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If you’re looking for fun travel or vacation ideas in Orange County, you’ve come to the right place!

While Orange County is the smallest southern California county in terms of area, it’s the second most populous county in the state. Largely agricultural when it became an entity separate from Los Angeles County in 1889, the completion of a trolley connecting the two in 1904 transformed the area into a weekend retreat for Hollywood celebrities.

Since the 1950s — when Disneyland was added to the area’s attractions — Orange County has evolved into a favorite California vacation destination. Whatever you’re looking for – from beautiful beaches to theme parks to championship golf courses – you can find it here.

As Disneyland is the state’s most popular tourist attraction, many Orange County vacationers spend at least one day visiting that park and perhaps another day at Disney’s California Adventure. Sports fans may also want to check out a California Angels baseball or a Mighty Ducks hockey game while in Anaheim, but most folks head for the ocean and the beach towns that dot the county’s 42-mile coastline.

Orange County’s beach communities each seem to have a unique personality and flavor – friendly Huntington Beach (aka “Surf City”), posh Newport Beach, artsy Laguna Beach, laid-back San Clemente and mission-centric San Juan Capistrano – so you can pick and choose or sample them all! You can even catch a ferry to Santa Catalina Island from Newport Beach, Dana Point or Marina Del Rey.  When you tire of the beach scene, head back inland to Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park (especially popular with children five and under), the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove or the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda.

Orange County has been used as a shooting location for several films and television programs, including three that were filmed in or around the City of Orange’s Old Towne Plaza: Tom Hanks’ hit, That Thing You Do, Martin Lawrence’s Big Momma’s House and the Coen Brothers’ The Man Who Wasn’t There. A key scene of another hit, the first The Fast and The Furious, where a green Eclipse was blown up in a parking lot, was shot at a TK Market in Westminster’s Little Saigon, which itself was the subject of a 2004 PBS documentary Saigon, U.S.A Teens and young adults may be familiar with the Fox series The O.C. that ran for four seasons (ending in February 2007) and was set in Newport Beach (although actually filmed in Los Angeles). While locals are largely critical of the way their community was depicted in the series, “The O.C.” has caught on as a nickname for the area.

Here are some articles where you can learn more about Orange County’s vacation and travel destinations and the extraordinary experiences you can enjoy there:

Orange County Tourist Attractions

Orange County Amusement / Theme Parks

Orange County Museums

Orange County Beaches

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

Was this article useful and/or interesting?
Would you please consider sharing it?
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As you read about the Orange County tourist attractions discussed below and consider them for your vacation or holiday, you may want to also consider the attractions and activities in adjacent areas (e.g., Los Angeles and San Diego), as well as the fabulous Southern California beaches, the educational and entertaining Orange County museums and the world-renowned Orange County amusement and theme parks.

Casa Romantica, San Clemente – Once the home of the city’s founder, Ole Hanson, this renovated 1928 estate offers diverse educational and cultural opportunities, including historic exhibitions and musical performances. (casaromantica.org)

Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove – Designed by Philip Johnson and resembling a four-pointed star, there are 10,000 panes of glass covering the translucent walls and ceiling of this stunning architectural gem. This is the home of Dr. Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” television ministry. (crystalcathedral.org)

Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point – The whale watching capital of the West, you can arrange catamaran excursions here or just hang out and enjoy the salt air and the wharf’s shops and outstanding restaurants. (danaharbor.com)

Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton – Located on California State University’s Fullerton campus, this 26-acre botanical garden features an ecologically arranged collection of plants from around the world. (arboretum.fullerton.edu)

The Honda Center, Anaheim – Formerly known as Arrowhead Pond, this is the home ice for the Anaheim Ducks hockey team as well as the host venue for popular music and comedy performances. (hondacenter.com)

Los Rios District, San Juan Capistrano – Directly across the track from the Capistrano train depot, this is California’s oldest neighborhood. Closely tied to the establishment of the city’s lovely mission, Los Rios Street was originally called Calle Occidental, or “West Street,” indicating its orientation to the mission, and several adobes from the 18th century remain today. (sjchistoricalsociety.com/LOS_RIOS)

