Pearl Street In Laguna Beach Contains Adventure

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—Pearl Street beach features an arch at its southern end, which serves as a gateway to Cactus Point. Named by the U.S. Geological Survey, the point is made up of a vast rocky shelf. For the fit and sure-footed, climbing over Cactus Point gets you to the next beach south: Woods Cove.

For those who'd prefer a long beach walk along the water's edge, Pearl Street is a great place to begin heading north. Many coves are accessible to explore as you make your way toward downtown. It's even possible to hike to Main Beach, if sand and tide levels are favorable. Your starting point is the giant rock not far from the arch, which you can use as a landmark on your return to Pearl Street.

If you'd prefer to lounge, picnic and swim, there's plenty of space to set up an umbrella and towel for a relaxing beach day. If you didn't prepare your own repast, stop in at Pearl St. General Store before heading to the sand.

Located at the corner of Pearl Street and Coast Highway, the general store contains a boutique, fresh coffee, wine, a speakeasy and spinning vinyl. The Seahorse within the general store features food prepared by chef Antonio Roa. Cold sandwiches can be taken down to the beach, or visit after your beach day for bites, pizzas and hot sandwiches. And don't forget the cocktails.

Though the corner business began as a liquor store in 1926, the current building was erected in 1938 and opened as the Seahorse Motel in 1940. By the mid-1940s its legend as a speakeasy was established under Yvonne Perry, and it's widely considered to be Laguna Beach's first gay bar.

Now, the neighborhood establishment welcome's everyone, locals and tourists alike, in the spirit of inclusion.

It's almost as if the building began as an oyster, a grain of sand got in, and then after nearly a century's compression, has become a pearl.