Laguna Beach
What if YOU could see the REAL City of Laguna and check it out for yourself!!! Plan a day trip and see why Laguna is such a great beach town and more!
 Beach Locations in LagunaBeaches at Laguna are super popular with up to a thousand people on the beach during busy summer days! WOW…you could say the sun, sand and water is that good! If you find a secluded local beach with public access, you’ll typically find a few dozen people enjoying the small spot of sand at the ocean’s edge. The BIG question is… How do you choose the right beach for you and your family? Highlights of a few local beaches are listed for you to explore. Many smaller coves and beaches are located and accessible off the west side of PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). When you drive by, take a peak down the street and hopefully you can find a parking spot on one of the side streets. Just be ready to walk a bit if you don’t get there early! Several options are available for parking in Laguna Beach, especially in the Downtown area and Act V parking during the Summer months. As an example, you can turn from PCH to Moss Street then to Ocean Way for beach access. The only problem is, can you find parking? You need to be an early bird to get the good spots. If you choose metered parking on PCH you can use the transit system to get dropped off at the beach spot you want. No bathrooms are available at most of the smaller and secluded beaches. Be prepared to hike down and back up steep staircases that lead to each of the smaller beaches. If you are fit and ready to go, you won’t have a problem. If you are toting a large cooler, towels, umbrella and kids – you might want to consider one of the more popular and easily accessible beaches. Most lifeguard staffing is seasonal - June 23rd to Labor Day Weekend. Please check for lifeguards stations at the beach you go to. Most of the little coves do not have lifeguard stations! If you visit Laguna during the months of December to early April, enjoy whale watching from the beach or the bluffs! Gray whales can be seen in the distance of the coastline as they migrate South and return North! Some beaches are easily accessible through local parks. Have fun finding your favorite beach and enjoy! Aliso Beach Park is a beach that is popular because of its size and facilities. To find this beach, take PCH south from Laguna Beach. You will pass the Montage Resort and see a very large concrete marker that says Aliso Beach Park to the right. Parking is metered with a “pay by the hour” system. You collect a ticket and place it in your dash window. Beware of the expiration time on the parking ticket, you don’t want to get a TICKET from the Laguna Beach Parking Patrol! Parking is one dollar per hour at this location. Beach Tips:
This beach offers a lot of sandy areas to set up your “beach day camp” and enjoy a family day at the beach. The kids playground and picnic area make this an easy location for family get-togethers and group gatherings. SPECIAL NOTE If you happen to be in Laguna Beach during a full moon, you don’t want to miss this special event! Lavida Laguna hosts a monthly Full Moon Drum Circle at Aliso State Beach. It is FREE to come and listen, or better yet participate! They meet at the South end of the beach and if you let your ears tune into the drum beats you will have no problem finding them! A full bonfire adds to the ethereal ambiance of the evening. The time of the Drum Circle is from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. If you have your own drum, bring it! If you don’t – don’t worry, they always have extras! 2009 Drum Circle Schedule:
Return to TOPTreasure IslandAt the South end of Laguna Beach, north of Aliso Creek Beach, is the beach called Treasure Island. This is the southern most beach that is still guarded by the Laguna Beach Lifeguards. The easiest way to get to the beach is to go via the Montage Resort and taking the ramp on the southwest corner. This is the ocean side of the resort that will lead you to parking. Beach tips:
Return to TOPMain BeachProbably the MOST POPULAR beach in Laguna Beach! It’s located directly in the middle of Laguna Beach where Broadway and Ocean Avenues intersect with PCH. You will see Main Beach when you turn North or South on PCH from Laguna Canyon Road. This beach has a huge white Lifeguard Tower and park area near the highway. The Lifeguard Tower is a famous landmark in Laguna Beach.
If you venture to the northern part of Main Beach, you will be near the boundary of Bird Rock which is part of Heisler Park.
