Dana Point Harbor

Love going for a walk around the harbor! It’s a good 2 mile loop. Lots of critters out and about.

Personal take: I love starting the day with a harbor cruise spotting marine life, then grabbing lunch in the Lantern District. Afternoons are best spent surfing at Doheny or strolling the Headlands Trail. Evening is for sunset drinks by the marina or listening to music at the Ohana Festival. It’s refreshing, not overpoweringly touristy, and every day feels relaxed and rewarding. Quick pro tip: Go mid-week if you can, harbor parking is easier, beaches are quieter, and everything flows at that calming Dana Point pace. Bottom line: Dana Point is a SoCal gem, cozy coastal charm, unforgettable ocean adventures, and relaxed vibes without the crowds.

Wonderful place triangle very clean plenty of parking. Amazing land, landscaping, and grass. There are grills and sitting areas you can just set up for a day picnic.

The beauty of this location makes it ideal for intimate weddings. As a local photographer, I find its magic never fades."

This is a beautiful harbor and gorgeous place along the California coast. I wish I had spent more time in Dana point. Gives me a reason to come back again for a little time away. Lots of people boarding and clean clear water. Lots of parking and nice park area to walk around and see the sights.

Such a great place to experience fresh air, ocean views, marine life, vessels and also enjoy local restaurants. The parking structure construction is underway and the restaurants and shops are all open during construction. We walked for about 4.2 miles and then decided to head to the Laguna Cliffs Marriott for an early dinner. Highly recommended

Best place for having a family picnic. Lots of benches in shade and beautiful view with plenty of clean restrooms. A good walk around the harbor Island around 2.5 miles.

It's ok, but nothing special. Nearby Dana Point beaches and parks are all better, especially if you're planning to be mostly on foot. The single bridge available for crossing to the far side on the water, for example, is clearly prioritized for cars first. Another negative is that there is significant construction on-going here at the minute near the shops and parking at the entrance area.

The directions here were pretty clear, I was not sure if I would lose signal. I found parking, not sure how the late evening parking is. There are so many lovely areas to dine and shop, it is not a huge mall, but a nice place for a short walk. If you are lucky you can hear the seals when they wake up. I saw many boats and people having fun in the water. Please listen to the song I am parodying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ms3mJFkSeg While you are reading my song parody portion of my review below. I get lost in your skies As I hear, the big seals rise And feel ocean wind On the boardwalk, as I'm walking Shops I see, in a glance And some spots for food romance Places to go oh oh And the landmarks for a photo I love getting out for unexpected strolls You can see it, in my eyes It's an ocean port, to heaven When I'm lost in your skies The good vibes, make me smile The parking, won't make me cry The port air feels good I can dine here to get some fuel With GPS, I'll find my way As I stroll from each bay to bay I'll find this town When I am lost in your skies I love getting out for unexpected strolls You can see it, in my eyes It's an ocean port, to heaven When I'm lost in your skies Shops I see, in a glance And some spots for food romance I'll find this town When I am lost in your skies

Such a great place to experience fresh air, ocean views, marine life, vessels and also enjoy local restaurants. The parking structure construction is underway and the restaurants and shops are all open during construction. We walked for about 4.2 miles and then decided to head to the Laguna Cliffs Marriott for an early dinner. Highly recommended

You can't miss the iconic "Merry Christmas" sign along this harbor. This is a great spot for a cute little date night or just a fun little walk with your family. I saw this spot last year after the holiday season and told myself I'd have to go this year. The lights line a good portion of the marina, allowing you to walk along it. There are a few spots for photo ops. I went around 7pm on a Sunday night and it wasn't too crowded. We spent about 40 minutes there walking around and did see that they have events are certain days in December. Parking was free and during the time we went, was very open. There are also a handful of restaurants nearby for a bite to eat. There's also a coffee shop right next to the "Merry Christmas" sign that seems to be super busy. Definitely a fun little spot to spend some time at during the holidays.

