THE GET DOWN
Have you ever heard rumors that Spanish pirates built a watchtower on Laguna’s Victoria Beach and there could be a treasure buried nearby? Before you dust off your metal detector and head to the OC, let me clarify… because there is SOME truth to this.
The watchtower was built in the mid 1920’s and did actually serve as a watchtower… maybe not for pirates, but for a resident who owned the home above the cliff. Pirates may have been extinct by the 1920’s, but it is said that the naval officer who took over the space in the 1940’s hid coins in the tower for local kids to find.
Still, the mystique of this secluded and hard to find area of Victoria beach has people pulling out the treasure maps. It even has the locals shaking their heads in confusion… “Where is that spot again?”
The pirate’s tower at Victoria Beach is NOT an easy one to find. So if you’d like to bring out your inner pirate and thirst for exploration, jot down these notes and let your journey begin. (And yes, use a pen and paper because once you approach this area, phone reception can become extinct as well). And don’t forget your camera!
1. Once you get to this area, the parking meters along PCH are always an option. The closest cross streets on PCH are Nyes Place and Upland Road. However, with kids, I find this choice a little sketch. At least FIND the staircase leading down first and then decide. There are a couple 10 minute parking spots right by the stairway that you can use, if you’re only planning on a photo opp. But trust me, the OC parking enforcement is ON IT. So set your clock.
2. The ONLY entrance to the beach is a stairway at Sunset Terrace and Victoria Drive. But, McAulay Place and Nyes Place intersect Victoria Drive and will also get you to this stairway. Keep a super close eye out, because this stairway starts at sidewalk level and goes down, making it very difficult to spy. LEAVE THE STROLLER IN THE CAR or you will never be able to make it down this super narrow stairway.
3. Once you get to the bottom, make a right and keep walking along the cliff for a couple minutes. You WILL eventually see the Pirates Watchtower. You can walk right up to it and snap a bunch of photos.
4. WARNING: You must be done with this adventure and off this particular area of the beach before high tide around 5pm, when walking is no longer an option.
DETAILS
(First timer? Scroll down to check out the rating system below.)
WHERE
Laguna Beach
GO FOR
A photo opp
SOCIAL SCENE
Domestic Imports, Homies, Multicultural
TODDLER RATING
Easily Forgiven
NEARBY
Nick’s
CONTACT INFO
The Spotted Cloth
Rating System:
It’s our goal to make exploring LA either with the kids or with grown ups as easy as possible. Click through the tabs above to check out our rating system.
For those with little
runners & screamers:
Easily forgiven:
Here, you can forget the fact that it’s your rambunctious child that’s screaming and STILL enjoy most of your meal.
Not promoted, but you should take the chance:
If your toddler is at the stage when an iPad or some other colorful distraction can be used for an un-interrupted 20 minutes, then go for it.
Uh-uh, NO WAY, don’t even think about it!:
I don’t care how cute your toddler is. Pop your head in… turn around… walk away. PERIOD.
No contained area:
A place you cannot leave your toddler alone, not even for a second.
Enclosed, but space is tight:
If YOU can’t fit between the tables then you know you couldn’t catch your toddler if they tried – this isn’t Norm’s.
WHAT’S CLOSE
Click through the map below to find delicious places to eat and fun places to play nearby. (It’s completely clickable – go nuts!)
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