In the early days of the 21st century, the TV show “The OC” turned Orange County
into a pop culture sensation, if not a little bit of a running joke.
But as anyone who has visited Orange County can tell you, the amount of gorgeous and fun
activities you can find is certainly no joke.
From huge names like Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm to historical sites like Mission
San Juan Capistrano, to beautiful natural spaces like Crystal Cove, Orange County is
rife with incredible places to visit.
In this video, we’re taking a look at some of the many top things to do and see in the
area.
So stay tuned, as Viewcation presents, the Best Things to Do in Orange County, California!
Disneyland Ok, let’s get this first one out of the
way because it’s the thing that first pops to mind when you think about the attractions
in Orange County, CA.
Disney’s theme parks have long been a source of unending happiness and fun for families
and kids of all ages.
And the Disneyland Resort, located in Anaheim, is the original park that started things off.
By the time the park was created, Disney had already come a long way since its origins
in Los Feliz, California.
But when theme parks got added into the mix, it propelled the Disney name to new heights.
Fortunately, they have made it a priority to keep up with the changing times.
Over the years, they’ve added new rides, new areas of the park, more concessions, and
on and on.
Prime examples of this are the hue Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area and the Avengers Campus.
So it doesn’t feel like you’re stuck in the days of yesteryear as you walk around
the park.
And at the same time, they’ve kept enough of the original components of the park and
honored its long-time traditions, so that it still feels like the Disney park you grew
up with.
The park is set up for a multi-day visit, but it’s also possible to head there for
one day and pack in as much fun as you can.
If you’re going to be there for multiple days, a great option is to buy a Park Hopper
ticket, which will give you access to both the main Disneyland campus, as well as California
Adventure.
The latter has the Avengers area, the Pixar Pier, and a lot of other great rides and amenities
too.
And of course, the main campus has all the rides, food, Disney characters, and fun that
you and your kids could ever ask for.
Dana Point Dana Point is a gorgeous spot on the water
that it perhaps best known for being the place where ferries head over to the nearby Catalina
Island.
But it’s also a fantastic spot to visit on its own.
The harbor at Dana Point is a great place to get involved in water activities like paddleboarding,
boating, and some of the best whale watching and dolphin watching in the area.
To see gray whales, head there in the winter, and to see blue whales, head there in the
summer.
And either way, there are excellent options for whale-watching cruises that you can buy
tickets for.
Even if you’re not looking to get out on the water and see marine life, Dana Point
Harbor is an excellent place to simply stroll around, checking out the local shops and stopping
in for a bite to eat at one of the restaurants along the coast.
And if you’re looking for a real fancy time on vacation, you could always check into the
Ritz-Carlton that sits in Dana Point.
It’s as luxurious as you’d expect from that hotel chain, though it’ll set you back
a pretty penny.
Crystal Cove Orange County is a great spot for lovers of
the outdoors, and Crystal Cove is a prime example of that.
It’s a state park that boasts more than 18 miles of trails for hiking, but what perhaps
sets it apart from other state parks are the tide pools.
There are four viewing areas that you can check out, where the low tide will reveal
a ton of incredible marine life.
You can see starfish, hermit crabs, anemones, and occasionally octopi.
It’s an awesome experience for anyone interested in aquatic life.
If you’re looking for a fun place to stay, you can opt for a night in the historic district
that lies within the park.
Reserve one of the 21 seaside cottages (part of 46 total) that were constructed in the
early 20th century, and have been kept in great condition.
They have also been utilized in a lot of Hollywood productions as well, including 1988’s “Beaches.”
Mission San Juan Capistrano This mission, created more than two centuries
ago, is referred to as the birthplace of Orange County.
It was the 7th mission built in the state (out of 21 total) and it’s a great place
to visit for a sense of the history of the area.
You can get a tour of the mission, which includes a chapel, a garden, as well as a great museum.
And you can also opt to stay right next door to the mission at the Inn at mission San Juan
Capistrano.
You can look out at the mission from one of the hotel’s balconies, which also provide
a great view of the rest of town.
Plus the hotel has a private and romantic olive grove that is ideal for strolling around
during the day, or for enjoying a glass of wine in during the evenings.
Knott's Berry Farm Sure, if you’re going to head to one theme
park in Orange, you’re likely to choose Disneyland.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider also visiting Knotts Berry Farm.
If you ask them, they’ll tell you that they’re actually the OG California theme park.
And they may have a point.
After all, Knots Berry Farm literally started out as a tiny family farm in the early 1900s.
In 1923, the owner of the farm, Walter Knott, opened up a roadside berry stand.
But over the next two decades, the stand had expanded to include nearly restaurants, shops,
and some tourist attractions like a recreated 1800’s style ghost town.
Over the next several years, more and more amusement park elements were added in, and
they started charging admission to the property in 1968.
By the late ’90s, the park had come to be valued at $300 million.
Not too shabby, considering it started as a roadside berry stand!
You’ll love their variety of amusements, like a water park, a bunch of rollercoasters,
a ghost town, and more.
They also have a long-standing partnership with “Peanuts” so you can meet the characters
like Charlie Brown and Lucy in the Camp Snoopy area.
And of course, true to its name, the park hosts a yearly boysenberry festival.
Similar to Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm does tend to get quite crowded.
So your best option is to buy a Fast Lane pass, otherwise, you might spend a lot of
your day waiting to get on the rides!
Anaheim Packing District This warehouse-turned food hall is a great
place to find a huge variety of lunch or dinner options.
Back in the day (1919 to be precise) it was built for the Sunkist company to serve as
a packaging plant.
But, like many old industrial spaces, it was eventually turned into a giant hall, full
of vendors selling food from all over the world.
You can grab a bite from more than 25 spots, varying from boba tea to crepes, to exotic
cotton candy.
There are even some booze options, like cocktails from The Blind Rabbit.
And when you’ve made your choice of food and drink, you can go sit in the gorgeous
atrium that lies in the middle of the hall.
It comes equipped with seating, swings, and a bevy of sunlight and plants.
International Surfing Museum Huntington Beach is a popular area fro anyone
seeking a fun day basking in the sun, grabbing a bite at some great seafood spots, and generally
enjoying the ocean.
But what sets it apart from other local beaches is that it’s known as “Surf City” because
of how important it’s been to surfing in the area.
And the International Surfing Museum pays tribute to that distinction.
Founded by a Canadian woman named Natalie Kotsch (who wasn’t a surfer herself – just
a big fan of the sport) in 1987, the museum boasts a collection of boards and surfing
memorabilia that will bring a smile to any fan of surfing.
And perhaps most notably the museum houses a 42-foot-long surfboard that is recognized
as the largest in the world.
You can find photos of it in the Guinness Book of World Records, in fact, 66 people
surfed atop it at one time.
If you’re at the museum on a Sunday, you might be able to catch some live music during
one of their “Surfin’ Sundays” events, as well as some tasty grub from a variety
of vendors.
The museum isn’t overwhelmingly big, so it won’t take up too much of your day.
But you’ll probably be happy to get back out into the Cali sun anyway, as you can explore
the rest of Huntington Beach.
Obviously when it comes to an entire county, (and one as vast and plentiful as Orange,
there are going to be plenty of attractions that we couldn’t fit into this video.
So we encourage you to visit and see for yourself!
These are great starting point, and you’ll be amazed at how much more Orange County has
to offer.
Now it’s time to hear from you.
Have you ever been to Orange County, California?
If so, did we miss any of your favorite spots?
If not, do you think you’ll ever get there?
Let us know in the comments section below.