Dana Strands Beach: The Perfect Orange County Coastal Getaway

Published on May 25, 2024

From Aliso Beach Park to Sunset Harbor, Orange County in Southern California has some of the world’s premiere coastline. Dana Point lies in Southern Orange County, a more recently developed part of the region, amid coastal hills bedecked with brittlebush, California buckwheat, pepper, and tomato. Its namesake, Richard Henry Dana Jr., called Dana Point the region’s “only romantic spot on the coast.” The city is about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Laguna Niguel and Laguna Beach border it to the north, San Juan Capistrano to the east, and San Clemente to the south. On the west side of State Route 1 at Selva Road here, just an hour south by car from greater Los Angeles, you’ll find one of Southern California’s few remaining secluded beaches: Dana Strands Beach. Free parking is in abundance upon a bristly cliff with surreal views of the sea foam green and blue waters....