stuff to do
about the location
The weekend will be held in south Orange County, where Joe was lucky to grow up and where his parents both still call home. Dana Point is the southern terminus of the famed Pacific Coast Highway and offers a beautiful coastline full of beaches and fun outdoor, family friendly activities. Famous for its Mission and now an OC foodie haven, San Juan Capistrano is a delightfully charming town that we are excited to boogie down in with you all. For those planning to make a mini vacation out of this, there is loads to do and see in Dana Point and San Juan, but also the surrounding areas like Laguna Beach and San Clemente (or San Diego and LA if you want to venture farther). If you do intend to stay for longer, we would love to share some more specific ideas of how to fill your days, so please don't hesitate to reach out.
The ceremony will be held at Lantern Bay Park, situated in front of the Laguna Cliffs Marriott and overlooking the coastline and Dana Point harbor. If we're lucky, we'll be able to see surfers out on the horizon during the ceremony.
The reception will be held in the Palenque and Garden space at El Adobe de Capistrano, which has been an iconic gathering place for the Orange County community going back to the 1940's (and, we recently learned, the nuptial site of some of our friends' parents!).
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Bear Coast Coffee - Your typical modern hipster coffee shop but beachy vibes
Hidden House Coffee - Adorable little cafe behind the train tracks in San Juan
Coffee Importers - Longtime staple in the harbor with bagels and smoothies
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Vibe Cafe - Great healthy and vegan counter service in the shops across from the Best Western Plus
El Campeon Taqueria - Delicious tacos and Mexican market right by the reception site that Joe’s family has been going to for 30+ years
Lupe’s - Super yummy burritos between Dana and San Juan
Beach Harbor Pizza - Solid pizza and delicious bread sticks in the harbor parking lot
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Project Social - Casual outdoor place with elevated pub food and extensive tap list, great for big groups
Turk’s - Salty fisherman bar in the harbor, a Dana Point institution (we’ll probably head here Friday night)
Trevor’s at the Tracks - Californian cuisine with a lively atmosphere by the train station in San Juan
Mayfield - Modern Mediterranean food in San Juan, super delicious breakfast and dinner
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Walk the Bluff Top Trail in Dana Point
Go whale watching
Walk around the Dana Point harbor
Take the trolley to Main Beach in downtown Laguna and check out the art galleries
Visit the Ocean Institute (great for kids)
Watch the sunset on Salt Creek Hill
Stroll around downtown San Juan Capistrano, check out the old train, the petting zoo, the Mission and all the shops and restaurants
Park in the public parking lot at the Montage Resort and walk along the cliffs
Try to find all the “lantern” streets in Dana Point
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For easiest access, head to Doheny State Beach, where there are volleyball courts and an outdoor cafe
For more picturesque options, head to Salt Creek or Joe’s favorite beach, Tablerock in Laguna