Medieval Times, Buena Park – Come feast on a four-course dinner at this entertaining Orange County tourist attractions and enjoy a night of romantic excitement in a unique, two-hour show of pageantry, horsemanship and swordplay, including an authentic jousting tournament. (medievaltimes.com/findcastles/buenapark/)

Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano – Commonly referred to as “the jewel of the California missions” and open daily from 8:30am to 5pm (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Good Friday), the mission often hosts special events like concerts, garden shows, fashion shows and living history reenactments. (missionsjc.com/)

Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, Costa Mesa – In addition to the annual fair (spanning the end of July and the beginning of August), this center hosts a variety of festivals, car races and performances (e.g., Cirque du Soleil). (ocfair.com)

Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa – Renowned for its asymmetrical architecture and excellent acoustics, this venue is home to the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Opera Pacific, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale and often hosts touring Broadway shows and popular music and dance performances. (ocpac.org)

Orange County Zoo, Orange – Nestled within Irvine Regional Park’s majestic grove of heritage Oak and Sycamore trees, this charming Orange County tourist attraction specializes in animals and plants from the southwestern United States. (oczoo.com)

Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Buena Park – Come enjoy a delightful dinner along with swashbuckling swordplay, aerial artistry and pyrotechnics aboard a Spanish galleon replica anchored in a 250,000-gallon lagoon. (piratesdinneradventure.com)

Santa Ana Zoo, Santa Ana – Located at Prentice Park, this 20-acre zoo focuses on Central and South American plants and animals, and its Zoofari Express is fun for kids of all ages. (santaanazoo.org)

Santa Catalina Island – Twenty-six miles off the Southern California coast – an hour by ferry or about 15 minutes by helicopter – this island is often a California vacation destination in and of itself. Most of the island is controlled by the Catalina Island Conservancy, a private nonprofit organization whose mission is “to be a responsible steward of its lands through a balance of conservation, education and recreation.” (catalinaconservancy.org)

Sherman Library & Gardens, Corona del Mar – This 2.2-acre horticultural paradise of manicured gardens is cared for by over 150 volunteers and features lovely flowers, plants and fountains. The library specializes in research about the Pacific Southwest. (slgardens.org)

Stanley Ranch Museum Historical Village, Garden Grove – A collection of historical buildings, including Garden Grove’s first post office, an old barbershop, a general store and a fire station. Of particular interest is a garage, moved to the village from North Hollywood, which served as Walt Disney’s first studio in 1923.

If that list of Orange County tourist attractions doesn’t have anything that strikes your fancy, be sure to check out the links below to information about museums in nearby Los Angeles and San Diego.

Photo of Crystal Cathedral by Sylvain Leprovost via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Mission San Juan Capistrano by Manicosity via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Santa Catalina Island by freeloosedirt via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Orange County Vacation Ideas

Orange County Amusement / Theme Parks

Orange County Museums

Los Angeles Tourist Attractions

San Diego Tourist Attractions

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

Was this article useful and/or interesting?
Would you please consider sharing it?
We appreciate it!

Orange County is where Americans love of amusement and theme parks began, although reasonable minds may differ on exactly which “Walter” fathered the industry – Walter Knott or Walter Elias Disney.

In the 1920s, the Knott family sold berries and pies along State Highway 39. The highway was to become the main connection between Los Angeles and the beaches, and the restaurant the Knotts opened to help make ends meet became quite popular and often had a long waiting line. Walter Knott needed a way to entertain those waiting crowds, and his solution was to recreate a “ghost town” on the property using buildings he relocated from real Old West towns such as Calico, California.

The Knotts didn’t actually begin charging admission to their park until 1968, so when Walt Disney opened his park – Disneyland – in 1955, they were not considered to be competing with one another. The two Walters had a cordial relationship, in fact, and even collaborated on community service projects from time to time. There are several Orange County amusement / theme parks today, including a couple of additions to the forerunners’ holdings.

