AArisings: Beach Trip



	Beach Trip By Kevin Wing Host/Executive Producer, Catch a Wave (Editor’s Note: This column, which has been showcasing America’s best beaches since 2005, is written exclusively for AARisings by Kevin Wing, a two-time Emmy Award-winning San Francisco Bay Area television journalist. Since 2006, Kevin has authored another AArisings column, Suite Surrender, which showcases America’s best hotels and resorts. Kevin has worked for most of the Bay Area’s major network news affiliates, including KTVU, KGO-TV, KRON and KNTV. He is a network news field producer in the Bay Area and northern California for ABC News, and writes a monthly travel column for the Bay Area's ALIVE Magazine. Kevin is also a Bay Area voiceover talent, and is writing a children’s book, which he hopes to have published in 2010. In this edition of Beach Trip, Kevin takes us to Laguna Beach along California's southern Orange County coast.) To some, California's Laguna Beach is paradise in a prime-time television series. To others, it is truly a destination point for the quintessential southern California beachscape. Laguna Beach, both the community and its many beaches, is situated in the southern portion of Orange County, roughly 30 miles south of Anaheim and the world-famous Disneyland Resort, and about 55 miles north of downtown San Diego. It is a beautiful sight to behold when taking a leisurely excursion along picturesque Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. There is much to do in Laguna Beach. The beaches, of course, are grand, and because they are, most of them -- especially the Main Beach -- tend to be teeming with tourists, beachgoers and surfers. Of course, the locals know they have a good thing going, which is why Laguna Beach has been a destination point for vacationers and beachgoers since even before the heyday of those kitschy beach films of the 1960s. Its beaches are nice to take a stroll on, to play on, and, of course, to take in the beautiful California sunset. In Laguna Beach itself, the city has much to offer, from quaint shops, art galleries and a variety of restaurants to please most palates. That said, don't be surprised by traffic congestion, especially around the intersection of Highways 1 and 133 -- Laguna Beach's crossroads. The city itself is spread out over a long swath of Orange County coastline, taking in the various beaches and coves which dot the landscape. In fact, the city of Laguna Beach has more than seven miles of beaches, the point of distinction being that the city has more "local" beaches than any other beach community in California. That said, there are too many to mention here, but they range from the Main Beach -- situated at the intersection of Highways 1 and 133 -- to locales like Irvine Cove, Crescent Bay, Picnic Beach and Rockpile. Near the Main Beach are Sleepy Hollow, St. Ann's Street, Thalia Street, Oak Street, Brook's Street and Mountain Road beaches. Southern Laguna Beach beaches include Bluebird Canyon, Pearl Street, Wood's Cove, Victoria Beach and Treasure Island, to name a few. If you like to scuba dive, Laguna Beach is the place for you. The surf off the coast here is also ideal for surfing enthusiasts. If you just want to hang out at the beach and take in the sun and sights, the three million people who visit Laguna Beach every year will testify to that. So, what about the sand, you ask? The sand at most of the city's beaches is pristine, getting finer and perhaps less grainy as you head farther south along the coast. With the beaches' immense popularity come all the amenities befitting a tourist attraction like Laguna Beach: there are a smattering of hotels that line the Pacific Coast Highway, fitting every type of budget. This is a tourist- and hotel-friendly region. Many of the hotels are built on or near the beaches. These hotels were constructed before the state Coastal Commission's regulations changed the building permit process. To your benefit as a tourist, the hotels offer spectacular views of the coastline and Pacific Ocean. Some hotels are situated on rocky bluffs, offering a scenic experience unlike any other. Laguna Beach offers more beach rooms along coastal Orange County than any other community, which means direct access to the beaches without having to cross busy Pacific Coast Highway. If you have a dog, you must keep your dog on a leash. Dogs are not allowed on most beaches. There is a dog park, however, which is located not far from the beaches, on Laguna Canyon Road near El Toro Road. If surfing is your thing, there is a wonderful surfing area near Thousand Steps, a stunning beach staircase which takes you down to the beach from the cliff above. Outside of going to the beach to enjoy a day in the sun, many love visiting the city's many art galleries. After all, Laguna Beach has been an artisan enclave for more than a century. It was in 1904 that the famous artist, Norman St. Clair, traveled to Laguna Beach from Los Angeles to capture the beautiful coastline on canvas. St. Clair fell in love with the area and moved there. St. Clair's artist friends were very impressed by his work; they soon followed, creating the haven for artists that Laguna Beach is to this day. Long ago -- many, many years before the TV show bearing the city's name was even an idea in a producer's mind -- Hollywood discovered Laguna Beach. Famous stars, such as Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland, Mary Pickford, Bette Davis and Mickey Rooney had homes in Laguna Beach. Some ask what the word "Laguna" stands for. It's an Aztec Indian word meaning lakes. Later, the Spaniards, upon arriving in California in the 1700s, named the area Canada de las Lagunas, which means Canyon of the Lakes. Finally, in 1904, the area became known as Laguna Beach. In the city, there is a famous gate which was built in 1935 and remains standing to this day. It stands on the corner of Forest and Park avenues, and it reads: "This gate hangs well and hinders none, refresh and rest, then travel on." It's what three million visitors to Laguna Beach do every year. How to get there: From metropolitan Los Angeles, proceed south on I-405 (San Diego Freeway) to southbound state Highway 73. Once past the Bonita Canyon Drive exit, please note that Highway 73 becomes a toll road (San Joaquin Hills Corridor). To avoid paying a toll, exit southbound Newport Coast Drive. Proceed to state Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and turn left onto southbound Highway 1. Proceed no more than five miles to Laguna Beach. If you continue on the toll portion of Highway 73, exit at southbound state Highway 133, which will take you right into Laguna Beach. From John Wayne International Airport, head south on MacArthur Boulevard and either head south on Highway 73 (toll) or continue on MacArthur until reaching Highway 1. Then, head south on Highway 1 to Laguna Beach. From San Diego, drive north on Interstate 5 (San Diego Freeway) and exit at northbound Highway 1, proceeding through Dana Point to reach Laguna Beach to the north. *Next stop on Beach Trip:* Big Sur in central California, one of the most beautiful places in America. To learn more about the Catch a Wave travel podcast and Kevin Wing, send an e-mail to info@kevinscottwing.com or visit www.kevinscottwing.com. Beach Trip Where It's Summertime Year-Round. Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved Kevin Wing / Toby Dog Productions Issue 16 / February 2009 Archive: July 2008 March 2008 September 2007 August 2007 May 2007 December 2006 July 2006 May 2006 March 2006 January 2006 October 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 Photo used by permission courtesy of Kevin Wing. Photo copyright by Kevin Wing.