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Richard
Henry Dana called this the most romantic harbor and from this video,
you'll gain a slight glimpse into what Dana may have seen when he
climbed off his ship up into the hills of Dana Point.
When you stand on the hill at the
lookout next to
Blue Lantern Inn, 34343 Street of the Blue Lantern, Dana Point,
CA, there's a park bench, a couple plaques and a gazebo with an overlook
of the harbor. It is one of the first stops to make when visiting Dana
Point. From here you'll gain a perspective on the harbor that lets you
see the layout below, and the mountain ranges in the distance.
On one historical plaque on this hill
states that in 1835 Richard Henry Dana, for which the harbor was named,
used the cove below, El Embarcadero, to anchor their ships to trade
hides with Mission San Juan Capistrano, now five miles inland from the
harbor, but not so far during away at that time. Trade flourished
between 1830 and 1840. Previous to that, the Argentine flag flew for a
short time in 1810 when Hipolito Bouchard and his sailors anchored and
raided the mission.
Today Dana Point is one of the most
popular places to enjoy whale watching tours that are held daily January
through April, and features many ship and ocean themed festivals
throughout the seasons. Harbor dining, boat excursions and Baby
Beach, plus Doheny State Beach are activities visitors can enjoy each
day of the year.
To the south is San Clemente and to
the north is Laguna Beach. Dana Point offers easy access to beaches for
South Orange County residents residing in Lake Forest, Mission Viejo,
San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel. The Interstate 5 Freeway
passes near the beach, offering the first views of the ocean along a
1200 mile stretch from Bellingham, Washington, through Oregon, then
California till your reach Southern California.
While a coveted view home in Dana
Point may be your heart's desire, a new project at the Headlands,
located on the large cliff and plateau on which this view above sits,
comes at a price. Don't bother looking for such views unless you have a
couple million dollars to spend.
For us poor folks, the middle class
travelers and vacations seeking the life of luxury, you can book a hotel
room for an affordable price or just drop by this overlook with gazebo
and take in the sights. That pleasure is free.
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