Considered one of the most romantic spots on the California coast, Dana Point is located halfway between Sand Diego and Los Angeles in the southern corner of Orange County. After about an hour driving from Chula Vista, we arrived at Dana Point Harbour. It was a typically gorgeous Saturday afternoon, the sky a flawless azure shade. There is a lot to see at this beautiful harbour but the purpose of our trip was to check out the tide pools. Low tide allows you to come face to face to some interesting aquatic creatures to the far west side of Dana Point Harbor. To have a close look at the marine life, park by the Ocean Institute Building and follow the path to the shore. We planned our trip to the shore when the tide was the lowest which allowed us to take some great shots of the oceanic life. At some spots, you might have to stand still for a little while to notice some of the small animals, for example hermit crabs, moving around. It was fascinating to observe how well they blend with their environment, but only until you notice one of them (then, suddenly you see them all!). On the other hand, it was not too hard to spot a beautiful colourful starfish or a large sea anemone. (First time I ever saw one) Please respect this important marine habitat by observing only — don’t touch or remove anything from a tide pool. Janka’s tips: - If you are planning to get close to the tide pools, bring practical footwear. Golden flip flops look great as you are strolling at the marina but are not the best type of shoes to wear when hopping from one large stone to another. When we left the marina and came to the shore, I had to (but didn’t mind) continue barefoot. I love the feeling of warm beach sand under my feet and I enjoyed stepping from one warm rock to another as we were making our way along the shore. One just needs to be extremely careful – walking on the stones and rocks could be considered a great foot massage, and at the same time risking a broken ankle. Just remain cautious, that is my advice. - Even if you are a Sex and the City fan, you do not have to bring a fashionable purse. While I usually appreciate having the extensive content of my purse with me (just in case), I think I would have been better off without it swinging around my shoulder as I was carefully climbing around and on top of rocks of different shapes and sizes. - Protect yourself from the sun (as much as I love it). This goes to EVERYONE, but especially to those who might get sunburn easily, like me. Time passes quickly when you are having fun and before you know it; you have spent three hours under the intense sun light. Back at the harbour, you can watch the yachts slip in and out of the port, stroll the marina or check out the seasonal whale-watching tours. May through October is Blue Whale season. While visiting the Whale Watching Capital of the West you can see the largest animal on Earth! Whale watching and fishing trips run daily and Dana Wharf caters to both the novice and the expert. You might want to visit the Ocean Institute, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to ocean preservation through education. After all that walking, you’ll probably feel like enjoying a lovely meal at one of the many restaurants that are located within Mariner’s Village and Dana Wharf. My husband and I had such a wonderful time!