Welcome to Laguna Beach! Whether visiting from out of town, or here to enjoy a staycation, we wanted to share with you some of our favorite spots to see, eat & stay with children in our hometown of Laguna Beach.
Our first stop is breakfast at Zinc Cafe. This charming outdoor eatery is all vegetarian. It's so fresh and delicious that even you meat lovers won't know it's missing. Zinc has been a local favorite for over 28 years. My grandmother use to take me here after walks along the beach when I was younger. My menu favorites are the breakfast burrito bowl served with homemade chips and salsa. If you're in the mood for something more simple, go for their poached egg on toast with a side of avocado. My kids love the freshly baked cinnamon popovers and then washing it down with the Sunrise, a kid-friendly drink.
While downtown, we love cruising around the local shops and boutiques. Check out the adorable children's boutique, Little Bohemian, or make a stop at Laguna Supply for the mamas. Other casual downtown food that we love is La Sierna, which is an organic Mexican taco stand with outdoor seating. My go-to is the avocado lime chicken salad and my husband orders the carnitas torta. If you're in the mood to splurge on a big appetite, I recommend the nachos! They are killer!
If looking for a local park, our favorite is Bluebird Park. My son requests this park on repeat! Bluebird Park is located at the corner of Cress Street and Bluebird Canyon Drive in Laguna Beach. This park has a lot of special features including, slides built into the hills and tunnels built into the ground, and a giant rocket ship that children can climb to the top.
We highly recommend jumping on the free year-round trolley! The Laguna trolley rides up and down the coast of Laguna from the north tip all the way down to the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point. It's a hit for the children and an activity in itself to jump on and off to explore!
There are so many stunning beaches in Laguna Beach, it's hard to go wrong. Laguna's coastline is so unique for Southern California with it's beautiful coves carved out below the houses built up into the cliffs. If you want to skip out on some of the crowds at main beach, go explore Victoria Beach. We absolutely love Victoria Beach. Parking is rough, but the haul is definitely worth it! There are beautiful tide pools including a natural rock pool for kids to play in and a history 'Rapunzel' tower, as we like to call it, that will make you feel like you've transported to Southern France. We usually have my husband drop us off at the top of the stairs, and he will go and find parking. If you're looking for better parking options, Treasure Island Beach below the Montage (which is public) and also Aliso Beach that comes with a playground set on the sand, are great options. Now, that's a bonus!
After the beach, we love a frozen yogurt stop at Active Culture who has refreshing coconut shakes. Another dessert hit is Paradiso Gelato on Peppertree Lane located on a charming little brick alley close to downtown. Keep in mind, Paradiso Gelato comes with long tourist lines, so be prepared.
And last, go for a sunset walk around the Montage Resort. Grab hot chocolate for the kids at the hotel, sit by the outdoor fires and enjoy the public grounds with the breathtaking views of the Laguna coastline!
Explore Laguna Beach below!
Kid-Friendly Hotels : Montage Resort, Surf N' Sand, Inn at Laguna Beach
Kid-Friendly Restaurants: Zinc, La Sirena, Bear Flag, Nick's, Crystal Cove Shake Shack, Active Culture Cafe
Kid-Friendly Parks: Bluebird Park
Shop: Laguna Supply, Little Bohemian