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!
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