Ranch & Coast Magazine

e Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is a luxe basecamp for land, sea, and culinary explorations W E'RE CRUISING THE Pacific Ocean off Dana Point aboard a chartered whale- watching boat. Heading south, about a mile offshore, some of us are scouring each and every wave for signs of marine life. Off the port bow, I glance up, catching sight of a magnificent creature. Not a whale. ere, on shore, is the regal Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. e four-story, 396-room property overlooks the ocean from atop a fairytale-like seaside bluff. I'm booked in a sea-facing, club-level guestroom at this internationally lauded and recently renovated property. Flashback to last night: Feet up on the patio railing. Snug in a chair. Sipping Grand Marnier as the setting sun grows into a yellow fireball that slowly sinks into the watery blue horizon. e Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel exudes iconic luxury. e spa is scented like jasmine and apple. Airy guestrooms are paired with marble bathrooms swathed with grey veining and hints of gold. Best of all, Ritz staff treat us like visiting members of a royal family. e resort has an onsite Eco-Adventure Center, manned by expert naturalists. ey can set up guests with garden tours, tide pool exploration, and whale-watching tours. Ahoy! Back to my two-hour cruise. is coastal region is one of four spots on the globe recently recognized as a Whale Heritage Site for having cultural ties and respectful interactions with the marine mammals. A successful 2019 trademark campaign also won Dana Point the right to be called "e Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World." But Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, which is operating my excursion, has been in business for much longer — 50 years, to be exact. Laura Lopez knows whales. She's been an onboard guide with the outfit for four years. Last year, she says she went out on more than 500 trips. Lopez is a font of information. We chat about how whale watching is a year-round activity in Dana Point. During the summer season (May to September) you might catch sight of larger whales — like blues, fins, and humpbacks — heading south. During the winter season BY RON DONOHO Detour destinations Dana Point: Whale-Watching Capital of the World @ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com 74 MARCH 2022 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE WHALE: PHOTO BY CRAIG DEWITT FOR CAPTAIN DAVE'S WHALE WATCHING ELEPHANT: PHOTO BY RON DONOHO A humpback whale breaches in sight of The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

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