Seal Beach – Orange County, California

Seal Beach is a cozy little community that lies just south of Long Beach over the Orange County border. The beach with which it shares its name is a serene little spot famous for its perfect surf and its scenic pier.

This beach exemplifies the quainter side of the Southern California coast, with a nearby downtown area that harkens back to simpler times with its old-fashioned ambiance.

As you may have guessed, Seal Beach was named after the seals that used to call its coastline home, but unfortunately, they’re not as common in the area as they once were. That doesn’t mean you can’t catch them swimming just off of Seal Beach Municipal Pier once in a while, though.

Seal Beach California Sunset — Sundown glows over Seal Beach. Photo: tdlucas5000

Activities:

Swimming, sunbathing, bodyboarding, surfing, fishing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and volleyball
The Seal Beach Municipal Pier is the main attraction on Seal Beach outside of sun and salt water. Take a walk down and keep an eye out for dolphins and seals swimming by, surfers catching waves down below, or stick around and watch a legendary Seal Beach sunset. Fishing off of the pier is a popular activity, as well.

Amenities:

Restrooms and showers
Lifeguards
Benches
Volleyball courts
Fishing pier
Grass park
Play area for children
Parking is available for a fee. Two lots can be found near Seal Beach Municipal Pier, and there is another one available on 1st street at the beach’s northern end.
No dogs are allowed on the beach

Fun Facts:

Seal Beach Municipal Pier was originally built in the early 1900s and is the second-longest wooden pier in all of California.
Seal Beach has served as the filming location for some movies including Apollo 13, American Pie 2, American Sniper, and As Good as It Gets.

Nearby Attractions

Seal Beach California Ocean Sunset Boats — Sunset over Seal Beach, Cali. Photo: Jean-Pierre Chamberland

The downtown district is within walking distance from Seal Beach and you’ll find a number of shops, restaurants, bars, and more to explore.

Seal Beach is a short drive away from Long Beach, where you’ll find a wide array of things to do. There’s the Aquarium of the Pacific, which houses over 500 different species of animals native to the Pacific Ocean. Across the way from the aquarium is the Queen Mary, a retired ocean liner that’s been converted into a hotel that may or may not be haunted.