Planning a trip to The Orange Coast
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.
When to Go
A Special Arts Festival -- A tradition for 70 years in arts-friendly Laguna, the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters is held every summer throughout July and August. It's pretty large now, and it includes the formerly "alternative" Sawdust Festival across the street. Log on to www.foapom.com.
