Although you needn’t leave your vacation rental to enjoy the majestic Pacific Ocean views, there are a few other vistas you should not miss while visiting Laguna Beach. Some are just a short walk from the downtown area, while others require a good pair of hiking shoes - or a car - to take in the breathtaking sights.
If you are in a romantic mood, a burgeoning artist or ameatur photographer, these spots will be excellent places to capture the best side of Laguna Beach…
Best Views in Laguna Beach
The View From Your Room at The Retreat in Laguna
Each of our luxury villas are situated to take advantage of the property’s location on the cliffside. Not only does your vacation rental have a view from the balconies or living rooms, but most bedrooms are equipped with a two-way mirror to let you see the rolling waves as you relax and fall asleep.
Alta Laguna Park
Alta Laguna Park is situated high above the city in the Laguna Hills. Hike or bike from the bottom to Top of the World Park - where a small playground, picnic benches and fields await your amusement - then continue upwards to the crest of the hill for a view over Laguna Beach and across to Catalina Island.
The Beach House Restaurant
This oceanfront home was converted into a restaurant in 1968. Now part of the illustrious seafood chain - The Beach House - features an oyster bar on the upper floor, with the traditional restaurant and heated patio directly over the water on the ground floor. This restaurant is a ‘must’ if you want to dine with the most beautiful sunset as your backdrop.
Heisler Park
If you walk north from Main Beach at Downtown Laguna Beach, you will venture up a small set of stairs leading to Heisler Park. Situated on the cliff about the coves, Heisler is a favorite location of families on a picnic, but mainly it is the gathering spot of painters and photographers seeking the most famous view of town to the south.
Las Brisas Restaurant
Right next to Heisler Park and the Laguna Art Museum above Main Beach, Las Brisas is a historic restaurant which dabbles in California seafood, Mexican and fusion cuisine. The adobe patio and bar is the place to see and be seen on the weekend. Come for a Sunday brunch with unobstructed ocean breezes and vistas of the city and beach below.
Crescent Bay Point Park
At the north end of Crescent Bay lies Bay Point Park. This location has a 180 degree view of the Pacific Ocean and is popular spot for weddings, parties and plein air painting. On the beach below, there is scuba diving, snorkeling, and tidepools to explore, however, it’s the view from this cliffside park that truly breathtaking.
Thousand Steps Beach
Located at the very southern most point of Laguna Beach, Thousand Steps Beach is a hidden gem of Laguna Beach. Park on 9th street and walk directly across Pacific Coast Highway to a small staircase leading steeply down the cliff. At the bottom you will find one of the more beautiful rocky beaches of Laguna. This is an excellent place to quietly lay out in the sun or get that precisely timed shot of a wave breaking on the reefs to the north and south of the sand.
