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A Travel Journal: Destinations, Resorts, Spas, Golf

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Pacific Coast:

Orange County Resorts, Favorite Locations

by Karen  J Lee 

 

Editor's Picks:

Orange County:          http://www.visitorangecounty.net/

RitzCarlton:                http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/

Dana Point:                 http://www.danapoint.org/     

Laguna Beach:           http://www.lagunabeach.com/

San Clemente:            http://www.scchamber.com/Tourism.asp

Catalina Island:           http://www.catalina.com/catalinahome.html

St. Regis Resort:          http://www.stregismb.com/

San Juan Capistrano:  http://www.sanjuancapistrano.org/

 

 

The Communities of Orange County, CA

  

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, CA

A World Class Resort

Need a round of golf with a Pacific attitude, a Tuscan-inspired room, a luxurious spa treatment, a chef who prepares delicious fresh seafood with an Asian flair? Relax amid a soft palette of cream, beige, aubergine, plum, and muted blue – the hallmarks of a dramatic $40-million renovation. Surround yourself with the timeless elegance and redefined style of beautiful decorating in hues reflective of the sand and sea. This resort blends classic furnishings and modern-day conveniences with generous space. The traveler can rediscover the traditional Ritz-Carlton detail and world-class service that distinctively define this hotel. For those who enjoy golf, and who want a refreshing change of pace,The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, CA., is a memory making experience.       

 Ocean-Inspired Renewal - Spa

Deanne French, Director of Public Relations of the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, commented about the Resorts' Spa as a gentler pace, where the constant presence of the ocean inspires renewal. All 12 treatment rooms within this California spa resort are bathed in soft hues of aqua and beige and tranquil water features add to the overall sensory experience. Plan on a soothing aura throughout this luxury spa resort, where the ever-present rhythm of the surf brings a great escape. www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/Spa/Default.htm

 

 

Award-winning Dining

A dining option is the award-winning Restaurant 162, situated with an awe-inspiring location of 162 feet above sea level, overlooking one of the most exclusive beaches in Southern California. The seaside resort was also named as one of the Top 10 best resorts worldwide. The carefully designed color schemes bring relaxed formality with the warmth of the European influence softened by Southern California's casual style. California cuisine is the focus, with fresh fish and seafood. The culinary excellence at Restaurant 162’ makes for a dining experience your palette won’t soon forget.

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LagunaNiguel/

Dining/Restaurant162/Default.htm

 

Monarch Beach Golf Links

The golf course was ranked twenty-third in Golf via Women's magazine for "50 Best Courses for Women" 2002. Golf leaders from the PGA, LPGA have competed on the course including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Fred Couples, Julie Inkster and Dottie Pepper. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course has been the host of televised golf events with top golfers from all the professional tours. The creek is often filled with cattails, pompous grass, shrub trees and natural vegetation. Tom Watson, one of golf's outstanding players, once commented that the greens are, '"like the playing of Augusta." The 18-hole course features sand traps of crushed white marble.

http://www.monarchbeachgolf.com/index.php

 

Catalina Island

People have been living on Santa Catalina Island for over 7,000 years according to archaeologists. They find evidence of increasingly complex material cultures with mariime adaptation. www.catalinaconservancy.org

When it comes to outdoor recreation, Catalina Island has numerous options. For hiking, the Island is unsurpassed for beauty and variety of terrain. The 37.2 mile Trans-Catalina Trail opened in 2009 traverses the Island, tip to tip. No other California Channel Island features the diversity that Catalina has to offer. More than 200 miles of trails beckon both the “tennis shoe” hiker and the experienced trekker. An assortment of loop trails give day hikers a great glimpse at a variety of Island habitats along with sweeping views of the coastline.

http://www.catalinachamber.com/

 

  

 

 

 

 

 Dana Point, CA

The Dana Point Harbor is an excellent spot to view sailing, enjoy the local waterside restaurants, and watch the deep sea fisherman come into harbor with a day's catch. The Harbor houses 2,500 yachts and has 30 intriguing local shops. Sportfishing vessels are available for charter and day fishing and excursions to Catalina Island. 

Dana Point Harbor

The Harbor houses 2,500 boats within two marinas, inside a one-and-a-half mile jetty. Complete facilities include guest slips, fuel dock, shipyard, launch ramp, boat rentals, yacht sales, community class instruction, fishing, windsurfing, jetskiing, kayaking, boat charters, two yacht clubs, sailing association, ocean classroom labs, shops, restaurants, and picnicing.

http://www.danapointharbor.com/

  

Dana Point is the home of the popular sport fishing and whale watching vessels owned and operated by Dana Wharf Sportfishing.  The Ocean Institute also offers a variety of programs for the whole family. Sea adventure cruises and the OC Sailing and Events Center attracts hundreds of people each week for its wide variety of programs. Catalina Island is just a short boat ride away. For more information on the Dana Point Harbor - http://www.danapointharbor.com.

 

Laguna Beach, CA

Laguna Beach is a seaside resort and artist community located in southern Orange County, California.  It is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches in southern California. The city has good hotels, unique shops and restaurants, world famous art galleries and art festivals. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed there.

Laguna Beach has 30 public beaches, 6 miles of coastline, and hidden coves, is the quintessential classic southern California beach town. Nestled next to the coastal mountains, lush tropical gardens of hibiscus and bougainvillea surround the area.

The community is also known as a cultural and arts center featuring multiple art galleries and is host to many art events.

San Clemente, CA

The embodiment of Orange County's laid-back beach lifestyle, San Clemente offers tourists a variety of travel experiences and recreational activities. Tucked away from traffic and crowds, the waterfront city boasts unrivaled trail systems, open spaces and parks for families and outdoor enthusiasts. 
With 20 acres of pristine sand, this beach locale is one of the most popular surfing spots on the California coast. The beaches, which are open year-round, are where tourists and water sports enthusiasts will find clear water and prime surfing swells in places like San Onofre, Trestles and Dohney.
The mild regional climate also attracts a lot of tourists who come for the camping opportunities or to stay in one of the rustic cottages found on the beach. The mile-long San Clemente State Beach is set amid sandstone bluffs and flourishing coastal wildlife. 

 San Juan Capistrano

From its historic Mission and Los Rios Street to its vibrant trails, train depot and quaint downtown, the City of San Juan Capistrano offers a bevy of historic, entertaining and distinctive locales for tourists. 

The Swallows Festival or "Fiesta de las Golondrinas" is a two-month long celebration of the return of the swallows (Cliff Swallows) to San Juan Capistrano on March 19 of each year. 

"The Jewel of the Missions" has been the center of Orange County since its founding by Padre Junipero Serra on November 1, 1776. Today it is one of California's most important historical, cultural, and educational centers. The Mission is the seventh of twenty-one Spanish Missions established in California by Franciscan Padres. Spain controlled California until 1821, when Mexico won its independence. In 1845, the Mission was sold for $710 to Don Juan Forster. His family lived at the Mission for twenty years. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln returned the Mission to the Catholic Church. In 1915, actress Mary Pickford was married in the Mission chapel.

http://www.sanjuancapistrano.net/