I am someone who loves feeling their toes in the sand and diving into the waves, but as hard as it is for me to understand I know there are a lot of people who don’t enjoy this part of the beach. Some places those are the only things beaches have to offer, but Laguna Beach is a town that provides a great experience whether or not you are a beach lover.

Laguna Beach is a great community tucked between the beach and the hills in Orange County. This community has everything from good food to art galleries to local boutiques worth exploring. Making it the ideal beach town for those who aren’t fans of the sand or if it’s a chilly day.

Grab Yourself a Tasty Bite

Walk a block down from the PCH and you’ll find Carmelelita’s, an elevated Mexican restaurant. Enjoy handmade margaritas with some twists, fresh chunky guacamole and a menu so flavor packed that it is hard to choose from.

I took the advice of the waiter and was led to the steak and enchiladas. The steak melted in your mouth and the enchilada sauce was some of the best I’ve ever had. A delicious meal and cocktails that will leave you wanting more.

Another great option with a view is The Deck on Laguna Beach.

Take in The View

Even if you don’t like the sand or being in the salt water you can’t help but appreciate the views. Hop over to Crescent Bay Point Park and wander the little promontory with views both North and South, as well as Catalina Island on a clear day. Or walk just up from the main beach on the trail through Heisler Park along Cliff Drive.

Laguna has the combination of the sandy Southern California beaches blended with a twist of the Northern California cliffs. The beautiful cliffs covered in Southern California vegetation provides a unique and priceless view.

Shop Till You Drop

Whether you are planning on buying or just window shopping there are beautiful and quirky boutiques throughout Laguna Beach. For some quirky household, decorations pop into Art for the Soul. For a new maxi dress enjoy Sunny Day or Italian shoes at Quattro Passi.

There are countless cute spots to explore in peculiar buildings. You can just wander around and find the perfect thing you were even looking for.

Enjoy the Arts

Over the years, Laguna has built itself up as a real community for artists and art lovers. My personal favorite is the Wyland gallery on PCH where you watch the ocean come alive just yards off the beach. He paints and sculpts beautiful portraits of sea life and the ocean. As you walk through the shops you will find a variety of other galleries.

On top of the galleries, Laguna has two unique experiences for the arts that run each summer. First, is the Pageant of the Masters, where actors recreate artwork live over the course of an evening. The other is the Sawdust Art Festival; held in a small village of building inland of the main beach, where you will find arts and crafts from Laguna based artists.

A Great Beach Town Without Stepping on the Beach

Laguna Beach has the great feel of being a beach town, from the sand to the streets. You can enjoy the vibe of the town and its essence without even stepping onto the beach. With all that said I still recommend taking a long walk in the sand and on a nice day dive right into the ocean.

What are your favorite things about beach towns or Laguna other than the beach itself?

The post Why Laguna Is The Perfect Beach; If You Don’t Like The Beach appeared first on Traveling Nine to Fiver.