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Silver Strand State Beach
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-K
School-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
Beach
Swimming
Surfing
Silver Strand State Beach Description
A beautiful, two-mile stretch of beach just a quick car trip from downtown, Silver Strand State Beach is perfect for making sand castles, watching birds (you'll see seagulls, pelicans, and maybe some endangered snowy plovers), and spotting wild life (dolphins and porpoises swim by, and you might see a wild rabbit near the picnicking areas).
Kid Tips
Babies: There are no changing tables in the restrooms, so bring a portable pad.
Toddlers & Pre-K: Silver Strand has miles of flat sandy beach, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to run around on. Crown Cove on the bay side has calmer water and is ideal for swimming. Your tots will like walking through the pedestrian tunnels.
School-Age Kids: Though the best time to hunt shells is in the winter, at low tide your school-aged kid is almost guaranteed to find a sand dollar.
Planning Notes
- Bring your own food. Concession stands are only open between Memorial Day and Labor Day, so bring a cooler during the off-season. There are about a dozen beach-side picnic tables by the restroom facilities.
- Bring a sweatshirt and sunscreen. It can get cooler and windier down by the water.
- Bonfire anyone? There are beach fire rings for roasting marshmallows (available only in the summer), so consider bringing firewood and matches.
- Monitor ocean conditions. Occasional riptides are not uncommon at beaches in the San Diego area.
Just the Facts
Hours: Nov.-Feb. 8 a.m.-7 p.m. March through the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Summer (Friday of Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day) 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fees: Under $10
Recommended Time: Half day
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