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Daycations: Arts on the Ocean – Laguna Beach, California
By
Mike Sweeney
Southern California has no shortage of gorgeous beach communities. Take a drive along the PCH and you’ll find enough panoramic views to fill an entire rack of postcards. During your cruise with the top down, plan for a stop in Laguna Beach, where you’ll find more than just sand and surf. There’s a thriving arts community hiding in plain sight here beneath the California sun, a world where age old masterworks and modern creativity come together in living color.
Masters of Fine Arts
Long known as a haven for artistic types from all walks of life, Laguna features one of the best art scenes on the California coast, culminating at the annual Festival of the Arts, which runs this year from July 1st – August 31st. The festival revolves around the stunning Pageant of the Masters, where recreations of classic and contemporary works of art are brought to life with real people in a vivid display of imagination. Watch in awe as famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Norman Rockwell, Vincent Van Gogh and more turn into “living pictures” before your eyes, taking the idea of “performance art” to new levels of inspiration and creativity.
Purchasing a ticket for the Pageant also earns you free admission to the festival’s ongoing art exhibition, where paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry and more go on display just blocks from the ocean for casual viewing and for purchase. Stroll through the outdoor gallery as you browse through all the best art the festival has to offer. You can also take part in workshops, daily tours, live music and hands on demonstrations in everything from printmaking to ceramics and more. For more information on this year’s Festival of the Arts, visit www.foapom.com.
Pardon Our Dust
If you still haven’t had your fill of the Laguna Beach art scene, be sure to check out the Sawdust Art Festival, which runs from June 29th – September 2nd. Shop along sawdust covered paths through a handcrafted village as you peruse the work of over 200 local Laguna Beach artists in all media, including hand blown glass, jewelry, ceramics, painting, surf art, textiles and more. The festival also offers art classes every Friday and Saturday, where you can create your own art piece in the Sawdust Studio in one two-hour session. You’ll also find plenty of food and drink and live entertainment on three outdoor stages, along with roving performers that include circus acts and much more. For more information, visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.
Galleries Galore
While you’re in town for the various festivals, take time to visit some of Laguna’s fine art galleries, many of which are located up and down the scenic Coast Highway. The Fingerhut Gallery (www.fingerhutart.com) highlights work by many famous artists from around the world, including a collection of rare creations from the legendary Dr. Seuss. Peter Blake Gallery (www.peterblakegallery.com) showcases modern and contemporary art from a diverse group of artists in a variety of mediums with a focus on abstraction. Wyland Galleries (www.wyland.com) features the work of Wyland, whose paintings, sculptures and photography bring the world of the ocean and its creatures to vibrant life. For more information on Laguna’s many art galleries, visit www.art-collecting.com/galleries_ca_lagunabeach.htm.
Beach Eats
Some of the best culinary hotspots in Laguna Beach can also be found along the Coast Highway. For breakfast, hit up the Koffee Klatch (949.376.6867), a cozy bohemian coffee shop. Plush couches, ottomans and pillows will keep you comfortable while you peruse a wide selection of coffee, tea, espresso and blended drinks to help open your sleepy eyes. Chow down on a delicious egg and cheese croissant, oatmeal with fresh fruit or a plate of scrambled eggs with avocado for a morning treat. Best of all, it’s just across the street from the ocean, so grab that coffee and Danish to go and spend your early hours taking in the gorgeous Pacific scenery.
Closer to the Main Beach, you’ll find The White House (www.whitehouserestaurant.com), one of the oldest restaurants in Orange County and a pillar of great California cuisine. Eggs Benedict, omelettes and Belgian waffles highlight the breakfast menu, while lunch and dinner offer sandwiches, soup, pasta, salads and entrées that cover everything from baby back ribs to charbroiled Atlantic salmon. Portions are plentiful, so your chances of walking away hungry are slim to none. Right next to the dining room, you’ll find a lounge bar with a dance floor, where you can hear live music seven nights a week and keep the party going well into the wee hours.
For a dash of elegance, make a reservation at French 75 (www.french75.net) for dinner. Nestled inside a country cottage, French 75 offers a modern take on French bistro fare in a romantic, intimate setting. Appetizers such as foie gras and shucked oysters will start your evening off right as you segue into main courses that include Bacon Tomato Mussels, Filet Mignon au Cognac and Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast. Choose from many a la carte side dishes as well such as mac and cheese with manchego and chorizo or their signature pommes frites. With live entertainment several nights a week and special events that include everything from wine tastings to Sunday brunch, French 75 brings a touch of class to the seaside scene.
Bunking Down
If you’re looking for a rustic, old fashioned place to hang your hat at the end of your day, check in at The Carriage House (www.carriagehouse.com). This pastoral bed and breakfast was built in the 1920s and features six two bedroom suites, each decorated with its own unique theme, including Lilac Time and Green Palms. Enjoy a family style breakfast in “Grandma Bean’s” dining room or lounge in the courtyard instead as you sample granola made from scratch and other home cooked recipes. Filled with colonial charm and located within convenient walking distance to the beach and local hotspots, The Carriage House is the perfect ocean getaway.
For something more quaint, try the Manzanita Cottages (www.manzanitacottages.com), where old California charm and modern comforts come together for a cozy beach experience. Choose from one of four private cottages, each with its own exclusive furnishings and décor. All come fully equipped with a kitchen, dining room, king size bed and the usual relaxing amenities of home. Secluded and hidden away in a storybook setting that includes floral gardens and an elegant courtyard, Manzanita Cottages will keep you away from the tourist hubbub when you want to unwind while still providing easy access to all the excitement Laguna has to offer.
A luxurious escape from the everyday world awaits at Montage Laguna Beach (www.montagelagunabeach.com), known for its elegant suites and beach bungalow style rooms that hearken back to the early days of the Laguna arts movement. Take a walk down to the shore and wade in the ocean or gaze out across the Pacific while enjoying a relaxing soak at Spa Montage. And if that doesn’t cure your ills, head back to your room for a nap on your feather top bed while you fall asleep to the cool ocean breeze. No matter what kind of vacation experience you have planned, Montage has all the tools you need to spoil yourself.
Laguna Beach may be known for its sand and surf, but its artistic side is what truly makes it shine. Where else can you explore the works of master painters, shop for homemade jewelry and then run across the street to enjoy some of the most beautiful ocean views in the world. Life may be a beach in Southern California, but thanks to Laguna, it’s a creative and inspiring one as well.
