The district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in and features plenty of historic buildings including over 1, historic homes , restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and antique shops. Lying 22 miles off the coast of Orange County, Santa Catalina Island is one of the most popular places to visit near Orange County and a fun day trip or weekend trip to experience in the area.
The island has two main hubs you can ferry to — Two Harbors and Avalon — although Avalon is its main town that most tourists head to first. If you can work it into your budget though, a visit to Catalina Island is well worth the price and one of the best things to do near Orange County.
Local tip : With its lack of cars and its many hills, most people get around Catalina Island by golf cart. There are usually places to rent golf carts near the ferry dock once you arrive. Orange County has that quintessential California weather that allows you to wear shorts and flip flops pretty much all year. The one exception is the dense morning fog that tends to hug the coastline, especially in the summer.
However, this usually burns off by the afternoon to clear, sunny days. With its temperate weather year-round, Orange County is a great destination to visit at any time of the year. This area of California barely gets any rain and rarely goes below 60 F in the winter during the day. As much as I hate encouraging adding to the traffic in Orange County, the best and fastest way to get around is by car.
They have 77 buses that run throughout the county and you can view their schedules here. For the bus, you can purchase tickets with exact change directly from the bus driver when you get on, or download the OC Bus Mobile app to purchase tickets on your phone. For Metrolink trains, you can either purchase tickets from kiosks at the station or from the Metrolink app.
Looking for more California travel inspiration? Check out these related posts! What to do in San Francisco at Night. Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco. Pin one of these images for future reference. Get first dibs on travel updates, tips, and deals. Life is an adventure, join me around the world! Pin Table of Contents. Author Recent Posts. Find Me.
Mimi McFadden. Mimi founded The Atlas Heart to create a community of travelers inspired to see the world. The Atlas Heart is a space where you'll find anecdotes on slow travel, craft beer, outdoor adventures, and all the eccentric bits in between that this world has to offer. Latest posts by Mimi McFadden see all. San Francisco, CA. In both cases, you might find it useful to have some information about the surrounding area, in order to better plan your itinerary or day trip.
So here are the best things to do and places to visit in Orange County :. Of course, you must begin with Disneyland in Anaheim, the first theme park imagined and designed by Walt Disney himself and a destination that deserves to be right in the Top 10 of things to do in California.
The first park, the historic one that opened in , is Disneyland Park , meaning the one with the Cinderella Castle. The second, Disney California Adventure , built more recently , occupies the space that was once the parking lot of Disneyland Park, and its theme is inspired by the history and culture of California. Which of the 2 parks should you choose? How do you buying tickets, finding accommodations in the area, and plan the trip?
In order to answer all these questions, we have written a detailed guide to Disneyland Park in California. As I mentioned at the beginning, Orange County is a land of beautiful beaches and hidden coves where nature is still untouched and the sunsets are enchanting.
There is no better place than Laguna Beach to see for yourself if these claims are true. You can also head to sunny 1, Steps Beach , with its impressive cave that can be crossed at low tide, or look for a way to enter Three Arch Bay Beach , where the view of the splendid triple arched stacks will be your reward for the effort of getting there.
Otherwise, you can also go to Victoria Beach , one of the most mesmerizing places, where you will find the mysterious Victoria Tower, which is the subject of pirate stories and legends. For more details and learn about all the most fascinating places on these beaches, I refer you to our guide on the best things to see in Laguna Beach. Old Towne, the historic district of Orange, is located 7 miles southeast of Disneyland and covers about one square mile around Plaza Square Park , the original square of the city.
Strolling on the streets here is the main activity and you may find it really enjoyable. The exhibitions in the building are very well curated and, thanks to videos and audio material, they present in a very incredible way the facts about Richard Nixon, one of the most controversial presidents in American history, who resigned during his second term because of the Watergate scandal.
John Wayne Airport is served by several major car rental agencies. Parking can also be a giant headache, especially in tourist-frequented areas, such as Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach. This is especially true on the weekends and whenever the weather is super nice. It also tends to be expensive as well. A way to get around this is to park the car somewhere and then take an Uber or Lyft to get wherever you need to go. I just moved from SF to Orange County too. Thanks for the list!
Oooh, I love the OC! This is a fantastic list of things to do in the area! Kooky Loves to Travel. Good luck with your moving! I can totally understand I moved so many times that seems to me it became my habit haha.
Great photos and edits! I love this post! Andrea Cannon. The Spicy Travel Girl. Omg I lived in Orange County for three years and never knew there were k-pop dance classes! Thank you so much for this comprehensive list!
Curls en Route. Paloma Fts. Love this guide!! OC is one of my favorite places in the world and this post just makes me want to go back asap! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sep 24, 0 Comments. Mar 2, 25 Comments. Nov 16, 29 Comments. I wander the world aimlessly in search of delicious food, spend way too much time dreaming of my next adventure, and kinda miss the fog after complaining about it every day for 11 years.
I live for good design, coffee, red wine, pretty paper, and ramen which I work off by running half marathons. Follow along as I search California and the world for the tastiest desserts, the most colorful photo spots, the coolest hidden gems, and more! All Rights Reserved. Looking for some super fun and awesome things to do in Orange County? From beaches, hikes, foodie hotspots, museums, and more, here are over things to add to your Orange County bucket list! Buena Park 6.
Fullerton 7. Fullerton 8. Brea 9. Yorba Linda Anaheim Stroll through the historic Old Towne Orange, and people watch at the fountain. Orange Santa Ana Irvine Costa Mesa Garden Grove Huntington Beach Take in a sunset from the Huntington Beach Pier. Newport Beach Watch surfers at the Wedge in Newport Beach. Enjoy the coastal views from Inspiration Point in Corona del Mar. Corona del Mar Check out the tide pools at Corona del Mar State Beach.
Laguna Beach Silverado Trabuco Canyon Lake Forest Find the little fairy houses hidden along the Oso Creek Trail. Mission Viejo Rancho Santa Margarita San Juan Capistrano Dana Point Enjoy the laid-back beach town vibe of Oceanside. Airbnb Rentals I love staying in Airbnbs in beach towns, because there are always some unique properties.
Located a 10 minute walk to the ocean, restaurants and shops, and near a canyon loop walk to the east. Decorated with artistic touches, with kitchenette, and plush queen bed.
Has a kitchen, yoga space, projector TV, and queen bed. Also located close to many shops and restaurants. Newly remodeled, with modern and comfy furnishings, with a private yard, outdoor furniture, and a BBQ — perfect for spending summer evenings. When to Visit Orange County Orange County enjoys year-round sunshine, so there is really no bad time to visit!
Flip Flops : A pair of Rainbows are basically a part of the local uniform here and super comfy. Sunscreen : This one is my favorite and is reef-safe so ideal for using at the beach. Cardigan or light jacket : For overcast mornings or breezy evenings. I usually just throw on a denim jacket or a hoodie. For winters, a packable puffer is ideal for chilly nights and early mornings. Battery pack : I never travel anywhere without this one. It can charge up to five times on one full charge!
Reusable water bottle : I have this one on me at all times. Hat : The sun can get super bright during the summer, so I highly recommend having a hat.
A straw hat like this one not only keeps the sun out of your eyes and is perfect for the beach , but also looks cute in photos this one is another favorite for photos! Spread the love. Mariah July 3, at pm. Kat July 3, at pm. Louise July 4, at am.
Krista July 4, at am. Kooky Loves to Travel July 4, at am. Nichole July 4, at am. Andrea Cannon July 4, at am.
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