<p>By early March, I have HAD IT with winter! Go then!!</p>
<p>This thread has me thinking…I should book my annual Phoenix trip!</p>
<p>Just heard back from the rental agent. We will be booking Feb. 28-March 7! </p>
<p>I feel like with this done, I can tackle winter now!</p>
<p>Yay!!</p>
<p>Good for you. </p>
<p>Sounds lovely. Is this the one in Laguna Beach? Which end?</p>
<p>Awww… geez - there’s an end? How would I know which end? I don’t think it says.</p>
<p>It’s the one nottelling mentioned in post #60.<br>
<a href=“Laguna Beach, CA Vacation Rentals: house rentals & more | Vrbo”>http://www.vrbo.com/398643</a></p>
<p>The VRBO website says in the heart of Laguna Beach - which end does that make it?
And she’s giving me a discount on the pet deposit since there are three!</p>
<p>I know where the house is. It’s about 5 blocks from “downtown” Laguna (walking distance) going south. You won’t be disappointed! </p>
<p>Ooh, ooh, ooh… that’s what I was hoping for, looking at the pictures! Thanks for sharing!</p>
<p>We’ll likely have two cars there, as we will rent one from the airport when we arrive, and D2 and her SO will drive down in theirs. D2’s car is not big enough to transport all of us with our luggage, and three dogs from the airport. Usually I get an SUV when we rent a car because I’m used to sitting up high, but since we will be able to walk to most places, I’ll get something small. Walking distance is nice, too. </p>
<p>Looks beautiful, don’t forget to give us a report when you return from your trip. It’s always nice to look forward to something special to help pass the winter!</p>
<p>True story… one of my favorite casual wear stores is called Fresh Produce. We don’t have one in the Chicago area, so I can only buy the stuff if I visit an area where they have stores. My Ds have ::ahem:: wrongly accused me of picking vacation destinations on whether there is a Fresh Produce store there or not. And as I was just surfing through one of the Laguna Beach websites that tells you more about the community, I liked the ‘shopping’ section, and sure enough, there’s a Fresh Produce store there.</p>
<p>The website I found is very helpful in seeing what kinds of activities are available in the area. It talks about diving, but does anyone here know if snorkeling is a possibility? Of course, I assumed we’d need to rent wet suits for March if we snorkeled.</p>
<p>No personal experience with that, but here’s a link for you, Teri. 
<a href=“http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Snorkeling&find_loc=Laguna+Beach%2C+CA”>http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Snorkeling&find_loc=Laguna+Beach%2C+CA</a></p>
<p>^^^ That would be a yes!</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>… </p>
<p>There’s snorkeling in Laguna but it will be COLD even with a wetsuit. Water is clear enough but not super clear like in Hawaii or the Carribean. And of course if it is choppy/ stormy it won’t be clear at all. </p>
<p>I’m so excited about your trip! I hope our late Winter weather does not disappoint. If you bring the rain with you, well, the entire state will thank you.</p>
<p>I know I mentioned it several times but I would definitely look into a whale watching trip. You can get one out of Dana Point harbor, about 15 mins away.</p>
<p>What you really will enjoy are the tidepools. Lots of lovely tidepools in beautiful coves that are fun and interesting no matter what the weather is like.</p>
<p>I just read about the tide pools on the website I was looking at. H and I saw some really cool ones along the Oregon coast in August. That’s actually where I learned that starfish all along the coast from the Baja Peninsula up to Alaska are struggling with some sort of illness that produces lesions on their skin; it’s been killing off tens of thousands of them. </p>
<p>Hmmm, teriwtt…not warm, but you could always have a good time visiting the factory sale for Fresh Produce. We do!
(The mom who started it was from our neighborhood.)</p>
<p>I’d really encourage you to visit Crystal Cove while you’re in Laguna Beach – the little restaurant there sitting on the beach looking out at the ocean give you the feeling that Gidget is going to show up any minute with Moondoggie in tow, and even looking at the rehabbed tiny beach cottages is a treat. Just like taking a trip in the time machine.</p>
<p>The Sherman Library and Garden is a little jewel in Corona Del Mar (between Laguna and Newport Beach) – we visit every time: <a href=“http://www.slgardens.org/discover”>http://www.slgardens.org/discover</a> The library has some lovely plein air paintings from the OC way back when, and the gardens are a pleasure at any time of year. </p>
<p>(And the pic that is my avatar? Taken from Laguna Beach on our last trip, though I’m a crummy photographer.)</p>
<p>The last couple of times I’ve been near a Fresh Produce store with D1, I told her, “Really, I have enough. I don’t need anymore.” And she says, “Mom, I know you don’t need it; but you know you’ll want some if you go in.” Last damage was done a week and a half ago when she and I did a long weekend in Charleston, SC. I ended up having to check my bag when I returned home so I could carry two shopping bags on board with me. I really do have too much of it. But I like that they’ve expanded their line beyond what was once their basics; I bought my first piece with them back around 1993 when we were in Montana of all places. Am actually wearing two of their pieces right now!</p>
<p><a href=“The%20mom%20who%20started%20it%20was%20from%20our%20neighborhood.”>quote</a>
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Would that be Mary Ellen? Yes, I know my FP history!</p>
<p>I also read about Crystal Cove on the website that I was looking at earlier - looks like the place where we’ll get some of our hiking in. Also found a link to the dog park. There was also a link of 100 things to do when in Laguna Beach. Will be sending the link to Ds so they can get an idea ahead of time what’s available. </p>
<p>I recommend Las Brisas restaurant in Laguna Beach.</p>