This Orange County coastal oasis is more than magical beaches. 17 reasons to visit right now
Laguna Beach, for instance, is art.
The modern history of the beachside community often zeroes in on its artistic legacy. And for good reason. Plein air artists — that is, those dedicated to painting outdoors and capturing the beauty of a landscape or a moment — are believed to have begun descending upon the region in the late 1880s. In the early 1900s, it was plein air artists who established the Laguna Beach Art Assn., which ultimately led to the founding of the Laguna Art Museum.
And today, Laguna Beach stages two of Southern California's most cherished art events. The Festival of the Arts, home to the summer tradition that is the Pageant of the Masters, and the Sawdust Art Festival continue to define Laguna Beach as an art-forward haven for free thinking.
Laguna Beach is also history.
The aforementioned Laguna Art Museum is one of the oldest artistic institutions in Southern California, its current location dating to 1929. The city's Marine Room Tavern, established in 1934, is one of the oldest bars in Orange County, the site of the second liquor license ever approved in Laguna Beach. Its Catholic church, St. Francis by the Sea, was built in 1933 and once held the mantle of the smallest cathedral in the world. And the Laguna Playhouse is said to be one of the oldest not-for-profit continuously operating theaters on the West Coast, with a history dating to the 1920s.
And yet Laguna Beach is tension.
Summer crowds, a tourism necessity for the area, also bring with them a host of nuances for locals — traffic, trash, public drunkenness and the risk of dirtying up the city's pristine beaches, five of which ranked among The Times' list of the best in the state. It's a privileged party atmosphere that no doubt once contributed to the area's spotlight for trashy reality television.
Yet that wasn't the real Laguna, as Laguna Beach is a community.
Today, it's a place one can find a magical wonderland dedicated to the joy of fairy tales, and to walk its Coast Highway — or take in its sights via one of the city's free trolleys — is to find a host of quirky surf shops, chocolatiers, wine and snack outposts, and a bounty of galleries. And, yes, those magnificent beaches.
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Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
This Orange County coastal oasis is more than magical beaches. 17 reasons to visit right now
For the uninitiated, Laguna Beach is Southern California at its most postcard-worthy, a stretch of the Orange County coastline filled with frothy waves, winding canyons and afternoon beachgoers. Yet it doesn't take long to realize that it's not just Laguna Beach's sand that's worth digging into. Laguna Beach, for instance, is art. The modern history of the beachside community often zeroes in on its artistic legacy. And for good reason. Plein air artists — that is, those dedicated to painting outdoors and capturing the beauty of a landscape or a moment — are believed to have begun descending upon the region in the late 1880s. In the early 1900s, it was plein air artists who established the Laguna Beach Art Assn., which ultimately led to the founding of the Laguna Art Museum. And today, Laguna Beach stages two of Southern California's most cherished art events. The Festival of the Arts, home to the summer tradition that is the Pageant of the Masters, and the Sawdust Art Festival continue to define Laguna Beach as an art-forward haven for free thinking. Laguna Beach is also history. The aforementioned Laguna Art Museum is one of the oldest artistic institutions in Southern California, its current location dating to 1929. The city's Marine Room Tavern, established in 1934, is one of the oldest bars in Orange County, the site of the second liquor license ever approved in Laguna Beach. Its Catholic church, St. Francis by the Sea, was built in 1933 and once held the mantle of the smallest cathedral in the world. And the Laguna Playhouse is said to be one of the oldest not-for-profit continuously operating theaters on the West Coast, with a history dating to the 1920s. And yet Laguna Beach is tension. Summer crowds, a tourism necessity for the area, also bring with them a host of nuances for locals — traffic, trash, public drunkenness and the risk of dirtying up the city's pristine beaches, five of which ranked among The Times' list of the best in the state. It's a privileged party atmosphere that no doubt once contributed to the area's spotlight for trashy reality television. Yet that wasn't the real Laguna, as Laguna Beach is a community. Today, it's a place one can find a magical wonderland dedicated to the joy of fairy tales, and to walk its Coast Highway — or take in its sights via one of the city's free trolleys — is to find a host of quirky surf shops, chocolatiers, wine and snack outposts, and a bounty of galleries. And, yes, those magnificent beaches.
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Travel + Leisure
05-08-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Unfinished Masterpiece Was Just Named the No. 1 Attraction in the World by Tripadvisor
Of all the things there are to do in the world, one experience has risen to the top—not by chance, but by the sheer volume and enthusiasm of traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the past year. At the top of the platform's most sought-after (and most beloved) attractions is the Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona. The Catholic church has been under construction since 1882 (over 140 years, if you're counting) and is both a place of worship and a monument to architect Antoni Gaudí, who spent more than 40 years working on the church and whose vision remains the project's guiding light. But don't let the phrase 'under construction' deter you. The tangle of spires, cranes, and intricate stonework you see from the outside is part of the draw—a testament to a passion project that is still very much alive. It's an evolving story told in sculpture, light, and shadow. Basílica de la Sagrada Familia. Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure Step inside, and the noise of the city recedes. What remains is color and quiet. The nave rises like a forest canopy, supported by branching stone trunks, which supports Gaudí's vision to bring the natural world in. Sunlight filters through stained glass in hues that shift with the day: cool greens and blues in the morning, fiery ambers and reds as evening approaches. And above it all, the towers—some still being built—offer panoramic views over Barcelona, framed by the very structure that continues to rise. It is quite fitting that the Sagrada Família is at the top of Tripadvisor's 2025 Travelers' Choice Awards as this is the last year travelers will be able to visit the unfinished main structure, which is expected to be completed in 2026, which is about 100 years after Gaudí's passing. Following the Sagrada Família in the world's top attractions is the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The full ranked list is below: Basílica de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain Eiffel Tower, Paris, France NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Merritt Island, United States Louvre Museum, Paris, France Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia Mutianyu Great Wall, Beijing, Asia Anne Frank House, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Duomo di Milano, Milan, Italy Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
San Francisco Chronicle
03-08-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pope Leo XIV urges over 1 million Catholic young people to spread faith and enthusiasm
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged more than a million Catholic youths to 'spread your enthusiasm and the witness of your faith' when they return home to some 150 countries, during a Mass closing a weeklong encounter with the next generation of faithful. 'Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are,'' Leo urged the young faithful. 'Do not settle for less. You will then see the light of the Gospel growing every day, in you and around you.' The young people camped out in sprawling fields southeast of Rome overnight after attending a vigil service for the Jubilee of Youth on Saturday, also presided by Leo who has been ferried to and from Vatican City by helicopter. The Vatican said more than 1 million young people were present, along with 7,000 priests and 450 bishops. The special Jubilee celebration is part of the Holy Year that is expected to draw 32 million people to the Vatican for the centuries-old pilgrimage to the seat of Catholicism. The week has been a joyous gathering marked by bands of youths singing hymns as they move down cobblestoned streets, praying rosaries in piazzas and standing for hours at the Circus Maximus to confess their sins to priests offering the sacrament in a dozen languages. Rain overnight awakened the faithful but didn't dampen their spirits. 'At least we were a little covered, but we still got a bit wet. We lost our voices a little. It was cold, but we woke up to a beautiful sun and view,'' said Soemil Rios, 20, from Puerto Rico. 'Despite the difficulties, it was very nice and very special to have been part of this historic moment.' Sister Giulia De Luca of Rome acknowledge that 'waking up was a bit tough,' but that she was looking forward to seeing the pope again. 'It will be very nice to conclude a very intense week together. Definitely a lot of fun, but also very challenging in many ways," she said.
