The OC Beach Scene

Over the past few years, Orange County has received a lot of attention from the mainstream media, and, to be honest, most of it has been less than flattering to local residents. Thanks to the plethora of reality, quasi-reality, and not-even-close-to-reality shows that have attempted to capitalize on the success Fox’s teen drama, “The OC,” Orange County is now regarded amongst the general public as a land of spoiled teens, stuck-up housewives, and swanky, high-priced restaurants.

However, for those looking for a more authentic Orange County experience on your next vacation, steer clear of silicon-enhanced tourist traps like Fashion Island and Laguna Main, and hit the taco stand instead! These hole in the wall taquerias, known locally for their fast service and great food, are excellent places to mingle with locals and sample some of the best Mexican cuisine this side of the border! While the taco stand is ubiquitous throughout Orange County, here are a few of my favorites:

Pedro’s Tacos: Pedro’s has been a staple amongst Orange County surfers for over twenty years due to its great food, excellent prices, and prime location next to some of the best surfing beaches in Southern California. With two establishments in the heart of San Clemente, Pedro’s typifies the uniquely Californian taco shack experience and is a must-visit on any trip to this vibrant seaside community. The carne asada burrito is a favorite, as are the fish tacos; however, if you’re a fan of guacamole–and I mean a serious fan– go for the rolled tacos. Crispy, delicious and literally loaded with mountains of guac and cheese, these bad boys will make an instant Pedro’s convert out of even the most seasoned taco stand veteran. Still hungry? Go for a bean burrito (or two) for only a dollar more.
Local tip: Make sure to come with cash as Pedro’s does not accept debit/credit purchases.

Taco Loco: Serving up an eclectic menu featuring tasty vegetarian treats such as the potato tacos and tofu mushroom burger, Taco Loco is a popular hangout amongst the local vegan community; however, meat lovers need not worry as there is something here for everyone. For those of you not on an all-veggie diet, try the blackened chicken tacos–and don’t worry about offending the hippy-looking, gotta-be-vegan guy behind the counter–even he knows how good they are. Located on PCH in the heart of Laguna Beach, Taco Loco is a great spot to grab a beer and do some people-watching during the day, or to chow down on some late night grub after a long night of drinking and dancing at the bars just down the street.

Hi everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates the last couple days, but I just got back from an overnight fishing trip in Catalina, and, needless to say, I was without access to a computer. Now, however, the boat is in port, the fish are in the freezer, and I am once again here to give you the lowdown on all the best beaches in our small part of the world!

Today, in our latest installment of the weekly Sunday Spot Check, I introduce you to Tablerock, a great locals-only beach in South Laguna. Hidden away in a quiet, picturesque cove well south of the busy tourist strip in Laguna, Tablerock is a favorite among locals due to its secluded atmosphere and breathtaking vistas. From its quaint, flora-entwined spiral staircase, to its shallow sandstone caves, to the quirky, eclectic locals that freqeunt it, Tablerock seems to be one of the last truly untouched, classic Laguna hideaways.

Getting there: Tablerock is located in South Laguna, just down the road from Aliso Beach. Try to find parking in one of the neighborhoods above 7 Eleven on PCH, and then walk down to the end of Eagle Rock Lane, where you will see the beach access!

Thanks to the recent dearth of swell here in Southern California, coupled with the generous (those with actual priorities might even say too generous) amount of time off that my employer has given me of late, I have had plenty of time to cultivate my inner political junkie. With a constant stream of campaign updates, Washington rumors, and on-air bickering coming at me in HD from a whole host of cable news networks, on-scene reporters, and quasi-celebrity news anchors, i’ll admit that, at times, it has been hard for me to get away from the TV this past week. From Fannie to Freddy, Wallstreet bailouts to WaMu buyouts, bipartisan deal-making to bicameral division, I have soaked it all in like a sensationalist sponge–and, in the words of synth pop luminaries Depeche Mode, I just can’t get enough.

I know that I am falling for the news media’s ploy–their strategic marketing of dire news events as entertainment, but for some reason, I just can’t help myself. It’s almost like getting sucked into a Real World marathon–one minute you’re laughing at how stupid the whole thing is and the next thing you know its 6 in the evening and you’re still in your pj’s.

However, tonight, as this whole thing finally reaches its long-anticipated, much-questioned climax in the form of the presidential debate, I will be nowhere near a TV set. You see, the waves have once again returned to my hometown, and, as the candidates gear up for what will surely be a historic night of name-dragging and mud-slinging, I will be taking a much needed break from politics down at my local beach. So thank you, John McCain, for your wishy-washy campaign and headline-grabbing faux-heroism, and thank you, Chris Matthews, for your platinum blond hair and unabashed Republican bashing, but tonight, as the sun goes down and the south swell continues to fill in, I will be letting my TiVo do the watching.

The surf in Orange County has been spotty at best all summer long–a couple days of fun waves followed by a weeks-long flatspell seems to sum up the pattern pretty well–leaving many surfers bored and craving some water time. However, just because the surf’s flat doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the ocean. In fact, for scuba divers and snorkelers, small swell days are the perfect days to take a dip and explore the world beneath the waves (or in this case, lack of waves).

