Score 88/100 · Order: Family beach day with picnic and volleyball · Free
Moonlight Beach is the beach that North County families treat like their backyard. The facilities are excellent: lifeguards, restrooms, showers, fire pits, and volleyball courts. The sand is clean and the water is good for swimming, with waves that are gentler than many surf breaks. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, and the Encinitas location adds a beach-town charm. Parking is easier than in San Diego proper, and the beach is less crowded. It is the best beach for a family picnic or a bonfire evening.