Victoria Beach is a small cove beach along the Laguna Beach coastline. Surrounded by luxury homes and enclosed by rocks to either side, it has the feel of a private beach despite being pretty well-known amongst local beachgoers.
What keeps it feeling private is the effort it takes to access it. A single flight of wooden stairs descends to the beach from Victoria Drive, and a road descends to the sand to offer access to emergency vehicles. However all visitors must find parking along Pacific Coast Highway or one of the sidestreets a short ways away and walk to the beach, as opposed to more publicly accessible beaches like nearby Aliso Beach Park.
Victoria Beach itself is a stretch of sandy beach with lifeguards during peak season. A couple points of interest at Victoria Beach lie immediately north of the main beach area, over and across some rocks. The La Tour Tower stands from the rocks like a tall castle. Built in the 1920's, the tower houses a spiral staircase descending to the beach from the landmark Norman House on the cliffs above. Over the years, this house has been the residence of politicians and actors.
Near the base of the tower is a large round concrete foundation of a swimming pool, believed to have been built by the same homeowners who constructed La Tour Tower. This pool collected salt water from crashing waves, forming a private beachside pool. It's possible to see where drain pipes once existed as well. Though often empty, winter swells flow in the right direction to fill the now-shallow pool with water during high tides.
Around these cliffs are tide pools that can be explored at low tide. Victoria Beach makes for an interesting beach day, provided you're willing to walk a ways from public parking areas to access the beach. The beach is open daily from 6am-10pm. No dogs are allowed on the beach from June 15th-September 10th, and there are no bathrooms or amenities on the beach.
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