It’s so easy for us as surfers to overlook the aesthetic pleasures of the coast, the vibrant beauty of the ocean. For us, the beach is often simply seen as a stretch of sand that separates us from the water, the ocean merely a wave-generating machine; however, I have found that snorkeling (or free diving, or scuba diving) is the perfect way to reconnect with this body of water that so many of us call a second home.

As luck would have it, we Orange County locals live not only in a swell-blessed region (ok, sometimes-swell-blessed region), but also in an area of diverse and plentiful sea life. Laguna Beach, with its hidden coves and rocky outcroppings, is the perfect place to discover the hidden beauty that resides right beneath the water’s surface. So next time the surf’s flat (i.e. right now!), grab your mask and fins and head down to the beach!

A few tips for maximizing your flat-day fun:

When to go: The best time to go snorkeling is when the surf is small or non-existent. Not only is this the safest time to go, it’s also when we have the clearest water and best visibility. Check surfline.com or the Orange County Register for the local conditions.

Where to go: Laguna is filled with tiny, tucked away coves with plenty of underwater nooks and crannies to investigate; however, two of my favorite snorkeling spots are Shaw’s Cove and Crescent Bay. While these two North Laguna favorites are right next door to one another, there is enough to see at both beaches that you’ll want to spend some time exploring each of them separately.

What to bring: Thanks to the shallow nature of Laguna’s reefs and their close proximity to shore, you can forget the physical (as well as financial) burden of all that scuba gear. All you need are a decent pair of swim fins, a mask and snorkel, and (optional) a bag of frozen peas. No, the peas aren’t for an after-snorkel snack, they’re for the fish. Save money by buying the in-store brand–the fish don’t seem to notice the difference!

Be Safe: Be on the lookout for rip currents, as these can pose a serious threat to swimmers–even those wearing swim fins. Tell tale signs of a rip include brownish, foamy water and a deceptively calm break in the surf. Also, avoid getting too close to the rocks, as an unexpected wave or current can easily push even a strong swimmer into their jagged, often sea urchin-spotted walls.

For more information on snorkeling and scuba diving in Laguna, including current dive conditions, check out the Laguna Sea Sports website. Hope to see you guys out there!

Hi there! Thanks to everybody who came out for yesterday’s hearing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds! The event was a success by all accounts, with savetrestles.org reporting that nearly 3,000 surfers, nature lovers, and members of the Acjachemen Native American tribe showed up to voice their opposition to the TCA and their ill-designed toll road plans. (For more information on the plight of Acjachemen, who regard San Onofre State Park as sacred ground, check out this website).

For those of you who couldn’t make it out, don’t worry! There’s still plenty of time to make your voice heard! The Secretary of Commerce is slated to make his final decision sometime between Oct. 24, 2009 and January 7, 2009, and we still have until Oct. 2 to overwhelm him with emails and letters showing our support for Trestles and San Onofre State Park! Not sure what to say? The people at the Surfrider Foundation have made it easy for you! Go here and all you have to do is fill out some basic info and write your name under this pre-composed letter. Even if you were at yesterday’s hearing, you should still do this!

Anyways, thanks again to everyone for your continued support in the effort to save our local coastal environment! I’ll be sure to keep you updated with more info when I get it! Until then, check savetrestles.org for all the latest news on the toll road debate.

Hey guys! I’m just about to head out the door, but I wanted to remind everyone one last time that the Trestles toll road hearing is going on today from 10:30am to 8:30pm at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, CA. It’s super important that we leave a lasting impression on the Dept. of Commerce at today’s hearing, as a strong show of support may very well put an end to the Trestles debate for good! Head on over to savetrestles.org for a full list of today’s events.

Directions to the Del Mar Fairgrounds: Take the 5 South towards San Diego. Get off at Via de la Valle and make your first right. Turn left onto Jimmy Durante Blvd., the fairgrounds are at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014.

Hope to see you guys there!
Rick Kane

Hey guys, the Sunday Spot Check is a new feature here at the OC Beach Scene in which I will be looking at a different Orange County beach each week. Expect some interesting choices, as well as some great local tips that you won’t find anywhere else. In anticipation of tomorrow’s toll road hearing, I have decided to kick off the Sunday Spot Check with a review of Trestles, one of the beaches threatened by the proposed toll road extension, and a great destination for both surfers and nature lovers alike.

Although Trestles is technically located on the northern tip of San Diego County, it has long served as a proving ground for young San Clemente surfers and is fiercely claimed as an Orange County spot by locals. Named for the train trestles that line the beach along this otherwise untouched stretch of coast, Trestles is actually a series of pointbreaks, all of which are blessed with extremely good, occasionally epic surf.