Adventure City, Anaheim – Offering fun for all ages, this park features a petting farm, a children’s theatre and family-friendly rides. (adventurecity.com)

Balboa Fun Zone, Balboa Peninsula – Near Newport Beach, this park’s Ferris wheel offers breathtaking harbor and Pacific Ocean views.

Camelot Golfland, Anaheim – Recently featured on the Travel Channel and touted as “the world’s largest mini golf course,” you can enjoy a video game arcade, a pizza parlor, a waterslide and “laser joust” (a fast-paced, special effects enhanced game using laser guns in a 5,000-square foot building) in addition to the park’s five uniquely themed miniature golf courses. (anaheim.golfland.com)

Disneyland Park, Anaheim – For most southern California tourists, this is the definite “must see” of all the Orange County amusement / theme parks. You can easily spend a whole day (or longer, if possible) at “the happiest place on Earth” and Downtown Disney, the adjacent 20-acre pedestrian promenade (non-gated, free admission) that offers dining, shopping, a multiplex cinema and several nightlife venues, including the House of Blues.

Disney’s California Adventure, Anaheim – Adjacent to Disneyland Park but requiring a separate admission, this park celebrates the Golden State’s natural and manmade treasures.

Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park – This large theme park offers more than 165 rides and attractions and an adjacent shopping district that you can visit for free. While the park does feature some “thrill” rides, there are several slower rides and an Old West and Peanuts characters theme that’s a winning combination for young children.

Knott’s Soak City U.S.A., Buena Park – Open May through September, this water wonder world features rides, a family funhouse, a wave pool, inner tube rides and much more.

Wild Rivers Water Park, Irvine – This is the perfect place to have a full day of fun cooling off from the summer heat. There are over 40 rides and attractions, designed for all ages from toddlers to adults. (wildrivers.com)

Zoomars Petting Zoo and Bird Park, San Juan Capistrano – With over 100 friendly animals to pet, feed, love and learn from, this park is open every day (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 10am to 5pm, rain or shine. (zoomars.com)

If the Orange County amusement / theme parks aren’t enough to keep you busy, you might want to check out Southern California’s additional offerings: Los Angeles amusement / theme parks and San Diego amusement / theme parks. There’s no such thing as too much fun in California!

Photo of Disneyland “Partners” Statue by wolves4moe via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Knott’s Berry Farm by KateMonkey via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Orange County Vacation Ideas

Orange County Tourist Attractions

Orange County Museums

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

Was this article useful and/or interesting?
Would you please consider sharing it?
We appreciate it!

There’s an interesting array of Orange County museums for your education and enjoyment, and while the list below may not be exhaustive, it highlights some of the most popular ones. Please keep in mind that you also may want to review information about museums in areas adjacent to Orange County (e.g., Los Angeles and San Diego) as you plan your perfect Orange County vacation, holiday or getaway. Links to those articles can be found in the “Related Posts” section below.

Catalina Island Museum, Avalon – Housed in the Art Deco landmark Casino Building, you will find a collection of historic artifacts, photographs and locally made pottery and tiles, as well as Indian archaeological finds from the island. (catalinamuseum.org/)

Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana – Dubbed the “amusement park for your mind,” this modern building houses 120 hands-on exhibits and a 3-D laser theater. (discoverycube.org)

Bowers Kidseum, Santa Ana – This children’s museum focuses on ethnic arts and culture. (bowers.org)

Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Santa Ana – One of Southern California’s finest museums and the largest of all Orange County museums, this nationally celebrated institution has over 85,000 objects in its collections, dedicated to the preservation, study and exhibition of the fine arts of indigenous peoples. Close to four major freeways and four miles south of Disneyland, the Bowers is an ideal tourist destination. (bowers.org)

The Children’s Museum at La Habra, La Habra – A 1923-vintage Union Pacific railroad depot, with old railroad cars resting nearby, offering hands-on exhibits for children from preschool to fourth grade as well as an authentic Dentzel Carousel. Portola Park next door has tables for bring-your-own picnics. (lahabracity.com)

Fullerton Museum Center, Fullerton – This museum is dedicated to developing and presenting the best in multi-disciplinary exhibitions and educational programs in the areas of history, science, and art. (ci.fullerton.ca.us/depts/museum/)

