What To Do in Orange County: The Ultimate Guide
If you know me, you know that California is my favorite place in the world, specifically Southern California. When I first visited in 8th grade, I knew that I wanted to live there one day. My husband happens to be from Orange County, which is a great perk of being married to him (but I promise it’s not why I married him). We don’t live there yet (thanks, Megan Markle), but we do get to visit his parents who live there once or twice a year!
Here’s my grand and ever growing list of what to do in Orange County, including where to go, what to eat, and day trips you can take from there.
Cute Towns
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is my favorite town in Orange County. It’s charming, has cute shops and restaurants, and the beach is stunningly gorgeous.
Dana Point
Dana Point is another cute beach town in Orange County. It has some fun trails and restaurants on the water, and of course, great views of the ocean.
Old Town Orange
Old Town Orange is the most charming town in all of Orange County. It has an incredibly cute historic downtown centering around a fountain in a square. Each of the 4 streets that stem from it have cute vintage shops, antique stores, unique desserts, and great restaurants. Such a fun place to spend the afternoon!
Santa Ana
Santa Ana is another great town with an incredible arts district and Mexican history. There are fantastic coffee shops (like Cafe Cito) and the incredible The Den restaurant (formerly known as The Gypsy Den).
Nature Spots
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach has beautiful beaches, and a lot of hidden gem beaches. I’ve been to the Main Beach and Crescent Bay (both gorgeous). There’s also Victoria Beach with a princess tower, 1,000 Steps Beach, and Treasure Island.
Crystal Cove State Beach
Going to Crystal Cove State Beach feels like you’re stepping back into the 60s. Vintage signage and cute little shops line the way to the beach. It’s so quaint and has a nostalgic feeling to it. It opens up into a beach and has some restaurants, so it would be a great way to spend a day at the beach!
Heisler Park
Heisler Park is a beach trail located in Laguna Beach. It’s very walkable with a concrete pathway and railings. The views from this trail are stellar, palm trees framing an ocean view. Basically, it’s Orange County’s version of Hawaii.
Weir Canyon
I’ve been wanting to explore more of Orange County’s nature other than just beaches. A few years ago, there was a poppy bloom across Southern California (I’ve been dying to witness one!). We went to Weir Canyon to see the poppies, and we ended up enjoying the hike a lot!
Top of the World
Top of the World is a hidden gem in Laguna Beach. All the way at the very top of the charming town is a lookout - a little trail that showcases a 360 view of Laguna Beach and the ocean.
Restaurants
In-n-Out
This is an obvious food choice, BUT I can’t leave it out! Jason and I bookend our trip with In-n-Out every single time. It’s delicious, fresh tasting, and doesn't leave your stomach feeling heavy.
Nep Cafe
The first time I tried egg coffee was at Nep Cafe in Fountain Valley. The waiter recommended this unique (to me) coffee drink, so I took a gamble and tried it. And oh my gosh, wouldn’t you know it was one of the best coffee drinks I have had to this day. This Vietnamese restaurant also had great breakfast and side options. I highly recommend it!
Chaak Kitchen
Another great restaurant we tried recently was Chaak Kitchen. My husband’s siblings and we all went out and had a great time at this spot located in Tustin. It’s an upscale, Michelin Star, Mexican restaurant that serves food tapas style. We shared a lot of appetizers and tried a few drinks, too! The vibe inside was great too - all around this was an amazing experience!
Anaheim Packing District
Anaheim Packing District is a great option if you want to sample different restaurants, or if your family all wants to eat different things. Once an orange factory turned food hall, this place has all kinds of cuisines and drinks. Beware - it gets extremely busy on the weekend, so plan accordingly.
The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove
On the beach of Crystal Cove, we ate a very tropical lunch at the Beachcomber Cafe. It was a true beach-diner. The food was good and the views were even better.
Shake Shack
Just off the highway above Crystal Cove State Beach sits a little ice cream business called Shake Shack. It is an iconic Southern California staple, and for good reason! The shakes were delicious, and there were so many flavor options. Brace yourself for a long line!
Nova Kitchen & Bar
On our first trip to Orange County, Jason and I chose to celebrate our first wedding anniversary at Nova Kitchen & Bar, located in Garden Grove. We had such a great time - the service was phenomenal, the food was indelible, and the cocktails were delicious. It has a sleek and modern vibe, which is fun for a special dinner.
True Food
During one of our shopping outings in Costa Mesa, us girls had lunch at True Food. They do have locations all over the country, but this Orange County one was particularly good. Their mission is to locally source and serve natural, healthy food. They also have fun cocktails!
Mission Inn
The Mission Inn is technically in Riverside, but it is worth the drive! I promise you, it’ll be the most beautiful restaurant you ever go to. It’s located in the famous Mission Inn Hotel, which has been operating since the early 1900s. The scenery was gorgeous and the food was also stellar! All around, it was a 10/10.
