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Laguna Beach
Nestled in one of the prettiest spots in Southern California, Laguna Beach brings together locals and tourists throughout the year - though, not surprisingly, in this town summer rules.  Laguna Beach is just a bit further south from Newport Beach. It's geographically separated from its northern neighbor by Crystal Cove State Park (worth a trip in itself). To the south is Dana Point. But, that's several miles down Pacific Coast Highway. With the San Joaquin Hills as an eastern backdrop - and natural border - Laguna feels a bit like a small town oasis; one that's full of sophistication, fine restaurants, plenty of art galleries, gorgeous beaches and several annual festivals to keep people coming back year after year. Getting around the city during peak season can be difficult thanks to the popularity of the city. And that's just if you are on foot. If you've got to drive your car: forget it! Park it. As fast as you see a spot open up! But here's a tip: people try to cram themselves within just a couple of blocks of the main drag, The Cove. If you are willing to walk half a dozen blocks, you can usually park down the street right on PCH with little trouble. Just remember to keep the meter well fed.
The Main Beach, aka The Cove, is a crescent-shaped sandlot that's rather small relative to the more expansive beaches up north.  Yet there's plenty to do and see in this minute stretch. With a boardwalk leading to shops and restaurants, a basketball court, a children's playground and some great swimming, people flock to see and be seen. If you'd rather not spend all day toasting yourself you can wander the streets and check out the many interesting art galleries. The community, in fact, grew up in the late 1800s as an artist colony. Throughout the 1950s and 60s it attracted a fair number of beats and hippies thoroughly turning it into a quintessential SoCal city mixing money and style with ideas and dreams. The local artists reflect much of this sense in their works. Check out the wonderful restaurants too. There's Chinese-French, hearty Italian, Californian, Mediterranean, Mexican and more. As for annual events, they tend to be spread through the summer. The Pageant of the Masters is a fantastic and unusual event that must be seen at least once. Here locals dress up and backgrounds are created to create a live replication of famous paintings. The lighting and staging are so perfect that these real-life images become as remarkable as the two-dimensional works they mirror. Another nearby event is the Sawdust Festival. This is a casual assemblage of works by local artists. It was originally begun as a hippie event in the 1960s but has become a rather well established venue over the years.
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Writer: Lee Z.
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[Must Visit]
Nearby Spots: Huntington Beach · Newport Beach · Balboa Peninsula ···
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Featured Spot: Navy Pier
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Considered to be the most tourist packed spot in Chicago, Navy Pier is actually located on Lake Michigan; it extends about a mile into from the shore.  The hustle and bustle of this spot is unbelievable! The number of events and activities going on in this place is quite astounding. Opened in 1916, the pier was designed for both shipping and recreational...More
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Rough Guide California 5th Ed.
by Rough Guides Editors
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