Laguna Through a Local’s Eye: Brittany Charnley
Brittany Charnley is a Laguna Beach native of 29 years. She grew up in Laguna, moved to Malibu for college at Pepperdine (Go Waves!) and moved right back to Laguna Beach shortly after. She lives with her husband and daughter and is the mama-in-charge behind The Cool Hip Mom, a popular blog where she shares about her love for her town, small space living, and an unwavering curiosity about low waste, sustainable, and eco-friendly living.
What’s kept her in Laguna for so long is its community, creativity, and culture. With one-of-a-kind restaurants, small shops, and amazing art galleries, there’s always something to see and explore!
Here, she shares her favorite spots around Laguna…
Laguna Beach Books
Laguna Beach Books’ children’s book section is so good and it’s always fun to see their new additions! Plus, the soundtrack they play while you’re browsing for books is always a good time so it’s easy to spend a lot of time there!
Sapphire Pantry
I like to go for Sapphire Pantry’s delicious lattes! We usually grab a quick one after we’ve shopped around the Hip District for a bit!
The Laguna Playhouse
It’s such a treat to have a historical theatre like the Laguna Playhouse in town! One of our favorite traditions is seeing the Lythgoe Pantos shows during the holiday season!
Sound Spectrum
If you love music, Sound Spectrum is a vibe you need to experience! There are just so many vinyl records to browse through!
Little Bohemian
If you’re looking for a cute children’s boutique, look no further than Little Bohemian. It’s our go-to shop for toys, clothes, and accessories. It’s my usual spot when I need to pick up birthday gifts for our daughters’ friends!
Tuvalu
Talk about major home decor inspiration! Tuvalu is the epitome of coastal chic. Seriously, every time we walk in I want to redo everything in our home!
The Ranch at Laguna Beach
We love all the happenings on the patio at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, which include live music, fire pits, and community! My husband enjoys golfing at Ben Browns, I love the Sycamore Spa, and collectively as a family we’re always game for a good beignet/coffee/breakfast burrito session at Lost Pier Cafe! In addition to all of that, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is making many sustainable efforts throughout the resort!
San Shi Go
Our go-to for sushi is San Shi Go. I grew up going and still absolutely love it. The sushi is delicious and the view is fantastic at sunset!
Photos by Laguna Beach photographer, Mary Hurlbut.