A beautiful community of just over 35,000 residents is the southern Orange county city of Dana Point in California. This great beach community is well known for its surfing, fishing and especially whale-watching. Garnering the title, Whale Capitol of the West, It was the site of the 1990 capturings of the rare ‘megamouth’ shark. The Dana Point real estate area is also designated as a California Historical Landmark.

While visiting nearby San Juan Capistrano, Renowned author Richard Dana (of whom the community was named for) commented on the Dana Point real estate being the only romantic spot in California. Dana Point real estate began as a planned community by a developer. However, the economic depression of the early 1930s stopped the construction and by 1939, all the investors had backed out or sold their investments. That tragedy did not stop the future development, which was revived in the 1950s, as today there are more than 14,000 homes, and Dana Point real estate continues to be desirable to people seeking a beach front retreat.

Aside from the city, Dana Point also hosts over 2500 boats in its harbor. Every major amenity is offered at the Harbor including guest slips, fuel dock, shipyard, and a myriad of recreational activities. The harbor is also home to more than 17 dining establishments and over 30 specialty shops to appeal to the diversity of residents, tourists and visitors.

Purchasing a piece of Dana Point real estate also offers the chance for one to ‘get their sea-legs’, as many water related instructional classes are held at the community center. Of course, if you prefer to remain a ‘landlubber’ you can still buy your piece of Dana Point real estate and enjoy the harbor from a distance, with the magnificent views of Tall Ships and the whales at the Salt Creek Beach. Here you can sit on benches that overlook the gray whale migration routes.

Another fantastic opportunity once you purchase Dana Point real estate is the Tall Ships Festival held every September. The festival is considered the largest annual gathering of Tall Ships on the West Coast of the United States, and features an amazing array of tall ships converging in and around Dana Point.

Owning Dana Point real estate also will give you an opportunity to take a short day vacation to nearby Doheny State Beach, a public park and beach operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The park encompasses more than 62 acres and features over a mile of sandy beaches with opportunities for swimming or surfing one of the best areas in coastal California. Bring the family along for a picnic as the park also provides one hundred picnic tables and BBQ grills as well as over 120 fully developed camp sites.