Read the full article by elle.com’s Lauren Puckett-Pope HERE
When my husband and I chose Laguna Beach as the destination for our fifth wedding anniversary, we sought little more than a postcard’s idea of a California vacation: ideally a few good sunsets, palm trees a must. But the famous locale along the Pacific Coast Highway offered up a much more expansive itinerary than we’d originally envisioned.
Roughly 40 miles south of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach has a storied history as an enclave for artists, free spirits, and conservationists. Those influences are obvious throughout the resort town to this day: Take a stroll along the assortment of streets just off the Main Beach, and among the coffee bars, gift shops, and restaurants, you’ll find art galleries aplenty, catering to virtually anyone on the spectrum of casual to experienced collector. Nearly every meal we were fortunate enough to eat during our time in Orange County was crafted with sustainable practices and a focus on local ingredients. And, of course, the picturesque blue waters of the Laguna coast tell their own story of valiant conservation efforts.
Ultimately, these influences rubbed off on us: My husband and I ended the trip as newfound evangelists for abstract art and kelp forests; we brought home ceramic bowls we’d thrown alongside Tessa Mansour of Sweet T Ceramics, who was preparing to show her wares at the annual Sawdust Art Festival. I even renewed my daily yoga practice after a particularly restorative beachside session with La Vida Laguna. Our vacation was as relaxing and romantic as we’d hoped, but it was equally enlightening—solidifying Laguna Beach as a spot to which we’ll want to return again and again. Ahead, find a handful of the stops we recommend most.
Tidepool Tours with the Laguna Ocean Foundation
Laguna Beach is known for its numerous rocky tide pools, where marine life resides at the intersection of land and sea. Along the vast majority of the city’s coast, boating and fishing are prohibited, which means the protected waters are a thriving home for kelp forests and critters. Visit one of these tide pools, and you’ll likely find a Laguna Ocean Foundation educator perched nearby, ready to point out the sea stars, urchins, crabs, snails, nudibranches, and anemones—as well as their importance to the local ecosystem. After a tour with one of these local guides, I walked away with a much deeper understanding and appreciation for this remarkable form of wilderness.