Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Dana Point IlluminOcean

    4.0 (5 reviews)

    Dana Point IlluminOcean Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Dana Point IlluminOcean

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cloris C.
    168
    39
    57

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gabe P.
    461
    1305
    2070

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T R.
    4
    22
    24

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Local Flavor 529 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Thousand Steps Beach - 8/13/22 - Can you spot baby fishies? There were some in here.

    Thousand Steps Beach

    4.5(810 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    If you're looking for a great outdoor workout with an amazing reward at the end, Thousand Steps…read moreBeach is one of my favorite spots in Laguna Beach! Despite the name, there definitely aren't 1,000 steps it's closer to about 250 but don't let that fool you. You'll still feel the burn on the way back up! I love bringing my kids here because they're soccer players, and running up and down the stairs is an excellent workout for building endurance and strength. I usually only make it up once because it's no joke! If you're looking for a free cardio workout with a beautiful ocean view, this is the place. The beach itself is gorgeous, with clear water, soft sand, and stunning cliffs surrounding it. It feels a little more secluded than some of the other Laguna beaches because you have to make the trek down the stairs. That's part of what makes it so special. I've visited several times around 6:00 AM, and it's always been peaceful. It's never felt crowded, although you'll definitely see other people getting their morning exercise on the stairs. I've also gone during summer evenings around 7:00 PM, and it's still a beautiful time to visit with cooler temperatures and incredible views. I still need to check it out around midday to see how busy it gets. A couple of things to keep in mind: there are no lifeguards on duty at all times, so be cautious if you're swimming, and the climb back up can be challenging, especially if you're carrying coolers or beach gear. Wear comfortable shoes for the stairs and bring plenty of water. Overall, this is one of my favorite beaches in Laguna Beach. Whether you're going for a workout, relaxing by the ocean, or enjoying the incredible scenery, Thousand Steps Beach is absolutely worth the climb.

    I love here! Is amazing! But let me know if you did the thousands stairs going back to your car ‍‍…read more https://maps.apple/p/CBNPZj5qqIP6zz

    Photos
    Thousand Steps Beach - Steps Down

    Steps Down

    Thousand Steps Beach - 1000 steps lifeguard at top of the steps on PCH

    1000 steps lifeguard at top of the steps on PCH

    Thousand Steps Beach - 8/13/22 - low tide pools

    See all

    8/13/22 - low tide pools

    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Sacred Garden

    Mission San Juan Capistrano

    4.6(792 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    Not-for-profit
    Free WiFi

    What a great, historic site. Mission San Juan Capistrano was built in 1776 and is the seventh…read moreoldest Mission in California. View is truly grand and majestic. As soon as you enter you will see a gorgeous garden and remnants of The Great Stone Church, which was destroyed by earthquake in 1812. I also liked Serra Chapel, which is the oldest building in California that's still in use, based on online search. I felt at peace just sitting inside the chapel for few minutes. Current admission fee is $19 for adults and $11 for youth (5-17) years of age). Admission fee includes a self-guided audio tour but the device was kind of difficult to hear. There isn't a designated parking lot for the Mission but there are few public parking lots near the area. I was here on a weekday so was able to find street parking along Camino Capistrano. Most of the street parking is limited to 5 hours. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance so it's a great location. You will definitely smell BBQ smoke coming from Heritage BBQ restaurant across the street.

    We drove up the coast, on this FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF SUMMER. We drove up the I-5 to the PCH…read more We drove through Dana Point and into Laguna Beach. FROM THERE, we had to drive to a place for a PICNIC. We hoped on the I-5, and we drove back down the I-5 to the San Juan CAPISTRANO Mission. After driving back and forth, and around the MISSION 2 Times, we found PARKING ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT. We found it in the Church Parking Lot. WE RECOMMEND MORE DISABLED PARKING!!! We walked right in, NO WAIT AT ALL. We started by looking for the Picnic Spot, which is in the back left corner. It is a nice spot with lots of tables and trees. In addition, there are individual handwashing stations there. After lunch, which we picked up at a nearby SUBWAY, we spent about an hour touring the SJC MISSION!!! Its highlight was the display of US FLAGS, my guess would be over 100!!!

    Photos
    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Incredible.

    Incredible.

    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Our refuge from the sporadic 3 minute rain storms.

    Our refuge from the sporadic 3 minute rain storms.

    Mission San Juan Capistrano - Photos by Juan Ochoa

    See all

    Photos by Juan Ochoa

    OC Meets Napa and Baja - salmon w/ caviar

    OC Meets Napa and Baja

    4.8(9 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    "One's options in this world are as vast as the horizon, which is technically a circle and thus…read moreinfinitely broad. Yet we must choose each step we take with utmost caution, for the footprints we leave behind are as important as the path we will follow. They're part of the same journey -- our story." ― Lori R. Lopez, Dance Of The Chupacabras What an amazing event this was! OC Meets Napa and Baja, presented by Community Health Center AltaMed, brought primarily Latino-centric restaurants and chefs in Orange County and Latino-owned wineries in Napa and Baja together in a celebration of culture. Proceeds from all the ticket sales went toward supporting the Orange County health services and programs that AltaMed spearheads in underserved communities. When I was Housing Manager for the City of Huntington Beach, I funded Alta Med through the City's CDBG program and am very knowledgable about the great services they provide especially in a country that still has an imperfect and expensive healthcare system. What was cool about this event was actually seeing, meeting and talking to the chefs/winemakers. These are the people who chose their path, who chose their own story. The passion from chefs such as Beto Ygei from 930 Sushi (excellent spicy yellowtail), Carlos Selgado of Taco Maria (wonderful scallop here), Gabbi Patrick (I think they did a scallop dish too), Rogelio Martinez of Casa Oaxaca (so excited was he about his sorbets and ice cream), and winemakers such as Alex, Oscar and Lola Llamas (best wines at event and great people too who invited us to hang out afterwards). This is the type of event that I love to attend and is only second to the San Jose Jazz Festival as favorite yelp events of this kind that I was lucky enough to get tickets from Yelp. Was disappointed in the Baja wines as there was little balance or flavor with those wines, and a lot of rustic smells and astrigent finishes. However given that when traveling the local wines always taste better when you are visiting their area (Cinque Terre was an example of this where the wines are fabulous only when you are outdoors on a patio with a great view eating a sublime pesto dish in Italy), I will visit Baja soon and visit the better wineries on their home turf ;-) Thanks again Yelp for this event! Sidney

