About Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach (Laguna is Spanish for "Lagoon") is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County. It is known for its mild year-round climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation efforts, and artist community.

The city has remained relatively isolated from urban encroachment by its surrounding hills, limited highway access, and dedicated greenbelt. The Laguna Beach coastline is protected by 5.88 miles (9.46 km) of state marine reserve and an additional 1.21 miles (1.95 km) of state conservation area.

Tourism is the primary industry with an estimated six million people visiting the community annually. Large annual events include the Pageant of the Masters, Festival of Arts, Sawdust Art Festival, Art-A-Fair, Bluewater Music Festival, and Kelpfest.

What is known in Laguna Beach?

Laguna Beach is a California coastal city that is famed for its beaches, serene coves and vibrant arts and cultural community with tons of independent galleries. Swimmers love to head for Main Beach, which offers calm tide pools and a boardwalk that connects to the Heisler Park Gardens. Aliso Beach Park is popular with surfers, while Crystal Cove State Park offers calm waters and fantastic snorkeling and Scuba diving. Along the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, hikers will find stunning trails winding through coastal canyons.

Arts and cultural fans will enjoy the Laguna Art Museum, which sits right on the waterfront and features a vast collection of contemporary art in a variety of media. The Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery & Sculpture offers an upscale look at important contemporary art. The annual Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters is a huge celebration featuring painting, concerts, theatre and other art and entertainment that draws tens of thousands to the region every year.

What makes Laguna Beach attractive to visit?

Laguna Beach is perhaps Orange County's least-overdeveloped beach town and one of its prettiest. Created as an artist's getaway, Laguna Beach retains its artistic passion, with excellent art galleries and fun summer arts festivals. You'll find great beach atmosphere in Laguna, too.

Laguna Beach is a small but iconic coastal city that's famed for its art galleries, beaches, coves, parks, and gardens. When you visit Laguna Beach you can, of course, enjoy swimming and surfing in the sand and blue ocean waters.

You can also visit iconic and historic art galleries and performing arts venues, see a sandstone tower that rises 60 feet over the beach, or ride a trolley to all of the best restaurants and attractions in town. Check out some of the best state parks, hiking trails, scenic lookouts and other things to do in Laguna Beach.