15 Fun Things to Do in Dana Point, California
A Laid Back Beach City Under the Southern California Sun
Dana Point is a seaside community nestled in the heart of Southern California. It’s located in south Orange County just north of the San Diego County border. It’s a city of luxury amenities and a harbor full of yachts. Yet, it still maintains its laid back surfer vibe and is a great place for fun in the sun with practically perfect weather year round. It definitely has something to offer everyone.
Dana Point was named after Richard Henry Dana, Jr., a Harvard-trained lawyer, seaman and author. In 1834, Dana shipped out on the Boston merchant ship Pilgrim, sailed around South America’s Cape Horn and came up the California coast. He wrote about his adventures in the classic sea journal, Two Years Before the Mast, describing the area of what is now Dana Point as “the only romantic spot on the California coast.” A replica of his ship, The Pilgrim, was used as a floating classroom by the local Ocean Institute until it sadly sank in the harbor in 2020. The entire area is designated a California Historic Landmark.
When the land in Dana Point was being developed in the 1920s, it is said Anna Walters, a realtor who worked with Dana Point developer Sidney H. Woodruff, came up with the famous gimmick to light the lanterns at the end of each street a different color and name them accordingly.
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THINGS TO DO:
1. Dana Point Harbor
The harbor officially opened in the summer of 1971. Many remain nostalgic for the good old days back before its construction put an end to their beloved, legendary surf spot, Killer Dana.
Today, you can find cute little souvenir shops and several restaurants and bars as you stroll through the harbor. You can often spot sealions sunbathing nearby and it’s a bird hotspot with sightings of blue and green heron, gulls, pelicans, aukets, booby birds and more.
In the winter, grab your warm coat and a cup of hot cocoa and head to the harbor to see it come to life each night during the annual Festival of Lights from mid-November through January 3rd, and the annual Dana Point Boat Parade of Lights during the two weekends before Christmas. It’s the perfect spot for spreading seasonal cheer!
2. Dolphin and Whale Watching
Dana Point is known for some of the best year-round whale watching of anywhere along the coast and is known to have one of the greatest concentrations of blue whales and dolphins in the Pacific.
Blue whales, the largest mammals on earth, can typically be seen from May through November. Some can reach over 100 feet long and weigh over 100 tons.
Dana Point is also known for spotting fin whales, minke whales, humpbacks and even orcas (killer whales) as well as huge pods of various species of dolphins that love to swim alongside boats. There are several whale watching outfits in the harbor including the Ocean Institute which offers a 2-hour eco-friendly, educational tour on its 65-foot Research Vessel Sea Explorer.
It is important to know that the World Cetacean Alliance has designated Dana Point as the first Whale Heritage Site in the Americas. So, you can feel good about taking a whale watching tour from its shores knowing it treats these magnificent creatures responsibly and respectfully.
3. Harbor Cruises and Charter Boats
You can also charter a boat to take you out sailing, sportfishing or parasailing along the beautiful California coast. There are many to choose from including Dana Wharf, Dana Point Charters, All Water Fishing Charters, and more.
4. Ocean Institute
It offers exhibits, aquariums and interactive learning experiences to the general public as well as to students and teachers through its ocean science and maritime history programs. The Institute also offers field trips for immersing students in historical reenactments and hands on learning such as building robots for undersea exploration, as well as whale watches, marine life excursions, special events and other tours. For daily schedules, click here.
The Institute is also known for having been the inspiration for SpongeBob SquarePants as its creator, Stephen Hillenburg, was a science instructor here.
5. Sea Caves & Tide Pools
Just past the Ocean Institute is a staircase off to the north side of the jetty that leads down to a rocky beach full of tide pools just waiting to be explored.
You will find all kinds of mussels, snails, sea anemones, urchins and crabs. Be sure to go at low tide to make the most of your visit. Note that green algae covers the boulders so they can be quite slippery.
During low tide, you can continue to hike along the rocky bluff to the north for a little over a half mile where you will find the Dana Point Sea Caves. These are some of the easiest caves to access along the Southern California coast. The opening to the first cave is quite small but once you get through it, you will be surprised how large the cave is.
The second cave will require some rock scrambling to get to and it’s much smaller than the first cave. If the tides are too high, you will have trouble reaching it.
6. Baby Beach
This also makes it a popular spot to launch kayaks, row boats and paddle boards for those who want to explore the harbor by sea.
During seasonal events, you will also find things like vendor booths, live music and sand castle contests.