Blind Coyote Cantina
I wasn’t expecting much from Blind Coyote Cantina in Yorba Linda- it kind of seemed like a basic suburban restaurant. However. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The food was good and the drinks were amazing. Beware - it’s busy on weeknights, so you might want to book a reservation, or be ok with bar seating.
The Den
The Den in Santa Ana holds significance for my husband. He used to go there every week for a couple years when he was first playing guitar and writing songs, and would participate in open mics. During my first trip out with him, we went here (previously called The Gypsy Den), ate, and Jason actually saw an old friend and played a song. It was so special! We’ve been here again since, and the vibe is very artsy, with eclectic paintings crawling up the walls all the way to the ceiling, and colored glasses drinking glasses. The food is very fresh and flavorful, and incredibly delicious.
Blue Stone Lane
We went to Blue Stone Lane in Old Town Orange with Jason’s whole family and the reviews were very mixed. I really enjoyed my food, and so did a few other people, but the kids and the rest of the adults hated it. Part of it was probably because the service was incredibly slow (maybe on off day?), and some of the kids' food was spicy. I personally thought it was super cute and enjoyed my food.
Olive Pit
Olive Pit is one of my favorite restaurants in Orange County. It’s Greek/Mediterranean, so naturally the food is delicious. The decor inside is really pretty, and they also have delicious cocktails and fun coffee drinks. They have a location in Brea and Huntington Beach.
Coffee & Donuts
Cafe Cito
Cafe Cito is a super small, delicious coffee shop in Santa Ana. It was super delicious and in a cute spot.
Contra Coffee & Tea
Contra Coffee & Tea was a super cool spot in Old Town Orange. By cool, I mean very young… Gen Z was running that spot, but it was very cute and nice!
Avatar Coffee
Avatar Coffee in Santa Ana has the most gorgeous interior. There’s a lot of natural light, and beautiful green and orange stone. Oh and yeah, the coffee is also spectacular.
Made Coffee
Made Coffee in Yorba Linda is such a great spot for a quick pick me up. It’s pretty small inside, but all the seats are always taken with people working. The coffee is good, and they also have fun polaroids of people’s instagram photos tagging them. Great vibes!
602 Coffee House
We stopped at 602 Coffee House on the way to my surfing lessons in Huntington Beach. We got a tasty breakfast sandwich and some good coffee to go.
Reborn
Reborn is our favorite coffee spot in all of Orange County. They have multiple locations, and one in Brea within bike riding distance of my in-laws, so not only is it amazing, it’s really convenient. I don’t usually like mochas because they’re too bitter, but California does them right, especially here at Reborn.
Sidecar Doughnuts
Who doesn’t love doughnuts, particularly specialty ones? We went to the Sidecar Doughnuts near Newport Beach and got some great doughnuts, and also tried their Vietnamese coffee, which was super delicious!
Play Coffee
Play Coffee was such a fun spot in Downtown Fullerton! The outside is bright blue with orange accents, and cool shapes. The coffee was pretty good but also pretty expensive for what it was.
Golden State Coffee
Golden State Coffee in Placentia was such a great western inspired spot! California has such a rich history of gold mining and this coffee shop embodies it. It’s really cool on the inside with a glass wall of their roasting machine. The coffee was also really good (I got a Spanish latte). I also bought a latte glass with their logo, and it was only $12 - such a great souvenir!
Afters Ice Cream
Afters Ice Cream in Old Town Orange was such an experience. They serve delicious homemade ice cream in donuts… it’s a donut ice cream sandwich. We shared it with my brother-in-law and his kids - a few bites was enough because of the sugar, but it was so incredibly delicious.
Shopping
There is an abundance of shopping options in Orange County (thankfully). Here are just a few recommendations:
Irvine Spectrum
Irvine spectrum is a fun place to shop! It’s an outdoor mall with great store options, including my favorite jewelry brand, Gorjana.
South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza is huge. Not only is it huge, but they have a lot of designer stores, so it’s very upscale and posh.
Stitch and Feather
Stitch & Feather is my favorite boutique - I discovered it during my first trip to Orange County in 2019 and go back every time I visit! Thankfully, they have many locations and an online store.
4.Country Roads Antiques & Gardens
Located in Old Town Orange, Country Roads Antiques & Gardens is huge and so cute! They have a lot of aesthetic vintage pieces and also classic California decor.
5.Tuvalu
Tuvalu is a bougie home decor in Laguna Beach, right off of the main beach. Although it’s expensive, they also have some great, affordable gifts that also make good souvenirs, like hand crafted mugs and wine stoppers. Stores like Tuvalu are great alternatives to souvenir shops so you can bring home classy, high quality souvenirs!
What To Do
The Mission at San Juan Capistrano
I was blown away by the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. It was built in the 1800s and actually has a pretty terrible history, which you can read all about when you go in. Although sad, the ruins of the mission are stunning, and it’s a great place to learn about history!
