SURFING AND LAID-BACK BEACH TOWNS
There is nothing quite like Orange County in Southern California. It’s a sun-drenched, ocean-salted dream, with charming coastal towns, white sandy beaches, golden cliffs, fish tacos, flip flops, and endless summers. Visitors often focus on places like Los Angeles, Disney Land, and San Diego, when they visit Southern California. All great places, but in my opinion, the real magic is in the quaint little beach towns in between. We lived in Southern California for 14 years, and we come back every given chance. There are always new things to explore and old places to revisit – these are some of my favourites if you are ready to discover the coastal magic of Southern California.
Huntington Beach
Kicking things off in Surf City USA. Huntington Beach lives up to the name – with miles of wide sandy beach, a classic pier, and an unmistakable surf energy. Everything is pretty “gnarly” here, and Vans and flip-flops are mandatory. Watch the pros ride the waves, or rent a board and attempt to do the same.
One of our favorite things is to bring or rent bikes and follow the 10-mile paved beach path that runs from Sunset Beach to Newport Beach south of the city. It’s an easy ride along the ocean and great for people watching.
Surfers and an oil rig at Huntington Beach
Plenty of options to get a coffee, cold brew, or fish tacos along Main Street. Or maybe get some epic beachwear in one of the many surf shops. Make a stop at the high-end beachfront mall, Pacific City, where you’ll find restaurants and trendy retail shops.
We used to bring our Golden Retriever Lucca to the Huntington Dog Beach. This heaven allows dogs to be off-leash while splashing in the water and playing in the sand. Tired, wet, and filled with sand, we would bring Lucca to the Park Bench Café, a dog-friendly outdoor café serving breakfast, lunch, and a doggie menu. Definitely Lucca’s favorite way to spend the day!
Newport Beach
South of Huntington, you’ll find Newport Beach, mostly known for its upscale yet relaxed California lifestyle. You can easily spend half a day at Fashion Island if you’re into shopping. This open-air shopping mall has everything you desire in terms of luxury retailers, fine dining, and beautiful ocean views.
Lido Marina Village is a charming and Insta-worthy upscale waterfront destination with a blend of high-end boutiques in stylish coastal-inspired buildings. Restaurants like Malibu Farms and Zinqué, which offer farm-to-table cuisine with beautiful views of the marina, are popular spots for lunch and dinner.
Duffy boat at Balboa Island
The ultimate way to experience the scenic harbor of Newport is by renting an electric, easy-to-operate Duffy Boat. We have done it several times with family and friends, and it’s such a relaxed and fun thing to do for a couple of hours. The boats can take 8-12 passengers, and look out for discounted rates on the internet. Bring food, drinks, and snacks for an enhanced experience.
Balboa Peninsula & Balboa Island
The Balboa Peninsula is part of Newport Beach and is another iconic surfing spot. This 4-mile-long beach has everything to make a fun day: Ferris wheels, bars, restaurants, and beautiful bay views.
It’s also a great place to cruise your bike or go on a whale watching tour. Newport Landing offers year-round trips where sea lions, dolphins, blue whales, finback whales, and gray whales can be spotted on a good day.
The beach at Balboa Peninsula
We like to visit Super Panga Taqueria, a vibrant beachside taqueria. It has a lively atmosphere and authentic Mexican flavors, like spit-roasted al pastor, fresh seafood, and a variety of tacos and burritos.
Don’t miss out on taking the ferry across the bay to Balboa Island. It’s a short ride and only a few dollars. This quaint, picture-perfect island is a great place to walk along the quiet waterfront paths lined with charming beach cottages, boats, and bougainvillea.
Treat yourself to a Balboa Bar – vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate and covered in your topping of choice. Or get a chocolate-covered Frozen Banana at Sugar ‘n Spice or Dad’s. It’s a must!
Sea lions spotted on a whale watching tour
Crystal Cove State Beach
Heading further south on the Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll reach Crystal Cove, 2,400 acres of undeveloped woodland along the shore. If you park at the Los Trancos lot, a short walk through a tunnel will lead you to about 50 vintage cottages right on the beach. These cottages from the 1930s and 1940s capture the essence of California’s coastal heritage. They have all been renovated and are available for overnight stays.
Beachcomber Café is a popular place for fresh seafood and beachfront views. Make reservations in advance for lunch and dinner, or enjoy a drink on the back patio.
