Dana Point, Coastal city in Orange County, US
Dana Point is a coastal city in Orange County, California, that stretches along a rugged shoreline. The harbor sits in a protected cove below steep rock walls that separate the ocean from the urban area.
In the 1830s, ships used the natural cove to collect animal hides from nearby Mission San Juan Capistrano. The city was officially incorporated in 1989 after separating from the surrounding area.
The name honors Richard Henry Dana Jr., who described the town in his 1840 book "Two Years Before the Mast." The coastal landscape with its high bluffs and deep blue ocean remains much as he portrayed it.
The harbor area offers boat rentals, restaurants, and a public beach accessible on foot. Parking along the coast fills quickly on weekends, so visiting in the morning hours works better.
Each March, gray whales pass along the coast on their way to northern feeding grounds, and watchers can spot them from the high bluffs. A historic replica ship sits permanently in the harbor and serves as a floating museum for visitors.
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