Laguna Beach

Road to Laguna Beach

Day 27 – Sunday

Picked up black convertible mustang and headed up the Californian Coast – destination Laguna Beach.

Stopped off for lunch at Oceanside Harbour Village – quaint, busy little harbour.

Our new wheels 

Enjoying the sunshine in the Harbour

Drove up Highway 1, which is the coast road and passed heaps of lovely spots along the way.

Arrived at accommodation – Travelodge across the road from Treasure Island Beach, one of the many small beaches that dot this coastline. You look one way and you have the ocean you turn around and you are looking at the mountains, very different to our coastal destinations at home. Downtown Laguna Beach is a free trolley tram ride about 1k down the road. They do it well here in California – there is free transport up and down this stretch of coast from May to September as parking is limited and to limit congestion downtown. The trolley comes approx every 15 minutes from 9am – 11pm.

Day 28 – Monday

Started the day with a walk along the coast. At times you have to walk on the side of the main road as all the mansions are built right on the beach and on the sides of the cliff faces. The homes here are expensive and some enormous. Walked all the way up to Thousand Steps Beach, a favourite of the locals and as the name suggests there are a thousand steps to the beach – well almost but when you walk down the only way out is back up. The homes on this beach have small beach huts on the sand and inclinators up to their homes at the top of the cliff.

The homes on Thousand Steps Beach - I could happily live in one of these beach huts

The steps- they were tough

Had to catch trolley back – exhausting walk.

Spent the rest of the day at the beach across the road. Water very cold, I love it that way but took a bit to get Mez into it.

Just had to let you know how touristy we have become. Chairs and beach bags from the local supermarket in bright colours.

Mez enjoying a day at the beach

Caught trolley downtown to see the sites and luckily it was a clear afternoon and experienced an Orange County sunset.

Sunset at Main Beach Laguna

Only in America - Not unusual to see a pampered pooch in Orange County 

Day 29 – Tuesday

Another beautiful day so we headed to the beach but before venturing out blockout was applied to the whole body, as the sun was stronger than anticipated yesterday. The beach was a lot rougher today and the swimming venture was brief. I didn’t think I would be sitting on a beach covered in a towel to avoid the sun but that was me today.

After a while we left to get our yummy lunch organised. Yesterday we bought all sorts of naughty delights such as cheese, salami, cherry tomatoes, baby baby carrots (wish we had these at home) and some fruit. Packed ourselves a picnic and headed back to the park above the beach- just the most perfect spot.

Doing it tough in the sunshine

Our beach spot each day across the road - view from lunch spot

The surf was picking up and had a good time watching the swimmers below get pounded by the waves – lots of very inexperienced holidaymakers braving the surf. I must admit we did have a giggle at an Asian family get soaked by a whopper. It looked like it was their first time at a beach – very funny.

One of the many waves that came crashing down on the inexperienced

On way back we asked a guy to take a picture of us - well he thought he was a pro asking us to stand in a particular way, look a particular way. I have about 10 pics of us at this spot he just kept clicking - very funny.

Back to hotel to get organised for next trip tomorrow up to Venice Beach near Santa Monica.