Page 116 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

SURFER at Laguna Beach, right.
mission, Yorba Linda’s Nixon Presidential
Library and restored Victorian homes in
Santa Ana and Orange. Shoppers head to
glam malls in Costa Mesa and Newport
Beach, while Huntington Beach has a
vibrant downtown beside the sea.
The Great Outdoors
Orange County is packed with natural
wonders. Its 42 miles of prime SoCal coast-
line contain famed surf spots (Huntington
Beach, the Wedge at Newport Beach), yacht
harbors (Newport Beach, Dana Point),
Crystal Cove State Park’s protected under-
water reserve and wilderness, and several
wetlands reserves filled with birds. Inland,
wild canyons and parks are filled with end-
less hiking and biking trails. In active OC,
exercise options are always close at hand.
Family Fun
Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm make
Orange County an ideal family vacation
destination, and there are far more places
to explore. Kids and parents get a thrill out
of Sky Zone Anaheim’s indoor trampolines
and more than 100 hands-on exhibits and
4D theater at Santa Ana’s Discovery Science
Center, while the sharks at Long Beach’s
aquarium offer plenty of thrills.
114 2014 T R AV E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A
INSIDER’S
»
TIP
Orange County is a culinary
paradise for those who love
ethnic food. About one-third of
the county’s population is of
Latino descent and 18 percent
have Asian roots. India and
Samoa also have significant
representation, along with Italy,
France, Greece and other
nations. All come together in
August for Irvine’s OC FOODIE
FEST, where gourmands gather
around dozens of gourmet food
trucks. Nearly every ethnic
group has an annual festival
somewhere in Orange County,
and vendors selling everything
from crepes to pho satisfy
cravings at weekly farmers
markets in Costa Mesa,
Huntington Beach, Tustin
and other communities. Check
out orangecounty.net for
a list of markets and
visittheoc.com/things-to-do/
best/cultures-festivals-ethnic-
cuisine for more ethnic info.
SEBASTIEN BUREL/SHUTTERSTOCK