Looking for things to do in Laguna Beach this summer? Here are the amazing things to do, see, eat and drink along a single stretch of famed Laguna Canyon Road.
Adapted from the 2019 Where Traveler Orange County summer issue.
DO
All three Laguna Beach art festivals are on a single stretch of the coastal destination; all offer activities and live-music events. The Festival of Arts is California’s longest-running outdoor fine-art exhibition. Laguna Art-A-Fair is also a juried show featuring a wide array of media. The quirkier Sawdust Art Festival is more craft-inspired.
Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.494.1145. foapom.com
Laguna Art-A-Fair, 777 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.494.4514. art-a-fair.com
Sawdust Art Festival, 935 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.494.3030. sawdustartfestival.org
SEE
The renowned Pageant of the Masters, outdoors at the Festival of Arts, features tableaux vivants (“living pictures”), re-creations by live models of works of art with live narration and orchestra. Next door to the festival is the Laguna Playhouse, which presents comedic and profound theatrical fare but is fairly quiet in the summer.
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.497.2787. lagunaplayhouse.com
Pageant of the Masters , 650 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.494.1145. foapom.com
EAT
The finest dining near the festivals is adjacent to the Sawdust at the Hive. New Oliver’s Osteria has distinguished itself as one of the county’s finest Italian restaurants. Another Kind Cafe, also new, offers creative Vietnamese and “crossed-culture cuisine.” Kitchen in the Canyon is a favorite gathering spot for breakfast and brunch.
Another Kind Cafe, 793 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.715.9688. anotherkindcafe.com
Kitchen in the Canyon, 845 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.715.5388. kitcheninthecanyon.com
Oliver’s Osteria, 853 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.715.0261. oliversosteria.com
DRINK
The finest drinking near the festivals is also at the Hive. The new tasting room of Santa Ynez Valley-based McClain Cellars offers excellent wines as well as olive oil, artisan popcorn and live guitar. Find nearly two dozen taps and styles of brew—plus sandwiches, salads and snacks—at Laguna Beach Beer Co.
Laguna Beach Beer Co., 859 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.715.0805. lagunabeer.com
McClain Cellars, 849 Laguna Canyon Road, 949.590.9980. mcclaincellars.com