I came to Dana Point Harbor on several occasions, to see the Christmas lights, to see the harbor, and to go on my scuba diving trips off the boat. Parking gets crowded quickly and they often have a maximum amount of time you can stay although I don't think anyone pays attention to it. If you're here early, like 6 AM, for one of the boat rides you can get a permit to avoid being towed, but like I said, haven't seen them issue tickets myself but that may be a different story for others. There are a handful of restaurants to eat at and they're all moderately priced to expensive. I never was attracted to the restaurants here enough to actually try them.

My favorite harbor it's so peaceful and great place to walk on the sidewalk but get a great view. Lots of parking and public restrooms. Sunset vibes covered picnic tables public restrooms free parking stunning views anytime of the day

Not a fun place to be AT ALL. Used to be a fun, quirky place to go, now whole thing is torn up. Massive construction zones, building huge parking lots etc. streets blocked off. It's a ghost town. Supposedly they're trying to re-do the whole center, bringing in what? I hear Javier's - seriously? This is a beach town, this is a small pier and harbor. Nothing remains except a few restaurants who sell whatever you can get anywhere. No fish specialties, you can visit restaurants there to get salmon, and other fare you can get anywhere. It's looking like it won't be a fishing village with fish delicacies.

We had a photoshoot at the harbor and had to get some quick bites. They have this restaurant with the most delicious bagels however it was way overpriced. The place is very family oriented and they had plenty of children in the area doing some Halloween activities and live music.

Dana Point is beautiful!!! Love this place. The views are spectacular!! We went to see the Christmas Lights and it's the best display of lights in a City by far!! Simply beautiful, total vibe, beautiful restaurants with water views!! The downtown area is also very nice, lit up, cozy nice restaurants!! Love it here!!

Dana Point Harbor is a place I frequent due to its proximity to home, its scenic tranquillity surrounded by beautiful homes, and great restaurants around the area; many of which are located on Del Prado Ave in the Lantern District and within the harbor. There's a lot of opportunities to interact with nature: boat cruises around the harbor, kayaking, picnicking with the family, whale/dolphin watching, hiking along the many trails around the harbor, and see the tide pools, which are located behind the Orange County Marine Institute. Check out their website, Visit Dana Point, for upcoming dates to events held throughout the year. THE DANA POINT HABOR FEELS | It feels very mature and historic; rows of docked boats give the area maritime vibes. Hand me a skipper's hat and compass and I'll be ready to sail with Buffy and Chad. THE PARKING SITUATION | Free parking is available off of Golden Lantern, which is where most people park if they want to go shopping or grab a bite to eat at the harbor.

My fave spot in the winter! Love waking along the harbor and seeing the festive lights! Getting a yearly photo of the Merry Kiss Me sign and going in the belly of a lit up whale has become our yearly tradition. Great outdoor activity to do with kiddos. There's a few restaurants but not many spots around for kid friendly food and drinks so we normally bring our own hot cocoa and snacks while walking. This year for the first time in a while we spotted Santa! Free meeting and photos! Free 4 hour parking at 34571 Golden Lantern.

Dana point is beautiful there is no denying that, and having lived here, having a home that's an now Airbnb rental and visiting I appreciate it more than living here. It's not my sense of community but to each, I need truly authentic. A mix between the Midwest and Caribbean, Hawaii is my place, but if you want a beautiful view? It rarely disappoints.

Dana Point sea caves is worth the hike. Wear good shoes, lots of rocks. And bring a bag/backpack to pick up any trash if you see it because you're a good person.

Love this place ! There's surfing and great family parties always happening here. Definitely a place to stop by when you're in south Orange County!

It's quite beautiful but no, you won't see whales. Not from the shore, not from the harbor, not from the jetty, not from the conservation park. Go look for Bigfoot instead.

This harbor is so cute and a very fun spot for many reasons! First it is absolutely beautiful to view from up high! Heritage park offers a fantastic overlook, but there are truly so many spots off the PCH which offer amazing views! Once you actually get down into the harbor it is fun to walk around and visit the cute shops, grab a bite to eat, or watch the boats, canoes, yachts, or SUPs go by! It is extremely dog friendly so go ahead and bring your furbaby! We plan to try a few of the restaurants soon, take a trip to Catalina via the Catalina Express, whale watch, and try some outdoor water sports!! So more reviews to come! OMG! I almost forgot to mention the seals! There is a whole dock with them that you can watch from the backside of a few restaurants, or just walking around. Very entertaining! Additionally, there are many restaurants across the street from the harbor that we have tried! So many options!

