One of my favorite places to stroll. They are revitalizing dining and shopping here but I'm reviewing just strolls on the harbor. I recommend this to everyone. Walk along the harbor, look at the boats, and spot birds and sea lions. You'll see them lounging on the dock or boats and hear them barking every night. Be sure to walk down to the bridge and cross over. There are nice, grass areas with benches, picnic tables, etc. It's a beautiful view. Enjoy the beauty! There is a ton of free parking, clean public bathrooms, and the beautiful coastline. Then add in the dining, shopping, whale watching tours, paddle boarding, canoeing, sailing, and wading at Baby Beach.... This is a wonderful place to visit. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Picnic tables with an ocean view - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

we come here during the holidays bc it is just so festive! unfortunately, this year the harbor is under construction. but! the "merry kiss me" sign is over by the wharf this year. once the project is complete it will be the destination spot bc it will be soo gorgeous and upscale! plans for retail, restaurants and parkscapes. i believe they are building hotels as well. goodbye free parking lol. read more

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This is such a beautiful Harbor when are they ever going to get rid of the horrible old restaurants and rebuild this place already. There's tons of money floating away. Why is the Harbor project taking so long? So much money is being wasted. read more

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So happy I stumbled upon this perfect spot behind the Ocean Institute in Dana Point Harbor. Short walk to the most gorgeous views of the ocean, especially for golden hour. Benches and tables available to just sit, relax and be still. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Habor Habitats - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

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This was very nice..not too packed...lots to do ..beautiful beach...what happened to the shells?? Very hot though...hat and sunglasses for sure! Feeling the sand on my toes was quite the experience.. read more

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Dana Point Harbor is a popular destination amongst many visitors like myself. It's currently getting a makeover with more shops and restaurants. Parking is free easily to navigate around. Nice spot to spend a few hours dining, shopping, wine tastings, and simply walk around in take the smell of the ocean. There's options to rent out a boat, whale watching, SUP, and kayaking. Tons of activities for your leisure. Took my daughter out for the day to have some quality time together. Got some gelato, went shopping, and did some wine tastings. Was such a beautiful day to be out! read more

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We went today. This is a great place to walk around, dine, and go out on a boat and you can even do some whale watching. We didn't stay long, however the pier is quite nice with some stores and eateries upstairs, and several restaurants right on the left side of the pier's edge. I would say this is a great spot for lunch at places like Jon's Fish House, Turk's, or Fish and Sea. Make sure to check out Dana Wharf Sportsfishing and whale watching for times. They have 100's of boats all around which makes the harbor a great place to sightsee as well. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Love the Christmas lighting, seals wailing, and the free easy parking this harbor offers. The walking paths are mostly very clean and other dog owners more socially aware of surroundings. I appreciate that very much as some of the paths are narrow and it takes awareness and coordination to pass each other. The lightings are gorgeous and fun to marvel at in the evening. The parking is free for up to 4hrs which is quite generous. There's a new certified farmers market there but only on open during Wednesday mornings. Something I would love to checkout in the future. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

One of the most beautiful and ADA friendly spots to bring your fur babies and just enjoy the vibe. I love it here. As a native, DP harbor is welcoming of all people. People who like to fish, surf, kayak, paddle board, sail, watch dolphins, walk their dogs, picnic, jetski, or just sit on the grass and catch some Vitamin D. With picnic tables. Seats, and benches scattered all around the areas near the Yacht club , this is the ideal spot to just YOLO. Clean access to bathrooms and sheriffs /police presence it makes it feel safe for me. 10/10 read more

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What a beautiful harbor! Came to the Ocean Institute and had a bit of time to check out this harbor. There's benches to sit and admire the boats and people doing their water sports. There's a pretty big beach area and there were so many people enjoying the weather...I'm going to have to bring my kids to that! It was a really nice experience seeing the harbor on our boat ride as well! Overall great experience! read more

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What a wonderful place for either a nice stroll along the coastine, a walk on the beach, wind surfing boating etc. My wife and I started our morning with a nice walk of about 7000 steps at the Dana Point Harbor and then breakfast at Proud Mary's. Plenty to do and it was cool and refreshing. We enjoyed the morning and the amazing views. A great place to visit and so close. Highly recommended read more

