Laguna Beach, CA
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A five-minute drive south of downtown, Coast Highway leads to some gay-popular businesses and hangouts, most of them along the blocks between Oak and Calliope streets. The long-famous gay resort, the Coast Inn, closed in 2007, but there are rumors afoot that a new gay-friendly resort will take its place. The beach behind the former inn still has a somewhat gay following, however.

For an enchanting side trip, head south of Laguna Beach several miles to reach San Juan Capistrano, the one town in the area that retains a sense of California's Mission-era history. Many of the adobe structures here date from the late 18th century. Mission San Juan Capistrano is famous as the spring host to thousands of migrating swallows from Argentina, and its Serra Chapel is thought to be the oldest continuously used building in the state of California. A small downtown area has largely escaped 20th-century commercialism.

Laguna's glamorous and artsy aura continues in the decor, presentation, and quality of its restaurants. There's a budding cafe culture downtown, and eating establishments line the Coast Highway, both to the north and south. One of the finest restaurants and most romantic settings along the Southern California coast, the Splashes Restaurant at the Surf and Sand Resort captivates diners with its sleek dining room directly fronting the ocean. Service is deft and knowing, and the creative regional American fare is out of this world. Consider starting with Maine lobster salad with roasted beets and orange-star-anise dressing, before sampling fennel-pollen-crusted ahi with a fava puree, olive oil, artichoke confit, and tarragon sauce.

Nearby and also of considerable acclaim, French 75 occupies a Tudor-style cottage and serves fine French fare, such as three-way duck (confit, grilled breast, and foie gras) with a port-sour-cherry sauce. One of downtown Laguna's top restaurants, 230 Forest Avenue wows diners with imaginative West Coast regional cuisine. The emphasis is on seafood: pan-seared sea scallops with squash-porcini risotto, sweet corn sauce, and white-truffle oil is a favorite entree.

Although it's a tad touristy, the Cottage has been a friend to gays and lesbians since it opened in the early 1970s. The straightforward Continental cuisine is competently prepared - fire-roasted Colorado rack of lamb with a whole-grain-mustard sauce is a favorite. For breakfast, try the Laguna omelet with bay shrimp, snow crab, fresh dill, and Swiss cheese. Another of the more gay-popular venues in town, Nick's serves nicely prepared traditional American chow and has a lovely outdoor patio that's perfect for relaxing on a sunny day.
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