Visiting Salt Creek & Laguna Beach
An ocean view from the walking path along Salt Creek Beach, Monarch Bay in Laguna Niguel, California.
It is 6am and I am wide awake in SoCal! No, I am not bursting with anticipation (well maybe a little). There is a toddler in the room next door that starts shrieking at 5:50am. There was a bit of that last night as well. She has a healthy set of lungs on her. The other two children in the family wake up next and it is pretty active in their room. Obviously it's not going to stop. Time to put on some workout clothes and walk along the beach. It's quiet there.
By 6:30am the sun is barely out, but there are a decent amount of people in wet-suits, bobbing in the waves to get their surf on before work or wherever they are headed next. The walking trail from the hotel winds down to beach level. It is paved and the hillside is covered in flowers. A small surfshop and restaurant sits in front of a green and grassy park, surrounded by beautiful homes. These people know how to live, judge for yourself.
Beautiful views of the coastline, some morning surfers and an abundance of flowers lining the beach path in Laguna Niguel.
I enjoy a lengthy and peaceful walk along the shore. Bob is jogging somewhere and even though he is going faster than me, he takes longer, so I head back to the room to download my photos and toggle through them on the patio. The children from next door are outside, playing ball with their dad, including the toddler, who apparently just likes to shriek for no reason. She is adorable but I think glasses are breaking throughout the resort. Bob finally returns, showers and heads off to his meetings, but not before telling the front desk that children should not be put in a room with a connecting door unless the people all belong together. He feels if they were in a separate room we would not hear them, and he may be right. Oh well. I'm gonna get myself dressed and head to where the shops and galleries are. The doorman tells me to head to Laguna Beach, so I call an Uber and I am off.
An overview of the shops, galleries and restaurants on Forest Avenue in Laguna Beach, CA.
Uber guy tells me to head to Forest Avenue, so I do. There is a wide and varied collection of galleries, clothing shops, home goods and open air restaurants. I actually do some shopping, which is a bit out of character, but there is more travel in my future and I need to be ready! The galleries have so much art, from modern to traditional, sculptures, glass, lot of seascapes - really pretty! Laguna considers itself an artist community, and once a month there is an artwalk with artists available for comment and conversation -- and commissions, of course! Gotta make a living.
After a few hours of perusing around, I head to the beach. There is rumor of a French restaurant with an ocean view. I shall find it.
A stroll along the boardwalk reveals plein air painters, kids on a playground, beach volleyball players and beautiful views… but no French restaurant.
The beach is pretty, and families are making the most of their time - playing in the playground, body-surfing in the waves. It is April 2nd, but it is temperate. I stroll around for a bit and take in the scene, including the artists painting in the open air. It is lunchtime, and I consider heading back to one of the al fresco dining spots on Forest Ave., but the ocean view is compelling. I will find this French restaurant and I will eat there, with a view. Let's try the street side?
The views from in and around “C’est La Vie”, a restaurant and bakery located in Laguna Beach since 1982. Please enjoy the picture of the pastry tray and my lemon blueberry dessert crepe. And the seafood was fresh and delicious.
I round the corner and in very little time I come across C'est La Vie, a French restaurant and bakery that has been in business since 1982. I peek in and see an amazing baker's case, plus a long dining room with steps to an outdoor patio. Jackpot! I WILL be lunching here. After being escorted to a porch seat with a beach view I take the menu and order a glass of French white. There are a lot of choices, but the steamed mussels and clams in a white wine and tomato leek broth has my name written all over it. It is a bit chilly, after all, and this will take the chill off. The wine does not hurt either. And there is French bread for dunking. Decision made!!
The food and view is just right, and after my lunch, the evil waiter brings an amazing dessert tray filled with pastries, tarts and macaron. But they also make crepes, which are very French, so a lemon and blueberry crepe it is, with some vanilla gelato and a teeny little cookie to boot. I eat it all. Time to head back to the hotel, we will be leaving for Park City, UT in an hour or so.
It was a great little respite and I sure would not be upset to spend more time here, but we are headed back to snowfields and altitude. PS, upon returning to the hotel, the Ritz picked up the entire cost of our room and meals there. That was never our intent, but we did not protest too much. We'll be back, it is an amazing spot.