Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is California's most enchanting coastal town — an artistically inclined community of cove beaches, galleries, and natural beauty tucked into the hills of southern Orange County. Unlike the broad flat sands of much of the LA coastline, Laguna is characterised by a series of intimate cove beaches accessed by staircases cut into the sandstone bluffs, each with its own distinct character.

The marine environment at Laguna is among the richest on the California coast. The Laguna Beach Marine Life Refuge, established in 1971, protects over 6 miles of nearshore waters and the cove beaches. The result is exceptional snorkeling and diving — clear water, rich kelp beds, and an abundance of rockfish, garibaldi (California's state marine fish), octopus, and seasonal leopard sharks. Shaw's Cove and Crescent Bay are the best entry points for snorkeling.

Laguna's vibrant arts colony character is unique on the Southern California coast — the town has been home to artists since the early 20th century and hosts the celebrated Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters every summer. Pacific Coast Highway through downtown is lined with world-class restaurants, boutique hotels, and studios, and the cove beaches along the coast offer an entirely different experience from the crowded urban beaches further north.