Things to Do in San Juan Capistrano

Updated merchant profile to read: From its beach-adjacent headquarters at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, OC Helicopters whisks clients away on aerial tours that deliver a rare vantage point for familiar southern California places and Los Angeles and Orange County beaches. Owner and head pilot Ric Webb mans air-conditioned and reliable Robinson R44 helicopters and other aircraft that can comfortably seat three to six passengers in chairs that provide a 180-degree view. Customers choose from a number of aerial tour routes, sending Ric veering south over Laguna Beach's luxury golf courses and sprawling houses or hovering near Crystal Cove and Huntington Beach. Helicopters can also head northwest and take the Surf City Tour, which traces the shoreline while supplying an aviator's eyeful of Huntington Beach's population of surfers as they come ashore to lay their bronze eggs.

A shiny fleet of fuel-efficient Sea-Doo GTI watercraft lines the dock of Balboa Water Sports, ready to conquer the California coastline anytime of the year. Savvy staffers help customers become aqueous explorers, renting out gleaming white jet skis, stand-up paddleboards, and other modes of transport. On popular guided rides, sea lions romp on the shore as watercraft skim along past Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove, and Emerald Bay. Tours also stretch as far south as Laguna Beach, where sea riders often spot adolescent dolphins playing mischievous games such as Marco Polo and spin the bottlenose.

A summer staple of Laguna Beach since 1966, Art-A-Fair corrals creative works from around the world, unfurling them across the apropos, color-splashed gardens of Laguna Canyon. Festival visitors meander leisurely through the web of imagination, stopping to soak up content that is as rich in quality as it is in diversity. Between brush strokes and spontaneous games of frisbee with their palette, working artists take a breather to chat about their pieces and the inspirations that drive their craft. From year to year, the festival features a wide spectrum of 2- and 3-D art, and, should one of those gems seduce the heart of a passerby, everything at the festival is available for purchase.

Designed and built exclusively for Dana Wharf Sportfishing, OCean Adventures' 63-foot catamaran cruises through the habitats of whales, dolphins, and ocean birds found throughout the waters surrounding Dana Point Harbor. During private charters and public tours, up to 49 people can see the sights from the enclosed cabin or take photos with famous pelicans in open viewing areas. The catamaran is also outfitted with many onboard creature comfort, welcoming guests to peruse a deli-style galley stocked with purchasable snacks and cocktails mixed from a full bar. No matter the occasion for the trip, the vessel leaves waters as clear as it found them; designed for a low impact on the environment, its engine produces less sound and 75% fewer emissions than conventional engines.

Eaglerider's fleet of motorcycles includes top-notch bikes from Harley Davidson, BMW, and Honda for one simple reason: the owners insist on carrying bikes that they would personally want to ride. They offer bikes for beginners, such as the 2008 Honda Rebel, a light-weight bike with a tight turning radius, as well as the 2011 BMW RT1200, a high-performance street bike ideal for eating up the twisting roads along the Pacific Coast Highway. For trip ideas, renters can check out some of their Great Rides itineraries, which include popular motorcycle locations such as Cook's Corner, where riders gather on weekends to admire bikes, exchange stories, and play "Guess That Engine".

Customers can also earn their motorcycle license using Eaglerider's beginner bikes. They offer a place to practice in their parking lot and offer tricks and tips onsite before delivering the bike to the Costa Mesa DMV for test takers.