My husband has been after me about planning our first trip away from the children. I watched a show on the Food Network ($40 A Day) that highlighted the Laguna Beach, CA area. It looks beautiful. Any suggestions on a place to stay ($ is no concern since we won't be taking the kids...) and best time of year weather-wise? We were thinking about going in the Spring but I was wondering if it might be too cold to enjoy the beaches. By the way, what is the Pagent of the Masters? I saw a reference to it on another post. Restaurant suggestions?

My husband and I have traveled to this area several times and usually stay at Dana Point/Marriott. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and the concierge was very efficient. The Ritz Carlton/Laquna Niquel is soooo beautiful and, of course, provides full service. Check out their web site and I'm sure they would answer any questions you might have re weather, Pagent, etc.

I live in So. Orange County near Laguna Beach. If you go in the spring you will miss the Pagent of Masters. It's kind of a living art show where people portray famous paintings. It's interesting if you have never seen that kind of thing before. They also have other art shows and my favorite Sawdust Festival which is a hodge podge of artist's work that couldn't get into the big art shows. Unfortunately if you go in spring you will miss all of that since they are in the summer only. But you find less tourists in the spring and you can wander the village without the crowds. Weather is great in the spring. Clear and a bit cool. The beaches are beautiful but might be a bit chilly for swimming. It depends on when you go in the spring though. If's late spring, you'll do fine. We have warm weather here anyway. If I were staying at a hotel out in the area, I would pick the Ritz Carlton. It's a few mile away in Dana Point but a great place to stay. If you do decide to go in the summer, there are a lot of tourists! Have fun.

all the above good info on the top hotels.
If cost no issue then go with the Ritz in Dana Point. Its about 8miles south of Laguna Beach with great views on a bluff overlooking the ocean and DP has a boat harbor and great restaurants etc. But LB has more and better restaurants and great shopping (small shops, art etc) and if you head another few miles up the coast you hit Newport Beach where all the rich have their boats and houses on the water.

In LB stay at Surf and Sand. Been there, right on top of the beach -- look out your balcony at ocean and down to see waves crashing on sand below your room. Great ocean sounds all night while sleeping (crashing waves)

Good choice!! Laguna Beach is one of the nicest beach communities in the area, and maintains an artsy, slightly funky feel that you don't get in more upmarket places like Newport (nothing against it, it's a lovely town). In the spring, the weather can be a crapshoot until May. I would recommend coming in the summer, especially mid-July on. The weather right this minute is great (at least here in Santa Monica)! You would also be able to hit the Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters (the tableaux vivants are quite breathtaking). Note that the Laguna Playhouse is a well-regarded theatre in the area.

Surf and Sand is a good choice in Laguna Beach itself; pricey, and some have said it's a bit run-down (I have my doubts), but my friends that have stayed there rave about it. The new Montage is lovely, but it's barely in Laguna Beach-- well south of the "action", such as it is. And the Ritz-Carlton, as others have pointed out, is down in Dana Point. Laguna is not cheap, but it's a great place.

Oh and by the way, the Ritz Carlton has a great high tea. And if you stay there as others have pointed out you can drive to Laguna and you are near Dana Point harbor which has nice restaurants and shops. I still think spring would be the better option to avoid the crowds. Laguna has a great place to have lunch that I have eaten at: The Cottage. It's right on PCH (pacific coast hwy) and across from the Laguna Art Musuem which a nice place to visit.

Hey folks, Live here-know that!Can't afford the hotels!!!
But $40 a day...try $400!!!at those hotels, typo perhaps!!!??
Where in the USA is $40 even safe???
The biggest problem with MY HOOD is that fog sets in from May to sometimes August.The Montage blows away the Ritz by miles (forget the St. Regis), but not literally.Weather today is pure perfection!! The difference is that the Ritz has few rooms with a view of the ocean (and they are small as are all on the water ----and in big cities, Who can tell in the dark??!!)but then do you care!>? and the Monage is situated so most rooms have a
view. You are talking about 10 minutes difference by car in traffic. If you want ON THE WATER and sexy + smaller Surf and Sand or the Inn at Laguna Beach. I understand Surf and Sand has a 'drive in and ask rate." Wouldn't take the chance, but would play it.. Reserve, but drive in and ask the difference. AAA is always the best for rates, but I live here and have only stayed at the Ritz a day before escrow closed...who wants stress??!!! I hang out at the reataurants with locals at all. The Hotel Laguna is another option, but OLD and funky but right in the heart of Laguna Beach. From Dana Point to Newport Beach you are dealing with a 30 minute drive at worst!!!OHHHH
and the most gorgeous coast in the world. Spring is cool and possibly rainy, but a first vacation without the kids....ohhh la la...you wouldn't notice if it snowed!!! More Info..tap back for local details!!

Hey Deloris!! Nice to hear from a South OC Fodorite! The "$40 a Day" refers to the cost of dining in Laguna Beach. It's a series about finding "deals" when eating out in given cities.