Return to TOPHeisler ParkLocated at the Northern end of Laguna Beach you will find Heisler Park. Take PCH North from Laguna Beach (PCH and Laguna Canyon Road) and turn on Myrtle to Cliff Drive. You will find metered parking spots. As with every other parking spot in Laguna, they go FAST! Come early to make sure you get a spot. Beach tips:
You will truly enjoy Heisler Park with all the amenities it has to offer. Picnic tables, water fountains, grass areas, showers and BATHROOMS! Plus if you want to enjoy a bit of regional art, take the time to visit the Laguna Art Museum. It’s steps away from Heisler Park and offers a look at local California artists. Return to TOPCrescent BayAt the North end of Laguna Beach, off of Cliff Drive and North PCH, you will find a large cove called Crescent Bay. This beach is popular and fills up with hundreds to a few thousand people on a sunny day, so get there early for a good spot! Beach Tips:
Enjoy setting up your beach gear and relaxing while you play in the water! Take your binoculars or your camera to watch the sea lions and seals on Seal Rock. Return to TOPTidepool Rules
HINT-The best time to explore and find sea life in the tidepools is from Winter to Spring during afternoon low tides. Return to TOPParking Options in Laguna BeachParking in Laguna isn’t as hard as it used to be!! I remember when I was a kid and we had to park on PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) and walk forever until we got to the Sawdust Festival! Laguna Beach has done a great job at providing public transportation and easing some of the traffic congestion. It makes your life a whole lot easier when you take a day trip to the Sawdust Festival or the Festival of Arts. Several parking options are available for you to choose from when visiting the Festivals or going to the beach during the summer months.
Metered Parking There are also metered parking spots available along Laguna Canyon Road, in downtown Laguna Beach and along some of the side streets with smaller beach access. Carry lots of quarters, because that’s all the meters will accept! Remember to check the time on your meter; a quarter will get you 15 minutes or 10 minutes depending on where you park. The Laguna cops are fast at catching you with a dry meter! There are Private Pay Lots available throughout Laguna where you can pay anywhere from $8.00 to $15.00 per day. Expect slight price increases during the weekend. Most are near or around downtown Laguna. It will be about a 5-10 minute walk to get to the Festivals from these lots. City Pay Lots are located on Forest Avenue, Glenneyre, Mermaid and 3rd Street. You pay $3.00 an hour and can use the change machines near the lots if you need to. I don’t recommend these parking lots for anything other than a quick in and out shopping trip or a bite to eat. As you can imagine, your parking fees will rack up FAST! I absolutely recommend using Act V Parking (1900 Laguna Canyon Road) for quick and easy access to the Festivals and the Pageant of the Masters. Act V is on the right hand side of Laguna Canyon Road approximately one mile before you reach main Laguna. If you miss the parking lot, don’t worry you can turn around and get back to it. Parking is $7.00 per day and you can take the FREE Trolley to the Sawdust Festival, Festival of Arts, and the Pageant of the Masters. The FREE TROLLEY runs about every 10 or 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Ask the trolley driver where they are going before you get on! Some trolleys don’t go where you think they are going!! I speak from experience! Remember that Act 5 parking is available during the summer months only. The free trolley service is available to the Festivals during summer months only. You can expect to take shuttle service to Laguna events from the end of June to the end of August. Continuous service during the summer months from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm. Call the transit line for additional details and for to purchase "summer parking passes" at 949-497-0766. If you want to use the Act V Parking to go to the beach, you will need to get off at one of the depot stops which is about 2 blocks from Main Beach. If you want to go to a different beach, you can transfer trolleys at this station. Convenient trolley maps are at each stop. If you have a small tote, towel and light handheld cooler you will be able to use the trolleys without a problem. If you have more items, you will need to use other parking areas. During the summer months you can also park at the Lumber Yard on Forest Avenue and Laguna Canyon Road. Parking is $10.00 per day. South Coast Medical Center Parking South Coast Medical Center in South Laguna Beach offers FREE parking during the summer. The Medical Center is located South of Aliso State Beach on 7th Avenue and PCH. Parking is available Monday-Friday after 3:00pm and all day Saturday and Sunday. There are 200 FREE parking spots available and FREE summer shuttle service. The shuttle runs from this location about every 20 minutes. Return to TOPLaguna Beach Map
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