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View Full Version : Getting to Laguna Beach Options?



Zomie
02-16-2006, 09:30 AM
Hello, iam looking to find out what the best (easiest/cheapest) way for getting to laguna beach on one of our free days would be! Cab? Bus? Rental... also what are some of the great things to do and see while your there? Any information will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance! :)

Opus1guy
02-16-2006, 10:17 AM
Personally, I'd rent a car. But that's mainly because I don't use public or shared ground transportation much. Sorry I can't give you any other transport options.

I will say that once you get down to Laguna...it is pretty much walkable from one end to the other. So once you get there, you wouldn't really need the car anymore until you returned to your hotel.

Tons to do there. It's an artist community. Lots of galleries and shops of all kinds. Pottery used to be their main claim-to-fame, but now it arts of all kinds. Visiting all the places and just stopping to people-watch can take up a whole day.

Lots of neat little cafés and restaurants all over the place. The big boys (or most well known) of the restaurants are:

Las Brisas (http://www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com/) - Up on a cliff overlooking the Pacific at the north end of town...great food, Sunday Brunch, and incredible views. Can get really busy here with long waits, so plan ahead.

Hotel Laguna (http://www.hotellaguna.com/) - Right in the center of town, they're not known for stellar food, but it's good just the same. The real treat is dining or drinking out on the beach Terrace on a sunny day. Even if you don't dine there, pay it a visit. It's very historic and an architectural treat.

The Cottage (http://www.thecottagerestaurant.com/) - Almost across the street from Las Brisas at the north end, this charming little house was long ago converted into a nice little restaurant with home style cooking. A favorite of waining hippies and artists in the 70's...it still has an "Alice's Restaurant" feel to it. Fun.

Royal Hawaiian (http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=4913&forum=2) (pictures on Page 2 of that board) - Feel like going native? His Laguna landmark (also near Las Brisas) will get your lava flowing. Food's decent but the drinks are killahs. And that tropical decor will get you in the mood for anything. Perhaps renting a car is not a good idea after all? ;)

I'm sure others will chime in with more options on dining. Enjoy! :)

(Anyone remember "The Greeter?")

cstephens
02-16-2006, 10:30 AM
I would agree that rental car is the best bet. I can't imagine taking public transportation from Anaheim, and cab fare there and back would be outrageous.

My only complaint about Laguna is that it's really a pain to get to. I've been a couple times for various reasons, most recently late last summer, and with the traffic and stuff, it was a mess to get there, though we did go at a peak time, so maybe off-peak is much better.

We had dinner at Hush Restaurant (http://www.hushrestaurant.com/), which I liked ok, but I didn't end up eating much there because I didn't feel well, which I later discovered was due to having contracted pneumonia :rolleyes: so if we ever venture that way again, I'd like to try it again. The menu at the bar looked good too.

kikid
02-16-2006, 01:33 PM
(Anyone remember "The Greeter?")

Yes! My family and I gave him a ride home from Santa Ana where we were doing some volunteer work with him. He spent many a day in front of The Pottery Shack, and on the corner of PCH and Forest Avenue. He used to stand in front of 'Benton's'....remember that restaurant??
Ah, memory lane:)