Accommodations

Dana Point offers a nature oriented outdoors getaway with a variety of condos, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of Dana Point's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful beaches and attractions at affordably priced rates.

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Activities

Salt Creek Beach Park is a long, sandy beach that is a popular surfing spot with both upland and beach facilities reached from Ritz Carlton Dr. Doheny State Beach is next to Dana Point Harbor with facilities that include lifeguards, food & drink, rest rooms, showers, picnic areas, and fire rings. There are 120 tent and RV campsites as well as bike paths, campgrounds, rentals, hiking, surfing and volleyball. The Ocean Institute allows the public to join their scientists aboard the research vessel Sea Explorer for an in-depth study of whales, dolphins and sea lions. The Mission San Juan Capistrano is a monument to California's multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. The serenity and peace amid the ten acres of lush gardens and cool fountains, set apart by old adobe walls, offers visitors respite from the sights and sounds of a busy world.

Events

Dana Point's Tall Ships Festival in September includes the Sea Chantey Concert, maritime exhibits and demonstrations, the Port Royal Privateers encampment, model boat building, wood carving, touch tank encounters, a rope challenge course, crafts and food. The Festival of Whales is timed for the whales' annual migration south and Dana Point celebrates with an Annual Street Fair, which is part of the Whale Festival, with a weekend of fun, food, entertainment and an arts & craft show with over 100 vendors. The June Water=Life Surf Fest is FREE for an entire weekend of rides, games, music & food.

Water Sports

The Pacific Ocean and Dana Point in particular has a long history of attracting surfers to the local shores. Dana Point is also home to a 2500 slip marina and many boating activities are popular here, including deep sea fishing. The local beaches are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and windsurfing.

Golfing

Dana Point is gifted with an incredibly beautiful golf course. Rolling across a lovely hillside site, Monarch Beach Golf Links has more of a park-land feel than a true links feel. Either way, it's a great place to play golf.

History

The Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of a string of 21 missions across Califonia, and includes a chapel still standing where its founder, Fr. Serra, once celebrated Mass. Today it is a monument to California's multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. The Mission was originally built as a self sufficient community by the Spanish Padres and Mission Indians, with the Mission as a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion.

Incorporated in 1989, the City of Dana Point is named after Richard Henry Dana Jr., an 19th century Harvard-trained lawyer, seaman, and author of the classic sea journal, Two Years Before the Mast. In his journal, Dana documents his voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to California on the merchant ship, Pilgrim. As part of the book, he describes the area once known as Capistrano Bay, as "the most romantic spot on the California coast." Today, Capistrano Bay is known as Dana Point.