Dana Point Harbor was so fun during the 2021 holiday season. At the risk of sounding like a mellow old cat lady (which really is what I've become), I loved just strolling around all of the walkable areas. People watching. Dog owner watching. Dog watching. Boat watching. Drunk friends on boats watching. Lol. Everyone in the area was very friendly. When the sun went down, the harbor is even more inviting and interesting. So many "Instagram" moments. Kids will love standing next to the surfboard Santa and the blue light whales. My kids loved listening to and watching the sea lions on the dock. They also loved that we had the opportunity to go whale watching with Captain Dave's outfit. So many mom and pop shops. Good eateries. Locally-made stuff. Great place for a date and a definite for a family outing or vacation destination.

It was my first-time visiting Dana Point Harbor and what better time to visit than during the holiday season. The harbor was beautifully decorated with holiday lights in different shapes and colors. It was a spectacular sight to see. There were tons of people strolling around the harbor admiring the lights and taking pictures under the Merry Kiss Me sign. It was a very festive atmosphere. I definitely want to visit the harbor again when I am in the area and spend more time visiting.

This is a review for the holiday season. It's a gorgeous harbor with beautiful Christmas lights, there are also a bunch of restaurants and coffee shops nearby. We came here right before sunset, we did a nice evening sunset walk and also took our time to take a stroll after dinner, both daytime and nighttime views were amazing. Plus, there was even a street performer singing that night, it felt really intimate and romantic. Would love to be back for the boat parade of lights soon! Side note: It's doggie friendly & parking is free

Dana Point Harbor is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year but my favorite time to go is around Christmas time when they host "Happy Harbor Days" a Holiday Light Event that is kid-friendly and fun for all ages. There are lots of light displays to check out, boats driving by all decked out, photo ops, holiday shopping at local small businesses and more. You can get in a lot of steps walking around and since it gets chilly at night being near the water, it's fun to get hot cocoa and feel the holiday spirit. Tickets are not required in advance like the boat parades in other beach cities, BUT, finding a parking spot is a little tough.

I came here about month's or two back. I was in very dark minds and some other things. So I was driving round and thought I check it out. I once I got here, I sat on the pier ( it's got couple places to sit and even fish) in cold for over an hour long. Thinking of stuff that was on my mind (pros and cons) beaches,parks,harbors. They are wonderful. Places to think and relax from whatever you need to escape from. 1 Samuel 16:7

Always love heading to the harbor to walk around. There's plenty to do from restaurants, coffee, bars, shopping, whale watching, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and more. Even just hanging out watching the waves is great. There's always a view anywhere you end up.

Beautiful location on the Southern California coast. Scenic harbor. Dana Point Harbor is home to a variety of restaurants with brunch and live music on the weekends. It also offers water activities for explorers of all ages. Spend the afternoon on a fishing or whale watching boat, or rent a kayak. Paddle boarding is popular and the circular route around the harbor boasts views of boats, sea lions, with glimpses of sting rays and colorful, orange garibaldis. Enjoy lunch dockside and stroll the extensive walking path that leads northwest to the Ocean Institute, the tall ship, and the tide pools.

Decorated real nice for Xmas. Lots of lights. U launch ur boat from here. There's a boardwalk to walk down n restaurants. Pretty cool.

This is a gorgeous harbor and the sea lions are so cute and vocal! I love listening to them bark!! I am looking forward to trying paddle boarding in the summer!

What's not to love about Dana point Harbor. They had a snack bar open with ice cream, food items chili cheese dogs, they had a lifeguard watching, the beach is clean, Was fun to see the servers.

We didn't get to really explore this harbor, but it looked really small with not too much to get in to.

Harbor is undergoing much needed renovations. In the meantime it's great for a nice stroll around the perimeter and for boating. Shops and restaurants need to be updated and they are, but for now they're super dated and the food is ok. Around the holidays, this harbor lights up for Happy Harbor Days and the entire property is lit up with LED Christmas lights!

