There are miles upon miles of coastline in Orange County. And everyone has”their” beach! Well ours is in Laguna Beach! Laguna Beach as many of you know is highly regarded for its art galleries, Pageant of The Masters Festival, California cool restaurants, fun bars, and an abundance of chic and sophisticated hotels to choose from! But the beaches are a must explore for any visitor or local. If you are local you probably have that “hidden spot” you run off to every time. And if you’re visiting you probably want ideas. One beach in Orange County that totally stole our hearts is not Main Beach as many would expect, not that Main Beach isn’t fun, but Treasure Island Park and the area known as Blue Lagoon is just such an amazing destination. It is peaceful! Serene! And the water is just simply stunning! And there is plenty of space to lounge around. Rocks to climb and some pretty cool looking caves! The rocks are very sharp and should be explored with caution; keep your shoes on is what we are trying to say!

Laguna Beach, Ca

The stairs down to the beach from Treasure Island Park

The area is just around the corner from the Montage Hotel! So it is really clean and mellow! There is paid meter parking available so that is a plus. However when you are coming down to the parking lot proceeded with caution because the road bends slightly almost making you think you are hitting a dead end street but keep going and it’s hard to see if another car is coming since it’s a two way street but it is very narrow! Parking is very limited, so during the busy season  make sure to get a head start on the crowds and arrive early!

Laguna Beach, California

Some cool rocks to explore!

Orange County, California

Let us know what you think of this area!!! 

Until next time,

OC Squeeze Team

What a better way to spend a day in Orange County than at the beach! And with the wide range of options you have to choose from it won’t be hard finding a nice spot in the sand somewhere. One of our favorite spots for sandy beach days is Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, CA. The Balboa Pier is one of five Orange County piers that stand today! Balboa Pier is also one of two piers that are situated in Newport Beach. The second is The Newport Municipal Pier or most commonly know as The Newport Pier. So if you are visiting the area and want to visit both piers you might have time since they are so close to each other!

One of the reasons this is very high on the list of beaches to visit in Orange County is because of the surrounding area. A few blocks away from the beach is an area called the Balboa Fun Zone, it is a small carnival style attraction. It is admissions free so you can stroll around and explore, take some pictures, or ride the Ferris Wheel! The area also has a lot of restaurants, interesting little shops, and the vibe is laid back California cool!

Ruby’s Diner for when you need a midday snack!

The waters here are beautiful! People of all ages crowded these beaches, especially on the hot summer months to tan, barbecue on the beach, swim, skim board, or play beach sports. During the busy season, that tends to run from April-September, sometimes even October with the OC weather staying in the high 80’s well into the fall; make sure you get here early to get a good spot. Since parking, fire rings, and space on the sand can get taken quite early in the day. The pier is an attraction of its own! There is a Ruby’s Diner at the end of the pier that you should walk to and maybe get an ice cream or a shake and then enjoy the view inland with your cold treat! Balboa Pier also allows bonfires on the beach so that is another major plus for us! The fire rings  are on a first come first serve basis from the hours of 6:00am-10:00pm daily. However especially during the busy season they do fill up fast

Under the Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, Ca

Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, Ca

A lifeguard house overlooking the Pacific Ocean!

Newport Beach, Ca

Waves on the sand; Newport Beach, Ca

Waves on the sand!

Parking and Additional Information: Make sure you park in the allowed marked spots in the different lots in the area. Also don’t forget to pay for hourly parking at the meters. They do fine!

I hope you all enjoyed this post! This is just the start of OC Squeeze and we can not wait to bring you more fun and exciting Orange County spots to check out! In the meantime don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.