Looking forward to seeing you in So Cal!
For those of you coming to the SIRVA BGRS conference at the beautiful oceanfront Ritz Carlton in Dana Point/Laguna Niguel Beach Resort in Southern California | The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel (ritzcarlton.com) in early March, I wanted to share a little insider’s information. I live about five miles from the hotel and as a 23-year resident of the area, I feel like I am pretty qualified to share some tips. While the hotel is located on the edge of Dana Point, Laguna Beach is just about one-half mile from the hotel and that’s where all the action is. If you want to shop, dine, surf, whale watch, or take in the art and culture, there is something for everyone.
There are fewer tourists this time of year, so it makes it easier to get into the restaurants, but you will typically still need a reservation. It is restaurant week while you all are here, so check out the website for all the special deals throughout the county. OC Restaurant Week | A Restaurant Adventure.
Some of my favorite restaurants are:
o Starfish (one of my favorites): Home - Starfish Laguna Beach
o Coyote Grill (casual): Coyote Grill - Laguna Beach - Mexican Restaurant in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
o The Rooftop Lounge (casual, outside with ocean view): Best ocean view restaurant in Laguna Beach | Rooftop Lounge (rooftoplagunabeach.com)
o Nick’s Laguna Beach (California cuisine) and there is also South of Nick’s (which is Mexican): Nick's Restaurants - Passionate About Hospitality (nicksrestaurants.com)
o The Drake: The Drake - Where Great Food Meets Great Live Music (thedrakelaguna.com)
o Selanne Steak Tavern: Selanne Steak Tavern
o Beachcomber Crystal Cove (very casual, further north in Newport Beach and right on the sand): The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove (thebeachcombercafe.com)
o If dining with an ocean view is what you are after, check out this link: Ocean & Waterfront Laguna Beach Restaurants | Visit Laguna Beach
Winter is the best time for whale watching as they are migrating. Check online for many whale-watching tours that go out from Dana Point Harbor and Laguna Beach. Wear a coat! It is very cold on the water this time of year. Family Friendly Things To Do In Laguna Beach | Visit Laguna Beach
Take a walk on the beach, explore the tide pools, or learn to surf: Laguna Beach Local Beaches & Surfing | Visit Laguna Beach
Known as an artist’s colony, Laguna Beach has no shortage of galleries and shops where you can buy from local artists. Laguna Beach Art, Museums, and Culture | Visit Laguna Beach
Head downtown and visit all of the cute shops on PCH and Forest Avenue. Don’t forget to get a photo of the famous lifeguard tower located on Main Beach. Shopping, Galleries, Surf Shops, Boutiques and More | Visit Laguna Beach
There is a free trolley that runs from the Ritz into downtown Laguna. Here is the schedule for Laguna Beach Free Trolley Routes - Visit Laguna Beach
And btw, Disneyland and California Adventure are a mere 30 miles away from the hotel.
If you have some extra days, we have some amazing excursions within an easy drive: the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Legoland, and Universal Studios. And one of my favorite places, Mission San Juan Capistrano - Mission San Juan Capistrano (missionsjc.com)
Our ocean water in the winter is in the 50s so don’t expect to swim in it unless you have a wetsuit. That is why we don’t have hurricanes here, the water is too cold. Expect our daytime temps to be in the 60s and the nights can drop into the 40-degree range this time of year. We have had a boatload of rain so hopefully, it will all be done before you arrive.
While I won’t actually be attending the conference, if you have a spare minute while you are here, give me a shout and I would love to meet for coffee or just to say hi. Let me know if there are any other bits of information I can help make your stay more enjoyable. I hope you have a great conference learning and networking!