Dana Point Harbor currently has their Christmas lights and cute displays up for the holidays. They were up as of November 11 and will be up through January 3. This cute holiday event is free and features great photo opportunities throughout. You can download a map on the city's website so you can find all of the displays (most of which are within a reasonable walking distance and another one you may consider driving to). Because this is all outdoors, you can bring your four legged pal with you. My husband, our little girl dog and I came by here last month on a Wednesday evening, around 6:20 pm and spent a little over an hour walking around to find all the holiday displays and take photos. This was a fun way to visit the harbor, as we have never been here before. During various evenings, you may be lucky to hear the roaming carolers (Dec 23, 4- 7 pm is the last date they will be singing). There are several restaurants at the harbor, open for take out orders if you are feel hungry. Parking is free with plenty of spots available. There are public restrooms available in case you need to use them. Definitely a fun way to get into the holiday spirit and am glad we decided to check out the holiday set up early. I can only imagine it will get busier as it gets nearer to Christmas.

This harbor is also ways a great place to stop by and shop,eat are enjoy a walk. You'll find free parking and even with the covid shut down lots of restaurants were open for take out. The boats are interesting to look at too

We came here to check out the Christmas lights and it's worth the drive for something free and local. Both parking and the event are free! We got there around 5:30pm, so plenty of parkings at that point, but starting getting busier when the night went by. They have different areas with cute Christmas lights. If you are hungry, there were some restaurants there with both indoor and outdoor dining. I heard that they will have more Christmas events coming in December. Don't forget to follow their IG and website for all the fun things.

My husband and I spend a lot of time down at the harbor, we bring our dogs here for a nice walks by the water, we have nice picnic lunches as well as dine in Dana Point. This year for the first time I did the turkey trot on Thanksgiving and we came down to enjoy the Christmas lights this holiday season. We enjoyed both and each definitely put you in the spirit! Definitely a place to go if you enjoy ocean breezes and watching the boats sail by.

Nice ambiance for the holidays. Live music, couple of restaurants to choose from that are decorated for the season, holiday lights at night throughout the dock area, and a boat parade on weekends. Fun to stop by and check out.

This review is for the holiday lights. They come on every night during the holidays at 6pm and stay on till dawn. It's free and there's also plenty of free parking. It does get busy so definitely make sure to prepare for a lot of foot traffic. I recommend bringing your own hot chocolate for the walk as the only coffee shop there tends to get so busy. I also brought my dog and had so much fun taking Christmas photos with her. A cute way to get into holiday spirit

We enjoyed walking around the Harbor area.... there is dining, shopping and wine tasting...... you can take out a charter boat to fish, parasail or head to Catalina. There are places to rent sail boats, sea-doo's. paddle boards...etc.... I really enjoyed seeing so many American flags flying on the docked boats. Go America! I bet it was something to see 4th of July weekend... There are a few shops still not open, but most of them are with limited hours, dining hours have changed and seating is limited..... Call for reservations if you can.....Patio dining is all they are allowed to do right now, so they're working hard to accommodate everyone. Be patient & Kind Enjoy the scenery and the fresh air!

My daughter and I just love Dana Point Harbor. We Iike the serenity and the calm it brings to us, can't help but lift our spirits with joy as we walk the loop with our pup Simba. Beautiful views of the coastline, blue ocean and the houses on the hills. It's a great place to take a stroll anytime of the day or evening. Best place to catch the most mesmerizing, brilliant colors of the sunset views. Dana Point Harbor has many types of activities throughout the year for all age groups, including: -Festival of Whales -The the beginning of the season they have activies throughout the day for kids -The Woodie Classic Cars show -Art Galleries to visit & buy art -They also have all year around Whale watching boat tours -Baby Beach the water is pretty calm so it is really good for families with kids. - Ocean Institute great for kids. -4th of July Firewoks Extravaganza We have come over as early as 7am to pick a spot with tables and a grill spend the day with family & friends enjoy the day or just arrive later to enjoy the amazing fireworks. Btw, it's one of the most popular Day at Dana Point Harbor. -Kayaking Whether you have the strength and experience in handling the water is a great place to enjoy the water sport. -Paddle boarding takes endurance, lstrength and experience to handle the water. -They have annual music festivals -Ohana Festival -Doheny Beach Blues Festivals -Tall Ships Festival -Canoe Racing -Christmas Harbor Lights -Annual Boat Parade of Lights -surfing contest -Popular outdoor activities: fishing, walking, bicycling, parasailing. Catalina Express large passenger boat frm Dana Point Harbor to Catalina Island. Parking lots located in various areas at this time No parking fees! Find the time to stop by to enjoy the outdoors and bring a picnic & your camera !