7. Salt Creek Beach
Who hasn’t seen the famous movie poster for the iconic film, The Endless Summer?
It’s also a great spot for bodyboarding, boogie boarding and body surfing.
A long path leads down from the parking lot to the sand. Along the way, you will pass a 7-acre stretch of grassy bluff that is perfect for picnicking and reading. There are volleyball courts, a half basketball court and even live music concerts and outdoor movie nights on the grass.
8. City Walking Tour
Dana Point is a city with an incredibly rich history. From the days of the cow hide trades between merchants docked in the harbor and nearby Mission San Juan Capistrano, you can follow its history to present day by taking a walking tour of the city with Orange County Walking Tours. You will learn about the construction of the harbor, how the depression halted development plans and more. Tours take about 1-1/2 hours. They are free relying solely on donations and tips.
9. Doheny State Park
Additional land was donated by and obtained from the Santa Fe Railroad, UC Regents and the Union Oil Company.
Today, Doheny State Beach is a very popular surf spot for long boarding. The area also has a 121-site campground on the beach, firepits on the sand and picnic areas with tables and BBQs.
Over the years, several music festivals and concerts have been venued here. There is also an outdoor restaurant and seasonal concession stand right on the sand called Cafe Del Sol. You can order hot dogs and ice cream at the counter or enjoy a quick meal at the outdoor patio seating area where they serve wine and beer.
10. Doheny Visitor Center
11. Grunion Run
If you grew up in Southern California, you’ve probably heard of the California Grunion and maybe even been on a grunion run. Grunion are tiny, sardine-sized, silvery fish found along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California.
It is quite a spectacle to see - literally thousands of fish lighting up the waves with their glistening, sparkly bodies as they flop up onto the sand everywhere you look as if dancing under the moonlit shores.
The grunion spawn during the highest tide of the month from as early as March until late August, but it’s impossible to predict exactly where and when they will come up. Doheny State Beach has long been a great spot to catch a glimpse and in the past the State Park has offered ranger led fireside chats on the nights when the runs are anticipated which may be resuming soon. You can sometimes even spot a small shark or other predators nearby waiting to prey on the fish.
Because of a depletion in grunion over the years, special regulations are in place for catching them.
You cannot catch grunion from the beginning of April through the end of May
You must be 16 or older with a California fishing license.
You cannot dig holes to trap them.
You can ONLY use your hands to capture them so you have to grab the slippery little suckers.
You can only capture them after they have spawned and are heading back to the water.
You are to only catch what you will use.
12. Wheel Fun Rentals
What’s great about Wheel Fun Rentals is that they also rent everything you can possibly need for a perfect beach day including boogie boards, surfboards, wet suits, beach chairs and umbrellas. You can even rent volleyballs and plastic sand toys for the kids.
13. Festivals
Dana Point is home to quite a few festivals each year including the following:
Doheny Blues Festival (May) - The Blues Festival used to also take place at Doheny State Beach having started in 1998, but has been moved in recent years to Sea Terrace Park where it features three alternating stages of blues, rock and soul music.
Although 2020 and 2021 have proven challenging for the festival, with some events held virtually online, the Festival usually includes a large parade through town, a 5k and fun run, giant life-size whale chalk drawings on the walkways of Doheny State Park, vendor booths, live music, scavenger hunts, the Diamond Dig where kids dress like pirates and dig for buried treasure in the sand, and more whale watching tours than usual. There are often lecture series and the Ocean Institute provides whale themed programs for kids.
Maritime Festival (September) - Previously known as the Tall Ships Festival, the Ocean Institute’s Maritime Festival has been a Dana Point tradition for almost 40 years. Events include cannon battles, craft beer gardens, live music, mermaid shows, ship tours and more. You can often find people walking around the harbor dressed as pirates or children engaged in plastic sword fights.
Ohana Festival (September/October) - The 3-day Ohana Festival takes place at Doheny State Beach each year offering incredible live music with a view of the ocean under the palm trees making it the perfect outdoor concert venue.
14. Dana Point Bluff Top Trail
The Dana Point Bluff Top Trail is a historical 0.2 mile easy hike that runs atop the bluffs overlooking Dana Point Harbor between Amber Lantern and Violet Lantern.
15. Nature Interpretive Center & Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area
It sits adjacent to Dana Point Preserve where you can find a hiking trail atop the cliffs with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean down below. During certain times of year, you can even spot whales and dolphins out in the distant waters.
There are also two other nearby trails that are short but offer great views - the Hilltop Conservation Park Trail and the Harbor Point Conservation Park Trail.