A beach city located in Southern California's Orange County, Laguna Beach is one of the most relaxed and laid back beach towns. This vibrant surf town offers plenty of shopping, dining, art galleries, beaches, parks and nearby attractions to offer visitors an ideal day-trip destination for young and old. From anywhere in Southern California, a trip to Laguna is relatively close making it a good getaway choice throughout the year.
While almost any day in Laguna Beach is ideal no matter what time of year, those who are not familiar with the California coast climate may run into "June gloom", which happens when the marine layer does not burn off, leaving most of the month of June cloudy and cooler than normal. Be sure to keep this in mind if you're planning on visiting Laguna Beach to lie out on the sand or enjoy a day in the sun. Summer is also one of the busiest times in Laguna , especially during one of the many festivals.
For those who love shopping, a day in Laguna Beach is bound to please. From boutique clothing shops to jewelry stores, art galleries and souvenir shops Laguna Beach has something for anyone, on every budget. The downtown area along Pacific Coast Highway features many stores and shops to browse through or pick up items for friends and family.
Plan to visit Laguna during the summer, especially from late June through September. Famous art festivals such as Pageant of the Masters and the Sawdust Festival bring artists together from the local area and around the world to show off their creativity and talents. Sculpture, photography, and painting are some of the impressive works found at these festivals.
One reason to plan a trip to Laguna is to walk on Main Beach where street musicians and artists show off their talents along the boardwalk. Strolling around the boardwalk in the morning and riding bikes in the afternoon along the coast is a perfect Southern California day trip. Walking tours are also available from the Visitor Center on Broadway, where self guided tours show you the historic homes of early residents to the Laguna Beach area.
No matter what you have planned to spend a day in Laguna Beach, there are plenty of relaxing and interesting things to do than make this city one of Southern California's ideal day trips.