-air in my lungs, all in one trip. I take out of town guests here since it can all be seen in one day. There are shops here like no where else, especially the shell shop with prices anyone can afford. Walt's Warf is a must-eat stop for the freshness factor alone. If you like a variety of dining options, everything you can image is here. Go and see for yourself!

We let the kids play in the waves and watched the gorgeous sunset near the seal beach pier at the playground.

We have been visiting Seal Beach for many years, coming back about every 3-5 years. Main Street has not only survived with great shops and restaurants of all kinds, but it has added some nightlife beyond the bars.

Buskers line the street, even a duo in a pickup truck with a piano and a bass player singing familiar songs. It is a real treat on a cool night.

There are old shops and new, restaurants and bars that have lasted the test of time and new ones that have popped up serving up craft or artisan fare. Boutiques, such as Ellison Road, dot the street. This tiny boutique is literally 12' wide that sells women's clothes, jewelry and shoes. My wife and teens spent time and money there each time we've been. The owner has a knack for finding fashionable clothing that aren't overly trendy and still up to date, while staying classic. It is sandwiched between two antique shops.

The sidewalks are tree lined providing shade. Benches are strategically placed facing the shops. Crosswalks are every half block because you will surely see something that catches your eye across the street.

Then there is the beach....

Clean and quiet....my son loved it. A nearby health fair made it fun too. Saw a crab and a stingray! So much excitement.

Was on a 17 day road trip thru California. Stopped over night here on way to Dana Point. Neat beach and shops and good restaurants. If you are looking for a pretty quite example of a California beach town...this is it.
Would gladly stay here again.

Talk about pear pressure! If one doesn't visit the pear, one has not visited Seal Beach. There really isn't any tourist things in Seal Beach. It's just a nice town with nice people.The party town is Hollywood, but that's far away.

Kind of an industrial view beach, so not my favorite. There are some good shells there, tho. The town is cute, with a few fun restaurant spots across from the beach. The beach is clean, but not I'm not a fan at looking at oil platforms. But this is the Long Beach area, so that's what to expect.

This was the first time my family visited Seal Beach. I have 4 kids, 9 and under and it was a very safe, VERY cute town! We loved looking at all the different houses and their lovely yards! (We passed by them on our way to/from our hotel. Main street is very cute with cool shops and restaurants. Wish we could have checked it out more.
The Beach: The main reason for our trip was to enjoy the beach. Very wide, sandy, clean beach. There is a small playground which is nice for the kiddos. Also, I noticed a wide range of wave sizes on each side of the pier. The south side has very small waves that mostly break on shore, the north side is alot better for bodyboarding and surfing. We went there because we love to boogie board. The only negative was that there is a slight grade down into the water. Its not very flat, so it got deep fast when you walked into the water. So, my 9 year old was hesitant to get in because it went over his head within several steps walking in. There does seem to be a sandbar several feet out though so my husband carried him to the sandbar so he could boogie board back in. We never checked out the beach on the south side of the pier so maybe that beach doesn't have as steep of a grade down into the water.
Not crowded at ALL, which makes it easier to find your family and find a place to settle down. Of course, we went in October, so that might be why.
The pier is nothing to comment about- it's chained off at the end because the restaurant that used to be there burned down. Overall, loved this beach!

Seal Beach is my favorite beach to take my family to. The atmosphere is not as chaotic as nearby Huntington Beach, and provides a much more family-friendly environment. The beach is always clean and never too busy. We also adore walking downtown to visit the shops and have lunch or dinner. If you are looking for a great family beach, this is the one!

I absolutely love this beach! It's so much more peaceful than popular, busy beaches like Huntington and New Port. Parking is free along the street, and beach views are beautiful. My older children enjoyed swimming in the ocean. It's also fun to walk along the pier.

A beautiful place to visit.we loved the sunset and the walk on the beach. Will definitely visit again.

We got here early (like by 10:30) and there was plenty of parking ($10 all day or $3/2 hours which we did twice ) and plenty of room on the beach. The beach is wide and allows for a lot of room to move around (we stopped at a dollar store on the way to it and bought a small ball to kick around and some sand toys).

