Sunset Cruise- Dana Point, CA
It’s hard to beat a day out on the water. If you find yourself there at sunset, with a beverage in your hand, all the better. While you can find similar excursions up and down both coasts, dramatic cliffs, abundant wildlife, and a sunset right out of Endless Summer make the trip out of Dana Point one of the most unforgettable.
In addition to being awash with natural beauty, the area has an interesting history as well. In the early 1800s the harbor then known as Bahia Capistrano was a bustling hide trade port. Animal products from California ranches were traded for finished goods from the East. In 1834, Harvard undergrad R.H. Dana, Jr. left school, enlisted as a merchant seaman, and embarked on one such trading expedition from Boston to California.
His trip aboard the brig Pilgrim served as the basis for his 1840 memoir, Two Years Before the Mast, which offered a harrowing account not only of the voyage, but of the poor treatment of the common sailor. It is in this seminal novel that Dana provides the first written description of the town that now bares his name, proclaiming it “the only romantic spot on the coast.” I am not sure this is strictly the truth, but it would certainly make the short list.
Although the hide trade is long over, tall ships replaced by sailboats, the harbor remains the heart of Dana Point. Although a variety of excursions are offered daily, none are more relaxing than the sunset cruise. Tasked with nothing more than taking in scenery, it is the perfect way to end a day.
Beyond the break, the stunning coastline unfolds. You are soon gliding past dramatic cliffs, with their undercut sea caves and precariously placed houses. Secluded beaches show themselves, if just for a moment.
Further out, the focus shifts to the water. During winter and spring the area is teeming with migrating Gray Whales; summer and fall finds Blue Whales in residence. Dolphins can frequently be seen swimming alongside the boat. The crew does an excellent job of locating and identifying marine life, with every trip offering unique wildlife sightings.
As you work your way back to shore, the sun dips down, brilliantly illuminating the water before disappearing behind the headland. Iconic images abound, few sunsets are more dramatic. A magical moment for sure, which will likely impress you as much as it did R.H. Dana, Jr. almost two centuries ago.
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