DANA POINT
Pocket Guide HARBORING THE
GOOD LIFE
DANA POINT
Pocket Guide TA BL E OF CON T EN TS
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Slip away to Capistrano SurfSide Inn, minutes away from Dana Point Harbor, Doheny State Beach, and numerous family attractions.
12 SHOPPI NG
Dana Point offers a variety of fabulous shopping opportunities.
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Take your vacation to the next level and head to any of these fun annual events that take place around Dana Point.
T H I N GS TO D O AT C A P I S T R A N O S U R F S ID E IN N
You don’t have to leave the resort to have a ton of fun in Dana Point!
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T H I N GS T O D O A RO U N D D A N A P O IN T
From laid back to something more thrilling, Dana Point is rich in a diverse range of activities to entertain everyone.
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BE S T P L A C E S T O E A T
Discover where to go for family-friendly dining or a romantic dinner date for two!
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HI STORY OF DANA P OI N T
Dana Point boasts a rich and dramatic history. PHOTO SPOTS
Discover a multitude of must-stop photo ops as you explore all of the incredible lookouts Dana Point has to offer.
CAPISTRANO SURFSIDE INN
Your Personal Piece of Paradise
Enjoy a Blissful Seaside Haven at Capistrano SurfSide Inn. Minutes away from Dana Point Harbor, Doheny State Beach, and numerous family attractions, this seaside resort is the ideal location for your next beach vacation. You’ll enjoy a private balcony, spacious rooms, barbeque grills, and plenty of pool and beach toys for the kids when you stay at this oceanfront resort.
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H AR B O R I N G T H E G OO D LIF E
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@capistranosurfsideinn
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STAY IN TOUCH
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@GrandPacificResorts
Things to Do
AT C A P I S T R A N O S U R F S I D E I N N
Take a day and have fun at Capistrano SurfSide Inn with these on-site or near-site activities!
e beach !
ge to th Cross the brid
Borrow a bike for a fun adventure!
Hang out in the ocean view hot tub
THINGS TO DO AROUND
Dana Point
WHALE WATCHING ADVENTURE January is peak migration season for California Gray Whales, and you can experience a portion of their journey from the cold waters of Alaska to the warm waves of Baja California. Along with gray whales, you may also get to see blue whales, humpback whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, and dolphins. 8
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HIKE THROUGH DANA POINT PRESERVE Take a quick scenic adventure to the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area and see the spectacular view of the expansive ocean. We highly recommend making this a sunset hike!
MONARCH BEACH CLUB GOLF COURSE Grab your clubs and say “fore!” What better way to spend time on your vacation than playing on a beautiful golf course with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean?
ZOOMARS PETTING ZOO Grab the kids and head to the petting zoo! Your kids can pet a variety of animals including llamas, goats, pigs, chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, an ostrich, and more. You can even get a tray of veggies to feed the animals.
OCEAN INSTITUTE Discover the ocean’s underwater world and California’s maritime history through interactive tours and activities that are fun for the whole family! Take a tour with an expert guide and get a behind the scenes view of learning centers, historic ships, and more. Or, head out to hike the tide pools and search for snails, small crabs, sea stars, and other animals that call the tide pools their home.
Best Places to Eat
AROUND DANA POINT
CLASSICS Enjoy these delicious restaurants that are a staple for any time you come to Dana Point. 180blu at The Ritz-Carlton Harbor Grill Restaurant Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
FAMILY FRIENDLY Bring the whole family to the table at these tasty joints! Stacks Pancake House The Shwack Beach Grill Ricardo’s Place
DATE NIGHT ADVENTURES Because you deserve a night all to yourselves. Raya at The Ritz-Carlton Bourbon Steak Orange County Montage Lobby Lounge 10
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Shopping There are a variety of fabulous shopping outlets around Dana Point, from large outlet malls to small mom & pop shops. These are just a few of our favorite places to go! Dana Point Harbor The Shops at Mission Viejo South Coast Plaza Buy Hand
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Events
The beach can be great, but if you’re looking to take your vacation to the next level, head to any of these fun events that take place around Southern California.
FESTIVAL OF ARTS, SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL, AND ART-A-FAIR FESTIVAL
TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL
Visit before the end of August and head up the coast to Laguna to experience all these festivals have to offer, including the acclaimed Pageant of the Masters!