International Surfing Museum, Huntington Beach – Founded several decades ago by Natalie Kotsch, a woman who’s never surfed, this small museum is about three blocks from the ocean and preserves over 100 years of surfing history. (surfingmuseum.org/)

Irvine Museum, Irvine – This is one of our favorite Orange County museums. It is the only California museum dedicated to the preservation of California Impressionism (Plein-Air) paintings, an art style that flourished here from 1890 to 1930. (irvinemuseum.org)

Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach – Offering a mix of historical and contemporary exhibitions and some “pop culture” shows dealing with topics such as surfing, cars and tattoos, the museum’s location – about 300 feet from the ocean – is one of the most spectacular and impressive in the world. (lagunaartmuseum.org)

Marconi Automotive Museum, Tustin – First opened in 1994 by founder Dick Marconi, this non-profit museum has accumulated an impressive $30 million collection of historical, exotic and classic cars to stimulate and delight the senses. (marconimuseum.org)

Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton – This historic home houses changing exhibits and hosts an annual Motor Car Festival. (muckenthaler.org)

The MUZEO, Anaheim – Southern California’s newest museum (opened October 2007), this center for arts, knowledge, entertainment and culture features a unique variety of changing exhibitions, special events, lectures, classes and weekend festivals. The 25,000-square foot complex encompasses Anaheim’s original Carnegie Library (built in 1908) and a new state-of-the art gallery space. (muzeo.org)

Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Balboa Peninsula – Located in the Balboa Fun Zone and open Wednesday through Monday, this museum offers exhibits on the history of the harbor as well as of the Pacific as a whole. For lovers of ship models, there are more than $3 million worth, some dating to 1798; one is made entirely of gold and silver. Another fun display is a virtual deep-sea fishing machine. (nhnm.org)

Ocean Institute, Dana Point – Open to the public on weekends, you can participate in a variety of family-friendly experiences and on most Sundays enjoy the institute’s historic brig Pilgrim, a full-size replica of the square-rigged vessel on which Richard Henry Dana sailed. If time allows, this is one of the Orange County museums you won’t want to miss! (ocean-institute.org)

The O’Neill Museum, San Juan Capistrano – The Garcia/Pryor residence, now known as the O’Neill Museum, was built between 1870 and 1880 by José Dolores Garcia. The San Juan Capistrano Historical Society has restored and furnished it in keeping with 1880s design and decor and opens it to the public on Saturday and Sunday from Noon-3pm. (sjchistoricalsociety.com/museum)

Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach – Open Wednesday through Sunday (except for major holidays), the museum houses a permanent 6,500-piece collection that chronicles California’s unique art history and is noted for organizing important exhibitions of contemporary art. (ocma.net)

Orange County Natural History Museum, Laguna Nigel – This museum is closed indefinitely.

Orange Lounge, Costa Mesa – The first West Coast museum devoted exclusively to the presentation and interpretation of video, computer and Internet-based art, audio works and other forms of new media. (ocma.net/orangelounge)

Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, Yorba Linda – The final resting place of the 37th president and his wife, Pat, exhibits focus on Nixon’s life and checkered political career. You can listen to the so-called “smoking gun” tape from the Watergate days, and you can also visit Pat Nixon’s tranquil rose garden and the small farmhouse where Richard Nixon was born in 1913. (nixonlibraryfoundation.org/)

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Buena Park – Located in the E-Zone district on Beach Blvd., this museum’s exhibits focus on odd and amazing things like “an eight-legged pig” and “the world’s tallest man.” (ripleysbp.com)

If that list of Orange County museums doesn’t have anything that strikes your fancy, be sure to check out the links below to information about museums in nearby Los Angeles and San Diego.

Photo of Discovery Science Center by debaird via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Huntington Beach Surfer by johnvphipps via flickr (Creative Commons); Photo of Dana Point Ship Bell by incarnate via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Orange County Vacation Ideas

Orange County Tourist Attractions

Orange County Amusement / Theme Parks

San Diego Museums

Los Angeles Museums

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

Was this article useful and/or interesting?
Would you please consider sharing it?
We appreciate it!

