Dana Point
--Doheny State Beach is the readers' choice as the County's
"Best Camping Site", featuring California camping at its best. Alcohol consumption is allowed at some camp areas,
making this facility conducive for parties and special events. One block up the
hill from Doheny State Beach at the beautiful Marriott's
Laguna Cliffs Resort, a great hotel for your Doheny Beach fun, where nothing beats a campfire on a cool Southern California
night with the salt-mist air fanning the flames of a bonfire ablaze.
Doheny State Beach truly is one of the favorite
beaches for barbeques and family picnics. It's beautiful grass lawns, tables
and grills, volleyball courts and clean sand beach are all close to the
parking lot so you don't have far to walk. This Dana Point favorite has
a five acre lawn with private picnic facilities rentals plus a sand beach
and plenty of restrooms, volleyball courts, food concessions, showers,
etc. It is located off Dana Point Harbor Drive, charges a parking fee, and has 121 tent sites for RV parking and tents.
The 62-acre park, administered by the California Department
of Parks & Recreation, is at the mouth of San Juan Creek.
With over a mile of white, sandy beach and some of the warmest water
and best swimming and surfing in California, it's no wonder that
people return here year after year to vacation.
A rocky area at the beach's western end attracts
divers and anglers. During low tide, the tide pools are available for exploring.
The creek that runs through the park divides the facilities into three
areas. The area west of the creek is reserved for day use;
a five acre landscaped picnic area with 170 picnic tables, 99 barbeque
grills and fire rings with plenty of parking: the area south of there is
the day use area, commonly called "hole in the fence". There are
33 fire rings, volleyball area, chemical toilets, beach showers and lots
of parking. This area is popular for the all day beach party
and evening campfire. At the entrance to the State Beach there is
a Visitors Center with aquariums, a simulated tide pool, and
schedules on what is going on in the park. The park entrance is on
Dana Point Harbor Drive, just seaward of Pacific Coast Highway in
Dana Point. dohenystatebeach.org
Annual Events - Check the official web site listed
on top of page for event dates, times and other current information!
APRIL / MAY - Annual Grunion Night includes a slide
show campfire program followed by a beach walk to view the grunions coming
ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. This evening program begins at 10:00
p.m.
Blues Music Festival usually in May This popular
2-day event attracts thousands of music lovers featuring 2 stages of live
music, a variety of food, and various booths.
JULY Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration annual fireworks
show off the barge! Fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m.
Summer Season of Interpretive Programs and Activities
Ranger Buddies Program: This program was designed as a way to include the "little folk" in a daily educational
nature outing. Ranger Buddies is for children 4-6 years of age.
Junior Rangers Program: Junior Rangers is a statewide program
with the California State Parks and Recreation Department. Junior Rangers
is for children 7-12 years of age.
Nature Hikes: The staff at Doheny State Beach offers Nature
Hikes periodically on Sunday mornings throughout the summer season. Everyone
is welcome to join us (children 6 years of age need to be accompanied by
an adult).
Campfire Programs: Doheny State Beach
Fish Feeding Presentations: The Doheny State Beach Visitor's
Center and Gift Shop
AUGUST Whitey Harrison Outrigger Canoe Classic -Come
and cheer over 1,000 paddlers from California as they compete in this long-distance
outrigger canoe paddle from Dana Point to Laguna Beach.
SEPTEMBER (usually held in in Mid- Sept. one weekend,
Saturday and Sunday) Doheny Days Music Festival This popular annual event
features two stages of live pop and reggae music, a variety of cultural
food, and vendor booths.
Annual Dale Vezy Classic Surf Contest - The Doheny Longboard
Surfing Association hosts this annual surfing contest with some of California's
finest surfers. This contest is limited to various members of surfing clubs
throughout California.
OCTOBER Halloween Haunt annual event features spooky booths
and other spidery fun! Usually held the Saturday evening of the week of
Halloween. Please dress in costume and bring along a can of food to be
donated to the Orange County Food Bank. The fun begins in the evening,
usually around 7:00 p.m.
NOVEMBER Thanksgiving Day Annual Turkey Trot/10K Run
Favorite
hotels include: Marriott's Laguna Cliffs,
Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel
and
St. Regis Monarch Beach
Doheny Beach
Dana Point is a California
State Parks /dohenystatebeach.org