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The directions here were pretty clear, I was not sure if I would lose signal. We found parking, not sure how the late evening parking is. There are so many lovely areas to dine and shop, it is not a huge mall, but a nice place for a short walk. If you are lucky you can hear the seals when they wake up. We saw many boats and people having fun in the water. Please listen to the song I am parodying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ms3mJFkSeg While you are reading my song parody portion of my review below. I get lost in your skies As I hear, the big seals rise And feel ocean wind On the boardwalk, as I'm walking Shops I see, in a glance And some spots for food romance Places to go oh oh And the landmarks for a photo I love getting out for unexpected strolls You can see it, in my eyes It's an ocean port, to heaven When I'm lost in your skies The good vibes, make me smile The parking, won't make me cry The port air feels good I can dine here to get some fuel With GPS, I'll find my way As I stroll from each bay to bay I'll find this town When I am lost in your skies I love getting out for unexpected strolls You can see it, in my eyes It's an ocean port, to heaven When I'm lost in your skies Shops I see, in a glance And some spots for food romance I'll find this town When I am lost in your skies read more

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It's a beautiful day here at Dana point, you can hear the sea lions on the boats! There are two great locations to get ice cream as well. I like John's Fish House, but they seem to be really unorganized today. Unfortunately, there's a lot of construction going on so it's kind of like a little maze, getting to this spot on the harbor. Thankfully, this place should be looking beautiful come summer ! read more

Dana Point Harbor - John's Fish House, unfortunately, took another group before us, four other tables without food - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

Great area to come walk around and enjoy the nice weather. Also great place to take visitors when they come and visit. But you can also go and walk along the harbor and get your walk in. Beautiful views. read more

Can't believe it's my first time here. Invited by a friend and we spent half day here. It was a great weather day and the wind wasn't too strong. Stunning view and the ocean sounds so therapeutic. If I could, I would stay hours sitting by the shore. read more

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So many changes since we had a boat there 50 years ago. It's still a nice place to shop and dine. If you enjoy fishing, Dana Warf Sport fishing is here. Catalina Express is here too. Make reservations because the boat fills up fast. Looks like there's plenty of parking with the new parking structures. read more

Dana Point Harbor - If you get on the Catalina boat, play 26 Miles by the Four Preps. - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

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What a beautiful place to stroll around on cement walkways and a bridge overpass. There are places to sit or eat along the way. They also have boat cruises, SUP and kayaks for rent. Well maintained boat docks. An enjoyable time. read more

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Unlike some areas this one doesn't try to capitalize on its popularity by requiring parking fees. Parking is available in the lot and new parking structure. I met a friend here and strolled around the harbor for a bit. It was nice and relaxing and just a beautiful atmosphere. I've also walked around during the holidays when they have it decorated. A few times I've seen fish actually jump out of the water, which is a bit of a surprise when you aren't expecting it. At night it's good to take a sweater because it does get cooler by the water. Look out for interesting birds, jumping fish,and maybe a seal or two. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Harbor - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Great spot for a walk and/or a picnic. Also saw people paddle boarding. Very clean and beautiful views. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Did a little site-seeing and our friends brought us to this spot with a view of Dana Point Harbor. It was a beautiful day exploring and this was our last stop. We walked a long a walkway built on the cliff next to private condos. It wasnt busy with tourist but a few locals just doing their daily walk. How lucky are they to have this view! There was lots of street parking but be respectful as it is located in a neighborhood. Def a cool spot to check out if you're in the area read more

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Went here many times with Mother to take a brisk walk and sit on the benches overlooking the beach and relax and talk leisurely about life. I miss those days. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

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You can't miss the iconic "Merry Christmas" sign along this harbor. This is a great spot for a cute little date night or just a fun little walk with your family. I saw this spot last year after the holiday season and told myself I'd have to go this year. The lights line a good portion of the marina, allowing you to walk along it. There are a few spots for photo ops. I went around 7pm on a Sunday night and it wasn't too crowded. We spent about 40 minutes there walking around and did see that they have events are certain days in December. Parking was free and during the time we went, was very open. There are also a handful of restaurants nearby for a bite to eat. There's also a coffee shop right next to the "Merry Christmas" sign that seems to be super busy. Definitely a fun little spot to spend some time at during the holidays. read more