I don't know what the big whoop is-- the dirty little secret of southern California is that you can find really great restaurants with reasonable prices. $40 a day? I can do that in my sleep. Anywhere in this area.

If we remove the Montage and the Dana Point hotels from the equation, what's your recommendation in Laguna Beach proper? I'd say Surf and Sand, but there are some strong opinions that it's getting a bit tired and in need of some freshening up. Where else?

And whice are your favorite Laguna Beach restaurants? I invariably go to good places where I immediately forget the name....

All the other hotels are nice, but one not mentioned is the one we love to stay at, the Inn at Laguna. It is right on the ocean on a bluff above the beach. They have steps down to the beach. Beautiful rooms and grounds, with balconies that overlook the ocean and you can also hear the ocean. It is right in the village, so you can walk to the shops and most good restaurants, very convenient. We hardly drove through the congested streets. It is also directly next to the La Brisas Restaurant, which has wonderful seafood/mexican cuisine (5 star) and very romantic, ask for a table with a view when making reservations. Have fun!

I always forget about the Inn at Laguna...! And I've only heard great things about it. Las Brisas is wonderful, too.

If money is no problem, then DEFINITELY stay either at The Surf & Sand Hotel or at the brand new Montage Resort. They are both fabulous and right in Laguna.

The Ritz is lovely, but not right in Laguna. It's a 10-15 minute drive south. So, you can't just walk from your hotel into town and stroll around (which is one of the best things about staying in Laguna, in my opinion).

I have several restaurant suggestions for you. French 75 has some of the best cuisine in the area. Fabulous, but expensive. Aegean Cafe has great Greek food, plus authentic Greek dancers-- it's a really fun experience. My personal favorite is the Cedar Creek Inn. Great food, music and an elegant atmosphere (but without attitude).

For cocktails at sunset, you MUST go to Splashes at The Surf & Sand Hotel. It's right on the beach and so romantic and gorgeous. The food is good as well.

Here's another recommendation for the Inn at Laguna Beach. I stayed there in Ocotber of last year for $118/night (non-water view). A room-service breakfast is included - which you can have on the 4th floor deck instead if you choose. The rooms are nice and have kitchenettes. And there are free cookies in the lobby every day! And the location is awesome - on a bluff overlooking the beach. And it's only steps from Las Brisas. The "main" part of town, with its galleries, restaurants, and shops, is only a short walk away.

The weather was spectacular in October...just a bit of fog in the early AM and sometimes around sunset.

OK, I misread the $40. You can eat anywhere for less than that but it depends on your taste and research.
First, the Surf and Sand was recently remodeled, I stayed at the Inn at Laguna years ago when I decided to move here and it too has just been upgraded and changed hands. Both are on the water. The Cottage, across the street from the Inn is fun. There are dozens of restaurants in Laguna you can scope out for menu and price by just strolling around. Remember, the prices are food only. You can go nuts on wines here! Wahoo Fish Tacos to
Dizze's, Coyote Grill and dozens of spots in Laguna to Dana Point are reasonable. The yacht harbor in Dana Point has reasonable spots and Gemmels French Reataurant just opened recently with surprisingly reasonable prices for great food, then the pizza restaurant, The Brig (coffee shop-restaurant) Harbor Grill, Beach house (across the harbor) and a bunch of others are within walking distance and a nice view of boats and the water.
One of my favorites is the Fisherman
Restaurant on the pier in San Clemente.
The weekend brunch at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott is an oink out good deal.
If you want to shop and eat well, try a short (20 minute) drive into Newport and Fashion Island. Lots of good restaurants, fine stores (Neiman Marcus), even theaters.Corona Del Mar is beween Laguna and Newport and has dozens of restaurant options.
The local golf courses have good restaurants for lunch..Pelican Point, Monarch Beach (Club 19)and Aliso Creek. Maybe eating your main meal at noon and enjoying views in daylite is the ticket and always cheaper. Carefully surf around for good hotel deals. We try Orbitz and Expedia and then calling particular hotels for special rates.(Honeymoon=special offers!!)
By all means, allow time on the beach, even if it's cool the walks are so romantic!..by the way the waterside restaurant at the Hotel Laguna is reasonable and the view is ON THE WATER!!!! Claes, the fancier one is more expensive, but very nice.Check with your hotel for the local guides and judge for yourself as most local employees here (as in most places) don't go to the local restaurants!!!
Just a fact of life!
Plan ahead and know before you go as you won't believe the options open to you here! Even if it rains, you'll have a great time!!! And welcome!!!

Just a thought for the day...were you talking about $40 a day for 3 meals or one? Puts it all in another perspective!

$40 a day for ALL food - breakfast, lunch, dinner, high tea, etc.

It's an entertaining show. Just a catchy title.

the pagent of the masters is suppose to be very good but laguna beach get VERY busy during that. actually laguna beach is very busy all summer long. driving through or parking is a pain. personally, i would choose mid sept-mid october. the crowds have gone and the water is usually at it's warmest in september. i'm not sure if laguna get it but june is often overcast in san diego along the coast for most of the day.