The water was cold, but we still got in and had a great time playing in the waves.

The beach could get super crowded in the summer, but wasn't bad while we were there.

Bring some towels to sit on and some sand toys and you could spend several hours relaxing and watching the people and the waves.

We only had 1 night in seal beach but could have spent a week there. The area is really friendly and everyone was very welcoming. there are a lot of Eateries in main St which are above average in what you normally expect in America. they are reasonable priced and have good quality food.

Sweet little Main Street with lots of unique restaurants and shops. Great pier to walk along, especially at sunset. If you are driving, check out the neighborhood...cute little beach cottages mixed with some cookie-cutter condos, but it all seems to work.

We recently traveled to sunny California for the sole purpose of parking ourselves on a beach and enjoying a beautiful ocean view. One of the beaches we visited was Seal beach.

It was clean, with nearby, affordable, parking. We planted our beach chairs, popped out the umbrella and enjoyed a 5 hour stretch of doing absolutely nothing but watching children play in the sand, surfers ride the waves and listening to the glorious sounds of the water. What a treat!

There's a nice downtown area filled with quaint shops and plenty of eateries just a few feet from the parking lot, all very walkable. Very friendly, enjoyable spot. We'll be back!

Love walking on the beach and down Main St. Shopping is awesome, and the food is very diverse, with many Irish pubs.

lots of restaurants and bars within walking distance clean beach not too crowded nice crowds young but respectful kids.

Seal Beach has kept it's small town charm and still looks like a nice little beach town like it has for many years. Hope it stays that way. Very nice.

Seal Beach Pier has a lot to offer with a local flair. There is the romantic pier to stroll on, shops all along Main Street that feature great local mom n pop businesses and a few chain places like Hennessy's O'Malleys On Main and our personal favorite Walts Seafood Wharf. The town is pet friendly and has a beachy town feel.

Nice to walk on the beach or the pier. Lots of shops and restaurants. 1 hour free parking or fee parking by the beach. Restrooms at the beach. Very nice visit.

We spent the day here with our kids. The waves were so much fun to play in and the beach was really clean.

We arrived around 10am and there was lots of parking but within the hour it started to fill up. Parking was $3 for 2 hours or $10 all day. They did have the parking police out ticketing expired permits.

A nice walk on the pier. Parking was $2/hour or $10 for the day on this weekday. There were surfers in the water and folks fishing off the pier.

One of my favorite beaches-

I first came here by accident. I got lost and came here instead of Manhattan Beach.

But I was so happy that I found Seal Beach.

The streets are nice and not too crowded. The beach is wonderful.

I like the fact that it is not so noisy.

It is really nice to grab coffee or ice cream and just walk around and enjoy SoCal!

The food here is good- Santa Monica has great places but Seal Beach has its own-

I like Walt's Wharf. It is great but there is always a wait...still it's all good.

Overall, great beach and plan to come more often :D

Seal beach has plenty of parking and a great opportunity to catch a few waves if you're nearby. Nice wide beach with clean sand. Lovely.

Great area. Friendly people and access to amenities. This is a perfect location for easy accessibility to coast, SNA and more.

Pleasant beach for walking, surfing and perhaps wading. We were not sure if swimming was allowed, although there were lifeguards on duty- perhaps to save the surfers. Pleasant place to walk, with a wide white sand beach, reminiscent of Jones Beach on Long Island, without the dunes.

I am fortunate to have a family member that lives in Seal Beach. I have stayed in this town several times and have never been disappointed. A clean, friendly and overall safe town that you would not think to be in the larger LA metro area. Easy to get places if you want to go or enough to explore for just hanging out and relaxing.

It's very family oriented, safe has a lot of cute shops and good restaurants. Has a pier and good beach.

SB is smaller than some of the surrounding beach towns. But it's well worth a visit. The beach is nice and is perfect to watch the sun set. There's a shopping area and plenty of restaurants. Paid parking is available or if you're lucky, you may find free parking. Have fun!

