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LAGUNA BEACH

Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County, California. It is known for a year-round mild climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation, and artist community.

Of all the places I’ve been to, Laguna Beach has been one of my favorites! There is sun-&-sand, beautiful Mediterranean climate, roadside art, and lovely people. Couldn’t ask for more. But then, there was much more. Free trolley! Breathtaking sunset!  Pelicans on the beach! Also saw hummingbird feasting on Bird of Paradise flower!!!  Saw a guy named Oliver playing Sitar on the Beach! Yes Sitar – an instrument used in Indian classical music!

There are also lots of fun-activities that I did not indulge into: snorkeling, scuba-diving, body surfing, kayaking, or just sunbathing at the beach. There are also hiking trails.

But in all this the most spectacular is the sunset at Laguna Beach. Scroll down for images..

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My brother, at whose place we were staying during our vacation, dropped me at the corner where Park and Forest avenues meet South Coast Highway. I had the whole day to explore the Laguna Beach and its vicinity. But first about this triangular shaped corner. There are three interesting things captured in this image..

– The building with the bright blue awning is the famous Chantilly Ice Cream parlor.
–  The Gate: a pole with painted words
–  On the left corner is a man playing Sitar

Chantilly Ice Cream parlor at Laguna Beach have been serving frozen treats for more than twenty years.

“The Gate” in front of the parlor,  with a pole with painted words on wooden slats says: “This gate hangs well and hinders none, refresh and rest, then travel on.”

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I saw this guy playing Sitar, an instrument used primarily in Indian classical music. Reminded me of the Beatles. George Harrison played Sitar in the Norwegian Wood. I asked his name. He is Oliver. That’s all he told me. I didn’t have too much time to ask more questions. I had to explore the Laguna Beach. So I moved on and reached the Laguna’s Greeters Corner at  329 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.

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Felt welcomed by the Laguna’s official Greeter, Eiler Larsen. I knew the place would be fun, when a friendly stranger impromptu posed for me! Wish I knew his name. But Thank You! For more on the sculpture of Laguna Greeter.. click here..

 

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Main Beach: Laguna’s “Window to the Sea”, this beachfront park is located in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach.

The land in and around Laguna Beach rises quickly from the shoreline into the hills and canyons.

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Laguna Beach Visitors Center

Collected brochure for self-guided tour of Heritage Bungalows and Cottages.

From the beach I walked along the  south and north Coast Highway to explore the area.
This is also California State Route 1

Apart from natural beauty there are plenty of attractions:
Art – Murals and sculptures along the streets
California State Route 1, and
Heritage Bungalows and Cottages.

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Laguna Beach: Art in Public Places

The art you see around Laguna Beach is the result of two City programs: “Public Art and Murals” and “Art in Public Places.” Goals of the Public Art and Murals and Art in Public Places initiatives are to create diverse art installations of the highest quality that will, over decades, reflect the city itself and its citizens, and improve the quality of life; to be a source of pride to all Laguna Beach residents.

Art adds dimension, depth, and character to our community. It adds to the beauty and quality of life, inspires young minds, and reinforces a Laguna Beach’s local identity in which citizens take pride. Public art creatively manipulates built environments with a unique contribution to our city.

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California State Route 1 / All American Road

California State Route 1 is a major north-south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. state of California. At a total of just over 1,055.4 km, it is the longest state route in California. The highway is designated as an All-American Road. Highway 1 also at times runs concurrently with US 101, most notably through a 54-mile (87 km) stretch in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and across the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to providing a scenic route to numerous attractions along the coast, the route also serves as a major thoroughfare in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, and several other coastal urban areas.

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Boy and Dog fountain – by Ruth Peabody

Roaming around at Laguna Beach, and saw a sculptural fountain of a boy with his dog. Stopped by and took some photos. Never knew it was the city’s oldest piece of public art. And also learnt that the sculptor was from Illinois. The “Boy and Dog” sculpture was created by Ruth Peabody. She was born in Highland Park, Illinois on March 30, 1893. She first studied sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago, and was taught to paint as a child by her mother. The two women moved to Laguna Beach, California in 1924 and became active in the local art scene. For more.. click here..

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SELF GUIDED TOUR of HERITAGE BUNGALOWS and COTTAGES

Took a brochure from Laguna Beach Visitors Center and
embarked on a self-guided tour of heritage bungalows and cottages of Laguna’s past.

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495 Jasmine [1922] / Heritage Cottage: Among the most well preserved Laguna bungalow this one with the Colonial Revival entry remains today as a beautiful living example of the early housing styles. What was originally a modest bungalow, has matured over the years into a lovely, but unchanged, bungalow home today.

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383 Magnolia [1919.] / Heritage Cottage: This simple frame bungalow with humble colonial entry is typical of the houses which came to dot the north end of the Laguna. Today, it is typical of the houses which add an air of village charm to the neighborhood.

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As evening was approaching, I walked back to the beach to enjoy the sunset. This time I reached the Heisler Park ..

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Heisler Park Sculpture Garden

In 2011 the Heisler Park Sculpture Garden was commissioned by the city of Laguna Beach. The goal of this sculpture garden was to create an environment where the visitors can encounter and explore through the artwork with elements of discovery. Many cohesive elements were used to create a flow through the sculpture garden, connecting each artworks and also the city to the ocean. The art highlights the natural history and environment of Heisler Park. Artworks include: “Semper Memento” by Jorg Bubin,, “In Central Park” by Jerry Rothman, “Time Connected” by Scott and Nasomi Schoenherr, “Rock Pile Carve” by George Stone and “2001 #2″by Jerry Rothman .
A complete list can be found here.. click here..

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Could not miss this strange tree I saw at the Heisler Park. Later learnt that the tree is pink Melaleuca, and that it the 60-year-old. To preserve and protect the tree, in 2015, the tree got the heritage status, which means that it cannot be removed without cause.

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SPECTACULAR SUNSET at LAGUNA BEACH

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After enjoying the sunset at the beach, it was time to head back home. So I walked back to the corner, and waited for my brother to pick me up. This time I did not see the Sitarist. This time I saw couples dancing on the street in the Corner where Park and Forest avenues meet South Coast Highway.

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LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA
1. The Corner of Park Ave and Forest Avenue / Chantilly Ice Cream parlor.
2. The Laguna Greeter statue [ Eiler Larsen]  – by Guy Angelo Wilson
3. Main Beach / Laguna Beach
4. Visitors Center
5. California State Route 1
6. “Boy and his Dog” fountain – by Ruth Peabody / Jahraus Park
7. Heisler Park

 

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Related Links:
Home.. click here..
2012 Vacation: Trip to Los Angeles, Grand Canyon, Loas Vegas and Hoover Dam.. click here..

My Vacations.. click here..
Vacation: USA.. click here..
Vacation: UK.. click here..
Vacation: India.. click here..
UNESCO World Heritage Site.. click here..

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