Bridgehampton Beach

Bi-Coastal Beaches!

Growing up in Southern California I have been going to the beach since I was an infant. My grandfather has a beautiful beach house I would go to with all of my family. It is located in Capistrano Beach, CA right on the Pacific Ocean. It is in Orange County and its north border is California State Beach Doheny. Capistrano Beach is my first memories of a beach. When I first went to a beach on the east coast in the Hamptons I was aware of some differences that the west coast doesn’t have. I remember thinking that it was my first time in the Atlantic Ocean. Then it dawned on me that it snows on these beaches! Such a weird thought because it doesn’t snow on the beaches in California. The coldest it gets is in winter and surfers still go out in wetsuits. Today I went to the beach in Southampton, NY, this was not my first time here but I was really studying the beach and comparing it to the beaches I go to in California. I really enjoy the land that the houses have between them and around them. A lot of the development in southern California is very tight. In Newport Beach, CA the houses are so close to each other they are practically touching (some do). In the Hamptons there is distance and privacy between the houses. The scenic landscape that surrounds these beach houses is beautiful. The beaches on the east coast are beautiful.

Above is a picture of a house in Southampton Beach. As you can see the house has plenty of space and their neighbors are far away. 

 

Above is a picture of Newport beach from an arial view. As you can see the houses are very close together.

Overall I love both the east and west coasts. The beaches are beautiful at both and I am thankful to have been able to visit both and share my experiences. If anyone ever has a question about beaches to go to in either coast I would love to help!

Xo,

Melody

The Strands: An Update!

Living a bi-coastal life you sometimes don't realize that a lot of changes happen back in California when you are spending all your time in the Hamptons in New York. One of the big changes I've noticed is the development of prime beach front property in Dana Point. The development is called the Strands.

Dana Point is south of Laguna Beach and is in between Los Angeles and San Diego. I grew up there and my family currently lives there. It is a great surfer spot, and people who live there seem like they are on vacation 24/7/365. And that makes sense, it is a little beach spot. When I went back last time I was so surprised how many lots are filled now and how many houses are popping up. The place is so different.

Part of writing a blog is sharing my thoughts on living in New York and California and keeping people updated on the changes in and happenings in each place. I went to Wikipedia to see if it was up to date on Dana Point but there wasn't even any mention of The Strands! So I decided to add one. I've pasted what I added below, you should go check it out!

Dana Point Wikipedia

Strands[edit]

The Strands is a new luxury housing development built on an old public beach and surfer hot spot next to the Salt Creek and the Ritz Carlton. Lots are rectangular with modern houses. It is a very upscale development with house sales commonly above $3,000,000. Sales have been rapid according to the development website. ^[7] The development has made it slightly more difficult for surfers to access the water, but there has been no noticeable decrease in the surfing population.

If you are ever in Dana Point you should really take a walk around the area. It's got beautiful houses, a great clubhouse, and a pool overlooking the ocean. If you are a surfer you can still go there and access the beach so everyone is happy!

Flashback Friday: Laguna Beach Father’s Day 2014

I grew up and went to high school in Orange County, CA. This county is just south of Los Angeles County. Laguna Beach is in Orange County and it is where I currently live when I am not living in NYC. For Father’s Day this year I was with my family and grandfather, not my father for reasons I won’t go into. My grandfather is a father to me so it is only appropriate that I spent Father’s Day with him.

So let me tell you a little bit about Laguna Beach. When I was younger they made a reality TV show called Laguna Beach based off some teenagers who went to Laguna Beach High School. It was on MTV and had a few seasons before the kids graduated.  Some of you know of this show or even watched it. It basically got Laguna Beach famous, or identifiable to those who have never heard of this small beach town. Whenever I say I am from Laguna Beach people usually ask me about the TV show, and if I know or like anyone who was in it.  I don’t, they are older than me. Laguna Beach is a really beautiful beach town that never seems to change. It’s the home of many art galleries, the Sawdust Festival, and the Pageants of the Masters (live art), which I performed as cast member one summer. It’s a town that mixes the old with the new on a rocky, picturesque coastline, with a lot of surfers and sun.

This is main beach. 

It is located in downtown Laguna. Downtown Laguna has a lot of surf shops, bikini and souvenir shops along with some unique dining venues.  If you ever visit, I would recommend dinning at 230 Forest Café, Nicks Laguna or Carmelita’s. Downtown is the only place to go out at night in Laguna Beach because there are a few bars, everywhere else in Laguna is quiet at night. In the summer it is always packed, a lot of tourists come here for some beach time. Pacific Coast Highway runs right along all of Laguna and is a beautiful scenic drive.

I live in south Laguna Beach, which is closer to surrounding cities in Orange County such as San Clemente (another beach town), Laguna Niguel (inland more) and Dana Point (also on the beach). South Orange County is a beautiful place and if any of you reading this ever get the opportunity to visit, you will not regret it. Laguna is where I spent my Father’s day and it was lovely.