Laguna Beach, CA
By Andrew Collins

Chic Laguna Beach, the jewel of the so-called California Riviera, has long been a favorite gay vacation spot. About midway between San Diego and Los Angeles and nicknamed SoHo-by-the-Sea, the area began attracting artists around the turn of the 20th century. A formal art colony was established in 1917, and since then this charming little community has retained its intimate scale and artsy vibe while developing an increasingly impressive crop of plush seaside hotels and superb restaurants.

In addition to painters and writers, Hollywood film stars - Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Bette Davis, and Mickey Rooney - were an early presence in Laguna Beach. The early culturati helped establish what is still one of the nation's outstanding community theaters, the Laguna Playhouse. The Festival of the Arts, a still-thriving showcase for local painters, sculptors, and other artists that began in 1932, sealed the town's reputation as a cradle of West Coast creativity.

The GLBT presence was very discreet during most of the 20th century, and there has been occasional tension between some of the town's mainstream and gay business owners and even residents over the years. Laguna is, after all, a coastal arm of conservative Orange County. Nevertheless, by 1983 there were enough progressive residents to elect Robert Gentry the first openly gay mayor in the United States. Laguna later became the first town in Orange County to adopt an antidiscrimination policy that protected the rights of gays and lesbians.

Laguna today is a desirable getaway for couples seeking romance, and with California having legalized gay marriage in 2008, it's quickly become a favorite locale for same-sex weddings and honeymoons. The ocean views and sandy beaches are spectacular, there's noteworthy shopping and dining, and there's one lively little gay bar - just enough nightlife to keep yourself occupied in the evening until another gorgeous day begins.

A good spot to begin your explorations is in the village center of Laguna, at the oceanside equivalent of a traditional American town green: Main Beach. This breezy park has tile benches, a large expanse of golden sand, heavily used volleyball nets and basketball courts, and a small wooden boardwalk. Locals and tourists laze in the sun, their peace interrupted only by the occasional ring of a cell phone. Along Ocean and Forest avenues, and along Broadway, are excellent cafes and some fine art galleries and boutiques. North of Main Beach is Laguna's Gallery Row, the most concentrated stretch of art dealing in town, as well as the Laguna Art Museum, which houses a small permanent collection of works by local artists and mounts outstanding temporary exhibits.
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