Los Angeles/Laguna Beach - Maybe it was the songs of the Beach Boys, or perhaps Albert Hammonds' "It Never Rains in Southern California" which shaped the world's image of the region between Los Angeles and San Diego. Those who think about the area, usually also think of sun, beaches, the ocean, and joy in life - and they are right: for most of the year southern California is pleasantly warm, people are laid-back and the vibes are good.
A first-time impression of Los Angeles is that of a seemingly endless expanse of houses, buildings and highways as far as the eye can see. Statistically, the city covers a land area of over 1,200 square kilometres and in leaving LA in a southerly direction, the drive goes along the famous Sunset Boulevard, winding its way eventually to Highway Number 1 on the coast.
Following the highway, which officially is called the Pacific Coast Highway, a traveller comes to the natural preservation area, the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge in the south-eastern edges of Los Angeles.
Then comes "Surf City, USA" - the capital of surfboarding in America, further south along Highway 1 at Huntington Beach. It is said that as early as 100 years ago town founder Henry E. Huntington had invited a Hawaiian surfer to his beach.
Some years later, the legendary Hawaiian swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku arrived to surf the waves offshore from H.B. - as the locals called Huntington Beach. Kahanamoku, who during the 1920s won several Olympic gold medals in swimming, established the popularity of surfing.
Today, on the Huntington Beach pier, there is a supra-dimensional bronze statue of the early grand master of surfing. At the International Surfing Museum on Main Street, an entire corner section is devoted to Kahanamoku.
"Huntington Beach is the ideal place to learn surfing," asserts Jim Moriarty. The surfing competition legend now serves as chairman of the Surfrider Foundation and is active in efforts to protect the world's oceans and shores. "In H.B. you can be certain that you'll always be awarded a wave from the ocean," he says.
It is during the last week of July each year that the best surfers from around the world gather to compete in the US Open of Surfing.
Of course if you want you may simply go swimming in the ocean and with a bit of luck meet up with some dolphins.
Evenings on Main Street, numerous bars and taverns await visitors, while a more romantic atmosphere is awaiting at a campfire down on the beach. When the sun is setting in the Pacific, then it's the perfect moment to be opening up a bottle of chilled California white wine.
One of the prettiest settings in southern California is certainly the affluent Newport Beach a few kilometres further south along the coast. It offers not only a magnificent, 15-kilometre-long beach, but also a beautiful bay, in the middle of which are the two inhabited islands of Balboa and Lido Island.
Then there is one of the region's largest yacht harbours. The proximity to Hollywood has attracted many prominent people who pamper themselves with a luxurious summer residence.
Newport Pier on the western end and Balboa Pier on the eastern side delineate the liveliest spots along the beach. Built around 1900, the two piers for a long time served as quays for ships to dock at. From the imposing piers visitors are offered a panorama of the city, of surfers and swimmers and a chance to cast out a fishing line. And at "The Wedge," Newport Beach offers an outstanding location for experienced surfers.
On Balboa Island, some 1,500 wooden cottages are crowded together. Most of them date back to the 1920s and 1930s, built for summer vacationers from Los Angeles. Many cottages today are inhabited year-round, and some are available for vacation rental. A 2.4-kilometre path leads around the island, providing enjoyment to walkers and joggers alike.
Newport is also a starting-point for numerous excursions. Those who choose a boat tour can head out to watch the whales, or book a ride to Avalon on the island of Santa Catalina.
For a long time, nobody was interested in this island, but it began to take off as a tourism site after 1919 when the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley bought it.
He had the town of Avalon, which had burned down, be rebuilt and established a gambling casino there. Today, around one million people come to the island with its rocky cliffs, where hikers enjoy exploring the hilly interior and other visitors head to the shopping village, Fashion Island.
For many tourists, a virtual must during a California tour is a visit to Disneyland in Anaheim. Back at the coast, Laguna Beach awaits, yet a further pearl in the long string of beautiful beach areas. Hidden bays and numerous well-kept parks directly by the sea make up the attraction of Laguna Beach, which in contrast to most of the other coastal sites also has a small, pedestrian-friendly centre.
The area's name is derived from the original Indian inhabitants, who lived there before the arrival of the first European settlers and who called the sea "Lagonas."
Around 1910, artist Norman St Clair travelled southwards by train from San Francisco in order to paint the surf, the cliffs and hills of the region. His friends followed him and the area became an artists' colony. To this day Laguna Beach has a lively arts scene with many galleries.
Information: www.visitcalifornia.com, www.visitorangecounty.net.
