Dana Point
In 1835, 19-year-old Richard Henry Dana sailed around Cape Horn in an epic journey. His adventures would eventually become the classic novel Two Years Before the Mast and his name would come to grace his favorite spot in his travels, the area that became Dana Point. This man-made harbor nestles in a small cove half way between Los Angeles and San Diego and is home to a flotilla of private boats as well as an array of dining and shopping opportunities. The adjacent ocean dominates this sea-side community, with boating, fishing, whale watching and harbor cruises high on the list of things to do.