Crystal Cove
Another iconic spot is the Crystal Cove Shake Shack. This cliffside stand serves burgers and shakes and has an unbeatable view.
If you’re up for a hike, Crystal Cove has a variety of popular trails all set against the backdrop of coastal bluffs, canyons, and panoramic ocean views.
Cottages and milkshakes at Crystal Cove
Laguna Beach
Next stop: Laguna Beach. Absolutely one of my favorite beach towns in Southern California. It’s beachy, artsy, and glamorous, all at the same time. Grab a coffee and walk along the boardwalk on Main Beach all the way to the tide pools at the north end. These tide pools are quite spectacular and fun to explore, with lots of underwater marine life.
Ocean view from Heisler Park in Laguna Beach
At the end of the beach, walk the stairs up the rugged cliffs, which will take you to some amazing ocean views. Follow the path high above the coast at Heisler Park, where you’ll find gardens, picnic areas, and beautiful artwork.
View of Laguna Beach from Heisler Park
Downtown Laguna
Downtown Laguna has great restaurants, small boutiques, and sophisticated art galleries. Here are some of our favorites, but you really can’t go wrong in this town.
- Zinc Café: If you’re looking for a vegetarian lunch option, this is a great little café and gourmet market with a charming outdoor patio.
- Brussels Bistro: At this hip little bistro, you can get Belgian comfort food. We always have Mussels & Fries. They have more than ten different varieties, from natural and blue cheese to yellow curry and grain mustard. If you love mussels, this is the place to go!
- Candy Baron: Visit this place and you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store. We always get the saltwater taffy – this nostalgic store has nearly 100 different flavors in huge wooden barrels. Beyond taffy, Candy Baron will take you back in time with old-fashioned favorites.
- Gelato Paradiso: Don’t let the long line of people at Gelato Paradiso scare you away. This beloved gelateria makes small batches of authentic Italian gelato and sorbets daily, and it’s worth the wait.
- The Greeter’s Corner: This is the place to go for an authentic American diner experience. They have a great outdoor patio with beautiful ocean views. The restaurant is named after Eiler Larsen, a Danish vagabond famously known as “The Greeter.”
- Mozambique: Looking for something a little more upscale? Head a little further south and you’ll find flavorful and vibrant South African-inspired food at Mozambique. Panoramic ocean views from the rooftop, and a warm and upscale atmosphere at two more levels.
Mussels & Fries at Brussels Bistro
Hikes and Art in Laguna
If you have time for a hike and a different perspective, go to Top of the World just above Laguna Beach. This scenic viewpoint is located about 1,000 feet above sea level and has breathtaking vistas of the coastline and nearby canyons. From Top of the World, you can access the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, where you can explore over 30 miles of trails.
Laguna Beach is also known for its Sawdust Art Festival, Festival of Arts, and Pageant of the Masters. Each festival offers a unique artistic experience, so check them out!
View from Top of the World in Laguna
Traffic and Parking
Most likely, you’ll run into traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. Especially south of Laguna Beach. However, it’s such a scenic drive and well worth the time. There are plenty of smaller beaches along the way, each one with its own unique personality. One of these, Victoria Beach, is a picturesque and secluded gem with a 60-foot-tall castle-like Pirate Tower.
The Pirate Tower at Victoria Beach
Getting a parking spot along the highway or in the narrow side streets to visit these beaches can be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.
There is another option! Leave your car in Laguna Beach and take the Laguna Beach Trolley. It’s a fun and free service that runs along Coast Highway between North Laguna and the Ritz-Carlton at Salt Creek Beach. It can be quite busy, but it’s ideal for exploring beaches, parks, shops, and restaurants without the hassle of driving or parking.
Check out: Parking in Laguna Beach or How to Hack Laguna Beach Parking.
Montage Laguna Beach
Montage Laguna Beach has access to some of Southern California’s most picturesque coastal landscapes. The resort overlooks Treasure Island Beach, an idyllic cove with soft sands, clear waters, and dramatic rock formations. It’s ideal for a quiet day at the beach or marine life exploration.
Several other secluded coves are connected to Treasure Island Beach through a scenic path at the top of the bluff. The bluff is popular for picnics, proposals, Prom and Wedding pictures. There is a small parking garage at Montage, or use street parking on Coast Highway.
