Founded in 1920, the Laguna Playhouse is rich in history and local color. Used as a neighborhood center of culture and entertainment during World War II, the theater has long been a fixture in the Orange County arts scene. Even now the theater is known for offering fantastic live theater productions.
Sherman Library and Gardens is located on Pacific Coast Highway and has extensive botanical collections with examples of plant life from desert regions to tropical regions. It is a veritable outdoor museum of plants. Walk along the paths and smell the fragrant flowers and listen to the bubbling fountains. It really is an oasis that will take you away to a calmer, more peaceful place. The place also has a library on site which a delight for art lovers and bibliophiles.
If you are driving south along the coast for the day from L.A., this gallery is ideally situated near the popular Fashion Island shopping center, not even a mile from the Pacific Coast Highway. The subject of much controversy among Orange County's art crowd over the past few years, the museum expanded to almost double its original size when the Newport Harbor Art Museum (same location) and the Laguna Art Museum consolidated to form this larger complex, scandalizing the art-loving Laguna Beach community. The permanent collection focuses on late 20th-century and California art, but the museum enjoys exhibitions that have included works from artists such as Rico Lebrun and Pablo Picasso. The Plein Air Café serves lunch, and a meal will earn you free admission to the museum.
Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano is a California icon. Perhaps most famous for visits from its annual guests of honor, the swallows, the Mission means many things to many people. For Californians, it is a powerful symbol of the state's complicated colonial history. For Catholics, it is a profound religious site, indicative of the Church's own complex heritage. History buffs spend hours reveling in the facility's many exhibits and displays, connecting viscerally with the sights, sounds and feelings of generations long past. For visitors of any background, it is an undeniably gorgeous place to spend an afternoon-replete with striking architectural elements and lovingly cared-for gardens.
This large, 95,000 square foot (8,825 square meter) eco-friendly facility is known as the Soka Performing Arts Center. Located on the Soka University of America campus in Aliso Viejo, this state-of-the-art center features a concert hall and theater both fully equipped with incredible acoustics designed by the same man who did the Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles and the Suntory Hall in Tokyo. See amazing student performances as well as professional groups year round at this stunning venue.
The Bruery operates from the heart of Placentia, offering locally made craft beer that plays with the conventions of Belgian brewing. Started by brothers Patrick and Michael Rue, Bruery is the end result of a passion for home brewing and a love of experimentation. Several exotic ingredients form the basis for these innovative brews, fresh picked lavender and Thai basil making appearances in otherwise conventional ales. To further this quality, Bruery ensures that its brews are never filtered or pasteurize, retaining every ounce of their original character. The Bruery's unique flavors and passionate ethos make it a worthwhile stop during tasting hours.
Enjoy the serene and picturesque locale of this seaside resort city on southern California's Pacific Coast. This beachside city has seven miles (11 kilometers) of soft, white sand beach, with space for fun beachside activities. Stay in one of the bed and breakfast facilities that dot the coastline and dine on local as well as international cuisine at restaurants on the main beach. Apart from the beach, the city's other major attractions include the Wilderness Park, The Laguna Playhouse and Laguna Art Museum. Being one of the most spectacular spots to watch sunsets and blessed with beautiful weather during most of the year, it's no wonder that this pristine resort city is one of California's major tourist destinations.
Sculpture by Richard MacDonald is the focus of this gallery. MacDonald is a native Californian and one of the most collected living sculptors in the United States. His bronze sculptures bring to mind the craftsmanship of times past. His works are highlighted in museums and galleries all over the world, and he has his own galleries not just in Laguna Beach, but also in Monterey and San Francisco. Other artists featured in the gallery include Robert Heindel, Marc Whitney, and Ann Jian Wang.
Dawson Cole Fine Art showcases paintings, drawings and sculptures created by American and European artists. Drop by to admire the varied artworks showcased through regular exhibitions. While here, take a tour of their outdoor sculpture garden that has some interesting works of art
Laguna Beach has long been a center for art. Creative types flocked here in droves to work their magic along Laguna's pristine shores. The Laguna Art Museum continues this proud heritage with an impressive list of year-round exhibitions and programming. Within these hallowed halls, you'll find classic and contemporary works by artists both fledgling and world renowned. An emphasis is placed on artists hailing from California, but the museum's scope is global nonetheless.
While in Laguna Beach, be sure to visit the oceanfront gallery of Wyland, an artist well-known for his paintings of marine life. Nicknamed the "Marine Michelangelo," the first thing you'll be amazed by is the variety of mediums used in his art. Murals are seen on the exterior walls while bronze sculptures loom over the front entrance. The inside overflows with even more: Lucite sculptures, acrylic sculptures, oil paintings, abstract art, brush art, photographs, bronze tables, portholes and mirrors.
The gallery here showcases modern and contemporary art by both established and up-and-coming artists. Artists include Peter Alexander, Tony Berlant, Joe Goode, Michelle Fierro, Dennis Eckstrom, Robert Graham, Charles Arnoldi, Edward Giardina, Tom Wudl, Sharon Ryan, Ed Moses, David Lloyd and Dennis Hollingsworth. The art is often daring and experimental, and it is a welcome change from the average gallery fare.