DESTINATION DANA POINT
By Andrea Swayne
Whether exploring the city’s culinary delights or its natural beauty, visitors to Dana Point will be delighted to find a wide selection of businesses offering endless entertainment and adventure. Read on for ideas of what to do and see to satisfy every part of you, from nature lover to romantic to foodie and beyond.
Dana Point for Nature Lovers
Dana Point is unsurpassed when it comes to natural beauty. Its spectacular beaches and rugged, cliff-lined coast are breathtaking, and the Harbor makes for plenty of opportunities to view marine wildlife in its natural habitat.
Dana Wharf Whale Watching or
Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari Known as the “Whale Capitol of the West,” the city is home to two of the very best whale watching companies operating a variety of boats on tours narrated by experienced captains and marine biologists. Passengers are also treated to sightings of sea birds, sea lions and other ocean life.
Ocean Institute Learn about marine animals and the
coastal environment at this nonprofit educational facility known for hands-on fun and educational exhibits, aquariums and programs teaching environmental science and ocean ecology. Focused on educating area students on weekdays, the center is open to the public on weekends.
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Tide Pools The beach just behind the Institute is
home to the 8-acre Dana Point Marine Protected Area (MPA), a great place to explore life in the tide pools.
Nature Interpretive Center To see the area from above, and possibly
get a glance of a passing whale, visit the Nature Interpretive Center at the top of the bluffs overlooking the MPA and the Harbor. Situated on 50 acres of protected land, the center offers free natural history tours and displays historical and natural artifacts. It also serves as a gateway to the Headlands Nature Preserve trail system.
Doheny State Park Visitor Center
and Aquarium This nature center, located at the entrance to the park, is the home of the state park system’s largest aquarium.
Doheny State Park Campground Camping at the edge of the Pacific, with
the sound of crashing waves, ocean breezes and cozy evenings around the fire, re-defines the term “roughing it.”
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