Bixby Park Playground

Just a short walk from the sand, this Long Beach playground pulls double duty as a solid place to burn off energy before or after a beach day. Kids from toddlers up to about 12 have plenty to work with — slides, swings, a seesaw, climbing structure, and a sandbox that basically extends the beach experience. The shade trees and covered seating make a real difference on those sunny SoCal afternoons when other playgrounds feel like standing in an oven. Parking is available, which locals know matters more than it sounds when you’re hauling beach gear and kids. It gets busy on weekends, but for good reason — not many playgrounds have the ocean this close.