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Laguna Beach
The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through Laguna Beach, a relaxed artsy beach resort whose attractions include shopping, galleries, dining, and beaches.
Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Getting to Laguna
Beach
San Diego to Laguna
Beach
From San Diego, the quickest way is to take
I-5 to exit 85A, then CA-73N. The distance is about 80 miles and journey time
should be around 90 minutes in average traffic conditions.
You could also leave at exit 79 into Dana Point and then finish the journey along the coast for the last few miles. It cuts a few miles off the journey and the time should be about the same.
Heisler Park. Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Los Angeles to Laguna
Beach
Taking Los Angeles International Airport as a starting point, then Laguna Beach is about 55 miles south. The quickest way is to take I-405S and you should be there in about an hour, depending on the traffic.
If you want to go the coastal route through Redondo Beach, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach, take Highway 1 south from the airport and follow it all the way. The distance is about the same, but it will take you at least a couple of hours depending on traffic.
The first part through the city isn't very scenic but it's a much nicer drive once you hit the coast around Seal Beach. The highway then goes right through the centers of all those beach towns so it's much slower driving. There are also more temptations to stop along the way.
Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
What to Do in Laguna
Beach
Most people go to Laguna Beach for the beaches, to have a relaxing
break, or to take in one of the town's many events (see below).
Beaches
There are about a dozen different beaches to choose from, stretched
along seven miles of coastline, and they're rated among some of the best in
Orange County. There are several family-friendly beaches. These include
Crescent Bay, which has lots of tide pools for kids (and adults) to explore, Main
Beach for its gentler waves, and Aliso Beach, which has a playground.
Don't be put off Thousand Steps Beach by the name. There are 'only' about 230 steps leading down to the beach, though it can seem like 1,000 when you're walking back up again after a day on the sand.
Fine Shopping Opportunities. Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Crystal Cove State
Park
The Pacific Coast Highway goes right through this park,
which extends out into the ocean as an underwater park. There are just over
three miles of beach, along with 2,400 acres of natural woodland. There are
some great hiking trails through here, and it's a good place for horseback
riding too. It's also popular for swimming and surfing. It's about three miles
north of town on the way to Newport Beach. www.crystalcovestatepark.org
Laguna Art Museum. Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Laguna Art Museum
With such an artistic community, it's not surprising one of
the town's main attractions is its art museum. The Laguna Art Museum can trace its origins
back to 1918 and the forming of the Laguna Beach Art Association, a group of
artists who had settled in the town.
The museum is devoted to California art and they have about 3,500 items in their permanent collection, from the early 19th century onwards. In addition there are changing special exhibitions.
Main Beach. Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
When to Visit Laguna
Beach
Although the town lacks major tourist attractions, it more
than makes up for it by having a series of big special events and festivals throughout
the year. These include several arts festivals (it's a very artistic community),
The Laguna Beach Music Festival, The Sawdust Art and Craft Festival, The Laguna
Dance Festival, and Pageant of the Masters.
Pageant of the Masters. Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Pageant of the
Masters
Pageant of the Masters is one of the best and most unusual
events in the USA. It was first held in 1933 and in it, people dress up to
recreate famous works of art. Over 500 people work for over 60,000 hours to
create these, and put on 56 90-minute shows in the Festival of Arts grounds. It's
a truly remarkable and unique event, held over the summer with a different
theme each year, though the traditional finale is a recreation of Leonardo da
Vinci's The Last Supper.
Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Festival of Arts
The other big event in the town's calendar is the
summer-long Festival of Arts. It features works by about 140 artists from
Orange County and is the longest-running outdoor fine arts festival in
California. It goes way beyond just being a chance to see and buy art works,
though. There are nightly music concerts, art workshops, art tours, dining
events, art discussions, children's activities, and lots more fun stuff.
So before booking your trip, check the Events page of Visit Laguna Beach for dates. You don't want to visit and be told: 'You should have been here last week!'
Blue Whale Spouting. Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Where to Stay in Laguna
Beach
Last time we stayed overnight we stayed at the wonderful Casa Laguna Hotel and Spa.
If they happen to be full or you prefer a different location, you can search for other options here:
Laguna Beach Visitors
Center
The official Laguna Beach Visitors Center is at 381 Forest
Avenue and it's open every day. It's a very helpful and well-run center.
There's also a smaller center at 190 Ocean Avenue that's only open
Friday-Sunday.
The Fascinating World of Tide Pools
Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Preparing for the Pageant of the Masters
Photo Courtesy of Visit Laguna Beach
Other California coast pages
Mendocino in Mendocino County is a small but pretty California coastal town, popular with artists and with travelers. It has featured in many songs and movies.
Santa Monica Pier is just off the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica near Los Angeles, with an amusement park, an aquarium and many other attractions.
The Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino on the California coast is an eco-resort with yoga classes and the award-winning Ravens Restaurant.
Dana Point in California is the official start or end of the Pacific Coast Highway, and its attractions include whale watching, and Doheny State Beach.
Santa Cruz on the Pacific Coast Highway in California has its famous boardwalk, beaches, wine tastings, Surfing Museum, Mission, and Marine Discovery Center.
Monterey in California is off the Pacific Coast Highway and home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Monterey State Historic Park.
The Point Reyes National Seashore is an hour’s drive northwest of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway and is maintained by the National Park Service.
San Luis Obispo in California is half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on the Pacific Coast Highway and with lots of things to do and see.
The Pelican Inn and Suites in Cambria on California's Central Coast has oceanfront views, swimming pool, gardens, and is right on the beach near Hearst Castle.
Drive the Pacific Coast Highway and you have to cross Bixby Bridge in California, ten miles north of Big Sur and 30 minutes south of Monterey.
Santa Catalina Island, or Catalina Island, is off the shore of Southern California and reachable from Long Beach, San Pedro, Newport Beach, and Dana Point.
Lonely Planet's Coastal California guidebook is the ideal travel guide for driving or cycling the Pacific Coast Highway from the Oregon border to Mexico.
One of the best California coast guides is the California Coastal Access Guide, describing the coast’s beaches, National Parks, State Parks, with many maps.
PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Mendocino, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
There are lots of free things to do on the Pacific Coast Highway and here's our list of ten of them including wildlife, the best free views, and free museums.
Whale watching in California is one of the most popular things to do along the Pacific Coast Highway, in places like San Diego, San Francisco and many more.
Pismo Beach is a small beach town on California's Central Coast, a resort famous for surfing and clams.
There are plenty of Santa Cruz downtown wine tastings including Beauregard Vineyards,Storrs Winery and Pelican Ranch Winery,all with tasting rooms.
Pacific Coast Highway Travel's list of the best beaches in California with beaches in Santa Monica, Big Sur, Malibu, Carmel, Cambria, La Jolla and Coronado.
Morro Bay is a delightful small town on the California coast roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles and noted for the huge Morro Rock.
Pacific Coast Highway Travel recommends some of the top wildlife spots along the California coast.
Pacific Grove is a small city on the California coast, next to Monterey and close to Carmel, with attractions including its historic Victorian houses.
Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.
San Simeon is a tiny town of a few hundred people close to Hearst Castle on the California coast midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Newport Beach is a small city on the Pacific coast of southern California, right on the Pacific Coast Highway and noted for its beaches and surfing.
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