Ocean Institute
I went here with my class in 4th grade. We went to the museum and spent the night on the brig Pilgrim. In class we read William Henry Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast" and learned about the missions and the cow hide trade.
In 1834, Dana, a Harvard Graduate with means and family name, enlisted as a sailor on the brig Pilgrim. He was shocked at the hardships and brutality of the life of a sailor. He kept a diary of the voyage and when he came back, he wrote the book. He went on to become a lawyer, politician and activist.
The Museum has many interesting exhibits including a complete grey whale skeleton. The institute takes kids and scientists out to collect samples which can be examined under microscopes.
Students can still experience life on a sailing ship through the institute but I doubt that they still make the troublemakers take bites out of raw onions. Clikck here to check out their website.
Harbor
Dana Point Harbor is home to around 2,500 boats. It is a great place to walk and daydream of that perfect boat. The harbor is bisected into West and East harbors by Island Way bridge that leads to the offshore mole. There is plenty of free public parking on both the mainland and mole.
The west side includes the Ocean Institute, a beautiful sandy beach with watersports rentals and a turning basin where anchoring is allowed. If you are feeling adventurous, you can rent a sailing dingy or stand up paddleboard from Westwind Sailing located on the east end of the beach. If you have your own kayak or SUP, the beach is a great place to launch, just watch out for boats coming and leaving the harbor.
Both of Dana Points yacht clubs are also on the west side of the harbor. Dana West Yacht Club is a smaller club on the corner of Island Way and Dana Dr. It has a nice view and a beautiful deck. Dana Point Yacht Club is at the west end of Dana Dr. It is a larger club that often hosts weddings and other parties. Both clubs offer reciprocals.
The east side has a launch ramp, fishing boats, and restaurants. Park in the free parking on the mainland side and walk around. There are so many things to see from the stunning boats to the neat boutiques. Stop and have a coffee and people watch or put on your running shoes and join the other joggers taking in the sights. Check out the “places to eat and drink” tab to see some of my favorite restaurants.
Lantern Bay Park
Grab a sandwich, a bottle of water(or wine, just don’t let anybody see) and a blanket and head over to Lantern Bay Park. A huge grassy park with excellent views of the harbor and the Pacific beyond. Relax and watch the sailboats chase the breeze.
If you feel like a bit of a workout, come check out I Heart Yoga in the Park every morning at 10:00am.