Dana Point

Dana Point is a small city between Laguna Beach and Capistrano Beach; it possesses the only marine harbor between Oceanside and Newport Beach. The Dana Point community actually wraps the coastline, and many of its residents enjoy some perspective view of the Pacific Ocean.

At its farthest north point (closest to Laguna Beach), Dana Point’s “Monarch Beach” offers affluent living, from large beachside mansions to beautifully manicured gated communities and sprawling ranch-style homes on its hills. As Dana Point moves south/southwest beyond its Ritz Carlton and St. Regis Hotels communities, it offers a number of “Lantern” streets with homes situated on sloping streets that run perpendicular to Dana Point’s beautiful marine harbor.

In the mid-1800s, the Dana Point community was first established as a popular port for ships involved in the hide trade. The lantern streets are named after the colored lanterns (Violet, Blue, Ruby, etc.) in deference to the ships that used kerosene lanterns to advertise their fare as they pulled into the Dana Point Harbor.

In 1971, that natural harbor opened as a marina and an entire marina village of shops, restaurants and whale watching boat cruises continue to thrive to this day.

Dana Point is largely a family community, and many outdoor activities cater to family lifestyle (i.e. Movie Night in the Park, Sunday Concerts in the Park, BBQ Contests, the Elephant Parade, even the Pilgrim “pirate’s ship” at the harbor’s Ocean Institute). It is a lively and active community in a lush environment of parks, golf courses and ocean breezes.

The Dana Point public schools are part of the Capistrano Unified School District, and private academies offer K-12 education as well.