Laguna Niguel Real Estate Information & Homes For Sale

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The name "Laguna Niguel" stems from the Spanish word "Laguna," which means lagoon.  The second word, "Nigueli," was the name of a Juaneno Indian village once located near Aliso Creek.  Laguna Niguel became the 29th city in Orange County in December of 1989.

Laguna Niguel is home to a variety of upscale neighborhoods, including Bear Brand Ranch, Ocean Ranch, Coronado Pointe, South Peak, Crest de Ville, Palmilla, and Monarch Point. Other major neighborhoods include Rancho Niguel, Marina Hills, Niguel West, Niguel Summit, Beacon Hill, El Niguel Heights, Kite Hill, and the San Joaquin Hills. Laguna Niguel also offers an excellent choice in guard-gated communities where you can indulge yourself with million dollar views and luxury amenities.

The city is part of the Capistrano Unified School District, which includes two high schools and two middle schools to serve students in the area.  The district is also the location of seven elementary schools for younger residents.  While there are no colleges or universities within the city limits, higher education opportunities abound nearby in the cities surrounding Laguna Niguel.  These range from a large community college, Saddleback College, in Mission Viejo, to private schools like Chapman University in Orange, to full public universities with graduate programs like University of California at Irvine and California State University at Fullerton.  City residents are served by the Laguna Niguel Library. Residents may also visit the related libraries in the surrounding communities of Dana Point and Aliso Viejo.

Additionally, adult education and recreation classes are offered through the city.  Residents with an interest in such eclectic activities as ballroom dancing, belly dancing, playing the guitar, photography, horseback riding, pilates, yoga, tai chi, or fitness will find reasonably-priced lessons available through the City of Laguna Niguel.  In addition, the City organizes exciting Community Excursions to a variety of interesting sites in the area.

Indeed, the area around Laguna Niguel is so beautiful that it is the site of some of the world's premiere luxury resorts--The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa are both nearby (technically located in nearby Dana Point) and available for magnificent views and first-rate service.

Over one third of the city of Laguna Niguel is officially designated as open space, creating ample room for picturesque scenery, activities, and recreation.  This beautifully utilized space encompasses 23 neighborhood parks, two community parks, two county regional parks, two smaller county parks, and three mini-parks.  The largest and most commonly visited parks are Aliso/Wood Canyon Regional Park, Badlands Park, and Laguna Niguel Regional Park.  The open spaces of Laguna Niguel are also utilized for a variety of sporting activities, highlighted by the new Laguna Niguel Skate and Soccer Park. There are also a number of baseball and softball fields located throughout the city, some of which are equipped with lights for evening play. Swimming is enjoyed at the Crown Valley Community Pool, with swimming lessons and other adult classes available year-round.

Laguna Niguel's Pooch Park for dogs is available for residents and their pets to use from dawn to dusk, providing a lovely place for exercise and interaction with other pet owners.  Meanwhile, pet and animal services for Laguna Niguel are offered through the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter, which provides pet licensing, animal patrol, adoption services, and shelter.

The Laguna Niguel community provides an environment of caring and service.  As part of the community effort in this regard, rewarding volunteer opportunities are available for interested residents to assist with various camps and events for children, services for beautifying the community parks and preserves, and holiday events for the benefit of all the city's roughly 65,000 residents.

Health care options in the Laguna Niguel area are excellent.  Three hospitals are readily available, including Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Saddleback Memorial Hospital in Laguna Hills, and Mission Hospital Laguna Beach (formerly known as South Coast Medical Center) in Laguna Beach.  Emergency medical care is available around the clock at well-staffed emergency departments, and the nearby Mission Hospitals are two of the three recognized trauma centers for Orange County.  The hospitals offer the highest level of care in orthopedics, cancer, spine, vascular, and rehabilitation services, in addition to other medical specialties.

Three major airports are located within fifty miles of Laguna Niguel, providing access to worldwide air service.  Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is fifty miles away, with Ontario International Airport (ONT) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) even closer for easy air travel options.  Public transportation in Laguna Niguel is offered through Orange County Transportation Authority, which covers bus travel throughout the Orange County area as well as the "91 Express Lanes" for avoiding gridlocked traffic while driving through Orange and Riverside Counties.  For easy travel outside of Orange County, residents can use Metrolink, which is the commuter train service for Southern California.  The Metrolink train covers stations from as far north as San Luis Obispo, all the way southward to San Diego!

Enhancing the natural beauty of the area, Laguna Niguel is also home to the Niguel Botanical Preserve, which is a gorgeous 18-acre botanical garden.  The city contains roughly 80 scenic miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.  A number of these trails are open directly to the parks and open spaces of Laguna Niguel, providing easy access for residents to enjoy these trails and explore the surrounding area.  In addition, a variety of special events are made available for the family in Laguna Niguel, including the 4th of July Celebration, a Kid's Kampout, Shakespeare-By-The-Sea performances, a Summer Concert Series, and the culinary delights of the Taste of Laguna Niguel. As you can see, the city of Laguna Niguel presents something for everyone.

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