Laguna Beach is by far my favorite California coastal town. It is the quintessential walkable beach town. The weather is always perfect with low 90s during the summer and high 50s during the winter. I have visited Laguna Beach countless times and it will always hold a special place in my heart as my husband proposed to me on the beach.
Laguna Beach has gorgeous oceanfront hotels, beautiful art galleries, quaint bars, tasty restaurants and independent shops. The main shopping street is Forest Avenue and there are cute independent shops like The Candy Baron, which is an old-timey candy shop, and Tuvalu, a coastal living home store. The Laguna Beach Farmers Market is every Saturday from 8am-12pm at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Forest Avenue.
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The Festival of Arts and Other Art
Another of my favorite Laguna Beach traditions is the Sawdust Art & Craft Festival! The Sawdust Festival runs from late June to early September every year and features independent artists selling their art and crafts. Everything is reasonably priced and I love supporting independent businesses. Right next door to the Sawdust Festival is Art A Fair. Art A Fair also sells art but at a higher price point. Lastly, the Pageant of the Masters is a must! It’s a unique production that re-creates famous works of art.
Laguna Beach has so many wonderful art galleries and of course the Laguna Beach Art Museum. The Art Museum has a massive permanent collection with rotating exhibitions all year long. The admission price is only $7 and worth the visit. One of my favorite marine life artists is Wyland. There is a Wyland Gallery in Laguna Beach with a beautiful humpback whale mural painted on the outside of the gallery. There are gorgeous paintings and sculptures in his gallery.
Hotel Accommodations
Laguna Beach has so many gorgeous hotels right on the water. During the winter months, hotel prices are cheaper as peak season is during the summer months. My favorite hotel is the Pacific Edge Hotel. The oceanfront rooms are literally right over the Pacific Ocean and you have amazing views of the main beach. Another highly popular hotel is The Inn at Laguna Beach. It is also a 3-star hotel right on the water. During Fourth of July weekend, this hotel is packed as the firework show is right over the hotel.
Breakfast
There are so many tasty breakfast eateries all around the city. If you want to pop-in for a quick bite I would highly recommend the Orange Inn. It is a homey shop that sells omelets, breakfast burritos, breakfast pastries, coffee, and smoothies. The orange muffins are to die for! If you are looking for a brunch with a view, I would recommend Driftwood Kitchen. Reservations are highly recommended on the weekend as the ocean view tables fill up fast.
Lunch
Laguna Beach definitely has a number of chain restaurants, such as BJ’s Restaurant, but I love to eat at restaurants that are only found in this coastal town. One of my favorite lunch spots is C’est La Vie. It’s a French restaurant right on the beach. My go-to dish is the simple Turkey Avocado Delight sandwich with a side salad. Since there is always room for dessert, I would go with either a macaron or eclair, as both are simply fantastique! Not in the mood for French food? Then I would try the brand new Mexican restaurant Tortilla Republic. They have an amazing happy hour menu and a tasty lunch menu.
Cocktails
Mid-day or before dinner cocktails are always a must while on vacation! The La Casa Del Camino Hotel has a fantastic rooftop lounge that overlooks the ocean. They have a killer happy hour menu where all drinks are half off. If you expect to snag a spot at this rooftop lounge, I would arrive no later than 3pm. This lounge used to be a secret among the locals but has since been found by tourists. Another of my favorite bars is The Saloon. This is a very tiny bar located right off Pacific Coast Highway. The entrance is a tiny door that is easily missed. It consists of 1 large dark wood bar and 2-3 tables. It is mostly a watering hole for locals, which is my favorite type of bar. I always grab a drink here when I visit Laguna Beach.
Dinner
Las Brisas is one of the well-known restaurants in Laguna Beach. It is an upscale Mexican restaurant with a beautiful patio that overlooks in the ocean. If you don’t mind the cost or just want to celebrate a special occasion, I highly recommend this restaurant. Reservations are basically required for table on the patio.
Until next time,
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