Orange County

Days when Disneyland, 42 miles of idyllic beaches and swaths of orange groves were all that lifted “The O.C.” out of Los Angeles’ shadow are long gone. Orange County today is a diverse collection of cities counting famous surf breaks, historic missions, art colonies and scenic marinas among its attractions.

While beach towns—from surf-centric Huntington Beach to tony Newport to artsy Laguna to serene San Clemente—still embody the casual, creative California of popular imagination, inland cities have grown into shopping, entertainment and sports meccas. Irvine—encompassing a University of California campus, the evolving Orange County Great Park and several “villages”—was the vanguard of a trend toward master-planned communities in recent decades.

Defying the suburban stereotype, Orange County cities possess distinct personalities. Even Anaheim, with its modern convention center, revival of the historic Center Street Promenade commerce district, and bustling Packing District, has distinguished itself from the Magic Kingdom. About 30 percent of OC residents hail from another country, and English is a second language for more than 45 percent; Little Saigon is among the largest Vietnamese communities outside of Vietnam. A true melting pot, the county hosts a dizzying array of international food, festivals, markets and cultural events.

Performance venues such as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the South Coast Repertory are sprinkled throughout the county. Destination shopping malls, including Irvine Spectrum, Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island in Newport Beach, vie with dozens of local shopping districts.

Sports fans cheer the Los Angeles Angels at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Anaheim Ducks hockey team at Honda Center, which doubles as a big-name concert venue. Fifty courses and a temperate climate await golfers, while hotel and day spas stand ready to soothe aches and tone muscles.