If you are traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego and are looking for a respite for a few hours or a few days, consider checking out some of these unique spots located in Laguna Beach.
The Laguna Playhouse
With more than 95 years of top-notch productions under their belt, the Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continually operating theatres on the West Coast. Known for the excellence and range of performance programming, the theatre has played host to a variety of Hollywood stars over the years. Actors that have graced the stage here include Ed Asner, Rita Rudner, Val Kilmer, Harrison Ford and Bette Davis. Upcoming performance includes Buyer & Cellar a comedy about the oddest of odd jobs and those who do them. Information about upcoming seasons can be found online at lagunaplayhouse.com.
The Gate
There is a weathered, sky blue gate that hangs as a welcome and marker of the city limits. The inscription on the famous gate reads: “This Gate Hangs Well and Hinders None, Refresh and Rest, Then Travel On.” It was built in 1935 and hangs high about the intersection of Park, Forest, and Coast Highway. The urban legend about the sign states that it came to be when a young man opened a store on Forest Avenue in the early 1900s and offered a prize to whoever could come up with a proper name for the store. A young girl suggests the name “The Gate,” as her father had liked a pub in England with the same name. The girl won her prize and the now-historic gate has been a part of the community ever since.
The Second Smallest Church in the World
St. Francis by the Sea has made it into Guinness Book of World Records. This uniquely tiny house of worship is said to be the second smallest Catholic Church in the world. Second only to St. Martin’s Church in Warrenton, Texas, this tiny church was built with materials recovered from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. The house of worship seats 42 and is roughly 1,008 feet in size. It is a quaint spot for weekly services and special gatherings.
These are just a few of the interesting sites to be seen in Laguna Beach. Take the time to explore this interesting Southern California coastal town.
One Of A Kind Vacation Spots You’ll Want To Visit