Things To Do In Laguna Beach

At Starlight Cinemas, cinephiles can get up close and personal with their favorite celebrities without worrying about security guards or the electric force field that keeps Ralph Macchio from aging. Two movie tickets grant you and a companion access to any 2-D or 3-D movie (subject to availability), projected in pristine HD digital in every auditorium. A large tub of popcorn fuels buttery snacking during trailers, and a free refill ensures patrons have snacks to eat during the feature or to toss over their shoulder during startling horror scenes. Though not valid with this Groupon, each theater is equipped with full concessions should you feel the urge for sodas, candy, or other popular cine-fare. Check Starlight Cinemas’ individual websites for current listings and showtimes.

Atop Pirate Coast Paddle Co.’s fleet of standup paddleboards, guests glide over the placid inlets of Newport Beach Back Bay in scenic excursions. The paddleboards—which look like slightly larger, heavier surfboards—offer a sturdy enough base for guests to stand upright and propel themselves with a single oar, an action that exercises core muscles better than doing sit-ups with a porpoise on your chest.

Led by a staff of nautical guides, paddleboarding tours send clients into the orange horizon during sunset paddle outings and enjoy an ocean view of the stars during full-moon SUP parties. Pirate Coast also offers private, semi-private, and group lessons. During all excursions, Pirate Coast provides boards and necessary equipment rentals, letting clients worry about how to stave off scurvy while on the ocean.

The adage that "there are no small parts, just small actors" rings truest at The Center Stage Studio, where budding thespians of all ages get their share of the spotlight. Under the experienced wand of director Tracey DiMiceli, a seasoned performer and theater instructor who also helmed Malibu's prestigious "Fitness by the Sea" summer camp, young actors develop the skills to sing, dance, and deliver heartfelt Tony Award acceptance speeches in a wealth of classes and camps.

In the family-tailored musical theater camps, which feature themes reflecting popular musicals and children's shows, lil' thespians learn the fundamentals of theater technique—including blocking, projecting, and stage direction—and cultivate skills that boost self-esteem and critical thinking. Camps end with a public performance where every child gets a spot in a major musical number and receives a speaking role, curbing the theatrical tradition of jealous prepubescent understudies.

Kelly and John King's athletic history is extensive and diverse—they've climbed up rocky cliffs, paddleboarded oceans, and cartwheeled across balance beams. Out of all their fitness-related experiences, however, they praise CrossFit as being one of the most elite and effective they've encountered. The CrossFit-certified Level 1 trainers conduct classes within their 5,300-square-foot studio, leading students through high-intensity routines of functional exercises. The trainers design their workouts to foster the 10 skills of CrossFit, which include cardiovascular endurance, stamina, and strength. They scale movements to accommodate students of all experience levels, ages, and abilities, from former athletes recovering from injuries to elderly sailors who’ve forgotten where they stashed their spinach. The coaches encourage their students to follow the paleo diet, which favors grass-fed meats, seafood, and fresh produce in lieu of processed foods.

Dance Asylum’s name takes on a different meaning in each class—though the smooth, graceful movements of a foxtrot or a waltz can act as a sort of refuge from the outside world, the pulsating beats that fuel salsa and rumba classes can just as easily send dancers into fits of frenzy. With more than a dozen styles to choose from, students will have their hands full and their feet darting in all directions as they navigate a schedule that includes classes in the hustle, samba, two-step, and other dances gathered from ballrooms and nightclubs around the world.

Though classes may change according to contemporary trends—jazz, express pole dancing, and even aerial arts are some of the current offerings—the studio’s one constant is a staff comprised of professionally trained dancers with certifications and years of experience. These instructors rely on positive reinforcement during private and group lessons, boosting self-esteem by teaming up dancers of similar levels and forcing students to kiss their own reflections in the studio’s wall-length mirror. Once students' confidence reaches its peak, they can glide next door to the dancewear boutique and suit up in a brand-new tutu or feathery skirt.

The Festival of Arts has showcased the paintings, sculptures, and creations of local artists in an outdoor gallery alongside hands-on workshops and live music shows for 79 years. A carefully curated bumper crop of local artwork from 140 artists brightens gallery walls in a spectrum of styles, from romantic gemstone jewelry and modern abstract painting to neo-classical busts of Colonel Sanders. Mere blocks from the ocean, the exhibits ring a spacious lawn, which brims with spectators for the festival's many events, including celebrity meet and greets, live jazz concerts, and eco-friendly fashion shows. During daily workshops, spectators become participants, stretching fingers into paint, pressing prints, molding clay, and post-modernly trying to eat a bottle of glitter. Check the calendar for daily events.