U.S.A. Part 2 - Santa Cruz to Laguna Beach

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Santa Cruz is one of my favourite places I've visited. I stayed there for 2 nights on my way down south and I was staying right across the road from the beach. The beaches in Santa Cruz are the kind I like. Small and intimate with cliffs protecting them. I cruised along the beach road and checked out all the beaches in town. My host Taylor and I walked along the pier and spotted some Sea Lions swimming around. We went down to the beach with her friends and took some beers and a number and watched the sun go down. Once it got dark we went back to her friend's place for dinner. After dinner we got more supplies and headed back down to the beach. We took a guitar and a little drum with us and had a bonfire on the beach. It was so cool. A real Californian experience. Drinking beer and singing songs around the fire. Taylor is also a fire twirler and she gave us a show.

I spent the next day laying on the beach. In the night we went to the boardwalk where it was 75c night for all the rides. We went on a few including an old fashioned roller coaster which was actually one of the best roller coasters I've been on. After that excitement we chilled out at my first drive in - a trend which I hope comes back.

My next stop after Santa Cruz was Isla Vista near Santa Barbara. Isla Vista is a small college town on the beach. My stay here was only a short stop of one night but it was spent with some cool people and I got a chance to sharpen my beer pong skills.

The next day was spent in Santa Barbara. I cruised around with my new host in her Jeep convertible. We went up into the hills to get a good view of the city. It has a great atmosphere with palm trees everywhere. Actually palm trees are everywhere in Southern California. We took a stroll along the beach and it was the first spot in California I'd been to where the water felt warm enough to swim in. I was staying at the back of a golf course, so late in the afternoon when all the golfers had finished I went out and hit a few balls. I miss golf. We went out to dinner on the marina and had a great view of the setting sun. It was here I discovered there existed an "Endless Summer" brand beer.

After a quick stop in Long Beach L.A. I went further south to Laguna Beach, a southern part of Orange County. Laguna is also one of my favourite places I've been, so I guess this was a pretty good little stretch for me.

Laguna Beach is beautiful. A little over developed and too touristic perhaps, but the beaches themselves are fantastic. Large cliffs and plenty of rock pool areas to explore. The first couple of days I was there they sky was unfortunately grey, but it didn't stop me getting in the water. My time here was basically spent at the beach during the day and drinking beer during the night.......and a bit of drinking beer during the day too. One such day was spent in the jacuzzi at my host's friend's mansion.

One night we went to a club for the premiere of a skim boarding video. Laguna is the skim boarding capital of the world. Another night was spent at the Sawdust Art Festival. It's a regular festival in Laguna for local artists. The name of this outdoor event comes from the floor being made of wood chips. The town of Laguna was originally an artist's community and the festival was top class.

One reason why I loved my time in Laguna was because I spent it where I really wanted to be - the beach.

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Photos

California Coast
My baby on Highway 1

Santa Barbara
Old mission

Malibu
"some people stand in the darkness, afraid to step into the light..."

Laguna Beach
Laguna is apparently the birth place of skim boarding, and it is huge here.

Comments

[Guy Hutcho]

Beaches, beaches, sunsett
Dane, your brain has been fried. Even Flynns Beach is better than these. AND I rate Flynns as a 3 for Port. How quickly we forget. When you return you must come doen to Broulee and check the 'best' beaches. I am so happy for you. What a trip you've had. Hope you are still ripping it up n the guitar. I have just bought Baz's Martin. What a steal. Thanks for the info. Hang in there!!!! Hi from Amber and Conor.

[Andrew Brean]

Nice..
Dane, this all looks very nice. I'm missing those Captain Cook steaks..

[Tyrone]

Just what number was it?
You'll have to explain beer pong to me when I see you next. Oh and you realise you're going to have pick only one of all these places that you keep choosing as your favourite when this is all over. P.S. Some people need to help somebody, when the edge of surrender's in sight!!!