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    Dana Point IlluminOcean

    4.0 (5 reviews)

    Dana Point IlluminOcean Photos

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    Thousand Steps Beach - 8/13/22 - Can you spot baby fishies? There were some in here.

    Thousand Steps Beach

    4.5(807 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    Thousand Steps Beach is gorgeous and the cave makes it totally worth all of the steps down to it…read more There are only about 219 steps (not a thousand). The steps are no joke though. They are pretty steep and concrete. I wouldn't recommend them for little kids. Make sure you go at low tide. They close the cave area when the tide comes in. The cave is on the far left side of the beach. You have to go over rocks to get there. It can be slippery. There were lifeguards on duty. It's so fun to explore inside the cave. We parked on PCH. There is no parking lot. I definitely recommend going in the morning. It's hard to find parking if you try to go in the afternoon/evening on a weekend/holiday. There is a crosswalk and stoplight at 9th Ave. to cross PCH and then the entrance is right there. There is a bathroom, but it is the typical beach bathroom--not very clean. There's a volleyball net on the left side of the beach. There are no restaurants/cafes. Bring whatever you want with you.

    1000 Steps Beach in Laguna Beach (off PCH and 9th) is absolutely worth the visit! First off, don't…read morelet the name intimidate you, the stairs are not literally 1000 steps one way or even round trip... unless you decide to go up and down a few times, then yeah, you'll definitely hit that number!! We went on a Monday and it was pretty busy lots of college-aged people, maybe even some high schoolers, but the beach itself still felt pretty secluded, and there were hardly any kids around maybe like a handful of them. It was overcast when we went, which actually made it perfect, not too hot and super comfortable. Parking is street parking only, just make sure to read the signs carefully. Once you head down, you'll find restrooms and showers right at the bottom of the stairs, which is super convenient. The restroom is clean earlier in the day (before noon), but like most beach spots, it gets a bit wet as the day goes on. There's plenty of space to set up and relax. One thing to watch out for--seagulls! They will go after your food, so definitely cover it with towels if you're hopping in the water. The stairs themselves are pretty narrow, and people usually stick to one side going down and the other going up, so just be mindful and take your time, they tend to also get wet as the day goes on so it's a little slippery.

    Photos
    Thousand Steps Beach - Steps Down

    Steps Down

    Thousand Steps Beach
    Thousand Steps Beach - 1000 steps lifeguard at top of the steps on PCH

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    1000 steps lifeguard at top of the steps on PCH

    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Sacred Garden

    Mission San Juan Capistrano

    4.6(788 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    Not-for-profit
    Free WiFi

    If you're in this area definitely worth it to check out this amazing Historical Mission. This was…read moremy second time and I enjoyed it. Lots of couples taking pre-wedding photos. Must be the place. I got a new experienced each time love the vibe.

    Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded on November 1, 1776 by Junipero Serra and Spanish…read moreCatholics. Its nickname is "Jewel of the Missions" and is one of 21 Spanish missions in California. We purchased tickets ($18/adult) on-site although you can book them online to perhaps get a discount. We got an audio device where we could take an audio tour through the grounds and learn more about each individual aspect of the mission. We even saw the remnants of the stone church that was once the largest structure in California but was destroyed in the 1812 earthquake. While the inhabitants' primary goal was to promote Catholicism, the mission also served as an agricultural and economic center. The founding priests of the mission were told they had to be self-sufficient; when we visited the area there was a garden to grow food and a kitchen area. This mission was even the first one in California to make their own wine. Overall it took us an hour to walk around and explore. We didn't read or listen to everything in-depth but you can easily spend 2-3 hours here. We went early in the morning and there was no one around so it was peaceful exploring the grounds.

    Photos
    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Incredible.

    Incredible.

    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Our refuge from the sporadic 3 minute rain storms.

    Our refuge from the sporadic 3 minute rain storms.

    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Photos by Juan Ochoa

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    Photos by Juan Ochoa

    OC Meets Napa and Baja - salmon w/ caviar

    OC Meets Napa and Baja

    4.8(9 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    "One's options in this world are as vast as the horizon, which is technically a circle and thus…read moreinfinitely broad. Yet we must choose each step we take with utmost caution, for the footprints we leave behind are as important as the path we will follow. They're part of the same journey -- our story." ― Lori R. Lopez, Dance Of The Chupacabras What an amazing event this was! OC Meets Napa and Baja, presented by Community Health Center AltaMed, brought primarily Latino-centric restaurants and chefs in Orange County and Latino-owned wineries in Napa and Baja together in a celebration of culture. Proceeds from all the ticket sales went toward supporting the Orange County health services and programs that AltaMed spearheads in underserved communities. When I was Housing Manager for the City of Huntington Beach, I funded Alta Med through the City's CDBG program and am very knowledgable about the great services they provide especially in a country that still has an imperfect and expensive healthcare system. What was cool about this event was actually seeing, meeting and talking to the chefs/winemakers. These are the people who chose their path, who chose their own story. The passion from chefs such as Beto Ygei from 930 Sushi (excellent spicy yellowtail), Carlos Selgado of Taco Maria (wonderful scallop here), Gabbi Patrick (I think they did a scallop dish too), Rogelio Martinez of Casa Oaxaca (so excited was he about his sorbets and ice cream), and winemakers such as Alex, Oscar and Lola Llamas (best wines at event and great people too who invited us to hang out afterwards). This is the type of event that I love to attend and is only second to the San Jose Jazz Festival as favorite yelp events of this kind that I was lucky enough to get tickets from Yelp. Was disappointed in the Baja wines as there was little balance or flavor with those wines, and a lot of rustic smells and astrigent finishes. However given that when traveling the local wines always taste better when you are visiting their area (Cinque Terre was an example of this where the wines are fabulous only when you are outdoors on a patio with a great view eating a sublime pesto dish in Italy), I will visit Baja soon and visit the better wineries on their home turf ;-) Thanks again Yelp for this event! Sidney