Orange County residents say their beaches are the best of the best in California … maybe the world. Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Huntington Beach are the three main Orange County beaches (more about these below), but you should not overlook San Onofre State Beach. It is located at the southernmost end of Orange County and is deliciously undeveloped (as well as a bit tricky to get to by car).

San Clemente’s beaches — the state beach and its neighbor, Calafia Beach County Park — are accessible by the San Clemente Pedestrian Beach Trail, which runs the entire San Clemente coastline. This not only gives great beach access, but connects with the wonderful array of beachfront hotels, hostels, resorts, restaurants and other amenities supporting your visit to the area.

Capistrano Beach, the next beach north, is tucked into an area behind Dana Point, shielded from rough surf. This is perfect for smaller children, but consequently not so great for surfers. Some seaside resorts are within walking distance and superb resorts are up the hill in Dana Point proper.

Between Dana Point and Laguna are some quaint, small beaches which some consider exquisite “local secrets.” The nearby Salt Creek Beach Park is as pristine a beach as exists anywhere, and it is next door to world-class golf and five-star resorts.

Aliso Beach County Park is a wonderful beach on the south side of Laguna Beach. The Pacific Coast Highway runs right next to it, and there is ample parking, dining and lodging on the beach side of the highway.

From there all the way into Laguna Beach, the beach is often blocked by bluffs and some private seaside homes, but you can find beach access paths every few hundred yards. (All California beaches, up to the high water mark, are public property and you are free to walk them. Local and county governments have been aggressive in conditioning development on grants of “public access” easements – so you can at least walk down to the beach, often on a public path between two private properties.)

Many of the oceanfront properties in this area have been purposed into vacation rentals, condos, bed & breakfasts or smaller lodges. Occasionally, they’ve been rebuilt as hotels or motels. The offerings range in price and amenities, of course, but most provide comfortable beachfront leisure living with ocean views.

The little bay at Laguna Beach and the surrounding hills make the beach there unbelievably beautiful. The surf is perfect year round. The amenities – shopping, nightlife, hotels, etc. – will please everyone in your family or party.

Check out Crescent Bay and Emerald Bay as you head north out of Laguna Beach. Both are small bays, between rocky points – hard to find, but truly pristine and worth the effort, as is Crystal Cove State Park, just a few miles north.

Traveling north, next up is the Newport Beach area, where you can find some wonderful lodging and dining choices. On the south side of the inlet is Corona Del Mar State Beach, but we cannot recommend that beach because, frankly, the ones nearby are so much better. On the north side of the inlet to Newport Bay is the Balboa peninsula (sometimes called Balboa Island, along with two other man-made islands – it’s a tad confusing), and the oceanfront there is where the quintessential Orange County beach begins … and it continues essentially uninterrupted for the next 10 miles to Huntington Beach and slightly beyond to the county line near the Sunset Beach / Seal Beach area.

The beach in this area is very wide – often a few hundred yards. The sand is white, course and clean. The surf is often “up” and ride-able. Beach access is super easy. Parking is free and, across the street, there is a wide variety of oceanfront hotels, inns, motels and other vacation rentals. This is a major population center, so restaurants, nightlife and other attractions abound.

This 10-mile stretch is what most people think of when someone says “Orange County beaches.” The area is wonderful, to be sure, but don’t forget to check out the other sparkling gems in this southern California oceanfront paradise.

Photo of Salt Creek Beach in Orange County by bfick via flickr (Creative Commons) and Photo of Laguna Beach in Orange County by slasher-fun via flickr (Creative Commons).

Related posts:

Los Angeles Area Beaches

Orange County Tourist Attractions

Orange County Amusement / Theme Parks

Orange County Museums

Misc. Travel Resources

Note: Information in this article was accurate
when it was published, but hours, prices, etc.
change constantly. Please confirm details
with local contacts before traveling.

Was this article useful and/or interesting?
Would you please consider bookmarking or sharing it?
We appreciate it!