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The caves were awesome!! A bit more of a walk than we expected.. But we'll worth it! Apparently even the locals don't know about it. read more

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I came to Dana Point Harbor on several occasions, to see the Christmas lights, to see the harbor, and to go on my scuba diving trips off the boat. Parking gets crowded quickly and they often have a maximum amount of time you can stay although I don't think anyone pays attention to it. If you're here early, like 6 AM, for one of the boat rides you can get a permit to avoid being towed, but like I said, haven't seen them issue tickets myself but that may be a different story for others. There are a handful of restaurants to eat at and they're all moderately priced to expensive. I never was attracted to the restaurants here enough to actually try them. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Post scuba dive - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

Dana Point Harbor is a place I frequent due to its proximity to home, its scenic tranquillity surrounded by beautiful homes, and great restaurants around the area; many of which are located on Del Prado Ave in the Lantern District and within the harbor. There's a lot of opportunities to interact with nature: boat cruises around the harbor, kayaking, picnicking with the family, whale/dolphin watching, hiking along the many trails around the harbor, and see the tide pools, which are located behind the Orange County Marine Institute. Check out their website, Visit Dana Point, for upcoming dates to events held throughout the year. THE DANA POINT HABOR FEELS | It feels very mature and historic; rows of docked boats give the area maritime vibes. Hand me a skipper's hat and compass and I'll be ready to sail with Buffy and Chad. THE PARKING SITUATION | Free parking is available off of Golden Lantern, which is where most people park if they want to go shopping or grab a bite to eat at the harbor. read more

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My fave spot in the winter! Love waking along the harbor and seeing the festive lights! Getting a yearly photo of the Merry Kiss Me sign and going in the belly of a lit up whale has become our yearly tradition. Great outdoor activity to do with kiddos. There's a few restaurants but not many spots around for kid friendly food and drinks so we normally bring our own hot cocoa and snacks while walking. This year for the first time in a while we spotted Santa! Free meeting and photos! Free 4 hour parking at 34571 Golden Lantern. read more

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We had a photoshoot at the harbor and had to get some quick bites. They have this restaurant with the most delicious bagels however it was way overpriced. The place is very family oriented and they had plenty of children in the area doing some Halloween activities and live music. read more

Dana Point Harbor - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

Dana Point is beautiful!!! Love this place. The views are spectacular!! We went to see the Christmas Lights and it's the best display of lights in a City by far!! Simply beautiful, total vibe, beautiful restaurants with water views!! The downtown area is also very nice, lit up, cozy nice restaurants!! Love it here!! read more

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My favorite harbor it's so peaceful and great place to walk on the sidewalk but get a great view. Lots of parking and public restrooms. Sunset vibes covered picnic tables public restrooms free parking stunning views anytime of the day read more

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This harbor is so cute and a very fun spot for many reasons! First it is absolutely beautiful to view from up high! Heritage park offers a fantastic overlook, but there are truly so many spots off the PCH which offer amazing views! Once you actually get down into the harbor it is fun to walk around and visit the cute shops, grab a bite to eat, or watch the boats, canoes, yachts, or SUPs go by! It is extremely dog friendly so go ahead and bring your furbaby! We plan to try a few of the restaurants soon, take a trip to Catalina via the Catalina Express, whale watch, and try some outdoor water sports!! So more reviews to come! OMG! I almost forgot to mention the seals! There is a whole dock with them that you can watch from the backside of a few restaurants, or just walking around. Very entertaining! Additionally, there are many restaurants across the street from the harbor that we have tried! So many options! read more

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Dana Point Harbor was so fun during the 2021 holiday season. At the risk of sounding like a mellow old cat lady (which really is what I've become), I loved just strolling around all of the walkable areas. People watching. Dog owner watching. Dog watching. Boat watching. Drunk friends on boats watching. Lol. Everyone in the area was very friendly. When the sun went down, the harbor is even more inviting and interesting. So many "Instagram" moments. Kids will love standing next to the surfboard Santa and the blue light whales. My kids loved listening to and watching the sea lions on the dock. They also loved that we had the opportunity to go whale watching with Captain Dave's outfit. So many mom and pop shops. Good eateries. Locally-made stuff. Great place for a date and a definite for a family outing or vacation destination. read more

