Summer is coming faster than we think but the calendar already seems to have filled up. But something I want to pause and think about is what I actually want summer to feel like. For me and for the kids. Not what needs to happen or what is already booked. But the memories I want to create and the urge to slow down even when it all feels like it’s speeding up. I find that when I get honest about that the answer is simpler than I expect. Slower mornings. More time outside. Fewer things we committed to before we really wanted them and more space for the stuff that actually fills us up. Less rushing through the days and more actually being in them. The summers that feel full and worth looking back on are never the most scheduled ones. They are the ones where there was some sense of direction from the start. Some decision about what mattered. This week I challenge you to really think about this. What do you actually want? How can you build in the slower mornings, enjoy your coffee, and create memories that will last a life time before the stress and chaos get in the way.
Now let’s get into the good stuff…
Date Night
If you are going to splurge on a date night this summer, this is where to do it. RAYA sits inside The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel perched on a dramatic bluff above the Pacific, and the moment you walk in the setting does something to the whole evening. Floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic ocean views, and a level of service that makes you feel like the only table in the room. Request a window table when you book and if the weather is right, the terrace is one of the most beautiful places to have dinner in all of South OC.
The cuisine is Pan-Latin coastal, developed by acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval and executed by Executive Chef Michael Treanor, with a menu built around sustainable seafood, local produce, and bold Latin flavors that feel genuinely distinct from anything else in the area. The branzino and short ribs are called out repeatedly as standout dishes, the wagyu beef tartare is prepared tableside, and the cocktail program is strong with craft options that go well beyond the standard bar menu. The wine list is extensive and the sommelier recommendations are worth asking for. Dinner runs around $100 per person which for an evening at the Ritz with that view and that food is genuinely fair. Valet parking is $15 with validation. Open for dinner Sunday through Thursday 5 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 5 to 9:30 PM. Located at 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive in Dana Point. Reserve on OpenTable well in advance, especially on weekends.
Family Fun
Salt Creek Beach
Salt Creek Beach is a Dana Point local favorite. IYKYK. Sitting below the bluffs of the Ritz-Carlton with a small offshore reef that creates some of the best left swells on the coastline, it is a surfer favorite but genuinely works for the whole family. The beach itself is wide and clean with good waves for boogie boarding, a lifeguard tower, outdoor showers, and a beachside snack bar called Young's Beach Shack right at the bottom of the access path for when someone inevitably needs a snack twenty minutes after you set up your chairs.
What makes it stand out as a family day is the seven-acre Bluff Park sitting directly above the sand. Picnic tables, barbecue grills, a half-court basketball court, walking paths, water fountains, and sweeping ocean views that make it one of the best picnic settings in South OC. The setup is simple. Pack a cooler, claim a picnic table up top, let the kids run between the park and the beach all afternoon, and stay for the sunset which from that bluff is hard to beat. Dogs are welcome on leash in the park. Parking is $1 per hour via the OC Parks kiosks in the lot, with street parking available on PCH if you do not mind a longer walk. Plan to arrive before 11 AM on summer weekends to get a table and a good spot on the sand. Open daily 5 AM to 10 PM. Located at 33333 South Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point.Just For You
Local Events
Mermade Market
Mermade Market is a South OC staple that happens twice a year and this weekend it is back at the Dana Point Community House just steps from the harbor. Over 100 hand-curated indoor and outdoor makers across three days, featuring local artisans, handmade goods, food vendors, and a rotating lineup of outdoor makers that changes daily so every visit feels a little different. The inside portion is a central checkout experience where you grab a basket and shop at your own pace without vendor pressure, and the outside tents run farmers market style with makers you can meet directly. Free to attend, free parking, dog-friendly, and stroller-friendly. Runs Friday May 15 from 9 AM to 6 PM, Saturday May 16 from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday May 17 from 9 AM to 5 PM. Located at 24642 San Juan Avenue in Dana Point. More at mermademarket.com.
Water Festival
A free family-friendly event right in our backyard that is genuinely more fun than it sounds. The Santa Margarita Water District's annual Water Festival runs Saturday May 16 from 10 AM to 1 PM at SMWD Headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita and it is packed with hands-on activities that kids actually love. Live reptiles, bugs, and pollinator exhibits, a birds of prey live show featuring owls and hawks, an inflatable zipline and bee maze, water science experiments, building your own worm composting box, and an aquarium experience all in one morning. There are also guided infrastructure bus tours for anyone who wants to go deeper into how South OC's water system actually works. Free to attend and a great way to fill a Saturday morning close to home. Located at 26111 Antonio Parkway in Rancho Santa Margarita. Register at smwd.com/festival.
Bioluminescence Night Cruise
This is one of the most unique things you can do in South OC and it only happens on select nights during the summer months. The Ocean Institute's Bioluminescence Night Cruise departs from Dana Point Harbor aboard the R/V Sea Explorer from 8:30 to 10:30 PM, heading out onto the Pacific in the dark to witness the ocean's natural light show. A meter net is deployed 600 feet deep to capture thousands of glowing bioluminescent organisms, a squid light draws marine life to the surface for observation, and on a good night you will see sea lions and dolphins feeding alongside the boat under a starlit sky. Educators are on board throughout to explain what you are seeing and why it happens. Worth noting that the abundance of bioluminescence is determined by natural forces so every cruise is different, but the experience on the water at night is extraordinary regardless. Tickets are $55 per person and sell out fast. Book yours at oceaninstitute.org. Located at 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.
Coffee & Connections
Kona Loa Coffee
Kona Loa Coffee opened its Crown Valley location in Mission Viejo in 2024 and it brings something different to the South OC coffee scene. The concept is Hawaiian-inspired, built around 100 percent Kona coffee beans sourced from the volcanic soil of Hawaii's Big Island, which produces some of the most distinctly rich and smooth coffee in the world. The open-window layout creates a breezy indoor-outdoor feel that makes a slow morning here feel a little like an escape, and the staff consistently gets called out for being warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful when you do not know what to order.
The drink menu is the real draw. The matcha program is exceptional and creative in a way that most coffee shops do not bother with. The strawberry matcha is made with actual chunks of fruit, the jasmine matcha is clean and balanced, and the earl grey cold foam matcha is one of those combinations that sounds unusual and lands perfectly. On the coffee side the Spanish latte has a loyal following and the seasonal menu rotates with flavors like horchata matcha and cardamom iced latte that keep regulars coming back to see what is new. Pastries and baked goods round out the menu for anyone who wants something to go with their coffee. Open daily 7 AM to 5 PM, closing at 1 PM on Sundays. Located at 27525 Puerta Real Suite 500 in Mission Viejo.
Six weeks from now summer will be fully underway. The question is whether it will feel like something you chose or something that just happened to you. That answer starts with a decision you make right now, before the noise sets in, before the calendar fills up, before another season goes by on autopilot. You know what you want it to feel like. Build toward that. See you next Thursday.
See you next Thursday!
