California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

(Dana P.) #1
Crafts bungalows come
as a relief after miles
of suburban beige-box
architecture. With joie de
vivre, Laguna celebrates
its bohemian roots with
summer arts festivals,
dozens of galleries and
the acclaimed Laguna
Art Museum (%949-494-
8971; http://www.lagunaartmuseum.
org; 307 Cliff Dr; adult/
child $7/free; h11am-5pm
Fri-Tue, to 9pm Thu). In
downtown’s village, it’s
easy to while away an
afternoon browsing the
chic boutiques. Down
on the shore, Main
Beach is crowded with
volleyball players and
sunbathers. Just north
atop the bluffs, Heisler
Park winds past public
art, palm trees, picnic
tables and grand views
of rocky shores and
tidepools. Drop down
to Divers Cove, a deep,
protected inlet. Heading
south, dozens of public
beaches sprawl along just
a few miles of coastline.
Keep a sharp eye out for
‘beach access’ signs off
Hwy 1, or pull into locals’
favorite Aliso Beach
County Park (www.ocparks.
com/alisobeach; 31131 S Pacific

Coast Hwy; parking per hr $1;
h6am-10pm).

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The Drive » Keep driving
south of downtown Laguna
Beach on Hwy 1 (PCH) for about
3 miles to Aliso Beach County
Park, then another 4 miles into
the town of Dana Point. Turn
right onto Green Lantern St,
then left onto Cove Rd, which
winds past the state beach and
Ocean Institute onto Dana Point
Harbor Dr.

8 Dana Point
Last up is marina-
flanked Dana Point, the
namesake of 19th-
century adventurer
Richard Dana, who
famously called the area
‘the only romantic spot
on the coast.’ These days
it’s more about family
fun and sportfishing

boats at Dana Point
Harbor. Designed for
kids, the Ocean Institute
(%949-496-2274; http://www.
ocean-institute.org; 24200
Dana Pt Harbor Dr; adult/
child $6.50/4.50; h10am-
3pm Sat & Sun; c) owns
replicas of historic tall
ships, maritime-related
exhibits and a floating
research lab. East of the
harbor, Doheny State
Beach (%949-496-6172;
http://www.parks.ca.gov, http://www.
dohenystatebeach.org; entry
per vehicle $15; h6am-10pm,
to 8pm Nov-Feb; c) is
where you’ll find picnic
tables, volleyball courts,
an oceanfront bike path
and a sandy beach for
swimming, surfing,
tidepooling and scuba
diving.

Start: 7 Laguna Beach
About 3 miles northeast of Laguna Beach is the
heart-warming Pacific Marine Mammal Center
(%949-494-3050; http://www.pacificmmc.org; 20612 Laguna
Canyon Rd; admission by donation; h10am-4pm; c),
dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured or ill
marine mammals. This nonprofit center has a small
staff and many volunteers who help nurse rescued
pinnipeds (mostly sea lions and seals) back to health
before releasing them into the wild. Stop by and take
a self-guided facility tour to learn more about these
marine mammals and to visit the ‘patients’ out back.

PACIFIC MARINE
MAMMAL CENTER

DETOUR:


SOUTHERN.CALIFORNIA.

26


(^) DISNEYLAND & ORANGE COUNTY BEACHES

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