Surf’s up pretty much 365 days per year in Dana Point, Calif., a coastal Orange County (O.C.) town where the history of surfing runs almost as deep as the ocean that flanks it.
Once a trade port, the city became better known as a surf destination in the 1930s. And there was no local celebrity more worshipped than Killer Dana: a legendary surf break off Dana Point that met its end in 1966 due to the creation of Dana Point Harbor.
But with claims to fame such as being home to Hobie Surf Shop, the world’s first retail surf shop — along with 6.5 miles of beach and excellent surf breaks — Dana Point is still hanging 10.
Eat
Doheny, Salt Creek and Strand might be names of three shorelines in Dana Point, but they’re also popular menu items at Project Social. Opened last fall, the laid-back neighborhood joint serves an extensive list of craft beers on tap (in addition to wine and boozy kombucha), all perfect for washing down tasty takes on traditional comfort foods such as burgers, sandwiches and flatbreads.
Expect creative, flavorful dishes at Project Social.
Credit: 2020 Project SocialWhatever clients decide on — perhaps the Strand fried chicken sandwich with apple fennel slaw and housemade pickles — they should throw in a side of tots before kicking it on the spacious patio.
www.projectsocial.us
Sleep
For those who equate O.C. with a luxe life-style, there’s no better place to stay than The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, a AAA Five Diamond Award resort. It’s the only hotel in town with direct beach access, and most of the 396 guestrooms — along with the fitness center, several restaurants and daily yoga classes held alfresco — look toward sparkling-blue waves. Fun in the sun awaits at the property’s tennis courts and two outdoor swimming pools, as well as during tide pool exploration and excursions booked via the on-site Eco-Adventure Center.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel has two pools on property.
Credit: 2020 The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna NiguelWell-furnished accommodations such as the Fireside Ocean View Guestroom — where I stayed with my partner and dog — enhance the process of winding down; of note was our patio with a fireplace and seating for two (and a furry half). And if I could do it all over again, I would reserve another remarkable meal at Latin American restaurant Raya, helmed by chef Richard Sandoval. Here, flavorful dishes including lobster tacos and seafood risotto make even the brilliant Pacific pale in comparison.
www.ritzcarlton.com
Play
Despite my childhood home being a short drive from the beach, I never surfed — that is, until my recent visit to Dana Point put me in the mood to hang loose (in January, no less). Thanks to The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel’s So Cal Surf Experience package, I called on the experts: Girl in the Curl surf shop, which has provided lessons in California and Hawaii since 1987.
My instructor, Todd — a bona fide local who grew up in town — eats, sleeps and breathes surfing, and he patiently walked us through its ABCs. One salty wipeout later, I miraculously caught more than a dozen waves. (Catch me in “Blue Crush 3,” not actually coming to a theater near you.)
www.girlinthecurl.com