    I was a lucky winner of VIP tickets ($125 pp) to OC Meets Napa and Baja sponsored by AltaMed. I…read morewas worried about rain but it cleared up right before the event started which led to the vendors scrambling to set up their tents. It was warm and muggy but there was plenty of food and drink for all the guests to enjoy. There were plenty of Napa and Baja wine vendors pouring wine throughout the event along with restaurants from LA, OC, and Baja. Some of my favorite food vendors were Anepalco's Cafe, Taco Maria, Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen, and Deckman's en el Mogor. Wine was definitely plentiful as was the food. There was a wine wheel that you could spin for $20, which went to the Women in Action charity and in turn you won a wine bottle valued anywhere from $40 to $80. I won an $80 bottle of wine. It was pretty awesome. There were tables for all the guests to lounge and mingle at. The event was held at Mission San Juan Capistrano which I had never visited before. We were allowed to walk around the exhibits while the Mission was closed to the public. Pretty cool. Thanks to Yelp OC for the tickets. My +1 and I had a great time.

    Photos
    OC Meets Napa and Baja
    OC Meets Napa and Baja
    OC Meets Napa and Baja

    See all

    Baby Beach

    Baby Beach

    4.3(136 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    The name baby beach is not an understatement. That's exactly what it is, a baby beach. It's coved…read moreoff by the harbor making it a safe area for your littles to play and enjoy the water. After researching, you definitely want to check the water safety before coming, because it's coved it's prone to higher unsafe levels of bacteria. This week it was in the green and safe. My son has Autism and we decided to try this beach out because it was know for it's coved off location with no waves and it gets my stamp of approval for safety. The beach itself is also very small so if you have an eloper it gives a sense of relief as well. I did a 360 degree video to show you. I rated this beach 4 out of 5 because there's very limited parking and the beach is very small. During peak season or weekends it may be difficult to find parking and the beach area may fill up. Some positive things are, parking is FREE! The restroom and showers are located right at the entrance, and there's a life guard tower. If you're looking for a safe place to bring your kiddos for a day at the beach, check this place out. One other thing, make sure to pack plenty to drink and eat. There is nothing near by without driving.

    Great for families with little ones. Very calm water designated for small children. Parents don't…read moreneed to worry about their kids being swept away by waves. It was a sunny breezy day as my daughter and I visited this beach. Super busy for a Saturday afternoon. Parking is free, but can get filled up quickly. Plenty of grass and beach area to enjoy a picnic with your family. Then take a dip into the ocean. Perfect day to be spent relaxing on the sand. Water was a bit chilly, but nice clear water. Will definitely come back during the summer!

    Photos
    Baby Beach
    Baby Beach
    Baby Beach

    See all

    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Tiramisu Dessert is yum

    Jack's Restaurant & Bar

    4.4(506 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    My husband and I visit Jack's Restaurant often. The staff is friendly and the service is always…read moreprompt. So, we decided to cater food from Jacks for my daughters Baby Shower last weekend and it was fabulous. I'm always worried about the food being dry, over cooked or not seasoned well for large parties. Everything was perfect! We ordered Pollo Picatta, Penna with Voldka Sauce and Meatballs with Marinara. I would highly recommend for dinner or any of your catering needs.

    Was recommended to this place by friends who picked me up to take me here! We intended happy hour…read moreand glamour the minute you walk in! This place is amazing, white table cloths with black napkins, dogs on the patio, wonderful quiet postured and polite service. We ordered drinks and the the bruschetta, shrimp scampi and shrimp risotto. All of was delicately flavored with all the Italian flavors, olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, just exquisite! Then, had to try the desserts, we were set on spumoni, but the waiter recommended the chocolate cake. It was served with vanilla ice cream, yum. The chocolate was moist had walnuts and like a brownie and not too rich either. Perfect! Certainly will be going back here and bringing the pup with us. We loved the open air and breeze and the walls are high enough to block the sight of cars. Twinkle light up above add a nice touch. They also had a separate water boy, impeccably dressed and well mannered. So nice to see staff so attentive to really good service with kindness and caring tones. Can't wait for the next happy hour! If I could add on stars I would give this place 10!

    Photos
    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Stuffed pork chop mozzarella n arugula salad. With Frank Family's chard

    Stuffed pork chop mozzarella n arugula salad. With Frank Family's chard

    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Oso Bucco

    Oso Bucco

    Jack's Restaurant & Bar - Pina colada mule. Didn't take a picture of my Paloma.

    See all

    Pina colada mule. Didn't take a picture of my Paloma.

    Dana Point IlluminOcean - localflavor - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...