While travel might still be largely off the table for most of us, I thought it would be fun to do a virtual visit to beautiful Southern California by sharing my Laguna Beach travel guide. Located outside of Los Angeles in Orange County, Laguna Beach is a charming surf town that exudes relaxed luxury. When Darling Husband informed me that his firm’s partner’s retreat would be held at the tony Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, I knew I’d be tagging along. While I knew he would be pretty busy with meetings and such for the duration of the visit, this didn’t dissuade me in the least from packing my bags. Having been obsessed with the early aughts fan favourite T.V. show The O.C., I was excited to get a chance to explore the area at long last.
We took a direct flight from Montreal to Los Angelas and with Phantom Planet’s California playing in my head, Darling Husband and I climbed into our Blacklane and headed for the hotel. Upon unpacking, he headed for his first meeting of the long weekend and I headed into Laguna Beach to start exploring. The Laguna Beach Tourism Bureau was generously hosting me starting the next day for the remainder of my visit but I wanted to start enjoying the beautiful weather and location right away. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. The town is totally charming and the costal landscape is seriously stunning. I couldn’t wait to explore this beautiful town over the subsequent two days.
With a focus on health and wellness (as well as enjoying the delicious Southern California cuisine the region’s is known for), the two days I spent exploring Laguna Beach were absolutely magical. The people were warm and totally welcoming, the town was adorable, the shopping was great, and the natural beauty of the ocean and surroundings hills were totally captivating. Walking around in a sundress in the warm November sun and hearing the ocean waves (that’s right Canadians, it was WARM IN NOVEMBER!), it was easy to see why everyone seemed so happy and relaxed. By the end of the trip, I was totally relaxed and totally not ready to head back to the blistering cold of Montreal. However, having discovered how magical Laguna Beach and the surrounding area is, I know it won’t be our last visit. In fact, I can’t wait to bring Madam with us on a future visit. It’s a very family friendly destination!
I’ve rounded up some of my favourites from my visit below. If you’re planning a Laguna Beach visit once travel is something that you’re comfortable with again I can’t recommend them and the town on a whole enough!
TO DO
Stand-up paddle boarding with La Vida Laguna – It was such an incredible experience to see Laguna Beach from the ocean on a paddle board. La Vida Laguna not only provides all of the equipment needed, but also an incredible local instructor. Ours did such a wonderful job of getting us comfortable and confident on the board, and also provided tons of awesome info about the area we were paddle boarding in. La Vida Laguna also offers surfing, kayaking, and electric bike tours in addition to paddle boarding.
Yoga in the Park with Carl Brown – Brown is somewhat of a local legend. His donation-based yoga class is held weekly in Treasure Island Park, and is frequented by locals and visitors alike. In all of my years of practicing yoga, I’ve never taken a class in such a gorgeous spot. Class is held in a beautiful park, ocean side, with the sun shining down and the sound of waves crashing behind you – you can’t help but be totally drawn into a beautiful practice.
Laguna Art Museum – Laguna Beach was actually founded as an artist colony in the 1800s, and its quite easy to see why. It’s visually stunning and totally inspiring thanks to the abounding natural beauty of the area. Because of that, there’s a rich art scene and the Laguna Art Museum is home to a beautifully curated collection. As one of the oldest museums in California, it is dedicated to works created by California artists or pieces that represent the life and history of the state.
Tide Pools – Laguna Beach is known for its spectacular tide pooling. From the deep, secluded pools at Thousand Steps to the easily accessible rock shelf at Crescent Bay or Picnic Beach, the city has no shortage of marine life just waiting for you to explore. Anemones, hermit crabs, sea stars – there’s a whole world just below the water’s surface.
Relax
Sycamore Spa at The Ranch at Laguna Beach – Nestled between the canyon and the cost, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is a beautiful property the exudes relaxed elegance. The Sycamore Spa is one of the highlights of this beautiful property. They offer customized facials, assorted body treatments, a co-ed Infrared sauna, and amazing massages. I had the Calming Canyon Massage and it was incredible.
Eat
Breakfast/Brunch
La Sirena Grill – If you’re looking for a laid back but absolutely delicious start to your day, look no further then La Sirena Grill. Featuring contemporary Mexican dishes, all of them are fresh, healthy, and totally made from scratch. They also are totally committed to serving local, sustainable, and organic products.
The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach – Located in the luxurious Montage Laguna Beach resort, the Loft offers you delicious dining with a stunning ocean view. Contemporary flavours are influenced by California for a standout brunch that is served daily from 7am-5pm. From decadent favourites like Lobster Eggs Benedict to healthy and fresh avocado toast, everyone’s palette is sure to be pleased with this amazing modern coastal menu.
Lunch
Another Kind Cafe – If you already love Vietnamese cuisine or it you’ve yet to enjoy these delicious flavours, Another Kind Cafe is sure to impress. Tucked away outside of the main thoroughfare of Laguna Beach, this charming cafe is a perfect spot for a relaxing and totally tasty meal. With particular attention paid to sourcing fresh local products as well as top-notch specialized items from outside of the region, the dishes are flavourful and absolutely delicious.
Nick’s Laguna Beach – Located in the heart of Laguna Beach, this is the perfect spot for a mid-day bite as you explore and enjoy the area. Featuring classic American comfort food and tasty bar snacks, they also have an extensive wine list and menu of creative cocktails. It’s an incredibly popular spot, so I’d highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time!
Dinner
Harley Laguna Beach – Word to the wise, come hungry. Named after Chef Greg Daniels’ grandfather Harley, this award winning local favourite is meant to evoke the same hospitality he felt in his grandparents’ home as a child. With its relaxed but refined interior and approach to service, Harley Laguna Beach is incredibly welcome and incredibly delicious. We enjoyed the tasting menu, and this was the perfect way to enjoy so many of the chef’s incredible creations. Classic favourites are updated in inventive and totally tasty ways, and the wine and cocktail list perfectly complement the expertly crafted menu.
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