In spite of all of the attention it has received courtesy of Kristin, LC, and the rest of the cast of MTV’s Orange County-based reality series, Laguna Beach has long been a quiet and romantic getaway for Southern Californians, and for many a good reason. Number one, with its clean beaches, beautiful homes, and terrific landscape, the place is simply gorgeous. Number two, though it’s pretty much a sleepy little town, the artists’ community here ensures that you’re never at a loss for things to do. And finally, it’s just a short road trip from most Southern California metropolises.

The height of tourist season is between Memorial Day and Labor Day because everyone yearns to engage in Laguna’s magnificent summer events as well as frolic on the sand in the warm sun. Room rates go up (not tremendously, but enough to notice if your stay is longer than a night or two), and the village becomes a wee bit more congested than in the winter. Keep in mind, however, that Southern California usually gets hit with June gloom -- overcast mornings that tend to burn off by mid- to late afternoon. Does this detract from the town’s beauty? Heck no! And if you’re a tanning fiend, you can still get good color because UV rays are intensified through the clouds. On the other hand, although California’s mild winter may not be necessarily conducive to bathing trunks and bikinis, it can be inviting to beachcombers who enjoy taking long walks in cool, fresh air.

Laguna Beach is about a 20-minute drive from John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Simply exit the airport (take the soft left) and merge (right) onto the 405 (San Diego) freeway south. Veer onto the 133 south toward Laguna Beach. If you’re driving from Los Angeles, the directions remain the same, except you’ll spend about 40 minutes longer on the 405 south.