Details Getting There: John Wayne Airport, Orange County is 23 miles from the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club. Weather: The average high temperature for Dana Point in early August is around 79 degrees, and the average low is around 60. What to Wear: PCCA meetings are largely resort casual, meaning that shorts, golf shirts, sandals, and sneakers are acceptable, but you wouldn’t look out of place in slacks and a dress shirt. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club 1 Monarch Beach Resort Dana Point, CA 92629 (949) 234-3200 • www.waldorfastoriamonarchbeach.com Boasting the “best beaches in Southern California,” Dana Point is distinguished by nearly seven miles of prominent coastal bluffs and rolling hills along the Pacific Ocean. And there are plenty of things to do in Dana Point, whether you want to get your adrenaline pumping, shop with delight, or unwind with a cocktail by the beach. From Doheny State Beach and Dana Point Harbor to the Lantern District and Monarch Bay, there are a wide range of activities and the surfer chic lifestyle that the locals embrace day-in and day-out. Dana Point Harbor The Harbor attracts thousands of visitors annually for shopping, sport fishing, walking, bicycling, parasailing, and a host of recreational activities. The Harbor houses 2,500 boats within two marinas, inside a 1-1/2-mile jetty. The Harbor boasts 17 different restaurants to please every palate. And 30 intriguing shops are loaded with unexpected treasures, everything from custom-designed jewelry, Indian artifacts, and art collectibles to hand-formed chocolates, designer perfumes and sunglasses, and quality ice cream. Across the bridge to Dana Island, more walking paths lead to yacht clubs, a restaurant, and a continuation of the quiet waterside parkways. Beautiful Beaches & the Surfing Life Dana Point beaches are among the finest in the world, and the area is rich in surf history and is also popular for sunning, swimming, and tide pool exploration. County, state, and private beaches adorn the coastline, including worldfamous surfing spots at Doheny Beach, Dana Strands, and Salt Creek. Southern California is synonymous with surf culture, and Dana Point is at the heart of it all. You can take selfies with statues of early surf icons the “Dana Point Mafia” at Waterman Plaza and then hop over to Doheny State Beach for a surf lesson on beginner-friendly waves or surf at Salt Creek Beach, one of the “Endless Summer” film locations. In the neighboring city of San Clemente, check out the awesome collection of historic surfboards, art and other surf memorabilia at the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center, a muststop for beach bums and surf enthusiasts. Local Landmarks Learn local maritime history and ecology at the Ocean Institute, a community-based organization nationally renowned for its ocean science and maritime history educational programs. On weekends, they open the campus and welcome you to explore the site-wide, immersive journey into the mysteries of the Pacific Ocean. Learn all about Moon Jellies, encounter live animals in the Discovery Pool touch-tank, and the newly renovated Sahm Marine Education Center shark touch-tank experience. More info at oceaninstitute.org. Considered the Birthplace of Orange County, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the seventh of 21 Spanish missions established in California during the 17th and 18th centuries. Every year on March 19, the mission hosts the annual Saint Joseph’s Day and the Return of the Swallows celebrating the mission’s beloved bird population. You can even sail on a replica 18th century schooner and experience the ocean as explorers did centuries ago. Don’t leave without hiking Dana Point Headlands Preserve. The trails boast iconic cliff, ocean and beach views of Dana Point’s famous Headlands. Dana Point: Harboring the Good Life
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