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Introduction to The Orange Coast

Seal Beach is 36 miles S of downtown L.A.; Newport Beach, 49 miles; Dana Point, 65 miles

Whatever you do, don't say "Orange County" here. The mere name evokes images of smoggy industrial parks, cookie-cutter housing developments, and the staunch Republicanism that prevails behind the so-called "orange curtain." We're talking instead about the Orange Coast, one of Southern California's best-kept secrets -- a string of seaside jewels that have been compared with the French Riviera or the Costa del Sol. Forty-two miles of beaches offer pristine stretches of sand, tide pools teeming with marine life, ecological preserves, secluded coves, picturesque pleasure-boat harbors, and legendary surf breaks. My advice? Make it a day trip from L.A. -- hit the road early for a scenic cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway starting at Seal Beach, stop for lunch at Laguna Beach (the prettiest of all the SoCal beach towns), continue south to Dana Point where the really expensive resorts reside, then take the freeway back to L.A. (I-5 to I-405).


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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.


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Frommer's California 2009 Frommer's California 2009

Author: Harry Basch
Pub Date: December 22, 2008
Price: $21.99

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Home > Destinations > North America > USA > California > Outside LA > The Orange Coast > Introduction