Visiting Orange County, California? Do These Things!

Orange County is known worldwide for its Southern California appeal of warm weather, sunny beaches, and a fair share of movie stars who live in the area. But visiting Orange County can be a fun trip for both the individual and family traveler. In this post we will examine some of the fun activities southern California has to offer.

Disneyland / California Adventure

This is one of the most famous attractions around the world and if you haven’t been I highly recommend you check it out.  Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks are both owned by Disney and on the same property. One tip is that some rides such as Indiana Jones have single rider lines. Simply go up to the front of the line where the attendant is waiting and ask them for a single rider pass. You can then walk in the exit and normally wait less than 5 minutes to get on the ride as opposed to waiting the usual 60+ minutes.

Newport Beach Area

Newport Beach is a staple of Orange County. Filled with million dollar plus homes, fancy cars, and great food, Newport Beach is a great place to spend the day. Unlike Huntington Beach which is also in Orange County, Newport also offers the Balboa peninsula where you can rent boats.  Typically I will rent a small electric boat that holds 8 people, grab some beer, and have a great afternoon boating around the area. Once you’ve gotten your boating fix in you can walk across the street and enjoy beautiful ocean views, great food, and beach bonfires in the designated fire pits. If you travel with that special someone, be sure to take a sunset Gondola cruise through the Balbo Peninsula with a bottle of wine.

Orange County Fair

If you are visiting in either July or August you will have the opportunity to visit the Orange County Fair.  The OC fair is unlike any other fair you have attended. Not only do they have a ton of carnival rides, major bands, and yummy carnival food like deep friend Twinkies; they also have over 1.3 million attendees!

Irvine Spectrum

The Irvine Spectrum is an outdoor mall with some elegant tastes. If you are looking for a great meal and a fun place to hang out the Irvine Spectrum features restaurants such as Javier’s and PF Changs. Whether you’re looking for a beer, great food, or just somewhere to walk around and chill, the spectrum is a great place to visit.

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach is a staple of the Orange County community.  The newly remodeled main street area offers shopping, food, and bars conveniently located just steps from the sand. You can grab some fresh gelato on main street or rent a bike on the ocean front. Their trails are clean and perfect for running, biking, or just about anything else. The Huntington Beach pier also offers a great view of the Orange County coast where you will see many fisherman day or night fishing right off the dock.

Whether you are visiting for just the weekend or a full week, you will find that Orange County is a great place to visit and the perfect place to escape to.