Continuing my infatuation with southern California, on my current trip to the US I scheduled in a week in Orange County. For those uninitiated, “The OC” is home to beautiful people, beaches, expensive restaurants and lots of traffic. There are some other things, too—like lots of conservative republicans, corporate offices, amusement parks, piers and frozen bananas.
It’s a pretty special place. That’s probably why it shows up so often in pop culture.
Orange County is just an hour or so south of Los Angeles—not including the traffic (a constant plague of southern California). My obsession with southern California started, like most of my generation, with Seth, Ryan and Marissa (“welcome to the OC, bitch”). So when my Dad invited me out for a mini-holiday in the OC, I jumped at the chance. Sunshine and beach boardwalks—that’s the life for me!
But there was another reason for the holiday-within-a-holiday. I needed a break. Somewhere to recharge and relax, but still a place I could take in the basic tourist sites. In the end, the OC had what I needed: easy access to Los Angeles for some fun and plenty of beaches with chill boardwalks perfect for lazy lounging in the late fall.
Huntington Beach
Road tripping through Orange County – The Pacific Coast Highway is one of America’s most scenic road trips, cutting right through Orange County and providing beautiful backdrops along the coast, both day and night.
Huntingon Beach is one of California’s more popular surf beaches. Jack’s Surfboards has a number of stores along the coast.
California’s coast is dotted with piers and boardwalks. Walking out onto them at night, you have a really good chance of spotting wildlife like sea lions.
Newport Beach
A lot of beach piers have restaurants at the end making them popular nighttime hangouts for teens and fictional TV characters. This is the Newport Pier.
In Newport, the popular Newport Landing Restaurant and Oyster Bar serves great seafood. Check their website for coupons!
Along Newport Beach, the Balboa Pier is just a lone, straight pier with a single restaurant at the end (Ruby’s Diner).
Crystal Cove State Park
In Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove Beach is a part of the state park.
On Crystal Cove Beach, a popular restaurant, the Beachcomber Café has one of the best spots along the coast for a quiet and scenic meal.
With seafood and steak dishes, the Beachcomber Café, located in a quaint cottage, is one of California’s more popular restaurants.
Laguna Beach
That’s me at Laguna Beach <3 Probably my favorite beach in the OC
Laguna Beach — so pretty!
The casual, laid-back atmosphere at Laguna Beach just makes it a great spot to chill
Laguna Beach is also one of the more developed beaches, with countless art galleries, restaurants and small, local businesses
Laguna Beach has one of southern California’s more developed art communities — just a walk along the boardwalk and it’s hard not to miss the little artistic features that line the community
On the southern end Laguna Beach, you’ll find an arts & craft market with small independent artisans + restaurants with amazing panoramic views
Perfect for a sundowner!
More Places to Visit in Orange Country
Irvine Spectrum Center
The famous frozen banana! Immortalized by Arrested Development <3 You’ll find them at many of southern California’s piers and boardwalks…
