Every day in California feels like the perfect beach day, which works well for us in the San Francisco Bay Area, where you don’t have to travel far to find a beach. Whether coastal, inland, or lakeside, you have great options no matter the weather!
Did you know the little island city of Alameda offers the most kid-friendly beaches around?
Most of Alameda’s south shore is lined with a beach–a beautiful, sandy beach with zero waves (because it is the bay water, not the ocean) that remains shallow for hundreds of feet, and has an incredible view of San Francisco!
We spend many days a year hanging out in the sand of one of Alameda’s many beaches. Read on to find my favorite Alameda beach locations and tips to consider when visiting Alameda beaches.
Tips before you go
- Bring snacks, towels, a pop-up tent for shade, a beach blanket, a change of clothes, water shoes if it is low tide, sunscreen, sand toys, and friends.
- Check the weather. Alameda’s temperatures range from mid-40s in the winters to mid-70s in the summers. Sometimes the bay fog rolls in, causing mornings to be overcast and cool but afternoons to be sunny and clear. Make sure to pack accordingly to ensure happy kids and therefore happy parents.
- Keep your fuzzy friends at home because dogs are not allowed on the beaches.
- Public toilets and trash cans may be available, but you can’t always guarantee the state of them. We like to bring along our pStyle just in case nature calls!
- Bring a jug of water in your car to wash off the sand when you return and to prevent “swimmer’s itch.” This rash occurs on areas of the skin that have come in contact with bay water; it’s due to algae that grow in the shallow water of the bay occasionally throughout the year.
- Check the park’s website for current algae conditions. Although our family has not experienced this rash, I have heard of others who have. Don’t let this news stop you, though! As long as you do a rinse after swimming, your family should be fine.
My Favorite Alameda Beaches
1. Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Crown Memorial State Beach is great for little ones because it is a short walk to the water, and once you’re in the water it is shallow for a long way out. Set up your blanket on top of the sand dunes and watch your kiddos safely wade in the ankle-deep water below.
The beach has large picnic areas and even some that you can reserve for larger groups. Watch out for geese and goose poop in the grass! If your kids need a break from the beach, you can take a walk over to the nearby playground at Washington Park.
Parking is $5 in the main lot along Westline Drive, but you may also find street parking nearby.
2. Shoreline Beach (aka Alameda Beach)
Park anywhere along Shoreline Drive in Alameda for quick access to the best strip of beach on the east side of the Bay. You may find shells and forgotten sand toys if you’re out early in the morning.
The beach is shallow even at high tide. At low tide you must walk far out on the mud flats to reach the water, but kids enjoy the muddy and slippery sea floor. If it is low tide, I would recommend bringing water shoes so your kids can explore freely without worrying about slipping or stepping on anything sharp, like crabs!
There are bathrooms and trash cans at every few beach access points. Bring your blow-up stand-up paddle board and life vests/PFDs!
My favorite Shoreline Beach access point is at the intersection of Shoreline Drive and Sand Beach Road because it is where my husband and I eloped!
3. Crab Cove
Crab Cove beach is a small strip of sand right off a large grassy park with picnic tables and picnic areas to rent for parties. The beach is short, but you can walk around at low tide and find crabs on the muddy banks.
The parking lot is small, costing $5 when the attendant is there. There is limited street parking on McKay Avenue, right outside the parking lot, but you can park on the surrounding streets in the neighborhood nearby.
Take the kids to the Crab Cove Visitor Center to see exhibits about the habitat and use the clean bathroom. Entrance to the visitor center is free. My kiddos love the different events held at the visitor center, such as Fishy Story Time and fish feeding time at the aquarium. Click here for their weekly event schedule.
While my family loves going to the beach, I don’t love the clean-up, and I don’t love the sand. Oh, so much sand in so many places–why? No matter how I prepare, there is always sand in their toes, in their noses, in their hair, in the tiny crevices of their bodies, and all over the car seats.
When I lived in Hawaii, I had a plan with the sand. I always showered before exiting the beach, rinsed off my feet at my car, and wiped every inch of my sandals and beach gear before driving off.
Even if I had a strict sand regime now, I have two kiddos under 5 who would not be able to adhere to such stringent rules. I have yet to adjust my expectations on the various levels of sand in my stuff post-beach but am working on it. Sigh.
Do you have any tips on how to keep the sand at the beach? Please, feel free to share in the comments below!
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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