25 Photos of What Beach and Surfer Life Looked Like in the 1970s

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 12/08/2024 in wow

If you want to go to the beach today, you'll probably have to sit in outrageous traffic, pay an absorbent parking fee, and still find yourself stuck behind an bunch of obnoxious teenagers.

But things weren't always this way. In the 1970s you could literally grab a surf board, some roller skates, or even just yourself, and head on down to get some quality sun-time. At least, that's what my memory says.

Here are 25 photos of what it looked like to live the beach and surfer life in the 1970s.

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1. La Jolla Beach
San Diego, California, United States 1970's.
2. A Cali Beach
In the 1970s.
3. My parents on the beach
In the 1970s.
4. Copacabana Beach
Sunny in the 1970s.
5. Girl With Rollerskates
At Venice Beach (L.A.) in the 1970s.
6. Venice Beach
Late 1970's.
7. Hermosa Beach
California, 1970s.
8. A Day at the Beach in Iran
Before the Islamic Revolution, 1970s.
9. New Smyrna Beach
Talking to the cops, 1970’s.
10. A Woman Skateboarding
While in roller skates, 1970s.
11. On the Beach
Manhattan, 1977.
12. Hermosa Beach
Roller skaters, late 1970s.
13. BBQ Picnic
At the beach, 1970s.
14. Girls on Venice Beach
Messing with cops in the 1970s.
15. Rollerskating Girl
At Hermosa Beach in the 1970s.
16. “My Dad”
“At the beach in the early 70s.”
17. Beach Day
With the van in the 70s.
18. “My Dad and Friends at the Beach”
“He says 1971.”
19. 70s Beach Scene
In New Hampshire.
20. More Roller Skating
It was the thing to do.
21. Miami Beach
“My dad and his friends in the 70s getting preached at by ‘Holy Joe.’”
22. The Strand
Hermosa Beach, California, 1970s.
23. Ocean Beach
San Diego, 1970s.
24. Rockaway Beach
Boardwalk 116th Street. Summer of 1977.
25. “My Grandad in the 70s"
"On the beach, with a beer, his tobacco pipe, and portable radio."

1. La Jolla Beach
San Diego, California, United States 1970's.
2. A Cali Beach
In the 1970s.
3. My parents on the beach
In the 1970s.
4. Copacabana Beach
Sunny in the 1970s.
5. Girl With Rollerskates
At Venice Beach (L.A.) in the 1970s.
6. Venice Beach
Late 1970's.
7. Hermosa Beach
California, 1970s.
8. A Day at the Beach in Iran
Before the Islamic Revolution, 1970s.
9. New Smyrna Beach
Talking to the cops, 1970’s.
10. A Woman Skateboarding
While in roller skates, 1970s.
11. On the Beach
Manhattan, 1977.
12. Hermosa Beach
Roller skaters, late 1970s.
13. BBQ Picnic
At the beach, 1970s.
14. Girls on Venice Beach
Messing with cops in the 1970s.
15. Rollerskating Girl
At Hermosa Beach in the 1970s.
16. “My Dad”
“At the beach in the early 70s.”
17. Beach Day
With the van in the 70s.
18. “My Dad and Friends at the Beach”
“He says 1971.”
19. 70s Beach Scene
In New Hampshire.
20. More Roller Skating
It was the thing to do.
21. Miami Beach
“My dad and his friends in the 70s getting preached at by ‘Holy Joe.’”
22. The Strand
Hermosa Beach, California, 1970s.
23. Ocean Beach
San Diego, 1970s.
24. Rockaway Beach
Boardwalk 116th Street. Summer of 1977.
25. “My Grandad in the 70s"
"On the beach, with a beer, his tobacco pipe, and portable radio."