Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
296
Harbor Grill
SEAFOOD/STEAK Located in a business/commercial mall right in the
center of the D ana Point Marina, the Harbor Grill is enthusiastically r ecommended by
locals for mesquite-br oiled ocean-fr esh seafood. H awaiian mahimahi with a mango-
chutney baste is on the menu, along with P acific swordfish, crab cakes, and beefsteaks.
34499 St. of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point.
&
949/240-1416.
www.harborgrill.com. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses $10-$27. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am-10pm; Sun brunch 9am-2pm.
Las Brisas
Moments
MEXICAN/SEAFOOD Las B risas's br eathtaking vie w of the
Pacific (particularly at sunset) and potent margaritas ar e a surefire combination for a
muy
romantico
evening. In fact, it's so popular that it can get pretty crowded during the summer
months, so be sure to make a reservation. Affordable during lunch but pricey at dinner, the
menu consists mostly of seafood r ecipes fr om the M exican Riviera. E ven the standar d
enchiladas and tacos get a zesty update with crab or lobster meat and fresh herbs. Calamari
steak is sautéed with bell peppers, capers, and herbs in a garlic-butter sauce, and king
salmon is mesquite-br oiled and ser ved with a cr eamy lime sauce. Although a bit on the
touristy side, Las Brisas can be a fun par t of the Laguna Beach experience.
361 Cliff Dr . (off the PCH nor th of Laguna C anyon), Laguna Beach.
&
949/497-5434.
www.lasbrisas
lagunabeach.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $10-$27. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs
8am-10pm; Fri-Sat 8am-11pm; Sun 9am-10pm. Valet parking $4 lunch, $5 dinner.
3
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
11
22 miles W of mainland Los Angeles
After an unhealthy dose of the mainland's soupy smog and freeway gridlock, you'll appre-
ciate an excursion to Santa Catalina Island, with its clean air, crystal-clear water, and the
blissful absence of traffic. I n fact, ther e isn 't a single traffic light on “ the I sland of
Romance.” Conditions like these can fool you into thinking that you're miles away from
the hustle and bustle of the city, but the reality is that you're only 22 miles off the South-
ern California coast and
still
in L.A. County.
Because of its r elative isolation, out-of-state tourists tend to ignor e Santa Catalina—
which everyone calls simply Catalina—but those who do make the cr ossing have plenty
of elbowroom to boat, fish, swim, scuba, and snorkel. There are also miles of hiking and
biking trails, plus golf, tennis, and horseback riding, but the main sport here seems to be
barhopping.
Catalina is so different from the mainland that it almost seems like a different country,
remote and unspoiled. I n 1919, the island was pur chased by William Wrigley, Jr., the
chewing-gum magnate, who had plans to develop it into a fashionable pleasure resort. To
publicize the new vacationland, Wrigley brought big-name bands to the Avalon Ballroom
and moved the Chicago C ubs, which he o wned, to the island for spring training. H is
marketing efforts succeeded and Catalina soon became a world-r enowned playground,
luring such celebrities as Laur el and H ardy, Cecil B. D eMille, John Wayne, and ev en
Winston Churchill.
In 1975, the S anta Catalina I sland Conservancy—a nonprofit operating foundation
organized to pr eserve and pr otect the island 's nature habitat—acquired about 88% of
Catalina I sland, pr otecting vir tually all of the hilly acr eage and r ugged coastline that
make up what is kno wn as the interior . In fact, some of the most spectacular outlying
areas can only be reached by arranged tour (see “Exploring the Island,” below).