Scenic cliffs and coves at Montage Laguna Beach
Salt Creek Beach
Salt Creek Beach is another hotspot for surfers and bodyboarders. If you prefer to have a picnic without sand, it has a spacious grassy area with picnic tables, barbeques, basketball courts, restrooms, and Young’s Beach Shack. From the (paid) parking lot, there is a 5-minute walk downhill to the beach.
The view of Salt Creek Beach from the Ritz-Carlton
If you can’t get enough of a beautiful view (like me), walk up the hill to the Ritz-Carlton. This 5-star hotel has a beautiful garden and views to die for. You can get back to the parking lot through a narrow path on the backside of the hotel.
Another option for a beautiful walk is to follow one of the paved trails to the golf course at the north end. Continue through the tunnel and walk the trail along the golf course. If you keep to the right and use common sense, you’ll return to the parking lot.
A two-minute walk from the parking lot, there is a popular French bakery, Moulin, and next to it, Beach Hut Deli, serving sandwiches with names like Surfin’ Pig and Beach Bikini.
Burgers and Fries with a view at Young’s Beach Shack
Strands Vista Park
Salt Creek Beach and Strands are connected. We usually park at Strands because parking is free, unless we are going to the grassy area at Salt Creek. There is a picnic area and restrooms by the parking lot, and the best part is the unobstructed views of the ocean because it’s elevated high above the beach.
Low tide at Strands
You can access the beach through a long set of stairs at the northern end, or go through the neighborhood below in the middle, or use the winding concrete path at the southern end.
View of Strands Beach and neighborhood from the southern trail
One of our favorite things is bringing Mahi Tacos and Zucchini Fries from A’s Burgers in Dana Point (don’t let the name fool you). We like to come at sunset, and you won’t find a better (or cheaper) view at any restaurant nearby.
Dana Point
Keep heading south and you’ll land in Dana Point, a harbor town with a relaxed, nautical feel. The harbor area is low-key charming, with seafood spots and boutiques tucked into rustic buildings.
Sunset and sealion at Dana Point Harbor
Kayaking in Dana Point Harbor
I love to go paddleboarding or kayaking in Dana Point Harbor – usually we see sea lions up close and lots of Brown Pelicans on the massive rock jetties.
This is another place to catch a whale-watching tour. We have gone several times and seen both whales and lots of dolphins. Highly recommendable!
The harbor is currently undergoing major revitalization, so check it out before you go (June 2025).
Dana Point Harbor from the View Point at Conservation Park
San Juan Capistrano
Not a beach town, but the charming San Juan Capistrano is a must-visit that will give you a unique glimpse of the past. The cobblestone streets, Spanish architecture, and the iconic Mission San Juan Capistrano, home of the famous swallows, give this town a timeless feel.
San Juan Capistrano
Wander the historic Los Rios District, California’s oldest residential neighborhood. Browse the Old Barn Antique Mall. Visit the stunning ruins and gardens at the Mission. Have a cup of coffee at Hidden House Coffee or a glass of wine and an appetizer at the Five Vines Wine Bar. Enjoy dinner and music in the courtyard of Rancho Capistrano Winery or Trevor’s at the Tracks. You’ll love San Juan Capistrano!
Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Clemente
Back on the coast, San Clemente is the kind of town where you would want to live. Laid-back, sun-kissed, and soaked in vintage surf-town charm.
With its white stucco buildings and red-tile roofs, San Clemente is known as “Spanish Village by the Sea”.
Avenida Del Mar is the heart of downtown – full of charming boutiques, cozy cafes, old-school barbers, and surf shops.
“Spanish Village by the Sea”.
San Clemente has so many great restaurants, both in the downtown area and by the pier, each with an ambiance of its own.
And you’ll find some of the best Mexican food in this area. Both the food and the Margarita flight at Sol Agave are awesome. South of Nick’s is a popular place for elevated Mexican fare, and for hole-in-the-wall kind of Mexican, grab some fish tacos at Pedro’s – “the world’s best tacos since 1986”.
If you’re looking for ocean views, go to Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar, located on the pier. The part of the restaurant on the right side of the pier has more casual options.
Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar at sunset
The Margarita flight at Sol Agave and the San Clemente pier
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I hope your’re convinced and ready to explore the coastal magic of Southern California! It’s definately a part of the US not to be missed or rushed through.
If you want to read about some of the other destinations we visited during our journey across the US, please check out the Travel Journal
And if you want to know more about navigating midlife while living as a digital nomad, check out the Midlife Journal