Things To Do In Dana Point

Snorkeling provides land-lubbing humans with an easy, thrilling opportunity to meet their distant marine neighbors and escape the summer heat. In one two-hour joyride, the skilled seafarers at Riviera Yacht Charters will board passengers on a gorgeous Coast Guard-certified vessel for a breezy tour of the ocean surface, leaving dazzling figure eights and calligraphy spelling out the names of famous horses in its wake. They'll then outfit each explorer in snorkeling gear in preparation for an underwater tour of coastal kelp forests, reefs, and coral sandscrapers, where a certified PADI underwater naturalist will take the time to identify the marine creatures that cross your goggled pathway. Call ahead to schedule your trip.

Situated only two blocks from historic Dana Point Harbor, Reform Pilates Studio reverberates the port's peaceful vibe with its signature, stretch-centric coursework. Group equipment classes stem from basic Pilates methods, which coalesce controlled breathing and fluid movements to fortify the core and prepare for a basic synchronized-swimming routine. The built-in resistance of the studio's Stott Pilates reformers increases intensity as well as range of motion, putting emphasis on the outer limbs that mat-bound practice often fails to incorporate.

Spout jets shoot from beneath your feet, launching you from the water's surface, over boats and wildlife. But the experience doesn't hinge on magic or a bribe slipped to Aquaman. Instead, Fly Jet Sports' licensed instructors teach guests how to control their own FlyBoards—water-powered jetpacks strapped to boots and fueled by a current shot through a long, flexible hose. Instructors send FlyBoard users out off the coast of Dana Point, Newport Beach, and Long Beach with the skills to travel nearly 30 feet high or down to 8 feet below the surface. The boards also let their operators reach speeds up to 18.5 miles per hour when towed by a jet ski or chased by an amorous whale.

Fashion Destination Group strives to bring local designers, brands, and businesses into the fashion spotlight through various events throughout the year. On Saturday, June 9, their Summer Fete showcases myriad designs, exhibitors, and stylish ensembles to be explored by fashion-forward audience members. During the afternoon, participants can stop by seminars helmed by industry insiders to learn about new trends, and attend the afternoon fashion show on the grand lawn, where models donning the creations of renowned designers strut their wearable pieces of art.

Cherylin Von Aldenbruck has no treadmills or weights at her outdoor "gym." The equipment is leather instead of lead, and your workout partner isn't a beefy personal trainer—it's a horse. After realizing that sitting atop a horse requires muscles to continually stabilize and balance the body, Cherylin founded Equestricise as an alternative fitness venue for anyone who's curious about horseback-riding. Each of her lessons now serve as a strengthening workout for the core and limbs.

Cherylin and her team of certified instructors aren't only concerned with toning physiques, though. They also teach groups how to care for the horses, tack, and stables. Classes cover disciplines from basic equitation to hunt seat skills, and accommodate riders of all experience levels, from beginners to those who can steer a horse blindfolded, even when the horse is also blindfolded.