Salt Creek Beach Park The long, sandy beach is a popular surfing spot. Both upland and beach
facilities can be reached from Ritz Carlton Dr. off Pacific Coast Highway. Parking and wheelchairaccessible restrooms are available at a large metered parking lot, open 6 AM-midnight, on Ritz Carlton
Drive. From the west side of the lot, a paved path leads to the beach and to the grassy seven-acre Bluff
Park, which has benches, barbecue grills, picnic tables, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
Just south of Ritz Carlton Dr., a pedestrian gate, open 24 hours, leads through the Ritz Carlton Hotel grounds
to a paved path along the bluff above Salt Creek Beach; the path, which skirts the southern perimeter of the
grounds, has numerous benches and overlooks providing views of gray whale migration routes, Catalina
Island, and the coastline.
At its northern end, the path joins a paved multi-use trail leading north along the shoreline past Bluff Park.
Several stairways and paths lead from the multi-use trail to the beach, changing rooms, outdoor showers,
restrooms, snack bar, firepits, and a path along the seawall. Paths and trails lead north and east through a
golf course and along Salt Creek, a scenic corridor featuring small parks and several miles of trails.
The southern entrance to Salt Creek Beach Park is off Selva Rd. and features picnic fables, barbecue grills,
restores, and path and stairs to the beach. The parking lot is open 6 AM-midnight.
Doheny State Beach is administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The 62
acre site features over one mile of sandy beach and some of the best swimming and surfing in California.
During Low Tide, the tide pools attract young and old for exploring. The campground features 120 developed family campsites and the picnic area has 170 picnic tables and 99 barbecue grills. At the entrance
to Doheny there is a visitor center with five aquariums, an indoor tide pool, exhibits, displays, gift shop,
and photo history of Doheny surfing days.
Ocean Institute Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a non-profit educational organization
dedicated to ocean awareness and preservation through education. The Institute owns and operates the
brig Pilgrim, the Spirit of Dana Point, and the Research Vessel Sea Explorer. The new Ocean Education
Center, which has replaced the Institute’s old laboratories now has student capacity from 78,000 to
135,000 students annually. For complete info visit their site at www.ocean-institute.org
Hours of Operation
Facility: 8:00AM - 5:00PM (Mon. - Fri. for field trips)
Gift Shop: 9:00am to 5:00pm (open until 6:00pm in the summer)
The Ocean Education Center is closed to the public, as classes are in session!
Thursday & Friday:
Public tour at 3:30pm (approx. 40 minutes)
Cost: $2/adult; children 2 and under are free
Saturday & Sunday:
The Ocean Education Center featuring learning labs, touch tanks, animal feedings, and rotating exhibits is
open from 10am – 3pm. Cost is $6/adult; $4/child (3-12yrs); children 2 and under are free.
American
Californian
Sandwiches
Cannons
34344 Golden Lantern , Dana Point
949-496-6146
Renaissance Dana Point
24701 Del Prado Ave , Dana Point
949-661-6003
Proud Mary's
34689 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-493-5853
Harbor House Cafe No 2
34157 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-496-9270
Harbor Delicatessen
34667 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-0424
Hennessey's Fish Bucket
34091 La Plaza , Dana Point
949-489-7809
Terrace Restaurant - Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel 32545 Golden Lantern A, Dana Point
949-248-3300
One Ritz-Carlton Dr , Dana Point
949-240-2000
Jack's Restaurants
24462 Del Prado Ave , Dana Point
949-489-1903
Chicken
Jolly Roger Restaurants
34661 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-0855
Regatta Grill
25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point
949-661-5000
Salt Creek Grille
32802 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-661-7799
Turks
34683 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-9028
Barbecued
Ribjoint Roadhouse
34294 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-661-9500
The Rib Trader of Dana Point
34150 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-240-4224
Bad to the Bone
31738 Rancho Viejo Rd.
off Ortega Hwy
$10 - 15 per person
Subway Sandwiches & Salads
34255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-443-9823
Subway Sandwiches & Salads
El Pollo Loco
32535 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-443-0506
Seafood
Cannons
34344 Golden Lantern , Dana Point
949-496-6146
Chinese
Club Grill & Bar - Ritz-Carlton Laguna
Niguel
One Ritz-Carlton Dr, Dana Point
949-240-2000
China Sea
24050 Camino Del Avion , Dana Point
949-489-8168
Harpoon Henry's Seafood Restaurant
34555 Golden Lantern , Dana Point
949-493-2933
Peking Dragon Restaurant
34171 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point
949-493-9499
Jon's Fish Market
34665 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-2807
Hamburgers
Steak Houses
A's-Ace Burgers
34344 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-496-4460
Burger King
32505 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-493-9664
Carl's Jr Restaurants
34312 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point
949-661-3955
Mega Burgers
34122 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-488-0849
Cannons
34344 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-6146
Chart House
34442 Green Lantern, Dana Point
949-493-1183
Harbor Grill At Dana Point
34499 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-240-1416
Salt Creek Grille
32802 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point
949-661-7799
Wind & Sea Restaurant
34699 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-6500
Italian
Japanese
A Tavola Ferrantelli
25001 Dana Point Harbor Dr , Dana Point
949-493-1401
Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant
34143 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point 92629-2808
949-240-2004
Brio Tuscany Grille
24050 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point
949-443-1476
Ichibiri Japanese Restaurant
16 Monarch Bay Plaza , Dana Point 92629-3424
949-661-1544
*Luciana's Ristorante
24312 Del Prado, Dana Point
949-661-6500
Yama Teppan House
24961 Dana Point Harbor Dr , Dana Point 92629-2958
949-240-6610
Mario's By The Sea Ristorante
32545 Golden Lantern , Dana Point
949-240-1967
Mexican
Pizza
Adolfo's Mexican Grille
34320 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point
949-443-1141
Beach Cities Pizza
34473 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-2670
Carlos Mexican Restaurant
34224 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point 92629
949-496-4470
Casanova Italian
33585 Del Obispo St , Dana Point
949-496-0992
* El Torito Mexican Restaurant & Cantina ($)
34521 Golden Lantern, Dana Point
949-496-6311
Round Table Pizza
32525 Golden Lantern , Dana Point
949-496-9800
Olamendi's Mexican Cuisine
34660 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point
949-661-1005
Sports Time Pizza
34320 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point
949-496-0119
* Taco Surf ($)
34198 Pacific Coast Hwy , Dana Point
949-661-5754
Stuft Pizza
24821 Del Prado , Dana Point
949-240-6444