Woodland Hills is an inland district of L.A., but it still boasts easy access to beaches in Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu, Marina Del Rey, and other Los Angeles coastal communities. Santa Monica Boulevard, for example, and I-10 both end at the waterfront in Santa Monica, but the latter is often faster.

As the conclusion of 2021’s summer season draws near and many of us anticipate the wondrous youthful charm of fall and Halloween just around the corner, there’s still some fun to be had by heading out to the shore for some freedom and sun, especially in Southern California.

The following represents our picks for some of the best beaches near Woodland Hills, so get ready to walk those piers, shop those outlets, chow down at some great restaurants, and say hi to the lifeguards on duty atop their big chairs.

Topanga Beach

Situated on PCH in Malibu, Topanga beach is conveniently located right outside of Los Angeles. Because of the shape of the beach, it is popular with surfers; waves wrap around the sandy point formed by Topanga Creek, creating a continuous break. Except at high tide, the public beachside offers a nice walking route, making the sprawling Topanga State Park in the nearby Santa Monica Mountains an ideal spot for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking trails and mountain biking opportunities.

Will Rogers State Beach

Sitting at Temescal Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles, Will Rogers is a state park operated by Los Angeles County that occupies the entire waterfront of the Pacific Palisades district of L.A. The southern section of this three-mile-long beach boasts a wide sandy spot with volleyball courts next to parking lots. The central portion of the beach offers sandy segments between short rock jetties and a continuous parking lot along the highway. At the same time, the northern end takes the form of a narrow shore next to Gladstone’s Restaurant – an area known as Sunset Point Beach, where Sunset Boulevard ends at PCH. The Santa Monica Pier, jutting out into the ocean from Santa Monica State Beach, is visible to the south from anywhere at Will Rogers.

Point Dume State Beach

Located at 29245 Cliffside Drive in Malibu, Point Dume primarily comprises of Big Dume Beach (also known as Dume Cove Beach), with Dume Cove’s crescent-shaped beach facing southeast from the east side of Point Dume. Access to the sand is a trail across a small bluff-top natural preserve and down a long steep staircase, the trail in the preserve begins at the parking lot and ascends to the high point above Point Dume. Due to the high vantage positioning, Point Dume has become a popular whale-watching spot during the gray whale migration from February through April.

Santa Monica State Beach

Located at 2600 Barnard Way in Santa Monica, this beach sits south of the Santa Monica Pier and north of Venice Beach. Santa Monica operates this California state beach and Los Angeles County by providing the lifeguards. South of the pier are several different parks and public parking lots with beach access, and these parks boast open fields, sport courts, picnic areas, playgrounds for kids, and even a sizable human-scale chessboard. The original “Muscle Beach” is still located near the pier with workout facilities for bodybuilders, while bike riders and skaters zoom along on the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, a paved path that winds through the back part of the beach.

With 21 miles of coastline, much of which is viewable as you travel along the Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu has many beautiful beaches. In addition to public access to many private beaches, several famous public beaches are owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors or the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks).

Revel in the sun and breeze for the next couple of weeks by visiting one of the aforementioned beaches near Woodland Hills now.