LAGUNA BEACH:

Laguna Beach is a popular artist’s colony with 7 miles of nice oceanfront beaches, located 50 miles south of Los Angeles and 75 miles north of San Diego.  The nearest airport is the Orange County Airport, a 15 mile drive.

MAJOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN LAGUNA BEACH:

June 29 - September 2: Art-A-Fair  The fair hours are Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.  During July 4^th and September 2^nd, the fair is closed at 6:00 p.m.

June 29 - September 2: Sawdust Festival and Art-A-Fair is a non-profit, nine-week summer, non-juried art festival offering ceramics, glass-blowing, jewelry, water color and oil paintings, crafts, clothing, furniture.  The festival is open daily 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.  There is an admission fee.

The night after July 4^th: July 5 – end of August: Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters: life-sized human replicas recreate art scenes of the masters - so detailed that when photographed, it is difficult to distinguish real versus re-creation.  There are on-going open-air art show and sales.  

SAVVY TRAVEL TIP: Parking is precious.  Do yourself a favor and take the Tram shuttles that ferry visitors from downtown parking areas to the Festival site.

Third and fourth weekends of November - first two weekends of December: Sawdust Annual Winter Fantasy, open on weekends only: 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  There is an admission fee.

TIME ON YOUR HANDS IN LAGUNA BEACH:

Art and beach life dominate the local scene.  There are over 400 artists that reside in Laguna Beach.

The Laguna Art Museum houses an impressive collection.  The museum is open daily 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and the first Thursday monthly: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.  The museum is located at 9307 Cliff Drive and can be reached by calling 949-494-8971

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center is a shelter for injured and ill sea lions and other mammals.  The center offers rehabilitation services.  The center is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Drive and can be reached by calling 949-494-3050.

A nice, secluded beach for sunning and beach walks is Victoria Beach.  The beach is located near Casa Laguna Inn.  There is staircase access off Victoria drive at Sunset Terrace Street.

Other nice beaches are:

Treasure Island - at back of the Montage Laguna Beach resort

Seal Rock is an observation place to view sea lions, off the North Coast Highway at Cliff Drive.

IN SEARCH OF A GOOD NIGHTS REST IN LAGUNA BEACH:

The 250-room Montage Laguna Beach is Laguna Beach’s newest and largest.

Montage’s sister property is the 62 suite, Aliso Creek Inn, with an adjacent nine-hole golf course.

The 126-room, Pacific Edge Hotel on Laguna Beach, is another worthy choice.

The older (1948) 170-room Surf and Sand Resort, with recent upgrades, remains an elegant property.

WINDOW SHOPPING IN LAGUNA BEACH:

Every Saturday: Laguna Beach Certified Farmers Market

Art galleries are plentiful

Seven Degrees is a state-of-the-art, three level hillside gallery and studios.