After making the trek down the trail to the beach, the first spot you see is Uppers, a long, rippable right (and occasional left) that works on both north and south swells. On a crisp Fall morning, when the offshores are blowing and a good-sized NW swell is filling in, Uppers can be absolutely magical. However, don’t plan on getting in a good session at Uppers alone. When its on, Uppers is one of the best waves in Southern California–and everybody knows it.

To get to Lowers, simply take a short walk down the beach. You know you’re there when you see the crowd of 50 frothing surfers, each eager to leave their mark on one of the perfect 100-yard rights or lefts that the break has to offer. While Lowers is often (read: always) crowded, many see it as a small price to pay in order to surf what is arguably one of the best, if not the best wave in California. On a good south swell, expect to see plenty of cameramen on the beach, a lineup clogged with boards covered in carefully-placed stickers, and at least a few of your idols from the pages of Surfer Magazine.

Getting there: From Orange County, take the 5 South to the Cristianitos exit, take your first left (away from the beach), and try to find parking in the lot full of surf rack-mounted cars. The trail down to the beach is just across the bridge on your left.
Local tip: You may want to bring a skateboard or a bike with you, as the trail is quite long, and can make for an exhausting walk on hot summer days.

Get out your calendars everyone! This coming Monday, September 22, the Commerce Department is holding a public hearing on the proposed extension of the 241 toll road at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This is an important opportunity for local surfers and beach lovers to come out and show their opposition to this needless stretch of road and the environmentally insensitive people at the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) who insist on building it. Click here for the official press release from the Surfrider Foundation.

For those of you unfamiliar with the controversy surrounding the 241 extension, the TCA has been trying for several years now to build a six lane toll highway through San Onofre State Beach and the San Mateo State Preserve. This toll road figures as a huge environmental threat to one of Orange County’s last remaining untouched natural habitats and would also prove to be a huge source of water pollution for the nearby Trestles Beach–a world-renowned surf break and also the site of the only WCT surf contest on the U.S. mainland. A strong outpouring of support at Monday’s hearing is absolutely necessary to the preservation of this important cultural and environmental landmark for future generations!

For more information on the hearing and ways that you can help out, please visit these great websites:

www.surfrider.org
www.savetrestles.org
www.savetrestles.com

Along with the regularly scheduled, horribly cluttered contents of today’s Orange County Register (while they have some great writers, nobody over there seems to know how to fold a newspaper), the publication included the 15th edition of their annual Best of Orange County featurette–a comprehensive list of the finest shopping, dining, and entertainment that our small corner of Southern California has to offer. With 130 categories ranging from Best Cosmetic Surgeon to Best Cupcakes, the good people at the Register seemed to think of almost everything that could be of any interest to anyone (I mean seriously–Best Place for a Unique Salad?). However, there is one glaring omission–Where’s the Best Beach??

Honestly, with Orange County’s over 40 miles of pristine coastline, including world-famous locales such as Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, and Trestles, how could the Register forget what would seem to be such an obvious category? I mean come on, they managed to include categories for Best Alternative Exercise Studio, Best Game Room Equipment, and Best Medi-Spa, but they couldn’t find room for a Best Beach? I don’t even know what a medi-spa is! They even included a list of the top places to ski/snowboard and it hasn’t snowed here since, like, 1932!

I’ve seriously been racking my brain over this all day and the only explanation I can come up with is that maybe “Best Beach” would simply be too broad a category, inviting vague responses like “Huntington” or “Newport” or “that one with the pier.” Whatever the reasoning behind this obvious misstep, I know that I’ll be emailing them shortly with a complaint–and while I’m at it, maybe I’ll find out what a medi-spa is.

With the autumnal equinox just around the corner (its September 22nd this year for all of you non-astromony buffs), most of the Northern Hemisphere is gearing up for fall; however, here in the OC, my favorite part of summer is really just beginning! Thanks to our mild climate and year-round sunny weather, September is a great time for Orange County locals and a few lucky visitors to experience the magic of summertime in OC without the summertime crowds. The kids are back in school and the tourists have all packed it back into the minivan, leaving our beaches empty and inviting!

Here are some tips for getting the most out your late-summer beach days in OC:

1. Wear some layers. Although midday temps may be perfect for sunbathing, consider bringing along a sweatshirt as early mornings and evenings can get a bit nippy.

2. Bring a board! Another great plus for September in Orange County: the surf is great! With plenty of storms brewing in the Southern Pacific this time of year, along with the strong possibility of hurricane surf arriving from Mexico, September always seems to have some of the best waves of the summer!

3. Pack a wetsuit. While September water temps are usually still quite warm, the cool morning air can nonetheless send shivers down surfers’ spines. Wearing even a wetsuit top or a spring suit can greatly reduce the chill factor of those early morning sessions.

4. Lather up! Just because the weather’s a bit cooler doesn’t mean you should leave the sunscreen at home. Not only is a sunburn unattractive, repeated overexposure to the sun’s uv rays can lead to a potentially deadly case of melanoma. Cancer isn’t cool!

Anyways, I hope that you find these tips useful as you enjoy the remaining days of our extended summer in Orange County! Be sure to hit the beach a few more times while the weather’s still great!