Lots of history, great people, good food and nice times! You can can come anytime of day and any hour of the hour and capture some magnificent photos! You always find something new to snap a pic at! You can come and Whale watch! That's right, we are known for Whale Capital of the West Coast! People come here from all over the WORLD!!! You can catch a view or two of majestic creatures, and dancing jumping dolphins! I have the privilege to Whale watch from the comfort of my home and in my PJs. It's honestly a magical playground for sure. From paddle boarding, kayaking, surfing (which we are famous for too), sailing, boating, to sight seeing, shopping, dining and much much more! There is so much to see and there is also a MAJOR renovation in the works for the pier! The word is that a Newport Beach developer group inks a 66-year deal with the County of Orange to renovate the 47-year-old Dana Point Harbor, boaters, merchants and residents got a final chance to weigh in on what it will look like. Dana Point Harbor Partners, on Monday, Oct. 22, provided more details on plans for the $330 million renovation. The Newport Beach developer group received approval from the Orange County Board of Supervisors in July to develop the harbor and take over the lease. We are all very excited to see all the great things ahead to come!

She is a stunning BABE! You have been the highlight of my weekend with my family and my small group of friends during this pandemic. You have offered a beautiful and clean space! Your hospitality with the picnic tables on the Harbor even got upgraded with BBQ grills and each patio got Christmas lights twinkling to give us some cheer in 2020. You have amazing channels to slow things down a bit to allow stand up paddlers, kayakers, and new sailors practice their skills on your waters before heading out to the big ocean. The tenderness shows with the slow easy feel inside the harbor. On quiet mornings, the sound of gentle tunes of your waves on the harbor boats are harmonious like chimes on an easy Sunday morning. Your views are stunning and always breathtaking to the eyes while on top of your cliff edge and even while on your shore the salty winds we inhale your beauty. Merchant ships have history being here. Your rocky area is also a reminder of your rough edge as well. We protect that wild side of yours and remind others not to touch or remove your precious wild life. A romantic place to get away. A place to nourish our soul. You are a true babe! Thanks for having my small family celebrate Thanksgiving 2020 on the Harbor with grilled turkey tenders on skewers marinated with homemade thanksgiving flavors (garlic, thyme, rosemary, orange zest, salt, lots of pepper & butter) with traditional sides of mash, stuffings, and fresh home made cranberry sauce.

Came by here to see the lights that everyone was hyping up on all social media platforms and I was kind of let down! The only big attraction was the "Merry Kiss Me" sign but other than that the hype was not real. There were long lines to take photos with your love ones but it was good since people did take precautions as to the 6ft distance rule. I would recommend if you live near by and have nothing to do but wouldn't drive hours to see it.

THE ENDLESS SUMMER Sunset, in the DANA POINT HARBOR, CA, Regardless of the Time of Year! And I Must Have Been a MERMAID, in a Previous Life, Cause this Little Harbor, is Where this Little Mermaid, LOVES to Hang Out! My Husband and I Adore this Charming Harbor, it has such a Small Town Beach Vibe! The Boardwalk is Tranquil & there are quite a few Waterfront Restaurants to choose from & Cute Boutique Shops too! There are so Many Things To Do in the HARBOR, just to mention a few..... OCEAN INSTITUTE, just look for the Tall Ships, close to BABY BEACH! And in the month of September they Host a "Must Check Out" Annual Tall Ships Festival! BABY BEACH, the calm waters are perfect for the kids! There are Picnic & BBQ areas with Fantastic views of the Harbor & the nearby cliffside! Just keep in mind, parking can sometimes be difficult in the summer months! JET SKI's, KAYAK's & PADDLE BOARD's are conveniently available for rent in the Harbor! Also be sure to Check out Sailing, Parasailing, Scuba Diving, Fishing & Boat Charters, if you want to explore outside of the Harbor! The CATALINA EXPRESS, is also docked right in front of WATERMAN's HARBOR Restaurant and makes frequent trips to and from Catalina Island! Boat or no boat, Everyone can Enjoy this Magical Waterfront Destination Spot! On a Side Note, BIG changes are yet to come, so SOAK UP this Small Beach Town HARBOR Charm Vibe! It's been 20 years in the making & a $200 Million Revitalization will finally come to fruition & transform this Special Spot! Work on the Harbor is expected to begin as soon as December 2018!

