Laguna Beach the Seaside Village in Orange County. Stretching 7 miles along the PCH coast this cozy little town is a destination for both locals and visitors. Think European coastline with a relaxed California vibe. Known for its arts, both performance and culinary its a little slice of heaven right here along the coast in Orange County. Although the city takes up only 10 miles of Orange County there is so much to see, do and experience in this little city. Here are 7 things to do in Laguna Beach to get you started. There really is something for everyone. If you are visiting Orange County add Laguna Beach as an absolute must stop destination.
1. Hit the Beach!
It’s the main reason people come to Laguna so why not make it the first thing you do when visiting one of Southern California’s most popular destinations. Sit back and relax and enjoy your own little slice of heaven, put your toes in the sand and enjoy. Take a walk along the beach or in Heisler Park; a popular destination for both visitors and locals with amazing views of Laguna. Check out iconic 1000 step beach or if you’re looking for a little adventure find the local pirate tower often compared to something right out of a fairytale; this one is hidden and can be hard to get to so make sure you have your shoes ready and be mindful of preserving the local natural pools. Either way enjoy a beach day your way.
2. Take a walk in Downtown Laguna
Downtown Laguna is a must, after all it is just steps away from one of Laguna’s most popular beaches. When the pandemic came around in 2020 the entire feel of downtown Laguna changed, bringing the local eateries out into the street and making main street walkable all year long. Walk along and take a look in local shops, walk through local art galleries, grab a bite at a restaurant. Is it busy, yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Take a photo at the iconic photo booth right on the corner, near one of the art sculptures or against the butterfly wall. Laguna is a town of art so don’t be surprised when you find it around every corner.
3. Get Artsy!
Laguna Beach is famous for their art culture. Book a ticket for a local play at the Laguna Playhouse or walk through the Laguna Art Museum. The annual Sawdust Art Festival highlights local creatives throughout the Summer with more than 160 local artists work on display. Missed the Sawdust Festival? In the Winter the location hosts the Winter Fantasy a one of a kind holiday festival and shopping experience to help you get ready for the holidays. Don’t miss the local Art Walk. The first Thursday of every month from 6-9pm Laguna Beach hosts an artwalk downtown with more than 20 local galleries that participate in the event. Pop in to see all the local art on display.
4. Grab a bite
The food in Laguna Beach should not be missed, it’s arts including culinary are a real stand out with foodie restaurants around every corner. The local eateries work to give you a culinary experience you’ll keep coming back for. Some of the local favorites include Nick’s, Carmelitas Mexican Kitchen, women owned sushi restaurant 242 Cafe Fusion , Suenos and Sapphire just to name a few. Looking for some good Italian? Olivers Osteria in the canyon is some of the best Italian in town. Whether you’re looking for cheap eats, a great view, foodie finds, the best brunch spots or restaurants with live music Laguna’s culinary scene has it all.
5. Catch a sunset
Enjoying a beautiful sunset in Laguna should be put on your list of musts. Looking for a good place for sunset? Grab a towel and enjoy it toes in the sand or head over to one of the local ocean view restaurants. Stay through the whole sunset and you’ll see Laguna Beach lit up at night which is an experience in itself.
6. Take a ride on the Trolley
Laguna Beach’s open air trolley takes you up and down the Laguna coast for FREE all Summer long. The trolley runs from the Canyon, with drop offs at the Sawdust Festival, all the way up to the Ritz Carleton in Laguna Niguel. The Trolley runs between North and South Laguna Monday through Thursday 7:30am to 6pm, Friday from 7:30am to 10 pm, Saturday from 9am to 10 pm and Sunday from 9am to 7pm. Download the Laguna Beach Trolley Tracker app to keep up to date with the trolley schedule. Feeling extra adventurous Dana Point also has a Free trolley to get you around town. Click here for things to do in Dana Point.
Photo by: Patch.com
7. Get out in nature
For the scuba lovers out there Laguna Beach is known for some of the best scuba diving in the world with shelves that go deep into the ocean housing all sorts of wild fish, eels and so much more. Looking to get scuba certified in Laguna? Beach Cities Scuba can help with that. For the outdoor lovers Laguna has some short hikes with amazing views or for the more advanced hikers taking in a sunset at the top of the Sea View Park overlook trail or the Laguna Beach Cliff hike is a view for your bucketlist.
More articles for you…
7 Free Things To Do In Orange County
There is no shortage of free things to do in Orange County. No matter what you’re interested in, you are sure to find a budget-friendly
Halloween Events For Your Dog In Orange County
Looking for the best Halloween events for your dog in Orange County? Here are the howling good times this Halloween.
Halloween Events For Adults In Orange County
Looking for Halloween events for adults in Orange County? Here’s the list of things to do in OC this Halloween.
Halloween Events for Kids in Orange County 2024
Looking for the Best Halloween events in Orange County for kids? Here are the 2023 events in Orange County.
Free Halloween Events in Orange County 2024
Looking for Free Halloween events this Fall in Orange County? Take a look at ALL there is to do this Fall in OC!