Experiences + Tours
From stand-up paddling to snorkeling to public art and culinary classics, guides are available to take visitors on insider tours of some of Laguna’s hidden gems
Laguna Beach Guided Tours
Laguna Beach has it all! Whether you want to try stand-up paddling, snorkeling, or just chow down on some classic culinary dishes, there are local guides and experts who can give an insider’s tour of some of Laguna’s hidden gems.
Get your Feet Wet
Laguna Ethos is a one-stop shop for water-sport lessons and tours for private excursions and groups. Options include surf lessons and kayak tours, electric bike tours, and guided hikes in our 20,000 acres of open space. They also offer luxury picnic additions to any excursion.
La Vida Laguna, another tour company offers transformational group and corporate arts sessions in yoga, mindfulness, breath-work, and more are offered as corporate wellness initiatives as well. They also offer Stand Up Paddle (SUP) tours at Fisherman’s Cove, which is protected by a reef, making the water calmer.
Underwater Adventure
Local diver David “D.J.” Mansfield, a top-rated diving instructor and director of operations at Laguna Sea Sports in Laguna Beach, has an impressive background. With master’s degrees in business and marketing, he also spent 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Now retired from the military, he devotes his time to diving and snorkeling, having traveled to nearly 30 different countries. “My absolute favorite dive site in all of those adventures has been Shaw’s Cove in Laguna Beach”. Mansfield says “I have more interaction with the ocean life, seen more stuff and even enjoyed days of excellent visibility there.” (Photo courtesy of beachcitiesscuba.com).
Whale Watching
Want to see more sea life? Motorboats are not allowed in Laguna Beach’s waters, but just a short drive north up the coastline to Davey’s Locker Newport Landing Whale Watching, or south to Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari or Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, enables you to hop aboard to view dolphins and whales up close throughout the year.
Whale Watching happens year round here off the shores of Laguna Beach! Are you looking for an awesome experience with some incredible marine life? The crystal-clear waters of our coastal communities of Dana Point, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach attract several species of dolphins and whales. These tours experience the Gray Whale Migration, common dolphins, Humpback Whales, and the largest mammal on earth, the Blue Whale, and various other species, these mammals can be viewed safely from one of our Whale Watching Companies from the North and South of Laguna Beach.
In Newport Beach, you can check out Davey’s Locker Newport Landing Whale Watching for a chance to see some magnificent whales up close in their natural habitat on one of their daily cruises. Or, you can head a few miles south to Dana Point and check out Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Safari or Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching. Dana Point is renowned as The Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World ® where friendly crews and naturalists will take you out on the water for an epic whale-watching and dolphin adventure.
Into the Garden
No matter which option you choose, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience on one of our many Laguna Beach tours.
Established in 1959, the 2.5 acre Hortense Miller Garden on the upper slopes of Boat Canyon demonstrates the range of plants that can be grown in Southern California coastal zones. The vertical, pesticide-free garden was built by namesake, Hortense Miller, an environmentalist and author who created one of the best private gardens in the country and whose knowledge of plants was sought by leading horticulturists. The garden and mid-century home is open for tours most Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:45am to noon by reservation only. (949-497-0779; hortensemillergarden.org)