Page 129 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

OCEAN IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK; JON BILOUS/SHUTTERSTOCK; KIT LEONG/SHUTTERSTOCK. OPPOSITE: JON BILOUS/SHUTTERSTOCK
SUNSET AT LAGUNA BEACH,
opposite; preparing to snorkel
in San Clemente, left; Hilltop
Park in Dana Point, top;
Anaheim Regional Intermodal
Transit Center, above.
SPECIAL
»
EVENTS 2017
DANA POINT WHALE FESTIVAL March 4-5, 11-12, Dana Point festivalofwhales.org
SWALLOWS’ DAY PARADE AND MERCADO STREET FAIRE March 25,
San Juan Capistrano swallowsparade.com
BATTLE OF THE MARIACHIS May 13, Mission San Juan Capistrano missionsjc.com
SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL June 30-Sept. 3, Laguna Beach sawdustartfestival.org
HUNTINGTON BEACH 4TH OF JULY PARADE July 4, Huntington Beach hb4thofjuly.org
PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS July 7-Aug. 31, Laguna Beach foapom.com
TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL Sept. 8-10, Dana Point Harbor tallshipsfestival.com
NEWPORT BEACH CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE Dec. 13-17, Newport Beach
christmasboatparade.com
»
MUST
SEE,
DO
» Disneyland Resort The wait for the as-yet
unscheduled opening of Star Wars Land is a good
time to take advantage of the “Walk in Walt’s
Disneyland Footsteps” behind-the-scenes tour. Uncle
Walt might not have seen “Star Wars” coming, but
participants will learn just what a visionary he was—
and take a spin on some classic rides along the way.
› disneyland.disney.go.com
» Old Towne Orange This one square mile of
Early California houses handsome Victorian,
Craftsman, Bungalow and Spanish architecture.
Among the locally owned shops, galleries, fountains
and pretty sidewalk cafés are the county’s oldest
operating bank and soda fountain. The one thing that
must not be missed is the Old Towne Orange Walking
Food Tour.
› iheartoldtowneorange.com
› oldtownorangewalkingfoodtours.com
» Laguna Beach and Pageant of the Masters
Remaining true to its origins as a small artists’ colony
in the early 1900s, Laguna Beach stages many
festivals, galleries and abundant public art. Its pièce
de résistance is Pageant of the Masters, 90 minutes
of living art tableaux in which costumed people
portray some world art masterpieces with eerie
fidelity.
› visitlagunabeach.com
› foapom.com
» Balboa Island Ferry Fun-seekers can drive,
bicycle or walk onto the ferry for the short crossing
to this manmade island in Newport Harbor.
Diversions include viewing classic beach bungalow
architecture, parasailing, a fishing pier and the
Balboa Fun Zone—a mini version of California’s old
seaside amusement parks. Getting there truly is half
the fun.
› balboaislandferry.com
› explorebalboaisland.com
› thebalboafunzone.com
» Diamond Jamboree Irvine’s answer to the
question of where to start sampling the OC’s
abundant ethnic food is a collection of 20-plus
international eateries serving fare originating
primarily in Taiwan, Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam
and Thailand. Wildly popular with UC students, it
has a comfortable collegiate air. Be prepared:
Parking is a challenge.
› diamond-jamboree.com
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 127