Orange County, CA: What to do (outside)

There are a TON of great things to see and do when you visit Orange County, CA. Most people visit hoping and usually getting fantastic weather so there is an abundance of outdoor activities that make the trip worth it. There's also great museums, parks, theater, and shopping. I'm going to list a few that I like to do as well as some I probably haven't done. It's by no means comprehensive but I will probably add to it occasionally as well. This post will just be about outdoor activities to do in Orange County. There are so many things to see and do while you are there it's worth several posts.

OUTDOOR:
-The beach. Of course this is #1. This is why people come to visit. The beaches are fantastic. There are a ton of variety to chose from, from more touristy places to local favorites. I would say the best beaches are probably Corona Del Mar or Huntington.Crystal Cove is great too. People can spend their whole vacation at the beach. Grab your gear and spend the day (depending on the weather/waves) surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, sun tanning, having a picnic or bbq, taking pictures, sleeping, etc. I've literally seen it all at the beach. It's a great outing, especially because most of the beaches are near great little touristy towns like Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, or Balboa Island. You aren't very far from cute little storefronts and restaurants. When it's mid summer on the weekend parking will be a nightmare but if you go early/late or off season there should be no problem in finding a spot-although the rules are usually strict and strictly enforced. Also, no beach campfires unless they are in a pit...and the beach closes at dusk, technically haha.

There's also the extension of the beach activities such as numerous places to rent boats, jet skis, paddle boats, kayaks, etc. You can find them anywhere. Long Beach is a big cruise ship port. They also have whale watching, I went once from Dana Point which is a great day trip. At the beach you can find bike rentals which can be fun along the path next to the sand.

-Disneyland. I'll file this under outside activities. Although far from free. In fact prices just rose again AND i was there when i visited in March and it seemed busier than ever. But most people want to go to Disneyland while they are in Orange County and it's definitely worth a trip. I LOVE Disneyland. I had an annual pass when I was in college, I was only 20 minutes from the park, so for me it was perfect and I got to go all the time, for a short time if I wanted or during less busy times (mid week, late evening, colder months). There are two parks, Disneyland and California Adventure. They are priced per one park, a park hopper (can go back and forth throughout the day) in 1,2,3 day or week increments. Lots of options. Because I used to go all the time I only went one day on a park hopper ticket. There's so much to do though that if you've never been or just really love Disneyland a two day park hopper is probably the best. And if you are going to Orange County specifically for Disneyland a 3 day or even week long park hopper is probably best, especially if you are staying nearby. Then you can come and go when you want. The parks are very different but both are filled with all different types of rides, activities, street theater, parades, and restaurants. I will probably do a separate more thorough post of Disneyland based on my experience going so many times. I have a lot to say on the subject.

-Local Parks. There are some great local parks in Orange County and of course they are gorgeous with lots of palm trees and green grass. It's a nice down time activity, hanging out in the park, taking a picnic, playing on the structures, whatever sounds fun. To be honest I did not visit a lot of local parks in and around Costa Mesa or Newport Beach but it's easy enough to find when you are driving around or you can look them up online. There is a dog park off Newport Blvd in Costa Mesa, CA. My dog doesn't really like other dogs so she wasn't interested in staying there long but they have a small yard for little dogs and a large yard for large dogs and lots of room for them to run and play.

-Back Bay. It's an outdoor nature preserve just next to/behind Newport Beach. It's fantastic. There are great trails to run/walk/bike, etc. There's paved pathways and dirt trails. It's usually full of local people out enjoying the good weather. It's really beautiful. I have spent a lot of time walking around and there's plenty to see from the high points on the path and great in any season. It's also part of the OC Marathon route and there are usually lots of people out training come spring. Definitely worth checking out for local flora/fauna and beautiful views.

-Zoo. There are two zoos in Orange County. The OC Zoo is located in Irvine, CA. And the Santa Ana ZOO is in Santa Ana, CA. They are both fairly small, nothing compared to the LA ZOO or the San Diego Zoo. But a fun outing to see animals and enjoy the sunshine.

-Orange County Marketplace. or the Orange County Fairgrounds. Known by either name this is a huge place in central Costa Mesa, filled with a ton of activities all throughout the year. Their website is full of information too. Every week (on Thursdays), there is a Farmer's Market. It's really a large market and has great local produce, shops, vendors, etc. It's fun to go any time of the year and free entry. Every Saturday (except in July) is the Swap Meet. This is a must do if you like old stuff, cheap stuff, swap meets, and interesting people. I've been a few times and it's so fun to check out the different booths and talk to vendors. There is literally anything you can think of-food, clothing, books, furniture, etc. It's HUGE. Definitely worth walking around, picking up a few things, and enjoying the good weather. The fairgrounds also has a county fair every year in July. This brings people in from all over Southern California. It's very fun. Typical fair of course with rides, food, stalls, carnival games, crowds, etc. It's definitely a fun experience. At various points throughout the year there are also shows and concerts that come to the Fairgrounds too so it's worth looking at their website to see what will be there when you plan your trip. They have a wide variety of artists and bands that play there as well as a jewlery show, gun show, etc so it's a mixed bag of things to do throughout the year. Check it out!

