Note: Javascript is disabled in your browser.
To see the gallery in all its glory, you'll need to enable Javascript.
Introducing Orange County Beaches
The OC coast consists of a string of beaches that start off just fine but grow increasingly inviting as you move south toward Laguna Beach. Average incomes are directly proportional to the beach’s aesthetics; by the time you reach Newport Beach (by car of course, only suckers take public transportation) you may find yourself surrounded by Mercedes convertibles and Cadillac SUVs. You can feel the conservative crackle in the open-air malls, though in Laguna Beach a thriving arts scene as well as the county’s most visible gay and lesbian community temper the right-wing tendencies. Surfers rule the sands as well as the waves, especially at Huntington Beach, North America’s unofficial surfing capital.
Advertisement
In summer, accommodations book up far in advance, prices rise and some properties impose minimum two- or three-night stays.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
