About Laguna Beach...

No other city in Orange County is linked stronger with art and artists than the city of Laguna Beach.  It is a most fitting connection, because the city’s growth can be directly attributed to this essential cultural medium. 

Laguna Beach’s life began as a tiny seaside community whose beaches and accommodations (including the legendary Hotel Laguna) lured inland residents looking for a break from summer heat and a vacation from their farming life.  In 1903, San Francisco artist Norman St. Claire visited the area and became so enamored by Laguna Beach’s amazing landscapes and dramatic coastline, he coaxed a healthy chunk of Bay Area artists to relocate there with him.  This migration led to the area’s Plein Air boom that is still a hallmark of the city.  In fact, by the time the Laguna Beach officially incorporated in 1927, a lot of the items associated with the city were firmly established, such as the Laguna Art Museum and the Laguna Playhouse.  The Festival of the Arts featuring the world-renowned Pageant of the Masters was launched in 1932, as an innovative response to keep the city and its residents stable during the Great Depression.  Laguna Beach’s art community staged its own revolution in the counterculture era of the 1960s, as a group of local artists founded the Sawdust Festival in 1966 in response to a perception that the Festival of Arts was not doing enough to promote the city’s own talent.  The final piece of modern-day Laguna Beach’s puzzle was forged from a rather unusual group:  The White House press corps.  Whenever former President Nixon would visit his “Western White House” in San Clemente, national and international reporters would descend upon Laguna Beach to stay.  Their presence heightened the awareness of Laguna Beach’s beauty around the globe, thus propelling its current standing as a world-class travel destination.

Laguna Beach’s international presence as a resort town and vacation spot is as strong as ever today, as the city is chock full of acclaimed hotels ranging from the charmingly historic to the sumptuously luxurious.  Laguna Beach is still boasts the premier art scene in the OC, as its downtown streets are lined with a vast multitude of galleries featuring local, national, and international artists.  Nestled amongst these galleries are a plentiful amount of trendy shops and hip dining venues, elements that further enhance downtown Laguna Beach’s vibrant ambience.  And the basketball courts that stand within walking distance of the city’s downtown beach have been rumored to attract many NBA stars during the off-season.
                                   

                                    
                                    
                                   

Entertainment in Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach Museum
307 Cliff Dr. @ North Coast Hwy
Phone:(949) 494-8971
Website: www.lagunaartmuseum.org

Laguna Beach Live!
(949) 715-9713
www.lagunabeachlive.org

Laguna Playhouse
606 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA
Phone: (949) 497-ARTS
Website: www.lagunaplayhouse.com

Laguna Beach Tours 
(949) 306-8687
www.lagunabeachtours.com

La Vida Laguna
(949) 275-7544
www.lavidalaguna.com
Guided Kayak Tours

Pageant of the Masters
650 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Laguna Beach, Ca
(949) 497-6582  and (800) 487-3378
Info: (949) 494-1145
Website: www.pageanttickets.com

Wine Tasting LAGUNA CANYON WINERY
2133 Laguna Canyon Road
(949) 715-9463
www.lagunacanyonwinery.com
Hours Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm

Spas in Laguna Beach

Laguna Canyon Spa
3295 Laguna Canyon Rd.,Ste F
Laguna Beach, Ca 92651
Phone: (949) 463-2134

Yvonne Marciena's
Laguna Beach, Ca
Phone: (949) 497-5414

Beaches and Parks

Crystal Cove - State Beach
8471 PCH
Laguna Beach CA 92651
Phone: (949) 494-3539
The Crystal Cove Historic District is a 12.3-acre coastal portion of the 2,791-acre Crystal Cove State Park. The federally listed Historic District is an enclave of 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages originally built in the 1920’s and 1930’s nestled around the mouth of Los Trancos Creek. It is one of the last remaining examples of early 20th century Southern California coastal development. California State Parks has completed Phase I of the restoration of the Historic District, which provides cottages for visitor services, educational and community programs, a restaurant, and 13 cottages for overnight use by the public.

In addition to the Historic District, Crystal Cove State Park has 3.5 miles of beach and undeveloped woodland, which is popular for hiking and horseback riding. The offshore waters are designated as an underwater park. Crystal Cove is used by mountain bikers inland and scuba and skin divers underwater. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. Visitors can explore tidepools and sandy coves. Crystal Cove offers sand and surf, rocky reefs, ridges and canyons - plus recreational opportunities - that appeal to everybody. State Park Rangers conduct nature hikes in the winter. The park features three miles of Pacific coastline, plus wooded canyons, open bluffs, and offshore waters designated as an underwater park. Crystal Cove is not just used by people who enjoy water related activities, such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing, scuba and skin diving, but also people who like to fish, mountain bike and hike.  Crystal Cove State Park Brochure - pdf
See OC Beaches