Laguna Heights - Laguna Niguel, CA

Established in 1959, Laguna Niguel was one of the initial master planned communities located in California. It wasn’t until 1989 that the city became incorporated, taking its place as the 29th city in Orange County. The Laguna Heights neighborhood sits on the eastern side of town and grew as an affluent area dominated by the single-family homes that occupy the area today.

The nearby Fine Art Museum has a wide variety of exhibits, including paintings, performance and modern art displays. You can also attend author book signings, musical concerts and a variety of other special events all year. The museum also supports many local artists and artistic endeavors.

Many annual events take place in the city of Laguna Niguel, several of which feature national holiday celebrations. Some of these include the annual Holiday Parade held every year during the holiday season and the Bunny Blast for the kids.

Some local favorites include Good Choice Sushi, located next to the Albertsons shopping center at the junction of Marina Hills Drive and Golden Lantern Street. You can also travel to downtown Laguna Niguel to take in some Greek food at Tastes of Greece.

For Japanese dining with a Hawaiian flare, take in the food at Good Choice Sushi. The restaurant serves a variety of Asian dishes, including specialty sushi rolls. Patrons can try such offerings as poke, a Hawaiian-style sashimi with ahi, seaweed and Hawaiian chili pepper mixed in.

Serving authentic Greek food, Tastes of Greece brings a large menu of Greek food to the Laguna Niguel area. Try one of its authentic Mediterranean plates, such as beef shish kabob, which features skewered filet mignon. Or, order the roasted lamb wrap, which comes with tender chunks of roasted lamb stuffed into a pita flatbread.

When taking a break from the fun and exciting nightlife in the area, settle down with your favorite brew at Patsy’s Irish Pub. You can easily find the libation you want, thanks to a variety of import and domestic beers, Irish ciders and a selection of hard liquor choices.

If you prefer the atmosphere of a dive bar, look no further than Shooters Cocktails & Billiards. Have a few of your favorite drinks, including cocktails, beer and more. Or, play a few games of pool. For musical entertainment, visit the Rock-It Bar to the north of the Laguna Heights area. The location features food and drinks as well as live music on Friday nights.

The most common modes of transportation in the Laguna Heights area include cars, buses and taxis. The Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) provides a fixed route bus service that gives residents many options when traveling in the area. Finding a taxi requires you to call a local taxi service or to use your mobile device to order a taxi from Uber.

The streets in the Laguna Heights neighborhood allow for the parking of personal motor vehicles for a period of 72 hours before you must move them at least 100 feet. There are no public parking facilities, such as a lot or parking garage in the immediate area.

The 5 Freeway runs perpendicular to the Laguna Niguel area to the east, and you can gain access by traveling to the north or south of the area along local roadways. Additionally, Highway 73 is also accessible through roads to the north of the city. The neighborhood does not boast dedicated bike lanes and is not easily walkable outside of the park and museum areas. Bike riders must share the road with motorists and obey all traffic laws.

You can find many parks near the Laguna Heights neighborhood, including Redondo View Node Park, which has picnic tables, a barbecue and a large area for outdoor activities. Chapparosa Park has over 16-acres of amenities, including lighted baseball fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and various play areas for children without additional fees.

While both of the above parks do allow pets, the Laguna Niguel Dog Park was especially made for your canine friends. In addition to a chain link fence around the park, the area delivers plenty of open space for pets to romp and have fun as well as a nonfunctioning fire hydrant.

For a popular local event held at Crown Valley Community Park, take in the Annual 4th of July Celebration, which features a pancake breakfast, 10K run/walk and a fireworks display at night. Or attend Concerts in the Park, held every other Friday at the Crown Valley Community Park Amphitheatre, from the end of June through August. The concerts include such musical genres as classic rock, reggae and music from the ’50s and '60s.

The low crime rates, stable housing market and access to local amenities make the Laguna Niguel area a desirable location. The cost of living is higher than the average in California by 29 percent, making this neighborhood a more expensive location in which to live. The cost of a one-bedroom sits at about $1,776. A beer at a local bar can run you anywhere from $4 to $5, and the price of a gallon of gas in the Laguna Heights neighborhood comes in at 12 percent above the national average.

Some of the major shopping centers in the Laguna Heights area include the Albertsons shopping center at the junction of Golden Lantern Street and Marina Hills Drive and the Town Center South Shopping Center in downtown Laguna Niguel. Some of the more prominent stores in the downtown area include the Salt Creek Wine Co., Unique Accents furniture store and KC Boutique & Jewelry.

Other area boutiques include Luna Boutique, which sells casual clothing, jewelry and accessories, and True Desire, which has a wide selection of fashionable clothing featuring the latest trends in dresses and outerwear.

The Albertsons shopping center is within close proximity to the Laguna Heights neighborhood and carries a large assortment of grocery and other items to fit a variety of needs. If you need to find a local produce, look to the Whole Foods Market to the north of Laguna Niguel, as no local farmer's markets are available.