California Official Visitor's Guide 2009 - (Page 32) enjoy » nightlife » orange county CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Grab a drink at Laguna Beach’s Hotel La Casa del Camino. Along Orange County’s vibrant coastline, you can dance the night away, sip an exotic drink, or explore the many eclectic shops that help define the region. orange county indulgence to a burgeoning boutique scene. Trendy fashionistas head to Costa Mesa’s Goat Boutique for one-of-a-kind items from Muveal, Sissi Rossi, and others. Across the street, The CAMP offers outdoor enthusiasts activewear and gear, and the Lab is where trendsetting urban-with-an-edge shopping abounds. Make time before dinner to take a sailing lesson, rent a motorcycle, or indulge in a spa treatment [ OC Spa]. The area’s vibrant club scene [ OC Nightlife] should keep you rollin’ till the wee hours. Sleep in the next day, and then Sunday brunch beckons—the Crow Bar and Kitchen, a “serious fun” gastro pub, makes the world’s best Bloody Mary. Try the brick-oven-baked organic eggs Florentine and the duck fat fries with truffle-infused aioli. Head south along the Pacific Coast Highway seven miles to funky, eclectic Laguna Beach. Discover hidden paths leading down the bluffs to the area’s tranquil beaches. The profusion of art galleries will soothe your soul. Slip into the venerable Hotel La Casa del Camino, a 1930s getaway for the Hollywood crowd and retreat to the rooftop garden for breathtaking ocean views. The cocktails, azure waters, and warm coastal breezes will have you coming back again and again. AARON MAKINEN Spend a weekend—or longer—exploring the vibrant scene in and around Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach T he skein of coastal communities stretching south from Newport Beach to Laguna Beach—so trendy they spawned their own TV shows—makes an idyllic setting for a sun-splashed weekend of relaxation and indulgent fun. The 11-mile stretch between the two towns includes rugged, windswept cliffs as well as Southern California’s iconic wide sandy beaches. Start by scoring a room overlooking the water—at the quaint Balboa Inn, just steps from the beach, or the sophisticated Balboa Bay Club & Resort, beside the yachts of Newport Bay. Rent a beach bike to cruise the boardwalk and the bayfront. Eclectic homes line the narrow side streets on your way to the Wedge, a romantic pocket park overlooking the Pacific. Board the ferry at the foot of Main Street and take a four-minute ride to tiny Balboa Island for espresso and a croissant at Pain du Monde or a retro-snack (think chocolate-dipped frozen banana on a stick) at Dad’s Donut Shop & Bakery. Flex your shopping muscles in the afternoon. You could spend endless days exploring the nearly 300 shops and celebrity-chef eateries at world-famous South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, but Newport Beach and neighboring Corona Del Mar are also home Enter keyword in Search box at visitcalifornia.com 32 SCOTT MANSFIELD (4) http://www.visitcalifornia.com
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