Dana Point Harbor

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION

Dana Point Harbor remains one of the few working fishing harbors on Southern California's heavily developed coastline: charter sportfishing boats, a daily fish market, and whale watching departures coexist with the Ocean Institute, a nonprofit marine science center operating here since 1977. A rare place on the Orange County coast where maritime history and working harbor culture are still visible.

OPERATOR STORY

The Ocean Institute has operated at Dana Point Harbor since 1977 as a nonprofit marine science education center. Its flagship program runs aboard the Pilgrim, a full-scale tall-ship replica of the brig Richard Henry Dana sailed in 1834, the voyage recorded in Two Years Before the Mast, the memoir that named this headland.