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It was my first-time visiting Dana Point Harbor and what better time to visit than during the holiday season. The harbor was beautifully decorated with holiday lights in different shapes and colors. It was a spectacular sight to see. There were tons of people strolling around the harbor admiring the lights and taking pictures under the Merry Kiss Me sign. It was a very festive atmosphere. I definitely want to visit the harbor again when I am in the area and spend more time visiting. read more

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This is a review for the holiday season. It's a gorgeous harbor with beautiful Christmas lights, there are also a bunch of restaurants and coffee shops nearby. We came here right before sunset, we did a nice evening sunset walk and also took our time to take a stroll after dinner, both daytime and nighttime views were amazing. Plus, there was even a street performer singing that night, it felt really intimate and romantic. Would love to be back for the boat parade of lights soon! Side note: It's doggie friendly & parking is free read more

Dana Point Harbor - Sunset view - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California

Dana point is beautiful there is no denying that, and having lived here, having a home that's an now Airbnb rental and visiting I appreciate it more than living here. It's not my sense of community but to each, I need truly authentic. A mix between the Midwest and Caribbean, Hawaii is my place, but if you want a beautiful view? It rarely disappoints. read more

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Dana Point Harbor is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year but my favorite time to go is around Christmas time when they host "Happy Harbor Days" a Holiday Light Event that is kid-friendly and fun for all ages. There are lots of light displays to check out, boats driving by all decked out, photo ops, holiday shopping at local small businesses and more. You can get in a lot of steps walking around and since it gets chilly at night being near the water, it's fun to get hot cocoa and feel the holiday spirit. Tickets are not required in advance like the boat parades in other beach cities, BUT, finding a parking spot is a little tough. read more

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Not a fun place to be AT ALL. Used to be a fun, quirky place to go, now whole thing is torn up. Massive construction zones, building huge parking lots etc. streets blocked off. It's a ghost town. Supposedly they're trying to re-do the whole center, bringing in what? I hear Javier's - seriously? This is a beach town, this is a small pier and harbor. Nothing remains except a few restaurants who sell whatever you can get anywhere. No fish specialties, you can visit restaurants there to get salmon, and other fare you can get anywhere. It's looking like it won't be a fishing village with fish delicacies. read more

Dana Point Harbor currently has their Christmas lights and cute displays up for the holidays. They were up as of November 11 and will be up through January 3. This cute holiday event is free and features great photo opportunities throughout. You can download a map on the city's website so you can find all of the displays (most of which are within a reasonable walking distance and another one you may consider driving to). Because this is all outdoors, you can bring your four legged pal with you. My husband, our little girl dog and I came by here last month on a Wednesday evening, around 6:20 pm and spent a little over an hour walking around to find all the holiday displays and take photos. This was a fun way to visit the harbor, as we have never been here before. During various evenings, you may be lucky to hear the roaming carolers (Dec 23, 4- 7 pm is the last date they will be singing). There are several restaurants at the harbor, open for take out orders if you are feel hungry. Parking is free with plenty of spots available. There are public restrooms available in case you need to use them. Definitely a fun way to get into the holiday spirit and am glad we decided to check out the holiday set up early. I can only imagine it will get busier as it gets nearer to Christmas. read more

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Beautiful place for pictures and good place to chill and hang out good place to also bbq as well read more

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Decorated real nice for Xmas. Lots of lights. U launch ur boat from here. There's a boardwalk to walk down n restaurants. Pretty cool. read more

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I came here about month's or two back. I was in very dark minds and some other things. So I was driving round and thought I check it out. I once I got here, I sat on the pier ( it's got couple places to sit and even fish) in cold for over an hour long. Thinking of stuff that was on my mind (pros and cons) beaches,parks,harbors. They are wonderful. Places to think and relax from whatever you need to escape from. 1 Samuel 16:7 read more

Dana Point Harbor - Dana point pier - Marinas Near Me - Dana Point, California