Top Things to do in Orange County
Top Hotels in Orange County
- 1. The Westin Anaheim Resort
- 2. The Anaheim Hotel
- 3. Capri Laguna On The Beach
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort Convention Center
- 5. Cortona Inn & Suites Anaheim Resort
- 6. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
- 7. Best Western Los Alamitos Inn & Suites
- 8. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Anaheim Maingate
- 9. Kings Inn Anaheim
- 10. The Westin Anaheim Resort
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Orange County, Orange County
Beyond its epic theme parks and perfect weather, Orange County is celebrated for outdoor dining, entertainment and beach-bound adventure. Treat yourself at South Coast Plaza for the finest in luxury shopping and superlative restaurants. Spend an afternoon aboard a whale watching cruise in Newport Harbor, or cast a reel from the Huntington Beach Pier. Stop to smell the flowers at the Sherman Library and Gardens, or explore Laguna’s vast variety of boutique shops along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Restaurants in Orange County
1. Heisler Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,297 reviews
Reviewed By RalphR193 - Farmington, United States
Long walking path well above sea level with great ocean views, great landscaping, e. g. flowers, palm trees, etc. Public rest room building and plenty of close by parking. Charcoal grill and picnic area for public use. Not much seating along the way. Very enjoyable.
2. Dana Strands Beach
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Z4886QWannev - Monterey, United States
If you are looking for a beautiful beach for a walk, surfing, tide pools and to watch surfer Strands beach is the to go to. I moved away from Orange County four years ago and when I visit this is the first beach I want to visit.
3. Irvine Spectrum Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,185 reviews
Irvine Spectrum Center is one of Southern California's most popular shopping, dining and entertainment lifestyle destinations. The center features Nordstrom and Target, along with more than 130 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues, including Improv Comedy Club and Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 IMAX & RPX.
Reviewed By rdsw - Grand Rapids, United States
This place has it all! It is the most beautiful outdoor mall, with fountains, lights, greenery. Great shopping and plenty of restaurants are available. A large movie theater, outdoor screen, Ferris wheel, and other entertainment are located here. Our family especially loves coming here at night at Christmas time.
4. Bowers Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 396 reviews
Take a trip around the globe at the Bowers Museum! Opened in 1936, the Bowers prides itself on showcasing world-class arts and cultures in a warm, inviting space located in the heart of Orange County. Bowers has been voted "Best Museum in Orange County" by OC Register for 26 years and has organized more than 50 special exhibitions in just the past 15 years in partnership with some of the greatest museums in the world. Recent highlights include blockbusters such as Terra Cotta Warriors, Mummies: Treasures from the British Museum, Guo Pei: Couture Beyond, and Inside the Walt Disney Archives. Over 100,000 square feet and surrounded by lush gardens, the Bowers campus includes a 296 seat auditorium, 12,000 square feet of event space, a Patina-owned Tangata Restaurant, a robust Gallery Store, 8 permanent exhibitions, and spectacular featured exhibits on rotation, to ensure a full day of engaging fun with every visit. Bowers Museum, bringing the world to you.
Reviewed By TommyTucker321 - Beverly Hills, United States
Don’t rush through here like somebody trying escape from a burning building. This museum offers much to see and enjoy for all ages. Take your time and immerse yourself in the culture and history of a people and place long forgotten.
5. Mission San Juan Capistrano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,583 reviews
Famous for the Annual Return of the Swallows, Mission San Juan Capistrano, historic landmark and museum, welcomes over 300,000 visitors each year. Enhance your visit with our multi-language Audio Tour available in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian and now offered free with admission. Enjoy permanent exhibits featuring historic and religious artifacts, precious and rare paintings, and more. Experience the tradition of bell ringing daily honoring the legacy of Saint Junipero Serra, who founded the Mission in 1776. Visit the newly conserved Serra Chapel, California’s only chapel still standing where Saint Serra celebrated Mass and where the Eucharist has been celebrated daily.
Reviewed By HBSnowFlower - Huntington Beach, United States
Walking through the nearly 250-year-old mission is stepping into California’s Spanish Catholic history. I went to see the Christmas lights, illuminating the mission grounds two weeks ago, and it was like dropping into a time capsule. Beyond exploring the early padres’ simple rooms and the ruins of the old church, there are several exhibits essential to California’s mission and native history long before statehood. Be sure to see the small but stunning chapel – California’s only surviving chapel where Father Serra celebrated Mass. Recently canonized, Serra is renowned for starting the first nine of the 21 missions in California, starting with San Diego. Check the mission’s web site for special events like summer concerts and the annual battle of the mariachis.
6. Crystal Cove State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,230 reviews
Reviewed By 691ac - Los Angeles, United States
This is such a special place to visit! Starting with the short bus ride from the parking lot to the beach, this park is worth at least half a day to visit. You can walk around the cottages, and spend time on the beach. There are various hiking trails on the grounds and the Beachcomber restaurant of course. It is a lovely and serene place to visit.
7. Newport Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,447 reviews
Reviewed By 723lisak - Richmond, Canada
Newport Beach is a beautiful area that always feels safe and is so clean. They take pride in their beautiful piece of paradise and it shows.
8. The Irvine Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 77 reviews
With the acquisition of The Irvine Museum Collection in 2016 and the addition of The Buck Collection in 2017, the University of California, Irvine has become home to a significant collection of California art ranging from 19th-century California Impressionism and plein air to Post-War Contemporary. To take full advantage of these assets and bridge the campus and regional community, the university founded the UCI Institute and Museum of California Art (IMCA) in 2018, with plans to construct a new museum on campus within the next few years.
Reviewed By citronjimmerz - Irvine, United States
What I learned from the speakers at tonight’s opening of their new exhibit. That during the earliest exploration of the American West, artists were included to record scenes of the discoveries. No cameras existed at the time. Even later with photography, artists were still included to record color, only black and white film or plates then. Without their contributions people could easily say that these places did not exist. With the donation of all the Irvine Museum’s works of art to UCI, the new name is now The Institute and Museum of California Art. UCI IMCA for all future references. As members we are invited to several of the openings each year. We run into old friends, make new ones, meet and chat with artists who attend, and at times meet owners of paintings on loan from Private Collections. People watching is great here, the art is spectacular, and the food is truly delicious bites of tuna, lamb, chicken sausage, with desserts of chocolate, strawberry cheesecake and several others. Sparkling wine, white wine and sparking water were served as well. The paintings in this show are mostly landscapes and colorful seascapes, from the Irvine Museum and Buck Collections.
9. Irvine Regional Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 218 reviews
Reviewed By F-F-7676 - Los Angeles, United States
This park is a really nice one, pretty large and with good parking. Inside this park you can find the OC Zoo, an equestrian center, many picnic areas, a little lake and some more attractions. They have a farmer market once a week and always events and games set up for all the holidays during the year.
10. Balboa Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,423 reviews
Man-made island that features upscale shops, restaurants and an amusement park.
Reviewed By mrbookies - Pleasant Grove, United States
Went with my family early evening in January. Bring a sweatshirt, enjoy a stroll among quaint shops and restaurants, beautiful boats and homes, and be prepared for the best chocolate-dipped ice cream bar you’ll ever have (the Balboa Bar!). If you are feeling adventurous, you can take the public ferry across to the peninsula (not very far).
