Visiting Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach, made famous by televisions shows, is a favorite California vacation spot for both families in state and from out of state. The friendly beach town actually offers much more than just the typical "beachy" activities, however, and is a great place for people of all ages with a variety of interests. If you are in the Southern California area and are looking for a fun beach to spend the day at (but are too tired of places like Santa Monica), then Laguna Beach could be the perfect place for you.

Right on the coastal region of California, Laguna is located along the might Pacific Ocean. Certain spots along beach offer the protection of lifeguards that are stationed overlooking the ocean. While swimming is advised against in some of these areas (due to a strong undertow, dangerous rocky regions, or powerful waves), surfing is allowed. Towering palm trees over the beaches make Laguna a very picturesque spot for surfing or sunbathing. Splashing around in the water is also permitted and many families enjoy their time playing in the sand by the waves. Other spots/coves along Laguna are famous for their scuba diving/snorkeling opportunities, as the tide pools in the area are protected and great places for oceanic creatures to thrive. Some segments of Laguna are best for families who are just having a bit more of a quiet day adventure to themselves, and others are perfect for large outdoor party groups who want to play games such as volleyball or Frisbee. If you're at Laguna and want to spend the day along the water, then this is the perfect place for you.

Besides the beach, Laguna Beach also offers its visitors a variety of quality shopping boutiques along its main arteries. The streets are full of shops ranging from cute and collectable to refined and fashionable. Little eateries also dot the streets, with more expensive dining venues along the ocean.

In addition to the shopping and beach activities, Laguna is also quite famous for its emphasis on art. Three different art festivals are held in the town during the summer months, focusing on displaying the artistic creations of many different local artists on all types of mediums. From jewelry to paintings to photography, these art festivals offer huge amounts of entertainment for the art lover. There are also different musical performances and other forms of art that are expressed at these festivals.

Finally, getting around Laguna Beach is wonderfully simple. Free cable cars/shuttles are available for anyone to use and have stops all over different sections of the town, beach, and the art festivals. All day parking can be found within the town for a $10 flat rate, or for $7 outside of the town at the free shuttle stop. These shuttles run at least every 20min, but usually more frequently and are perfect for enjoying all that Laguna Beach has to offer.