Last weekend was Memorial Day, the official kick off to summer. However, it felt more like fall around here in Los Angeles with rain and chilly temperatures. But this weekend we were back on track with picture perfect weather; the type of weather perfect for a barbeque at the beach.

This week my adventures took me to Laguna Beach. There’s a lot to see and do in Laguna and I couldn’t do it justice in just one article. Laguna Beach includes 7 miles of coastline with some of Southern California most scenic beaches and coves you'll find along the Southern California coast. The best tide pools, diving opportunities, and best sunsets on this region of California coast are right in Laguna Beach.  Home to mansions and quaint cottages that line bluffs above the sandy coves, for over 100 years, tourists have flocked to a little piece of paradise to scuba dive, to paint the colors of nature which seem more vibrant there and to enjoy natural beauty not seen elsewhere. In addition there cultural festivals, the Sawdust Art Festival, Pageant of the Masters, and ample state parks and wilderness to explore. So with the beautiful weather and water, this week I focused on the tide pools of Laguna and the “beaches”.

Laguna Beach holds the distinction of having one of the greatest number of localized beaches of any city on the California coast.  The list includes the northern beaches of Irvine Cove, Crescent Bay, Shaw's Cove, Boat Canyon, Diver's Cove, Picnic Beach and Rock pile. Central Beaches include Main Beach, Sleepy Hollow, St. Ann's Street, Thalia Street, Oak Street, Brook's Street and Mountain Road Beach. Southern Laguna Beach (South Laguna Beach) beaches include Bluebird Canyon, Pearl Street, Wood's Cove, Moss Point, Rockledge, Victoria Beach and Treasure Island.

Laguna got its name long ago from the Ute-Azteca Indian word for lakes, Lagonas. Spaniards who arrived later called it Canada de las Lagunas (Canyon of the Lakes) and in 1904, the area became known as Laguna Beach.  Around the same time artist Norman St. Clair traveled from Los Angeles to capture the scenery on canvas. His artist friends were so impressed with his paintings and reports of a balmy year-round climate that they joined him. (He and his wife actually lived in Laguna off and on prior to 1912.) The plein-air artists who painted in the style of French impressionists, settled and by the late 1920’s, half of the residents were artists.

Following the artists came the Hollywood filmmakers who found Laguna to be every bit as appealing on the silver screen as it was painted on canvas. Many of Hollywood’s famous stars like Bette Davis, Mary Pickford, Judy Garland, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Rooney maintained homes in Laguna Beach. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and John Steinbeck also went to Laguna for inspiration and relaxation, frequenting landmarks like the White House and the Cabrillo Ballroom.

With summer arriving there is nothing better than a BarBQ at the beach. My “spot” for this American Tradition was Laguna's "Window to the Sea", Heisler Park located in the heart of downtown Laguna. Boardwalk area with pathway to Heisler Park, volleyball and basketball areas, picnic tables, children's play area, protected tide pools. Laguna Beach has some of the best diving spots in Southern California.

After Barbequing some Corn on the Cob Oaxaca style and salmon it was time to explore the beach. Just north of Heisler Park is a Divers Cove. This area provided a small sandy beach to prepare for going out to the water. Here you will find divers and snorklers. Snorkeling in California is dismal compared to places such as the Caribbean, Australia, and South East Asia however; Laguna reefs are about the best in Southern California outside of the Channel Islands.

The other draw to the beaches at Laguna is the tide pools. All along the beaches one can find reefs and craggy rock formations that when the tide recedes leaves tide pools.

Tide pools are pools that are left behind when the ocean (or any body of water) recedes at low tides. You'll most often find them in places with rock formations on the shore. Sandy beaches without rocks generally do not offer best viewing for tide pools. In California the tides are around 6 hours apart. You'll discover two high and two low tides per day. 

During low tides you may see many plants and animals in the pools and around them. Some may be there all the time, and some may be trapped in hollows of rocks when the water recedes. Some of these included starfish, cucumber fish, crabs, and a wide variety of shellfish and small fish mixed with a plethora of plant life and seaweed. 

While Laguna offers a variety of activities such as shopping, dinning, art, and culture, most of it’s unique beauty can simply be found by spending a day down at the beach—exploring tide pools, diving or snorkeling, and having a barbeque along the beach while other surf. It is the quintessential “California Scene”.