This small town with a beautiful beach community is a hidden gem on the California Coast. Nestled between Long Beach and Huntington Beach, there's a small town Main Street feel about the town. Lots of cute houses, boutiques and restaurants complete the picture of a delightful spot to spend an afternoon or evening.

I love Seal Beach because it is one of the best kept Beach Secrets along the California Coast. It is so small town. Great restaurants and little shops to browse in. I really enjoy the 2 antique shops they have there. Life could not be better anywhere in America.

Boutique shops, Bistro's and Art / Antiques galore if you like that. Plenty of parking for free if you are prepared to hunt around. Fascinating little town and much more pleasant than the hustle and busy Huntingdon Beach. Pier was quaint too

Loved the quaint shops and excellent New York Pizza. The staff was so friendly there. Shopped more than anticipated.

Walked on the beach and ate in the restaurants on Main Street. Very clean, safe, and fun. We enjoyed our trip and was impressed with the ambience.

Once you get beyond the tough parking situation, Seal Beach has a lot to offer. Great family-friendly beach; fun pier to walk, lots of affordable eateries along Main St. Delightful, quaint beach community

After braving the 405 traffic, it was nice to find a little coastal town were you could relax, shop, eat and enjoy the pacific ocean.

A respite from the large beach cities, Seal Beach is the small town that welcomes a diversity of visitors. This is a lovely town to walk and enjoy the many shops, eateries and people. It seems to be far from the hustle and hassle of large cities, yet is a brief drive to most of the major entertainment and culture attractions.

Charming unpretentious beach town without the glitz or attitude of Santa Monica Manhattan or Newport Beach, great for bike riding in town or nearby bike paths and easily accessible beach with quaint pier. Off the radar compared to more famous and trendy beach towns has left Seal Beach with a nostalgic sense of quieter times. Good local eateries and many watering holes and funky little shops remain true to earlier years. Nearby to Bolsa Chica wetlands and extensive,expansive beach and the Belmont Shore and pike activity zones broadens your choices with a short drive to the other side of the bay. Primary complaint would be limited hotel/ motel accommodation in the immediate beach area .If relaxed and easy going is what you wish, Seal Beach would be high on my list.

A friend of mine borrowed my car to go to Disneyland and visit this beach with her son. Disneyland was great she told me, but then she handed me a parking citation from Seal Beach. I asked her what this was about and she didn't know, mainly because she doesn't read or speak English. I told her it that it said she didn't park correctly inside the parking space to which she said that she pulled forward instead of parking head first. I asked her if there were any signs in Spanish telling her to park a certain way, she said no. She said someone helped her with paying for parking as well. I find it ridiculous that in such an accommodating state as California is, they don't have signs in Spanish when they could potentially cite you for something so little and stupid as this. I challenged the citation and the City of Seal Beach Citation Processing Center couldn't care less by their given explanation. They just want their $64.00...that's right, $64.00 for parking inside the parking spot lines, but not head in first. I would recommend finding a different beach because maybe they will fine you for not walking correctly or not wearing the right color swimsuit. I hope someone from Seal Beach reads this and gives me an explanation of why cars have to park a certain way and why they are discriminating against those that don't read English. In guess that's what you get for being a nice person today and trying to let friends make memories with their child.

If you're visiting OC, check out Seal Beach, well worth a visit and easy accessible. Bring your camera for some great shots too.

I actually live in Seal Beach. It is small town friendly and Main Street has lots of nice shops and restaurants. From the pier you can see Long Beach, the Queen Mary and Catalina Island. We are close to The Aquarium of the Pacific and not far from Disneyland.

This town has the cutest main st leading to the beach and pier. They have rocking free concerts at the pier during the summer months.

Seal Beach is a lively but relaxed little town in Orange County CA. From Old Town Main street and the beach to Leisure World for seniors over 55 to the "box" stores area on the "other side" of the freeway we have it all. We are near everything you can think of. Stand on the pier in the winter and view the snow in the mountains. Everyone here is friendly and helpful. Smiles are abound where ever you go. Welcome to my little town

Beautiful Monday, felt safe, very crowded, pier was not crowded and provided nice views, ocean water was cold, beach cleanliness was average, great restaurants nearby.