A local area for us to go to for water activity (paddle boarding, kayaking, whale watching) as well as dining and drinking. Every restaurant has its own flavor. A great way to spend any day or night.

Went here tonight to see their holiday lights display, saw at least 4 of their 6 photo opps. Too many people were lining up and just packed with people. We did our best to mask up and stay distanced but lots of people were not wearing masks and it's likely coronavirus hot bed! We tried to get through as much as we could in 40 minutes & only stood in 1 line. Gotta bounce out as fast as we could!

Great place for the family on any day, during Christmas they put up an awesome light setup and it is free to check out while either walking through or grabbing dinner or drinks. Great environment and family friendly.

There's a lot to like about Dana Point but it's the casual vibes and activities of their Harbor that made for a great day trip from San Diego. We were here on a Saturday just after Labor Day and luckily there were no issues finding parking around the Harbor. The Harbor itself has several little shops eking out a living from tourists. It's worth your time to check those out. We spent about 2 hours walking / shopping / relaxing along the harbor. Best Bets in Dana Point - - Dana Point Farmers Market ( Saturday 9 - 2) - RJs Cafe - Scoop Deck Ice-Cream - Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area - Bluff Top Trail The Weird - If you drive to the outer marina island and walk around the Orange County Harbor Patrol building you'll see the parking lot full of senior citizens in cars, in both front and back seats just chilling just watching the boats. Tip - If you're thinking about taking a whale watching trip never pay full price, always look for Groupons. Plan ahead though, they block all groupon reservations two days prior to the actual day of cruise.

I love Dana point harbor for my evening sunset walks. It is very relaxing place with a lot of wonderful views. In addition, there is plenty of animaks to see including monk seals, squirrels birds and other creatures. Dana point harbor has many restaurant to choose from. You can enjoy the sunset while sipping your favorite beverage. Don't forget to try some water sports like stand up paddling surfing kayaking or fishing. I count my steps and found out that if you go around the whole harbor including little island you will make more than 10,000 steps! Enjoy!

This harbor is a great place to walk around and eat at during the holidays. I have been wanting to go to their famous "Merry Kiss Me" sign and take a picture there with my boyfriend for a few years now and was finally able to. They have this sign available from November until end of December. However, this sign is not easy to find at first. There is no sign out front directing anyone towards it so you have to walk around a little bit to find it. A great meeting spot is the big Santa with the surfboard because it is right by the Merry Kiss Me sign. There is usually a long line to get photos with the sign as well. Also, parking is super easy since their is a huge parking lot out front. Unfortunately, I did not take any photos of the other lights, but they have lights all over the harbor. Great for taking more photos with. Overall, I would not mind coming here for the holidays and trying out the restaurants next time.

Dana Point Harbor is a very scenic place to go for a stroll. There are cute shops and restaurants in the main center, and lots of water activities. They also decorate really nicely during the holidays!

great atmosphere, relaxing, pleasant, peaceful, dog friendly, helpful people, lots of dining options

Came in for the christmas lights and it was pretty cute. Not much interactive stuff but the harbors nice too. Will probably stop by in the day time as there were yacht rentals and lots of cute restaurants around to try out. Parking: on the sides i believe is $3 per hour

It was our first time here. We had a nice time but a lot of things were closed. Hopefully next visit everything will be open. The weather was good.