Everything You Need to Know About Living in Dana Point with a Family
Dana Point, California, is a charming seaside community in Orange County. It has one of the few harbors in the county and is a popular surfing destination. The town was named after Richard Henry Dana Jr., who, in his novel, Two Years Before the Mast, called the area the “only romantic spot on the coast.” The climate is mild, with average temperatures in the 70s year-round.
Dana Point, CA, homes for sale tend to move quickly as the community is a great place to raise a family. If you have children and you’re considering buying a home in Dana Point, here are some things you should know about living here.
Excellent schools
Parents want their children to receive a quality education in thriving schools. Served by the Capistrano Unified School District, Dana Point has excellent schools for students at all grade levels. Elementary school pupils attend either Palisades Elementary School or R.H. Dana Elementary, the latter of which is a National Blue Ribbon School and a California Distinguished School. There is the excellent R.H. Dana Exceptional Needs Facility for special needs students, which offers therapy and education to students from birth through fifth grade.
Buyers of Dana Point, CA, homes for sale with older children can also rest easy. Middle schoolers attend Marco Forster Middle School, an award-winning California Distinguished institution and a California Business for Education Excellence “Star” School.
Your teenagers will attend Dana Hills High School. This highly-rated California high school offers AP courses for students planning to go to college. DHHS also has a health and medical occupations academy for students planning to go into medicine. This school is a desirable feature for families looking at Dana Point real estate.
There are also excellent private schools in the area. The Monarch Bay Montessori Academy teaches students from two-and-a-half to 12 in three different age groupings. Kids are taught standard subjects such as science, math, history, and language, as well as music, art, practical life, zoology, and botany. St. Edward the Confessor Parish School is another area school for Dana Point for students in preschool through eighth grade.
Kid-friendly activities
If you are considering Dana Point real estate for your family’s next home, you want to make sure there are many fun places and exciting things to do for the kids. Boredom stunts children’s intellectual growth, and parents don’t always have time to entertain them. Fear not, Dana Point has many activities for kids — and most are outdoors and at the beach.
Baby Beach—Baby Beach is a great place for very young children to enjoy the ocean and learn to swim. The waters are calm with lifeguards on duty for peace of mind. It’s the ideal destination for a picnic or a cookout, and there are several excellent restaurants nearby for lunch or dinner after a day in the sun.
Doheny State Beach—Doheny Beach is perfect for the entire family to swim. Rent boogie boards and paddle boards for more fun out on the water, and for those who like to travel on dry land, you can rent beach cruisers, hybrid bikes, and surreys.
- The Ocean Institute—Fun and educational, the Ocean Institute is great for a day trip and also offers a summer camp for kids. There are also family programs where the whole gang can learn about maritime history and the science of the ocean.
Photo courtesy of The Ocean Institute
Learn to surf—Dana Point is one of Southern California’s fabulous surfing areas. The Girl in the Curl is a surf shop that teaches surfing lessons to children as young as five. Book a class, and your little tykes might enjoy hanging ten!
- Learn to sail—Westwood Sailing offers lessons for the entire family and a summer sailing camp for kids. Sailing gets them out in the sun and fresh air and builds skills, teamwork, and self-confidence.
Top-quality healthcare
All parents want their kids to be healthy. Good pediatricians and quality hospitals are essential for a community that houses families. Dana Point has excellent medical services for your little ones.
Coastal Kids—A nationally-acclaimed medical office, Coastal Kids was opened in 2001 with a staff of excellent pediatricians, nutritionists, and lactation specialists, everything a family needs to keep the kids in good health.
CHOC Children’s Hospital—For more serious health issues, CHOC is an outstanding local hospital that can provide emergency and other treatments for your children. They also have virtual consultations.
- San Clemente Integrative Pediatrics—Dr. Giovanna Bruno offers comprehensive medical care for children from infancy through adolescence. The entire staff is dedicated to providing a personalized experience for each patient and their family. They also offer telehealth services.
