Planning a Trip

Getting There

By car from Los Angeles, take I-5 or I-405 south. The scenic, shore-hugging Pacific Coast Highway (Calif. 1, or just PCH to the locals) links the Orange Coast communities from Seal Beach in the north to Capistrano Beach just south of Dana Point, where it merges with I-5. To reach the beach communities directly, take the following freeway exits: Seal Beach, Seal Beach Boulevard from I-405; Huntington Beach, Beach Boulevard/California 39 from either I-405 or I-5; Newport Beach, California 55 from either I-405 or I-5; Laguna Beach, California 133 from I-5; San Juan Capistrano, Ortega Highway/California 74 from I-5; and Dana Point, Pacific Coast Highway/California 1 from I-5.

Visitor Information

The Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, 201 8th St., Suite 120, next to City Hall (tel. 562/799-0179; www.sealbeachchamber.com), is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm.

The Huntington Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, 301 Main St., Suite 208 (tel. 800/729-6232 or 714/969-3492; www.surfcityusa.com), enthusiastically offers tons of information and personal anecdotes. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

The Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, 110 Newport Center Dr., Suite 120 (tel. 800/94-COAST or 949/719-6100; www.newportbeach-cvb.com), distributes brochures, sample menus, a calendar of events, and the free Visitor's Guide. Call or stop in Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm (plus weekends in summer).

The Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau, 252 Broadway (tel. 800/877-1115 or 949/497-9229; www.lagunabeachinfo.org), is in the heart of town and distributes lodging, dining, and art gallery guides. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm (plus Sun in summer).

The San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce, Franciscan Plaza, 31781 Camino Capistrano, Suite 306 (tel. 949/493-4700; www.sanjuancapistrano.com), is within walking distance of the mission and offers a walking tour guide to historic sites. Open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, located in the Clocktower Building at LaPlaza Center (tel. 800/290-DANA or 949/496-1555; www.danapoint-chamber.com), is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm (closed noon-1pm for lunch) and carries some restaurant and lodging information, as well as a comprehensive recreation brochure.

A Special Arts Festival -- A tradition for 60-plus years in arts-friendly Laguna, the Festival of Arts & Pageant of the Masters is held each summer throughout July and August. It's pretty large now, and it includes the formerly "alternative" Sawdust Festival across the street. For more information log onto www.foapom.com.