Dana Point: Day At The Beach or Office? You Can Do Both!

We all could use a bonus summer, so why not make this summer an Endless Summer. Dana Point is the perfect beach town to get the most out of a vacation in Southern California. Located 60 miles south of Los Angeles and 65 miles north of San Diego, this South Orange County beach is the ideal spot to rest, relax, and rejuvenate after a LONG year! Here some reasons WHY Dana Point should be one of your travel destinations in 2021.

Famous Location

The Beach Boys sang about Dana Point in their song “Surfin’ USA”, the famous Doheny State beach is located in town. It’s the perfect surfing spot to not only learn, but to actually get up on the board and surf as the break rolls you into shore. Check mark that off your bucket list while spending the day on the sand OR you could book a reservation through the California State Park’s system (Reserve California) and set up camp at the beach for an overnight stay. 

If that is too adventurous and you want to stay sand free, Dana Point is full of amazing hotels that are family friendly like Dana Point Marina Inn, and some that boast beautiful resorts overlooking the Pacific Ocean that can handle your every need….hello margarita poolside!! NOW is the time to book those stays as some of the larger hotel chains such as The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Cliffs Marriott, and The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach are offering packages at prices that they have never offered before allowing you to adventure all over Southern California with the money you will be saving. Dana Point’s location is also a hop skip and jump to its neighboring cities of Laguna Beach, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano. Check them out and they will not disappoint and you will thank me later…..

Hidden Gems

Dana Point IS The Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World, yes and it’s trademarked! Dana Point is known as The Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World and was most recently honored as the first Whale Heritage Site in North America. The destination certifies the respect for these mammals while promoting environmental sustainability and the promotion of research and education.

Dana Point is a landmark for these majestic migrating mammals due to its weather and underwater environment. Going out on a 2 hour whale watching trip while in Dana Point is a MUST!! Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching departs daily with different times starting at 10 a.m., it is an experience that will last a lifetime!! They also offer sportfishing, private charters as well as the wonderful Orange County Sunset Wine Cruise that cruises the harbor at sunset on Sundays and some Fridays. I forgot to mention, they even have Yacht Yoga!! You will have to check it all out! Vacations are for experiences and you are sure to find one there!

Free and Fun Activities

If you are looking for FREE and FUN, during the summer months starting in June, The City of Dana Point sponsors The Dana Point Trolley with stops all along the city and the harbor. The trolley also connects you to the neighboring cities of Dana Point that have trolley stops at the end of the route.

A favorite of mine is parking my car at the Dana Point’s Nature Interpretive Center and hiking the trail that runs along the bluffs of The Headlands all the way to Strands Beach where you can either walk on the walkway alongside the gorgeous homes (all of which are my Lottery Dream) or take your shoes off and walk on the sand back up to the top of the stairs at Strands Beach. There is a trolley stop that my family likes to take down to the harbor for lunch and then back up to our car. Dana Point offers some fantastic ocean views from hiking spots that you can check out in my travel guide.

Beach Bumming

Dana Point’s beaches can rival Hawaii at times. Maybe I am biased but when the weather is just right, the ocean looks just as turquoise as those in Maui, especially looking down as you walk the hill at Salt Creek Beach. There you can surf, fly a kite hillside, set up a picnic for the day or at sunset and take in an ocean breeze and a beautiful view. Dana Point’s beaches run from Monarch Beach to Capo Beach and even a beach at the harbor that offers the perfect spot for sailing or paddleboarding. All these adventures can make you hungry and luckily Dana Point has so many eateries to choose from; sandwiches to oysters, and you can’t forget a mai tai harborside. Cheers to a safe and adventurous summer at the beach!

About the Author

Nicole Lindstrom, owner of Lindstrom Media is a jack-of-all-trades. She loves writing, photography, and helping to market small businesses in Orange County. In her down time, Nicole and her family enjoy being outside whether it’s at the beach or a National Park camping with their dogs, Zeus and Luna. Deeply passionate about community and all things to GO, SEE, and DO in the Golden State. Nicole lives in Ladera Ranch with her children, her FireFighter husband, and their dogs.

Nicole Lindstrom

Nicole Lindstrom

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