Hello all!
DH and I (James and I - like my screen name) will be heading off to California soon! Looking for some recommendations on shopping and dining in Laguna and San Diego. Pls. note that we are in our late 20's and enjoy both trendy/hip places and $$$/romantic places. We would really like some recommendations in both categories, and also, if you can advise some 'Must-see's and must-do's.
Is Catalina Island a must-see?
Which beach in San Diego is the best??
Please help! Thank you

Catalina is a nice day trip but it depends on how long your trip is to determine if it is a "must see". If you have three days I would probably not recommend Catalina but if you are in LA for a week then it would be a nice break.

San Diego - Check out La Jolla Village (Prospect Street) for several romantic restaurants and the Gaslamp District for more 'hip' type dining. Georges on the Cove in La Jolla or the Marine Room are perfect restaurants for a romantic/special evening.

I love Torrey Pines beach or La Jolla Shores. Pacific Beach and Mission Beach tend to be more of a party type atmosphere with bars that are very close.

We were in the Laguna area last summer. We stayed at the St. Regis in Dana Point. It is a gorgeous resort. In Dana Point, we ate a neat restaurant called The Chart House. It is overlooking the harbor. I would also reccommend all restaurants at the St. Regis. The Monarch Bay CLub on the beach was the best.

Hi:

If you like Mexican food, don't miss Javier's in Laguna. I'm still trying to duplicate their guacamole at home. it is the best and the ceviche and margaritas are great as well. I think they opened a second one at the Spectrum, but I've only been to the one in Laguna.
Kristen

In San Diego, I second George's at the Cove in LJV, and add Dobson's (for great food in a cozy, intimate room) and Croce's (for live music and fun bar food in a boisterous room). There's a little bit of everything in SD, and locals can add to my meager list.

Laguna Beach has a lot to offer in food. Studio at the Montage resort is a foodie's dream, but stunningly expensive as well. French 75, hush, Five Feet and Picayo are all great as well, and hush is quite the Scene.

Shopping? Not really my thing. Laguna's downtown area is great for gallery-hopping (the town has always been an artists' colony). If you want malls, they're all over the place. The best near Laguna would include Fashion Island in Newport Beach and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa; the former is high-end and outdoors, the latter is high-end and low-end and everything inbetween (and I mean EVERYTHING-- it's a huge facility). In San Diego, locals can give you a better picture, but LJV is great for little shops and galleries and downtown San Diego has Horton Plaza, a large mall (nice and sunny, but it's just a mall). There's a lot more (Hillcrest is good for furniture old and new, for example), but locals can tell it better than I.

Also, for shopping, Fashion Island is fun and has every store you can think of. Downtown Laguna has a lot of great boutiques too.

Check out Tower23- hotel in the Pacific Beach area - one of the new trendy hip places to hang out

San Juan Capistrano is a lovely town to walk around (close to the freeway and Laguna.)
There's a wonderful new restaurant here, right at the train depot called Rendevous. Also a gorgeous place to stop for an excellent drink...
I second the St. Regis suggestion.

Thank you to all for the wonderful, detailed recommendations! Awesome! I tried to book at st. Regis but it was all sold out! Maybe a conference or a private wedding! I guess I'll give it another try next week. Staying at the Inn at Laguna...
Looking forward to the trip!!!
I love the show Laguna Beach! (Goodness, I'm almost 30! I know it's wrong - but it is so much fun to watch!)

for trendy hip dining/bar, try Jordans in Pacific Beach. My 20 something niece loves the bar. I really loved the food.

Jordans is on the beach- the ground floor below Tower 23 hotel.

The Gaslamp Strip Club is very good. You cook your own steaks! But, it is very loud.
The San Diego Zoo should not be missed. We are almost 30 and had a great time!
FInally, I would strongly reccomend that you spend some time in La Jolla. It is a beautiful town! Try to get to the beach- I wish we would have!

Thanks all again! Just an FYI! I've changed my hotel to the St. Regis. They showed no availability but found availibility on Expedia. I really do trust all the opinions here - and it must be worth it's price! So I've booked it - yah! That's for the excellent reco's - truly recommend them!

jamessandi, let me know how you like the St.Regis, we are considering this hotel for a stay for our anniversary in December. I like the 4th night free deal they have going on their website.

I'm pretty set on the Studio at the Montage for our anniversary dinner, let me know if you go there, also.

Has anyone ever stayed at the Manzanita Cottages? They look charming and there was a nice article in Coastal Living about them. They are about a 10 minute walk to the beach, tho. ***kim***

Have a great trip, and I would love to hear what you think of the St. Regis, too!

I live in Laguna Beach, my kids go to the high school with the gang on the Laguna Beach show. The Montage would be the perfect place to stay, it is on the water, whereas the St. Regis is spectacular, but it is across Pacific Coast hwy and not on the ocean. I love the Beach House for any meal, it is right on the beach and great food. Fun to watch the dolphins, seagulls, surfers while dining in an upscale place.

that's a great point about the St. Regis. I wonder how many people who stay there think it's oceanfront ... still it's a bargain price wise compared with the Montage.

Across PCH from the St. Regis is the lovely Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. It is oceanfront, although up a bluff from the beach itself. It would also be a bargain compared to the Montage, and I can vouch for it being very, very, very posh.