Best views on Seal Beach is from the pier! What a view, it is the most picturesque spot in all of Seal Beach! You can walk to every spot in town. Seal Beach is friendly, safe, and very clean. If you have free afternoon Seal Beach is a wonderful place to stop.

Very beautiful area and a lovely walk on the pier with 360 degree views! We got to see a seal playing and eating in the water just off the pier. Pretty green water with lots of fish. Benches to sit and relax. Parking in lot was reasonable but you have to download an app. Handicap spaces near pier entrance but all were full with police cars. A small but very nice playground near pier.

This was a nice day trip to walk around the stores and down the pier. Sunset was beautiful from the pier. Only wish we saw a seal!

We enjoyed walking on the board walk along the beach and up and down Main Street with all its unique shops.

Went to spend the day at the beach, which was amazing. Plenty of room on the beach and was kept clean. Water was murky, but the waves were high and made for an enjoyable time when the weather was 109. Shops along the beach were quaint and rustic, which gave you the feel of a very relaxed and laid back town. Great place to hang out and relax for the day.

Very clean beach, quaint little town. A definite place to visit. One beach leads to another and another. We just kept driving down the highway and visiting the next beach we came to.

A wonderful little town in Orange County, California. "Mayberry by the sea". Quaint and charming. Very quiet compared to Huntington Beach. Excellent restaurants and Irish bars Very expensive real estate not for the faint of heart!!

Nice beach, clean, life guards, lots of things to eat and drink up and off Main Street
A good spot and if needed an easy drive to Long and Huntington Beach

Beautiful clean beach.nice spot to relax and chill out.the day we went was quite windy but still lovely.we enjoyed the greay selectiond of shops and food places

If you are visiting Southern California, make sure you don't miss a day (or week) in Seal Beach. Unlike Huntington or Zuma, Seal (as it is referred to by locals) is cool but on a much smaller scale. If you are planning to spend the day at the beach, arrive early, and you may find parking. Otherwise, there is a pay lot by the jetty. Bring your beach towels and chairs. Also, bring your own shade - cabana, umbrella, etc. There is no shade whatsoever. Pack provisions as well. While there are lots of places to eat on Main Street, I am pretty sure there is no snack shack at Seal. Even if you are not a beach goer, Seal has something for everyone. There is the pier, which has benches. You can watch the surfers and fishermen and a lovely sunset. You can stroll along the path and see the sea. Or, ride bikes. There is a little playground for the kiddies. If you are using the beach, there are public restrooms and showers. Use at your own risk. In addition to the ocean views, Seal has great places to eat and shop. You will find a traditional fish house (iconic Walt's Wharf), Vietnamese, pizza, Mexican, Americana, burgers, breakfast cafes, coffee, ice cream, and more. There is even a tea house where you can enjoy a traditional English tea. Shop for organic olive oil, art, jewelry, clothing, souvenirs, bathing suits, and antiques.

We stopped here for one last hurrah on our way back home. Soft sand, large beach. Beautiful waters. Will be back to this beach on our next trip to California.

I along with my family paid a visit to the Seal Beach in the first week of January,2017.
It was a beautiful experience at the beach. As approach the district, there were beautiful houses and shops laid out on both sides of the street.mostly the houses were single storey buildings.we got the parking easily.
As we went towards Beach, first we went over the wooden Pier which is extended into the Sea.People walk over the wooden bridge to the Pier.From there you can have a beautiful view of the beach and surrounding architecture.It is a very splendid.
After spending some time over the Pier, you come down and Walk on the sands over to Beach.
It was a fantastic experience.
We returned from the beach in the evening.

