The Beach Cities, California

The Beach Cities of South Orange County, California consist of Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente and reaching somewhat inland - historic San Juan Capistrano.

Locals and visitors alike find ample things to amuse themselves in all four of these fine cities. Some of the finest surfing beaches are found along our coast, antique shopping, dining for all tastes, and countless recreational activities can be found such as sports fishing, walking, bicycling, parasailing.

Laguna Beach is the home to world-class artists and galleries. The Annual Pageant of the Masters and the Sawdust Festival are a must for any summer holiday. The many small, rugged coves north of Laguna Beach make for great snorkeling and scuba diving, while the grassy parkland along the city's Main Beach is the perfect spot to watch a pro volleyball match or a pick-up game of basketball.

Over 250 years of California history are revealed when you walk the streets of San Juan Capistrano. You can stroll down Los Rios Street, considered one of the oldest residential streets in California, view several adobe buildings over a hundred years old and visit Mission San Juan Capistrano founded in 1776. March is almost a month long holiday when the town celebrates the annual swallows return from there winter home in Argentina in October.

Dana Point, characterized by nearly seven miles of prominent coastal bluffs and rolling hills along the Pacific Ocean, is home to the Orange County Marine Institute, the Tall ship Pilgrim, Dana Point Harbor, and Doheny State Beach. Doheny State Park, one of California's most popular beach facilities offers camping, picnicking, swimming, surfing, bicycling, tide pool exploration and more.

San Clemente, along with neighboring San Onofre, has a greater assortment of surfing spots - for both experts and beginners -more than anywhere else in the world. Year round favorable weather conditions enable visitors to consistently enjoy the shopping, dining and taking in beach town atmosphere.