Just one hour south of LA, this quaint and artistic beach town is nestled in the heart of otherwise conservative Orange County ("The OC"). For years, Laguna has attracted all types with its sandy beaches, high end lodging, numerous art galleries, and its well-known Laguna Playhouse. Daytime means hitting the popular West Street gay beach just south of town. Climb down the stairway at the end of West Street and down another stairway at the Coast Royale condo complex, then walk a bit down the beach. The friendly and good looking crowd is well worth the walk. For nightlife, Laguna Beach used to be the weekend escape for the LA Boys, but since the closure of its popular Boom Boom Room, the gay nightlife scene has nearly evaporated with the other bars closing at around the same time.