A wide & long beach offering great panoramic views in SoCal. Also, with all the ships offshore it makes great viewing for any history/ ship fan -

The beach has a small fee parking lot and very busy playground. The sand varies in smoothness yet offers lots of space to set up shop for the day to relax, picnic & enjoy the views -

Lots of great shops just moments away too -

Beautiful area. The beach was clean and downtown had great shops. My youngest wants to move here; she loves it that much.

Loved visiting the beach and shopping. Great parking available and the stores are very nice. Beach is clean.

Beautiful place to visit! Nice shops and lots of choices for dining. Local people were very friendly!

This place offers stress-free feeling after every visit. May it be to watch surfers, seagulls or fishermen trying to get their catch of the day, it leaves you stress free once the breeze blows your worries away. Get some sun from the dock or on the streets, Seal beach is always the relaxing place to be.

At the end of a cute Main St, there is Seal Beach. We walked Main St. and wound up at the beach. It has a laid back vibe and a nice variety of restaurants nearby.

Great Beach town with lots to do downtown shops and restaurants and a great Wharf to walk out on. Good surfing and nice people

spent many years of summers here sunbathing and playing in the waves. Glad I got to spend so much time at this beach.

Seal beach is a wonderful beach to relax or walk. We parked and set up near the pier. There was also spots to watch the surfers learn or have fun on the north side of the pier. There were lifeguards at about 10 am on. Some people set up under the pier for the shade. There are restrooms under the pier near the parking lots. It costs $10 for the day or a few dollars per hour to park. There is also a parking lot and rest rooms on the north end of the beach.

Loved this area and the beach, it's quiet, laid back. Walked the beach, looked for shells. Spent time sitting on the rocks. Small, quiet beach community with nice choice of restaurants and shopping.

Place has a great beach, nice and wide, sea crashes in very heavy so wouldn’t recommend for a paddle but swim would be ok soon as through surf.
Nice beach.

We went to the public beach where we paid to get in and park. They have a stand that sells food in addition to renting surf boards (by the day or hour) and has bathrooms. The beach is extremely wide and was rather empty on a Sunday afternoon. The beach is guarded and one section dedicated to surfers, lots of kite surfers to watch. Great way to relax and enjoy CA!

A serene view of the ocean nearest Long Beach. The beach extends well into the water, so you feel you haven't gone out too far but very well could have- There were stingrays at the bottom during our visit, but the lifeguards were out and about making sure everyone knew how to shuffle your feet.

Loved our morning time here. Highly recommend. Calm, clean beach with restrooms on site and food near by. What more could you want?

The beach was very dirty with lots of garbage spread around. Granted, it was March and not a peak beach going time, but I wouldn't walk barefoot.

Nice old high street to mosey around in, great shell shop.
Lovely beach , good sand, feels sheltered either side of pier.
Has waves but not too big, children could paddle with supervision . Sea felt warm.

Beautiful view of the pacific. We walked the pier. Lots of fishermen there and surfers. We enjoyed watching the birds catch food. Town was charming too.

Downtown Seal Beach has retained its early 20th century charm and resisted coastal mega malls and high rise hotels like her neighbors to the south. It is a community, a place to stroll, to enjoy the pretty homes and landscaping of well-established neighborhoods, to relish a cup of tea or coffee or a drink, to stop for a meal, buy unique souvenirs, walk along the pier or sit on the beach and enjoy the sunshine and sound of the rolling waves. It is a community, a place to gather and often hosts events like Shakespeare in the Park, summer concerts and Christmas parades. It is a gem - a place to visit again and again.

Great beach and ocean view from a leisurely walk on the fishing pier. We enjoyed wandering the quaint downtown street with ample boutiques and restaurants

My favorite local beach to body surf, hangout, eat, shop, and walk the pier. Not as crowded as Huntington Beach or other surrounding beaches. Quieter, casual, and laid back. Excellent restaurants, quaint shops, and great pier to walk off your meal, Once in a while they have a Saturday Telescope night to see the stars. Free parking for a few hours and after 6 pm. Also a wonderful spot to see the sunset!

I just love Seal Beach. Not only is the beach and the sunsets are so beautiful, but the shops and cafes there are all so quaint and cozy.

