Laguna Beach / San Clemente / San Juan Capistrano, CA 90291

Balboa Pavilion
400 Main Street, Newport Beach
(800) 830-7744 • www.balboapavilion.com
Balboa Pavilion is the premier marina in Orange County
and is the site for the annual Christmas Boat Parade.
This marina offers sport fishing and Catalina Boat tours.
Located in the Pavilion is the Harborside Restaurant
and Grand Ballroom which offers complete catering
services for your next big event.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
18751 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA • ocparks.com/lagunacoast
The Laguna Coast Wilderness Park measures over 7,000 acres within the South Coast Wilderness
Area. This park and organization work with the Natural Community Conservation Planning program.
The mission of this park and its associated parks is to preserve and protect endangered
species in habitats where their populations will increase.
Balboa Fun Zone
600 E. Bay Ave, Balboa • www.thebalboafunzone.com
Balboa Fun Zone is considered one of the last
great amusement areas of Southern California. This
amusement area offers a wealth of activities including
The Ferris Wheel, arcades, food and shops, harbor
cruises, sport fishing, whale watching and one-hour trips
to Catalina Island on the Catalina Flyer.
Newport Sports Museum
100 Newport Center Drive • Newport Beach
(949) 721-9333 www.newportsportsmuseum.org
The Newport Sports Museum hosts several charity events
each year. Among them are the Annual Charity Golf
Classic and Hall of Fame Night. This museum showcases
a huge collection of sports memorabilia. With these
exhibits the museum hopes to motivate children and
capture their interests in sports leading them to become
disciplined, confident adults.
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
That name is heard daily on both local and national news but very few people know just where it is
located or, for that matter, what it is.
The history of the base starts way back in the early Forties when both the Army and the Marine
Corps were searching for an area to create a large training facility. In 1942, 122,798 acres located
in Rancho Santa Margarita y Los Flores were transformed into the largest Marine Corps base in the
country. On September 25, 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt officially dedicated the base. In October
of 1944 the base was declared a “permanent installation” and in 1946 became the home of
the 1st Marine Division. Camp Pendleton is named after Marine General Joseph Henry Pendleton
(1860-1942).
A $20 million upgrade and expansion went into effect during the Korean War which included the
creation of Camp Horno. During that period approximately 200,000 Marines passed through the
base on their way to Korea and later Vietnam. In the ensuing years Camp Pendleton has continued
to grow. Recently efforts have been put into place to preserve the history of founders of the base.
That culminated in the recognition of the original ranch house as a National Historic Site.
Today, Camp Pendleton spans over 125,000 acres and plays host not only to the Marines, but all
branches of the U.S. military. The coastline (17 miles) is used for amphibious shore-to-shore training.
The main base located in the Mainside Complex has a daytime population that can exceed
100,000. Camp Pendleton remains the last undeveloped portion of the Southern California coastline
and acts as a gateway between Orange County and San Diego County. In 1954, the camp
started hosting Basic Training familiarization for teens between the ages of 14 and 17. They are
referred to as the “Devil Pups.” The training focuses on fitness, discipline, love of country and the
Marine Corps. It is a program that is still in effect to this day.
So the next time that you take the I-5 on your way to Sea World or Disneyland just remember, that
empty area of undeveloped land that you are coasting through is a training ground for many fine
young men and women who have served and are still serving your country today.
FOR GREAT OFFERS AND FREEBIES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD VISIT OURTOWNSDEALS.COM • ©2016 THE BEST OF MAGAZINE • OURTOWNSFINEST.COM • 818-875-7597