Taking kids to the beach is no easy feat. Even on the best days, it can be hard with all the gear, the sun, the sand, and the inevitable meltdown. Yet the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica makes hauling the kids to the beach much easier, thanks to a playground on the sand, a splash pad, swimming pool and more. Oh and don’t forget the actual beach and ocean too!
Located on Pacific Coast Highway north of the Pier, Annenberg is part of the historic Marion Davies beach estate that was buit for the actress in the 1920s by her beau, William Randolph Hearst. While a portion of the original estate remains (and is open to visitors), the rest of the beach house is meant to be a family-friendly hangout along the iconic Santa Monica beach path. And it's totally free and open to the public!
The hours for the beach house are typically 9am to 5pm, but you can check the latest operating schedule on the website here. The pool is closed from October to May. Also, since everything is first come, first served, it can get pretty crowded in the summer and with such a small parking lot, the beach house can't accommodate many cars. (You do have to pay for parking.) So, as with everything else when traveling with kids, get there early.
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Top photo: Trips + Giggles; All others by Annenberg Community Beach House
