Laguna Beach (pop: 24000) is a popular seaside vacation resort and artistic community located in southern Orange County. It is famous for several major annual art festivals but also has terrific beaches.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center
20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California, 92651; 949-494-3050; Center Website;
Center dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals stranded along the Orange County coastline and to increase public awareness of the marine environment through education and research.

Laguna Beach Historical Society
Murphy-Smith Historical Bungalow
278 Ocean Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; 949-497-4525; Website;
Preserving life as it use to be in Laguna Beach.

Laguna Beach Life [OCT-MAY] - Nightly Concert Series
Laguna Beach Music Festival [2nd Week in January]
Dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation, Laguna Beach Live presents free chamber music concerts on the First Sundays (October–May) at the Laguna College of Art & Design, a weeklong Music Festival in January exploring modern classical music and new composers, special fall and spring concerts, and an outdoor summer jazz series at the Hotel Laguna.
Concert Website; - See website for event calendar updates.

Pageant of the Masters /
Irvine Bowl - Festival of Arts - July / August
Irvine Bowl, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92561; (800) 487-3378; Festival Website;
Pageant Performances: Every Evening - Live actors, intricate sets and sophisticated lighting will captivate the audience as recreations of classical and contemporary artworks are brought to life.
Festival of Arts - Fine Art Collection Open Daily 10AM-11:30PM. Most famous event in Laguna Beach for nearly 70 years. Festival of Arts is the oldest, most respected outdoor art show in California with orginal words of over 160 accomplished artists. Free art tours, workshops and demonstrations.
Gala Benefit - The Day after Pagent Closes.

Sawdust Art Festival - July / August
935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; (949) 494-3030; Festival Website;
More than 175 local artists invite visitors to stroll along sawdust-covered paths through a village of fine arts and superb crafts. Since 1966 this event has drawn visitors from around the world who are looking for one-of-a-kind artwork, including paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, sculptures, hand-blown glass and more. Meet and purchase directly from the artists! Varied demonstrations including glass blowing, complimentary art workshops, children's art activities, refreshments and live entertainment make this a memorable event.
Spring into Art - Weekends in March
Art Studio Tour - Early April
Winter Fantasy - Weekends - Nov/Dec

Art A Fair [Summer]
777 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92561; 949-494-4514; Festival Website;
International Art exhibit features 125 internationally juried artists and master craftsmen and offers guests the chance to experience the passion of artists working in oil painting, sculpture, mixed media, digital art, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and wood firsthand.

Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Dr, Laguna Beach, CA; 949-494-8971; Museum Website;
Open Daily: 11AM-5PM (Except Wednesdays); Free Admission on 1st Thursday of month;
An American art museum with a focus on the artworks of California and the role of art in the American culture. The museum includes fine art collections, exhibitions, research and instruction.

Laguna Beach Fine Culture Programs
City of Laguna Beach - Public Art Displays are found throughout the city on benches, murals, sculptures and other public places.
1st Thursday Art Walk - Over 38 galleries participate in a free viewing on the first thursday evening of every month.
Laguna Beach Art Aliance - LBaa is a group of 22 local cultural arts organizations.
Laguna College of Art & Design - Exhibitions featured in two galleries
Art Escapes - Laguna Outreach Community Arts Program
Laguna Culinary Arts Cooking School - hands-on cooking classes for the home-chef.

Laguna Beach Restaurants & Nightclubs
Dining Adventures along the coast:
Aegean Cafe - 540 S Coast Hwy - Mediterranean Restaurant serving authentically Greek Food
Brussels Bistro -222 Forest Ave
Cafe Zoolu - 860 Glenneyre St - this funky quasi-polynesian cafe is casual and hip without being trendy. Seafood.
Cedar Creek Inn - 384 Forest Ave
The Cottage Restaurant - 308 N Coast Hwy - a landmark home that has watched the ever-changing Laguna surf for more than a half century.
Hennessey's Tavern - 213 Ocean Ave - sidewalk cafe featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Johnny Rockets - 188 S Coast Hwy - an international retro diner-style restaurant chain that provides the food and friendliness reminiscent of feel-good Americana.
Las Brisas Mexican Restaurant - 361 Cliff Dr, -
Ocean Brewing Company - 237 Ocean Ave
Pomodoro Boccinocino - 234 Forest Ave - Italian pasta dishes
Picayo Restaurant - 610 N Coast Hwy - enjoy fine dining in the ambiance of a classic French chateau.
Romeo Cucino - 249 Broadway St - ristante italiano
Sorrento Grille - 370 Glenneyre St
White House Restaurant & Nightclub - 340 S Coast Hwy - First established in 1918, it later became very popular with stars of stage and screen from Hollywood when they would come to dine and hear the latest popular music by the sea in Southern California.
Zinc Cafe & Market - 350 Ocean Ave - a casual but thoughtful approach of making our food and hosting our guests is reflective of the environments of Paris, San Francisco, Berkeley and other urban environments.

Laguna Playhouse - Theater
Moulton Theater, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; 949-497-ARTS; Theater Website;
Superlative entertainment comes in many forms, and The Laguna Playhouse continues to make your theatergoing here an adventure by producing a broad spectrum of terrific plays each season. And you know that you can count on top-notch productions featuring dynamic actors and imaginative designs. Programs include youth theater conservatory and more.

Monarch Beach Golf Links - Dana Point
This par-70 course with four sets of tees across 6601 yards features breathtaking views of the California coastline and Pacific Ocean. Here, along the dramatic bluffs of Southern California, master architect, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., has fashioned an intriguing layout in the Scottish links tradition on one of the select few oceanfront golf courses in California.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; 949-923-2235; Park Website;
6500-acre preserve of some of the last remaining coastal canyons in Southern California. The park ecosystem is primarily Coastal Sage Scrub, with Maritime Chaparral, Oak Woodlands, Riparian habitats, and the only natural lakes in Orange County. activities including; hiking, mountain bicycling, trail running, horse-back riding. Many local artists, photographers and writers enjoy the park in their unique ways also.

Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course - Laguna Beach
Play a 9-hole golf course, while enjoying our beautiful landscape and with the beach only minutes away. The creek is a major factor on the course because it can affect how the game goes.

Laguna Shores Resort
419 North Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651;
Located on PCH (SR-1) overlooking Divers Cove
Guests enjoy miles of picturesque beaches, stimulating art exhibits, fine dining and great shopping within walking distance along scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Day trips to Disneyland, Sea World, and other Southern California theme parks and family attractions are a short distance away.

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America's Best Inn - Laguna Beach
1404 North Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651;
Located On World Famous Pacific Coast Highway Just 1 Block From The Ocean. There Are Several Restaurants Within A Mile. Enjoy One Of Their Ocean View Rooms Or Any One Of Their Recently Renovated Rooms Or Just Relax Next To Their Outdoor Heated Pool.

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Laguna Culinary Arts College
845 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651; 949-494-4006; School Website;
The Professional Chef Program is an intensive 6-month course involving rigorous and comprehensive training. Integrating classical and modern culinary techniques with strong kitchen management skills, the Program focuses on hands-on skill development and practical application of techniques.