Luxury living in a chill Southern California surf town
Dana Point’s multimillion-dollar homes and luxury resorts might give the impression of an exclusive oceanfront community, but these are fairly recent trends in the city’s history. At its core, Dana Point has always been a laid-back Southern California surf town that’s now getting recognized for its coastal beauty. “The Ritz Carlton and Waldorf Astoria aren’t here by accident. It’s hard not to fall in love with how gorgeous it is here,” says Realtor Suzi Dailey with Realty One Group West, who’s been selling in Dana Point for over 20 years. For much of its history, Dana Point flew under the radar, while its coastal Orange County neighbors closer to Los Angeles — Newport Beach and Laguna Beach — got all the attention. This could only last so long, as the city’s low-key atmosphere and stunning cliff-lined beaches have made it one of the most sought-after refuges on the Southern California coast. “It’s attracting high-profile clientele from spots like Newport Beach because people really value the natural beauty and how much more relaxed it is here,” says Dailey. Because of this, the city remains a chill beach town, even as it’s gaining high-end appeal. “They even hold surfing competitions at the beach below the Ritz,” says Dailey. “That perfectly sums up the vibe in Dana Point.”
Dana Point beaches and sunsets are among of the most beautiful along the west coast.
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort is a luxury resort by the coastline in Dana Point.
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Surf culture and luxury resort golfing
Dana Point’s Southern California surf culture is still its core identity. “It’s a true surfing town,” says Dailey. “In my opinion, it’s got the prettiest surf beaches on the coast.” Despite being in Orange County, Dana Point’s cliffside beaches are more reminiscent of San Diego’s La Jolla Shores, and they offer a more low-key vibe than spots closer to LA. Salt Creek Beach is the city’s most popular break, known for its gnarly wedges and glassy barrels. It hosts many surfing competitions throughout the year, and it’s just below the Ritz Carlton. The Ritz Carlton and Waldorf Astoria add to the local recreation with high-end tennis clubs and golf courses with ocean views. There’s also oceanfront hiking at Dana Point Preserve. Surfers, golfers and hikers benefit from the idyllic SoCal climate. Aside from the morning marine layer, it’s almost always sunny, with temperatures averaging in the 60s and reaching the high 70s in the summer.
Surfers can catch big waves at picturesque Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.
Residents and tourists frequent the popular Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.
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Modern design and oceanfront mansions
The city’s home prices haven’t reached Newport Beach levels, but they’re getting close. “A lot of people who were used to paying Newport Beach prices now prefer to spend that down here because it has more of a small-town feel with less commotion,” says Liana Norman with Caldwell Banker Realty, who’s in the top 1% of South Orange County Realtors. The median home price is over $1.5 million. However, the mix of old and new options has created a broad price range. Older 1980s condos can be found for under a million, while suburban homes slightly removed from the shore can cost over $2 million. Condos and single-family homes in the walkable, revamped Lantern District can sell for around $3 million. Prices are rising dramatically along Dana Point’s northern beachfront. “The Strands area and Monarch Beach have become really sought after, which has brought the whole area up,” says Norman. The Monterrey-style estates and custom contemporary mansions in these oceanfront communities can regularly cost around $10 million. The most opulent homes atop the cliffs of Salt Creek Beach and Dana Strands Beach can get close to $40 million.
Condominiums are among several housing options in Dana Point, although often the cheapest.
The highest priced homes in Dana Point are large houses that sit on the cliffs or coastline.
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Dine in the Lantern District
The city’s downtown area is known as the Lantern District. This stretch of restaurants, art galleries and small shops on Del Prado Avenue is the historical center of Dana Point’s commercial activity. Traders at the port would communicate with incoming ships by signaling different colored lanterns — hence the name. Its revitalization over the past few decades directly correlates with the city’s rise in popularity. Along the wide, walkable blocks, seafood restaurants like Coastal Kitchen and surfer-owned Station Craft Brewery reflect the community’s passion for the sea. Dana Point’s revitalized harbor is just a short stroll away. It offers shopping and dining with a view of sailboats heading in and out of the channel. The Lantern District has a Ralphs for essentials, and Costco, Albertsons and Trader Joe’s are a short drive away.
The Lantern District in Dana Point features restaurants, art galleries and small shops.
Coastal Kitchen in Dana Point is a local favorite with its quality dining options.
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Capistrano Unified School District gets an A-plus
The Capistrano Unified School District serves Dana Point’s students and earns an A-plus overall rating from Niche. Niche ranked it the No. 7 best school district in Orange County for a reason, with almost every school receiving an A-minus or better, including multiple A-plus-rated high schools.
Dana Hills High School is known for its amazing academic and extracurricular activities.
Dana Hills High School in Dana Point has a large campus that runs on green energy.
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Travel by trolley on the Pacific Coast Highway
The Dana Point Trolley takes visitors and locals along the Pacific Coast Highway during the busier summer months. Its stops connect the city’s coastal activity, including the most frequented beaches, resorts and downtown dining areas. It’s also friendly to the local watersport culture, allowing surfers to load up their boards and ride to the beach. The trolley connects to the neighboring Laguna Beach, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano Trolley systems. For commuting purposes, locals can drive to North Orange County and North County San Diego on the Pacific Coast Highway or Interstate 5. Irvine, Orange County’s financial center, is 25 miles north, and so is John Wayne Airport for regional flights. North County San Diego’s biotech hubs, like Carlsbad, are about 30 miles south. Providence Mission Hospital Laguna Beach is the nearest major medical facility, 4 miles up the PCH.
Brush fires in the hills and declining crime
Most of Dana Point isn’t directly threatened by fires, but the city’s northwest hills are labeled a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by the California State Fire Marshal. Brush fires are common in these vegetated hills during the warmer summer months. Residents of this area and the surrounding Ember Zones should maintain a defensible space between their homes and bordering wild space by removing dry grasses and other vegetation. Having a prepared evacuation plan is another vital step for anyone living in or near a high-risk area. While the prevalence of fires is increasing, crime is decreasing. According to FBI data, the city’s violent and property crime rates have been lower than state and national rates since 2015. In that time, they’ve continued to get lower year after year.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