Nice few days. In advance of cruise. Lots of fun places to go and walk and sit. Got a giant mess of tar on my new sneakers. Had to throw them out. Lucky for Walmart

We stopped in on a whim and unfortunately the day was not really a beach day. It was grey and windy. Maybe if the day was better than the review could be better but honestly I don’t think so. In comparison to some of the other places I visited while on vacation this would definitely be the one I would not come back to. Outside of the beach there wasn’t anything else to do in the immediate area.

Love Seal Beach, very quiet. Never overly crowded. Good parking. Great location. Nice quiet, convenient beach.

Beautiful and not crowded beach. Really clean. It's easy to feel very private and find nice spot in the shadow even. Shadow under the pier. Lifeguards on sure easy assessable and visible.

I made a stop at Seal Beach to take a stroll down the pier and look at the sites around the beach and pier area.

The first thing I noticed is that the Beach & Boardwalk area was impeccably clean and free of any trash and unwelcomed vagrants or people begging. At the beginning of the boardwalk is a Seal Beach Police substation so I am thinking that people are aware of their presence, which I assume keeps the riff raff away and reminds people that they may be watched by the police.

There is a playground for children, restrooms and a freshwater shower to wash off the sand once you leave the beach; all located at the start of the pier.

If you can find a place there is free parking on street although there are two paid parking lots at the beginning of the pier. Not sure what the charge is per day or per hour?
I noticed that the parking authority was marking tires after the first hour so I am not sure how long you can stay parked on the street before being ticketed?

This is about Old Town Seal Beach, at the beach. My husband & I live in Long Beach & frequently ride our bikes along the San Gabriel riverbed/bike path to Seal Beach...we love the feel of this small town, nice small shops & restaurants to choose from. You can get something to eat & sit near the pier & just relax enjoying the ocean. The only negative, is that most parking on the street is only 1hr; there are a few parking lots & metered parking...but, if you can ride your bike, it's much nicer😃

Quiet, clean, the perfect SoCal beach. I prefer Seal Beach compared to Huntington because it's much more peaceful and relaxing. Free 1 hour parking, close to Main St. clean bathrooms.

Away from the madding crowds of long beach and 5 minutes off the freeway,Seal beach delights in every way,clean and neat with friendly residents and a good old helping if American pride..Love it even though we are from the UK. Plenty of shops to buy whatever you desire,a pier with a lovely walk,lovely clean beach and of course the Pacific ocean. We would highly recommend Seal Beach,it's residents,it's police force and all who make this place such a delight..long may it remain the way it is.

Nice little downtown area with beach and pier access. Less hectic than some of its neighbor towns. Several nice restaurants, bakeries and ice cream. Surprised to see Temecula Olive oil company, which had terrific oils and vinegars. Would be great to see the pier opened out to the end.

Love our hometown of Seal Beach. Main Street remains idyllic and lots of diverse bars, restaurants, and shots for all tastes. Pier recently opened and makes for a great walk especially at sunset. Nice open beach forthe family.

Made another visit to this wonderful beach town. Parking at the beach was simple and close to town. Lots of women oriented stores, so the wife had fun shopping. Plenty of pubs and restraunts and a nice long pier to stroll on.

Spent a lovely day on my own at Seal Beach while my husband worked. Long, wide beach great for sitting, walking, or swimming. Lots of families, lots of kids but lots of room for everyone.

After time on the beach wander the pier or Main Street for great shopping and great food / refreshments.

It is a good beach. But do have to say that bathrooms are about as bad as I have ever seen at any beach or park that I have been too. It also does not have much parking. The walk from parking to the water is a little bit of a walk. Other than that it's ok. I would pick another next time even if a more of a drive.

This is a place many tourists probably overlook, but it's night-and-day different from LA yet only yards from the LA-OC border. Worth a little afternoon stroll. Great beach and nice surf esp. to south side of pier.

It's like stepping back to the turn of the century when walking down Main Street. Eclectic stores line each side of this quaint street along with marvelous restaurants and pubs.

