About Moving to Laguna Beach
How a Sunday Afternoon Changed Everything
How a Sunday Afternoon Changed Everything
I never planned to live in Laguna Beach. I didn’t even know it existed.
Back in the late ’90s, I left my hometown of Clinton, New Jersey, and headed to Portland, Oregon, to visit a friend for a few months. Those few months turned into almost four years. When I finally decided to head home, I figured I’d take the southern route back — drive down the California coast, see parts of Mexico, and eventually make my way back east.
Around December of 1999, after two weeks on the Pacific Coast Highway, I pulled into Huntington Beach. It was about 80 degrees. I told myself I’d stay for a week. That week turned into a lease in Newport Beach.
For the next year I explored as much of Orange County as I could, but I kept missing Laguna Beach. I’d hop on the 405 or the 5 before ever reaching it. I didn’t even know it was there.
Then one Sunday afternoon, I decided to stay on PCH instead of cutting inland. I kept driving south — and I ran into this cute little seaside town that reminded me of Clinton, except on the beach. I spent the day wandering around, soaking it in. Around one or two in the afternoon I ducked into a bar called the Marine Room in downtown Laguna.
The place was nearly empty. An older woman sitting at the bar stopped me as I was about to leave. “Where are you going?” she asked. I told her I was heading back to Newport. She said, “No, no, no — you can’t leave yet. You know who’s playing here today?” I didn’t. She told me a band called Missiles of October would be on soon, the place would be packed, and the music would be incredible. She bought me a beer. I stayed.
Within an hour, the Marine Room was wall-to-wall. Harleys lined the street. The music was everything she promised. That woman introduced me to more people in one afternoon than I’d met in a year in Newport. I had such an amazing time that I got a room instead of driving home.
The next morning, I walked into a local realtor’s office and asked about apartments.
My plan to drive back to New Jersey turned into “I’ll stay a year in Southern California,” which turned into “I’m moving to Laguna Beach,” which turned into — I never left.
Laguna Beach Is Home
I’ve been a Laguna Beach resident for over 25 years now. I met my wife at the dog park in the canyon. We’re raising our son here. I’ve volunteered at the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter for over 19 years and serve on the board of PUP, the nonprofit that supports the shelter. On weekends you’ll probably find me at a Little League game, on a football sideline, or at the soccer fields — I’m deep in the local youth sports scene.
Most of the people I’ve met here aren’t originally from Laguna Beach or even Southern California. They came from somewhere else, fell in love with this town, and made it home — just like I did. That’s a big part of why I built this site.
Why Moving To Laguna Beach Exists
Moving here was one of the best decisions I ever made, but it wasn’t exactly a smooth process. I had questions nobody could answer in one place — what the neighborhoods actually feel like, what it really costs, where to start, who to trust. I figured that out over the years by living it.
Moving To Laguna Beach is the resource I wish I’d had back then. It’s a relocation guide built from the ground up by people who actually live here. I started it, but I’m far from the only voice. A group of contributors — some born and raised in Laguna, others who are newer locals like me — help with neighborhood guides, beach info, and posts on everything from schools to parking to the art scene.