We're always on the hunt for a coastal escape that's toddler-friendly, yet has a luxury-vibe to make it feel like we're actually on vacation - Laguna Beach in Orange County is only an hour and a half from Los Angeles so we began to search for “toddler-friendly boutique hotels” in this area.

Laguna Beach is undeniably a Southern California treasure, but a place we’ve avoided for most of our decade living in LA, because of its overly touristy vibe (which definitely wasn't helped by that famous early 2000s reality show).

While scrolling endlessly though mummy-blogs, I found a place called The Ranch at Laguna Beach. At first we thought this was strictly a golf resort, reserved for those ecstatic about the sport (which neither my husband nor I are). But after a little more digging, we discovered The Ranch is an amazing little hideaway tucked up in the hills looking over the stunning cliffs of Laguna Beach, and is known to be a failing-friendly boutique hotel.

The Ranch at Laguna Beach - Hotel Overview

Address: The Ranch at Laguna Beach 31106 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Best for: All families (especially with toddlers and kids under 6).

Toddler Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

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Getting there

The Ranch at Laguna Beach is tucked into 87 acres of Aliso Canyon, a truly unique resort where you can experience the beauty of the rolling hills and one of Southern California’s stunning coastline. Even though you're nestled up in the canyon away from all the tourist craziness, you're still just a quick 350-yard walk to one of Laguna's most famous beaches, so you get the best of both worlds.

Getting there by…

Car: The Ranch is 50 miles from Los Angeles, about an 1 hour and 15 minutes (without traffic) or a 2-2.5 hour drive in heavy traffic. We drove around our toddler’s nap time so the timing worked out perfectly. If you have a flexible schedule, plan to drive around the off-peak times (it’ll make your trip much more enjoyable!).

Parking: $35 per night for overnight hotel guests.

Electric Chargers: 2 universal electric vehicle chargers and 2 Tesla chargers are complimentary for resort guests.

Airplane: If you choose to fly in, land at Orange County's John Wayne Airport which is only 18 miles from The Ranch. This is a much less-stressful option than flying into LAX (get ready for more traffic!).

What makes The Ranch at Laguna Beach perfect for toddlers?

Welcome gift: our toddler received a little deer stuffy upon arrival and we were gifted a goodie-bag with kid-friendly toiletries that was placed in a port-a-cot set up in our room! He was in the BEST mood in the ENTIRE day!

Shuttles: Complimentary shuttles in our Rivian house cars to local areas

Farm Tour: Daily guided Farm Tours at 11:00am for resort guests. This is such a sweet experience for young kids who love gardening and chickens.

Meet The Birds: Orange County Birds of Prey Rescue Center - meet live rescued hawks, owls every Saturday at 11:00am

Stargazing: with a professional Astronomer every Friday night (weather permitting)

Heated pool and hot tub: for a swim at anytime between 7:00am - 10:00pm.

Beach Shuttle: Don;t bother taking your car! The Ranch offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from Aliso Beach, guest access to beach chairs, umbrellas and towels at Aliso Beach from our Lost Pier Cafe

Live music: Enjoy a drink at The Porch while listening to live music performed 7 days a week from 4pm to 8pm at The Porch ( complimentary activity sheet and crayons. provided for your toddler).

Bottled water in refillable aluminum bottles - a great way to keep the kiddo hydrated and give them an activity to look forward to.

Amenities parents love…

Fitness center: access to our 24-hour (sneak in a workout after the kiddo sleeps!).

Group Classes: complimentary group fitness classes weekly on Saturdays and Sundays

Coffee & Tea: In room coffee and tea, Nespresso in Suites.

Cabana and Spa: to relax and rejuvenate.

Online Newspaper: Complimentary online access to the New York Times and Financial Times.

Property Wi-Fi: To catch up on emails (or download the next episode of Bluey for your kid!).

Bocce court: For some family fun.

Golf: Priority access to golf tee times for overnight guesses.

Possible dealbreakers?

Not Pet Friendly: Pets and Emotional Support Animals are not allowed on property.

Non-Smoking Environment: smoking is not permitted on our property at any time (including vaping) n accordance with the City of Laguna Beach.

Resort Fee: A resort fee of $55.00 plus tax for a total of $62.70 is applied per night for room reservations (to cover the complimentary services listed above.

Things to do around The Ranch at Laguna Beach…

The Lost Pier Cafe: This beach cafe is an absolute cutie and a must-see when when you come to The Ranch. Great food & coffee steps away from the ocean - this is a family favorite. The Ranch also has complementary shuttles to The Lost Pier Cafe for guests. Take a blanket for a picnic on the beach!

Main Beach Park: is a great way to get all your toddler’s energy out while you can enjoy the stunning beach view! Kids love the tower, walk across the rope bridges and zoom down the slides into the soft sand. There are restrooms near to the playground as well as shops selling ice cream, kites and beach souvenirs.

Bluebird Park: is a gated playground which has barbecue pits, picnic tables and restrooms. They also sometimes have live music in the park in summer- see the schedule HERE to plan your trip!

Bike Rentals: Take your toddler on a ride along the beach by renting a bike at Laguna Beach Cyclery or Ray's Rentals (Newport Beach).

Overall

The Ranch at Laguna Beach is an excellent local escape from Los Angeles, especially for parents of young children. We were very impressed by the service, hospitality, amenities and feel-good vibe of this hotel. We got to enjoy the hustle-bustle of Laguna Beach but were able to escape it at The Ranch. We can’t wait for the next time we visit!

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