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128 2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A LOCATED ALONG THE COAST about 50 miles south of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach is a sublime destination for sun worshippers, outdoor enthusiasts and art lovers. Its idyllic beauty attracted well-known artists in the early 1900s who founded the Laguna Beach Art Association and set the course for the seaside hamlet to remain a hub of creativity. Laguna Beach's first art gallery opened in 1918 and is now the Laguna Art Museum, which features more than 3,500 works by California artists from the early 19 th century to the present day. Art festivals enliven the town during summer. The seaside town (pop. 24,000) has a mild cli- mate, typically reaching highs in the 80s during the summer. The protected beaches and waters are ideal for dolphin and whale watching, vol- leyball, kayaking, snorkeling, tide pooling and stand-up paddling. Laguna Beach's seven-mile coastline is protected as a marine reserve: fishing and motorized vehicles are banned, and no creatures can be touched in the tide pools. Don't miss Pageant of the Masters, a 90- minute show of living art masterpieces, such as The Last Supper or paintings by Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper, created by people dressed as the figures they represent. These tableaux vivants come to life in an out- door amphitheater as a live orchestra plays along with live narration; it's an exhilarating performance, from July 8 to Aug. 31, and is part of Festival of Arts, one of the nation's oldest and most highly acclaimed juried fine art shows, from July 5 to Aug. 31. Perhaps the best year-round activity is to walk along the trails of Heisler Park on the bluffs above the beaches. The natural beauty of sea, sand and wildflowers converges with sculptures placed along the trail and artists who bring their easels and paint. The park is a great place for a picnic. Or you can eat at nearby restaurants such as the adjacent Las Brisas. Big Fish Tavern features a menu of sus- tainable fish and farm-to-table dishes. Or try Slapfish, specializing in sustainable super- fresh seafood from Owner/Chef Andrew Gruel, whose fish shack was featured on the Food Network. For elegant cocktails, try Driftwood Kitchen's Stateroom Bar in the former home library of Hollywood character actor Slim Summerville. Among the other attractions, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (free and open daily) is a rescue center for marine mam- mals that have been stranded along the Orange County coastline. A new free trolley service shuttles visitors along the coast on Friday evenings, Satur- days and Sundays. The motorized trolleys resemble San Francisco cable cars but run on roads, not tracks. LAGUNA BEACH Seaside oasis B Y M I C H A E L S H A P I R O TREASURE ISLAND Beach, above; paddleboarding off Laguna Beach, below. LAGUNA BEACH CVB ยป BEACH COMB, PADDLE, BROWSE THE ART Laguna Beach Tourism Information visitlagunabeach.com