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Laguna Beach California
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This picturesque little seaside village began as an art colony in the early 1900’s. Now, a century later, art festivals , galleries and the art museum still draw visitors from all over the world.
With nearly 7 miles of spectacular coastline and more than 30 unique coves and beaches, there is much for everyone to enjoy, including snorkeling, diving, skim boarding, surfing, tide pooling, playing beach volleyball, sunbathing, picnicking and swimming.
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THE BEACHES
Where Laguna Canyon Road meets Pacific Coast Highway (or Highway 1), is a very busy T shaped intersection. This faces Main Beach, complete with waves, volleyball and basketball courts, a historical lifeguard tower, a playground and restrooms.
Unfortunately, there’s not much parking to speak of. Most people find parking on the streets at a meter, or walk further from the neighborhoods where you can park for free if you find a place. But while Main Beach is convenient to the town (you can shop or see a movie, then sit on the beach with your ice cream cone), there are many other less crowded and lovelier beaches with no traffic noise.
Towards the northern end of Laguna is my personal favorite: Crescent Bay. This is a good bodysurfing beach. The waves break close to shore. Skim boarders love the sloping beach at the southern end of the cove and it’s great fun to watch them. If you turn on Crescent Bay Drive off of Highway 1 you can access the beach from a staircase at Circle Way.
Crescent Bay and other nearby coves popular for snorkeling and scuba diving are part of an ecological reserve, so please don’t remove anything natural from the water or beaches.
Further south is Heisler Park along Cliff Drive. There is a gorgeous walk along the top of the bluff on a path overlooking the coves. There are restrooms, lawn bowling, picnic tables and spectacular views.
A ways south from Laguna Main Beach is Aliso Creek County Beach. This is a large beach with a fishing pier, restrooms, lifeguards and a snack bar. They do have a metered parking lot.
In South Laguna there is 1000 Steps Beach in Three Arch Bay. Beware, as the next day after climbing those steps back from the beach, your calves may be sore. The steps are off of Highway 1 across from 9th Street. A nice surfing beach.
Further south is Salt Creek Beach Park. They have a metered parking lot accessed from Ritz Carlton Drive. They provide restrooms, showers, volleyball and a large, grassy park. A path to the south of Ritz Carlton Drive goes along the top of the bluff above Salt Creek Beach, through the hotel grounds and providing fantastic views.
Besides those beaches mentioned above, there are many other small, secluded and beautiful coves in Laguna Beach California. They can be reached via staircases from the street or waterfront hotels, but there are no public facilities.
LAGUNA BEACH CALIFORNIA LODGING
From summer
vacation rentals
in quaint cottages and beach houses, to modest hotels, bed and breakfasts and world-renowned resorts, there is a wide variety of
lodging options
for staying in this charming Southern California beach town.
GETTING THERE
Laguna Beach California is located in Southern Orange County between Newport Beach and Corona del Mar to the north, and Dana Point to the south. You can reach it from the Interstate 5 or 405 south by taking the 133 Laguna Canyon Road exit. It’s about a 15 minute drive through countryside and canyon to the village.
Alternatively, you can enter the town from Pacific Coast Highway coming from the north or south. The nearest airport with commercial flights is the John Wayne Orange County airport in Santa Ana.
Return from the Laguna Beach California page to the Southern California Beaches Vacation Guide home page.
