Whales, water sports and wasabi await at the southern point of Orange County. Home of the International
Surfing Museum and the U.S. Open of Surfing, this OC waterfront metropolis continues to ride the crest of its
celebrated waves. But there’s a lot more to Huntington Beach than just hanging ten.
Play
DANA POINT JET SKI &KAYAKCENTER 714.635.741034671Puerto Place 949.661.4947 I danapointjetski.com
Sheltered Dana Cove andthe wide open waters of theCapistrano Strait are readymadefor watersportsofall kind, from fishing, sailing and scuba diving to motorized adventures.Dana Point JetSki &Kayak Center on theeastside of the cove rents and sells surfboards,stand-up paddleboards,Hobie seagoing kayaks and Kawasaki jetskis.Open year round and sevendaysaweek, the outfit has been alocal watercraft institution since 1978.
Snug at the west end of Dana Cove, the Ocean Institute offers the public more than 60 marine science and maritime history programs each year on land and on the high seas. Classes, workshops, summer camps, family programs and research activities take place in the institute’s state-of-the-art teaching labs, the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center, two historic tallships and an oceanographic research vessel. There are also museum exhibits and live sea creatures in the aquarium, as well as whale watching cruises and annual events like the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival and Festival of Whales.
Learn
THE OCEAN INSTITUTE 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive 949.496.2274 I ocean-institute.org
Eat
RAYA One Ritz-Carlton Drive 949.240.2000 I ritzcarlton.com
Perched at the top of 150-foot sea cliffs, Raya restaurant at the posh Ritz-Carlton resort offers upscale romantic dining on the north side of Dana Point. It’s hard to know what to feast your eyes on — the views outside or the exquisitely prepared cuisine of chef Richard Sandoval. Among the signature dishes at this former Orange County “Restaurant of the Year” are Miso Alaskan Black Cod, Ahi Tuna Tataki Salad with a lemon-ginger-wasabi vinaigrette, and New York steak served with Dungeness crab potato purée.