Compare to other well-known LA beaches, this is a very quiet beach.
I have lived here for more than 30 years. I usually bike early in the morning when the bike path is less crowded. there is a San Gabriel River bile path from Seal Beach to Cerritos and beyond. You can take route to Silverado Park. there are nice shops, restaurants.

Clean, beautiful town with lots of little shops and restaurants. Would definitely return.went with my son 16 year old son and his friend. They skateboarded around, I felt it was safe enough a town to let them go out on their own.

Our friend...good friend loaned us her beautiful home for several days..just a block from the beach. What a great laid back small town and great beach. Bike/Walk path. The pier. The restaurants...all great.

This was our first California beach experience. We came in the evening and the kids loved playing in the surf and collecting tons of beautiful shells. The pier is neat and it was just gorgeous at sunset. The water is very chilly, but it's nice for a walk on the beach or wading. The town has a cute strip of shops and restaurants that leads right up to the pier. We had a great evening here and would love to go back. The only downside was that there was quite a bit of trash left on the beach area (probably from a busy Saturday afternoon).

This was a nice place to walk to from the Aquarium area. Took about an hour and there are interesting places to stop along the way. I appreciate the public restrooms.

Not sure how this would be late at night, there seemed to be many homeless around but they weren't bothering anyone.

This is an awesome and quiet beach. The area is nice, not real crowded and has some amazing little shops nearby. Great place to go with family or friends.

This beach had a wonderful breeze and waves that weren't very big. It was clean on the beach but the bathroom could use a good scrub.

Parking was difficult to come by as the lot was very full.

Reliving childhood memories with my kids and this was one of the stops. Everything looked the same except for the beach. The beach was dirty this time. There was debris everywhere and we had to warn our kids about watching their step. The nice thing while there? The bathrooms were open and clean!

My wife did mention that we were there during the off season so that may be why the beach wasn't clean.

I love Seal Beach. I used to live there and now I love to visit. I like strolling main street looking in the shops. One of my favorites is the California Seashell company. After browsing the shops, I enjoy a walk down the pier watching the surfers, or wind surfers on a windy day and finally a very enjoyable dinner at Walt's Wharf. Seal Beach is just a short drive from the 405 and is worth the detour, if headed north to LA, or south to San Diego.

The beach here is protected from the rough waves you might find at Huntington Beach, but it wide and open. A great place to bring the family, especially if the family includes a dog. Dogs can romp off leash……please pick up the poop!

Seal Beach is a nice area with gorgeous sunsets. It is a pleasant community with great weather. There are two fun beach cities on either side, Huntington Beach and Long Beach. You can visit either after short drives. Seal Beach is a little whiter than the other two so it is a nice place to chill.

Plenty to see and eat at Seal Beach. Shops, restaurants, a nice beach/pier to walk on. Took my mom for a walk, took the grand daughter shopping and the wife for a meal.

Had b'fast at Old Town Cafe, and parking is good for two hours so we walked the old fashioned pier (not commercial!) and then walked south to the end of the beach on the paved "boardwalk" and back. There's a playground for the kids and lot of sand for your towel and umbrella to lay out on, and plenty of paid parking at a good price if you want to spend longer. Probably gets great sunsets, too.

Did not spend too much time here as it was really similar to Huntington Beach so I just drove around for a few minutes then left. It was nice though really clean and the weather and people were great

While on vacation, took my wife and her sister to Bell Gardens to reminisce about houses they lived in and Jr High and High School, FYI I am a land locked OKIE, wife wanted to go to Seal Beach, where she hung out as a teenager. SO we went. Main Street and lot's of eatery's and parking was curb side. We walked out on the pier and it was Beautiful, Lot's of sand and very wide. There were lots of young people on the beach playing and having fun. Be aware old men, lots of skimpy swim ware. I had no ideal that a beach this beautiful was so close to LA. NICE. We ate at The Hangout, close to the pier. Outside seating, (Covid) and the food was really good. It was a good afternoon. Area was clean and well kept. Enjoy.