At the Marine Institute: Sea Chantey Concert, maritime exhibits and demonstrations, Port Royal Privateers encampment, model boat building, wood carving, touch tank encounters, rope challenge course, crafts and food.
FESTIVAL OF WHALES
DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL
March is the time of the year that the whales make their annual trip down south and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce will celebrate with their Annual Street Fair, which is part of the Whale Festival with a weekend of fun, food, entertainment and an arts & craft show with over 100 vendors.
The annual blues festival is the true kick-off to summer with a weekend filled with music, lots of vendors and an International Food Court that features foods from around the world. Be sure you come down to Doheny State Beach and celebrate the beginning of summer with Orange County's favorite and most anticipated annual summer festival! H AR B O R I N G T H E G O OD LIF E
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History of
DANA POINT
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For centuries before Europeans arrived on the west coast, Native Americans watched from the headlands for migrating whales and trading canoes coming from other coastal communities and the Channel Islands to the shelter of the cove. When the Spanish arrived in the late 1700s and began establishing missions, they deemed the natives “Juaneños” after Mission San Juan Capistrano, and named the entire area Bahia Capistrano, or Capistrano Bay.
NAMESAKE OF THE TOWN In 1835, Richard Henry Dana, Jr. shipped out on the Boston merchant ship Pilgrim, which sailed around South America’s Cape Horn and headed north towards San Francisco, but ended up docking in Capistrano Bay and trading for cowhides. Dana told the story of his adventures on the Pilgrim in his journal turned book, Two Years Before the Mast, which was published in 1840 and is still widely read today. Dana described the headlands and bay as “the only romantic spot on the California coast”, and residents were so pleased by his comments they renamed the area Dana Point.
DEVELOPMENT In the 1920’s, Sidney H. Woodruff (known for the development of Hollywoodland and the Hollywood sign) and several other investors purchased a large plot of land in the area and made plans to transform it into a resort town that combined the romance of Old California with modern amenities. They looked to design it with a Spanish influence, with wide roads and white adobe houses with red-tiled roofs in what became known as Lantern Village. The stock market crash of 1929 ended the development of this area. Edward Doheny, an oil tycoon, also had purchased a large plot of land with the intention of developing it, but also failed due to the Great Depression. Doheny ended up donating his 40 acres of beachfront property to the state of California, which later turned into Doheny State Beach, California’s first state beach. H AR B O R I N G T H E G O OD LIF E
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SURF’S UP! Hobie Alter, the creator of polyurethane foam surfboards, discovered Dana point in the 1950s and opened California’s first surf shop. Surfer Magazine was founded in the city, Doheny was mentioned in several Beach Boys songs, and Endless Summer director Bruce Brown called the city home while making the film. Dana Point was also the home of famous surf breaks, including Killer Dana and Doheny. Killer Dana was a right-breaking wave that rolled in from deep, open water and formed on the rocks. It produced some of California’s biggest surf, with waves coming in at 12 to 15 feet. Though the surfers protested, the city built up the harbor with breakwater jetties in the 1960s, which caused the extinction of Killer Dana and all the waves that came along with it.
DANA POINT BECOMES OFFICIAL Dana Point Harbor was officially dedicated on July 31st of 1971, but it wasn’t until January 1 of 1989 that the city of Dana Point was officially incorporated. Today, the Harbor provides slips and mooring for over 2,500 boats along with more than 50 specialty shops and restaurants. 16
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Photo Spots There are so many places around Dana Point to take photos and make great memories that your family can share and cherish for a lifetime. Here are just a few of our favorite picturesque destinations: • Water Tank Trail (Spring Only) • St. Francis by the Sea • Victoria Tower, aka “Pirate Tower” • Montage Laguna Beach • Top of the World (Alta Laguna Park) • Heisler Park Gazebo • Crescent Bay Point Park Make sure to get the best angles. For some quick tips on taking the best photos check out this video of Jim and Shelly!
HOW TO TAKE THE BEST PHOTOS – ON YOUR PHONE!
#MYGRANDMEMORIES From sunshine and surfing to shopping and eating, share your vacation photos with Grand Pacific Resorts for a chance to be featured! Simply use #MyGrandMemories on Facebook or Instagram, or upload photos at:
GRANDPACIFICRESORTS.COM/MYGRANDMEMORIES H AR B O R I N G T H E G O OD LIF E
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