    I was a lucky winner of VIP tickets ($125 pp) to OC Meets Napa and Baja sponsored by AltaMed. I…read morewas worried about rain but it cleared up right before the event started which led to the vendors scrambling to set up their tents. It was warm and muggy but there was plenty of food and drink for all the guests to enjoy. There were plenty of Napa and Baja wine vendors pouring wine throughout the event along with restaurants from LA, OC, and Baja. Some of my favorite food vendors were Anepalco's Cafe, Taco Maria, Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen, and Deckman's en el Mogor. Wine was definitely plentiful as was the food. There was a wine wheel that you could spin for $20, which went to the Women in Action charity and in turn you won a wine bottle valued anywhere from $40 to $80. I won an $80 bottle of wine. It was pretty awesome. There were tables for all the guests to lounge and mingle at. The event was held at Mission San Juan Capistrano which I had never visited before. We were allowed to walk around the exhibits while the Mission was closed to the public. Pretty cool. Thanks to Yelp OC for the tickets. My +1 and I had a great time.

    Photos
    OC Meets Napa and Baja
    OC Meets Napa and Baja
    OC Meets Napa and Baja

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    Baby Beach - Beach

    Baby Beach

    4.3(136 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Great for families with little ones. Very calm water designated for small children. Parents don't…read moreneed to worry about their kids being swept away by waves. It was a sunny breezy day as my daughter and I visited this beach. Super busy for a Saturday afternoon. Parking is free, but can get filled up quickly. Plenty of grass and beach area to enjoy a picnic with your family. Then take a dip into the ocean. Perfect day to be spent relaxing on the sand. Water was a bit chilly, but nice clear water. Will definitely come back during the summer!

    The name baby beach is not an understatement. That's exactly what it is, a baby beach. It's coved…read moreoff by the harbor making it a safe area for your littles to play and enjoy the water. After researching, you definitely want to check the water safety before coming, because it's coved it's prone to higher unsafe levels of bacteria. This week it was in the green and safe. My son has Autism and we decided to try this beach out because it was know for it's coved off location with no waves and it gets my stamp of approval for safety. The beach itself is also very small so if you have an eloper it gives a sense of relief as well. I did a 360 degree video to show you. I rated this beach 4 out of 5 because there's very limited parking and the beach is very small. During peak season or weekends it may be difficult to find parking and the beach area may fill up. Some positive things are, parking is FREE! The restroom and showers are located right at the entrance, and there's a life guard tower. If you're looking for a safe place to bring your kiddos for a day at the beach, check this place out. One other thing, make sure to pack plenty to drink and eat. There is nothing near by without driving.

    Photos
    Baby Beach - Beach

    Beach

    Baby Beach - From water to handicap parking is not far at all

    From water to handicap parking is not far at all

    Baby Beach

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    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Tiramisu Dessert is yum

    Jack's Restaurant & Bar

    4.4(496 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I am very grateful for Jason and the entire staff at Jack's. We booked a table for 2 on a Friday…read moreevening effortlessly. My wife had a raspberry lemon drop, and I had a refreshing soda water with lime. The Caesar salad was very green with light dressing and a generous amount of anchovies. My wife was hooked on the Calamari, and I really enjoyed the Sand Dad's with Rice Pilaf and mixed vegetables. The ambiance was bright yet low-key, the service was very timely, and the attentiveness of Jason with our requests put our minds at ease. You should definitely stop by Jack's!

    This is a very easy business to review because everything about it was 5 stars:…read more Excellent Food Excellent Menu Excellent Atmosphere Excellent Service Reasonable prices for what is offered. If you work in the restaurant industry and want to learn how to operate a great fine dining restaurant, come and get a job here. The Salmon dish (34) was excellent--came with great veggies and pasta. I eat Salmon all over the world and at home and this was one of the best. The Eggplant Parm Appetizer (18) was a bit on the overpriced side for it's size like Appetizers tend to be but was excellent. The free water and bread was also very good. They have a free parking lot on the side or else park on the street for free. They have indoor seating and a covered patio. Great place for everyone: Date night, birthday celebration (there was one going one), Girls dinner, guys night out, business dinner, or dinner on your own on the patio. Expect to spend about $50 a person for dinner with Apps, more if you order alcohol. I would come back for the Salmon dish again.

    Photos
    Jack's Restaurant & Bar
    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Oso Bucco

    Oso Bucco

    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Pina colada mule. Didn't take a picture of my Paloma.

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    Pina colada mule. Didn't take a picture of my Paloma.

    Dana Point IlluminOcean - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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