Orange County Museum of Art
We went to the Orange County Museum of Art with Jason and his parents and his sister’s family. It was a great museum to visit with a big group with kids - they had an interactive balloon display and it’s a small museum, so we weren’t there for too long. It was great! The art was cool and the architecture was pretty cool, too.
Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Carbon Canyon Regional Park is a fun spot in Brea. There’s a $5 entrance fee, but it was worth it! There were some trails (we saw people riding horses), a pond, and a playground, all with a mountain in the background. It was a fun and relaxing spot for our small family!
Surf at Huntington Beach
I love trying new things, and surfing seemed so fun so I gave it a try! I did my surfing lesson with Banzai Surf Club at Huntington Beach, AKA Surf City USA (it only seemed right). I had a great lesson and was able to get up on the board a few times! I did contract an ear infection and burst eardrum, so be prepared to incur some sort of injury.
Day Trips from Orange County
Orange County is a great home base to take day trips from so you can experience other areas of Southern California. Make it an overnight trip if you’re really feeling it!
Some of these day trips I’ve done, and some of them are bucket list trips for me. Also note, the times are from apple maps, but they fluctuate based on traffic.
Los Angeles, 1 hour drive
We went to LA once, but we just went downtown and we didn’t love it. Granted, we’re pretty spoiled with Chicago’s downtown, so our expectations may have been too high. I’d love to go back to LA and explore more residential neighborhoods, drive down Laurel Canyon where the famous artists of the 70s lived, see the Getty Museum, and the Griffith Observatory.
Malibu, 1.5 drive
We went to Malibu to visit the Getty Museum, then had lunch at Malibu Farms Cafe on the pier. Both were stunning and magical in their own way, and I would definitely go back to both! I’d also love to do some horseback riding in the mountains over there.
Joshua Tree National Park, 2 hour drive
I have not gone here, but I’d love to do a styled shoot here! Joshua Tree has a unique desert landscape, with mountainous backgrounds and unique “trees” called Joshua Trees. However, they’re not actually trees, but yucca plants.
La Jolla, 1.25 hour drive
La Jolla is a northern neighborhood in San Diego, and is one of the bougiest, and for good reason. The oceanside cliffs are incredibly gorgeous, plus it’s a favorite spot for sea lions to sunbathe. It’s a perfect spot to see incredible wild life!
San Diego, 1.5 hour drive
San Diego is a fun city to visit if you know what to see! And I say that as someone who is not smitten by San Diego like most people seem to be. There are so many cars. Parking is so hard to find and the traffic seems worse than in Orange County. Nevertheless, there are some great spots, like Sunset Cliffs, Balboa Park, and La Jolla.
Ojai, 2.25 hour drive
Ojai is kind of on the way to Santa Barbara if you go the long way into the mountains. It’s a quirky, charming town that I plan to come to one day! They also boast the world’s largest outdoor bookstore.
Palm Springs, 2 hour drive
Palm Springs is on my bucket list - even though there’s not much to do there, it would be so much fun to rent a cool air bnb or stay at a fun hotel and lounge by the pool all day. It seems so glamorous!
Temecula , 1 hour drive
If you like wine tasting, you have to visit Temecula! It’s California’s second most popular wine tasting spot, after Napa Valley. Temecula has mountains between it and the ocean, so it’s very desert-like. There are 40+ wineries, and it’s very laid back and casual. We went tasting at a couple different spots here and had so much fun!
Catalina Island, 30 minute drive + a ferry ride
A lot of people cite Catalina Island as an American Amalfi Coast… I think that’s a little too far, but I haven’t been there *yet* and hopefully plan to go! There are a lot of marine activities, especially for kids, and it seems like a charming island.
Solvang, 3 hour drive
Solvang is a cute, Danish town just north of Santa Barbara. The architecture is all in Danish style, and it looks like Europe. It’s kind of touristy, but fun!
Santa Barbara, 2.5 hour drive
Santa Barbara is nicknamed “The American Riviera” and I totally back that. We did an overnight trip here and it was incredibly charming! It’s the northernmost part of Southern California, so it has some touches of Northern California to it. It’s a very relaxed, clean town with amazing restaurants, nature, and architecture.
Idyllwild, 2 hour drive
I haven’t gone to Idyllwild, but I hear it’s a very cute, charming mountain town with a lot of outdoor activities. I hear they’re also very dog friendly! My sister-in-law went there with her family and brought their 2 dogs and had the best time!
Channel Islands National Park, 2 hour drive + a ferry ride
5 islands make up the Channel Islands National Park. They’re spread out and are near the coasts of Santa Barbara and LA. There are multiple ferry loading sites. The islands all seem to have a lot of cool aquatic activities and fun hiking. Fun, if you’re an outdoorsy person.
I hope this is helpful, whether you’re looking for a fresh take on Orange County, or visiting for the first time.
Until next time - may your weekend be full of creativity and style.
