Tourism
Attractions, Entertainment, Dining & Lodging
The Orange County area welcomes visitors year-round from all over to experience what makes being a part of this community so great. Local and regional attractions and eclectic dining establishments dot the map of Orange County, which are sure to fill up a whole day, weekend or week. And at the end of the day, the area offers a number of lodging options ready to cater to your every need.
Attractions nearby include Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure in nearby Anaheim, along with Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Water Park in Buena Park. For the sports enthusiast, visit Angel Stadium of Anaheim to catch a professional ball game, or venture over to the 17,000-plus-seat Honda Center to watch the Anaheim Ducks dominate on the ice.
A local attraction not to be missed is the Orange County Zoo, located within the 477-acre Irvine Regional Park in East Orange. The eight-acre zoo not only exhibits native animals in this Southwestern region of the United States, but it also displays local flora and fauna. The Orange County Zoo is open throughout the year, and admission is a low-cost $2.00 for children three years of age and older (children two years and younger are free).
If you’re in the area during Labor Day weekend, be sure to take part in Orange’s biggest annual event, the Orange International Street Fair, which draws in over 400,000 people to the Plaza in Old Towne over the three-day weekend. Costumes, music, dance and food vendors line the streets of the district during this widely popular event. All proceeds from the OISF goes to local non-profit charities. Additional annual events in Orange include 3rd of July, Treats in the Streets, the Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Veteran’s Day celebration.
Growing in popularity each summer is Hart Park’s Summer Concert Series, which showcases an array of musical performances each Wednesday night from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Neighboring Tustin also hosts a summertime Concerts in the Park series in Peppertree Park.
For the historical buff, Orange County is home to a number of interesting historical sites including Dairy Treet, Orange’s oldest burger stand; the Grijalva Adobe Site, the original location of Juan Pablo Grijalva’s Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana home; and Watson Drugs & Soda Fountain, the oldest drugstore in the county, as well as the sole on-going business in the city.
Not to be missed is The Plaza and Old Towne Orange Historic District, which has been continually voted as the county’s most popular downtown area. Hailing as the largest National Register district in the state, outdoor dining and quaint specialty shops line the streets of this four-block Main Street, USA district. The beautiful architectural styles are notable, offering a glance back in Orange’s history.
Old Town Tustin is another historically rich part of this region, housing buildings that date back to the 1880s. The Tustin Area Historical Society operates a local history museum in this downtown district, which features a large collection of information and photographs depicting Tustin, yesterday and today. Visitors to Old Town are also invited to follow the “Take Main Street to Tustin History” sidewalk tour in order to get a better glimpse of historic Tustin.
The Block at Orange is one of the area’s top venues for entertainment, shopping and dining. It offers a movie theater, a trendy bowling alley/nightclub mix, a skate park and chic shops, along with great restaurants and breweries.
Taming those appetites is a cinch in Orange County, an area that is teeming with everything from fast-food fixes and casual environments to fine-dining eateries. Eclectic menus cater to every appetite and occasion, with a mixture of old favorites and modern dishes. Hungry diners savor everything from delicious appetizers and salads, pizza and BBQ to prime steak, seafood and globally-infused cuisine from various parts of the world.
Amenity-filled accommodations are easy to come by in Orange County, with everything from cozy bed and breakfasts and economical hotels to spacious suites and luxury rooms. Business-minded travelers and leisure tourists will all find a comfortable place to rest and relax. A blend of quality in-room and on-site conveniences, coupled with excellent customer service, make one’s stay in Orange County a pleasure every time.
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