This harbor, its hotels and the restaurants and bars in the area, are all a fantastic part of southern CA. As a lifelong resident/native I have always enjoyed coming here and continue to do so with my family. From the Ocean Institute to the Pilgrim sailing vessel, to the State Beach and their Jazz festivals etc., this is a great... More

We rented paddleboards for the day and started out at Doheny State Beach next door, but when the water there turned out to be way too rough for learning (we weren't that good yet), we paddled through the channel in Dana Point Harbor over to the little beach on the other side. It seemed like more of a young family... More

Lovely to stroll around, quaint stores. Very clean, you can go out on a boat to watch the dolphins. Choice of food establishments was very good.

The herons are nesting and make interesting watching -- stay away from directly under their nests though -- lots of white stuff on the pavement there... There is a long walk from one end to the other where you are entertained by the squirrels, birds, and passing boats. Wave to the paddle boarders and have a picnic. If it's a... More

Growing up in the area, I was able to surf Dana Point prior to the Harbor and thus have many great memories. Today, the Harbor is one of the finest small boat harbors on the California coast. Only real issue is the serious lack of parking. Boat owners have special areas and are not really effected by weekend crowds. Holliday... More

This is a nice place to spend an afternoon when it is not to hot. Plenty of free parking, public bathrooms, and several resturants in the area. The resturants looked busy so probably recommend coming early. There is some green space for a picnic. You can watch sailboats, kayaks, and paddle boards go in and out of the harbor. At... More

We live very close to Dana Point Harbor and come here often for dinner. There are many good restaurants, coffee houses, and some nice boutiques. It's very hard to find a parking place on Sunday because so many people go for brunch, but you can usually find a place if you persevere. It's a nice, relaxing area,

Wonderful place to walk the boardwalk and sit and watch the boats leaving and entering the harbor. Parking is free and the shops are fun to visit.

Great place for a bike ride, walking, shopping, eating. My favorite restaurant is the Wind & Sea. Also can take fishing or whale watching boats from here. Plus Catalina Express. Tall ships at the very end of the harbor.