California's Best Trips 2 - Full PDF eBook

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