-Farmer's Markets. There are farmers markets all year round in SoCal where the weather is amazing for growing and vendors come in from all over the region. The one each week at the Orange County Fairgrounds is extensive and very fun. There are websites devoted to all of the farmer's markets in the county because they are too extensive to list here but check out the ones in Newport Beach and Irvine as well.


Ok i'm SURE there will be more to say on outdoor activities in Orange County, CA. Again, these activities are mostly based on my experience so there won't be a ton of information on things I'm not familiar with like rock climbing or anything but I did spend 7 years there so I know my way around a bit. I will add to the list as I remember things. Expect another list soon on INDOOR activities in Orange County, CA as well as other things I have to recommend like coffee shops, restaurants, shopping, arts and theater!

Orange County, CA

A few weeks ago I visited Orange County, CA. And Los Angeles. It will probably be a couple separate posts but I was only there for 5 days. I went to college in Orange County, a small private school, and this trip was mostly about seeing friends (it had been almost a year!). It was of course AMAZING to see them but I was also glad for nice weather, a few touristy places to visit, and a few of our favorite places to hang out and catch up. Orange County is huge but I'm mostly referring to the area in and around Newport Beach. I lived in Costa Mesa, just inland from Newport Beach, for 7 years. I've been to many places around Orange County/LA but will mostly refer to this area when it comes to activities.

Orange County is beautiful almost any time of the year.  Mild temperatures until summer, palm trees, lots of outdoor activities, shopping, arts, and the beach. It's spectacular. It's also a little overwhelming. I had only visited CA twice when I decided to move there, and I had never stepped foot on campus until Welcome Week. Of course, after 4 years of college I knew my way around, had favorite places, friends, and a life there. But it took a long time. It's hard to translate my experiences into a two week vacation experience but I will definitely let you in on what to do and see.

It's a great place for a vacation. It's also great to combine Orange County and LA for a memorable trip in two very different places. LA will have to be it's own post and probably several in fact because there are SO many things to do. You can have a million different combinations of experiences in LA depending on what you are interested in.

Let's start with the basics. Travel into the area depends on lot on when you come. Summer travel the rates are higher, but because there are so many airports that means a ton of airlines and therefore a lot of competition for prices. I've found deals as low as $59 each way (from Seattle) when I flew mid week into an Orange County airport (usually Long Beach or LGB). The MAIN airport when you book to Southern California is LAX. Not in Orange County, but close enough if you have good transportation. LA also has a few other smaller airports. The main airports into Orange County are Santa Ana (SNA) otherwise known as John Wayne or Long Beach (LGB). There are other smaller ones further away but these are pretty central. I've also paid around $300 RT from Seattle around Spring Break. There is a big variance in prices. Unfortunately there is limited transportation options leaving the airport to get to your destination unless you have travel arranged with your hotel, rent a car, or are staying with people in the area. LA has a very limited subway system but they do have a bus. Orange County has a limited bus system especially out to the aiports so it probably means airport pick up or a taxi.

When it comes to booking your hotel it's probably best to get something centrally located. Disneyland is a HUGE attraction for Orange County and most hotels around Anaheim, where Disneyland is located, have transportation available. But if you are staying in say Newport Beach or Irvine, you may not have that option.   Renting a car is probably the best scenario. If you are traveling with several people you can split the cost which would be helpful. Speaking of renting a car, yes driving can be intimidating in LA/OC but it's manageable, and traffic really will be bad at peak times but it's just a matter of waiting it out, or taking side streets instead of the freeway.

Parking can be tricky depending on where you are staying. Most residential neighborhoods are free to park in OC but may require parking permits and have street cleaning hours. Those tickets are not fun. Check and double check the signs. In downtown areas and close to the beach parking will be metered and often have time limits too. And weekends around the beach or main streets will be a mess, so if you really want to go to the beach, get there early or late...or suffer through the waits and locals fighting for spots.

Where to stay. Really...there are a million options. Obviously you want to find an area that you want to stay in and chose a hotel that coordinates. If you are only going to Disneyland on your trip then plan to stay somewhere centrally located to Harbor BLVD in Anaheim. There are a ridiculous number of places to stay for the parks. If you pick the coastal cities, you have so many options. From beach front resorts, B&Bs, family owned places, rental properties, etc. Definitely look around and see what works for you. Some people will be fine with a hotel a few blocks from the beach or some want to stay right on the water. There are lots of options for house rentals, if you are staying long term, have a lot of people, or are a family who want more of a "home" type feel. There aren't too many hostels or really discounted places to stay unfortunately. And sleeping on the beach isn't allowed unless it's a designated campground. I haven't looked into it but couchsurfing could be an option, if there are only one or two people and you don't mind couches or air mattresses. It's a great way to meet people and hear where the locals go as well.

So that's airports, price points, flights, renting a car, hotels, etc information. I'm again probably not the best expert on where to stay because I stay with friends and family. I don't rent a car when iI'm there either. but those options are always available. I do however have a great amount of knowledge on beaches, parks, restaurants, outdoor activities, markets, the fair, entertainment, theater, arts, and fun things to do from my 7 years living there. I will probably have to create several posts on the subject (LA and Orange County separately) but i feel like there will be a good amount of information for a great trip. Check back later for more!

i mean just LOOK how beautiful!!!!