Orange County’s beach paradise, as upscale or laid-back as you crave.
The beach town of Dana Point is nestled on a cliffside in idyllic south Orange County, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego and within easy driving distance of Southern California’s hottest attractions. Whether you’re in the mood to luxuriate in a beachside resort or take advantage of legendary surfing and sunning, you’ll escape to a less-crowded, totally approachable beach paradise.
Ride the Wave of Surf Culture
Southern California is synonymous with surf culture and Dana Point is at the heart of it all. In fact, one influential group of early surf icons was dubbed the “Dana Point Mafia,” consisting of locals Hobie Alter (founder of Hobie surf brand in 1954), John Severson (founder of “Surfer” magazine in 1962), legendary surfer Phil Edwards, and filmmaker Bruce Brown (“Endless Summer,” 1966). Take selfies with their statues at Waterman Plaza. Hop over to Doheny State Beach for your very own surf lesson on beginner-friendly waves or surf at Salt Creek Beach, one of the “Endless Summer” film locations. In the neighboring city of San Clemente, check out the awesome collection of historic surfboards, art and other surf memorabilia at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center – a must-stop for beach bums and surf enthusiasts.
