Main Beach in the middle of city waterfront center... Laguna Beach. Hello, In the early days, oceanfront visiting and living along the water was something. Laguna Beach history is very long and old for Orange County. In looking at this old photo, the Hotel Laguna has been one of the city’s mainstays and obviously sticks out in almost every photo show anywhere about Laguna Beach. The old lifeguard tower building is always nearby. Today, has been remodeled for safety many times as a tourist attraction on the boardwalk. (the white building below the Hotel Laguna photo sign on the sand) It is the “last man standing…” on the ocean side of the Coast Highway going through Laguna Beach at the Main Beach intersection site. On the flip side of this old beach waterfront photo with businesses and buildings on the sand, is this old photo from 1962. Behind some of the buildings and/or along side of them were several gas stations on the ocean side of the PCH. So, if one were to travel North or South on PCH, back then, where was the ocean? As young teens, we were accustomed to just driving by so early in the morning heading South to the rest of Orange County for some great waves. Or even on the way to San Diego or into Baja, Mexico FOR different adventures. So, Laguna’s Main Beach was a gas station stop or a snack stop for the longer surf journey(s). Where is the beach? 1962 Laguna Beach... intersection of Broadway and PCH Main Beach location. Jnaki Yesterday’s idea of businesses ruling the oceanfront shoreline was over turned to the more city oriented viewpoint of what attracts visitors to the main city beach? The main road from inland Orange County and the freeways heads into Laguna Beach, dead ends right at PCH and views the oceanfront. It is usually so packed as a thoroughfare on the weekends, the locals have their own hours and egress to make traveling within the city or out/in at different times. So, as those gas stations and buildings have been taken away. PCH is still busy every day, but to make Laguna Beach more attractive on a daily basis, the whole Main Beach area is a pedestrian/traveler’s delight as one walks or passes by in a car. It includes rousing volleyball matches, strenuous basketball games and beach goers just relaxing on the sand or in the waters. For the city government and local population, the ocean view/beach is the attraction. Note: Our granddaughter loved the main beach boardwalk and the playground that is right below the Hotel Laguna sign park area. (top green grassy area) The white sand, the cool ocean breeze, the nearby restaurants, ice cream stores and toy stores all led us to enjoy daily play as many times as possible. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
