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Scott Mansfield
Southern California
Southern California
Discover Orange County
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Whether it’s manicured beach towns or celebrated theme parks, all framed by oceanfront towns and luxury yachts, “The OC” stands out as one of the state’s most iconic destinations. The always-amazing Disneyland Resort, roughly a 1-hour drive south of L.A. and 2 hours north of San Diego, continues to be one of the best-loved theme parks in the world, while Knott’s Berry Farms and other OC attractions amp up the fun meter.
“Surfing is like golf. . . it keeps knocking you down. But when you stay with it and catch that wave. . . magic.” — actor Dennis Quaid
Shop at spectacular South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, or get the surfer look in Huntington Beach, aka Surf City, USA.
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Jon Bilous/Alamy
Orange County’s Best Beaches
Visit these four idyllic, sun-drenched stretches of sand in Southern California
With 42 miles of sandy coastline and a string of small, eclectic beach towns, Orange County delivers the quintessential Southern California...
Mike's Birds/Flickr
Montage Laguna Beach
Craftsman grace and timeless coastal beauty
With works by noted California artists in the lobby and guest rooms and a classic wood-and-stone Craftsman design, the ultra-luxurious oceanfront...
Trace Rouda/Getty Images
Laguna Beach
With its art scene and unique coastline, this Orange County town may be literally picture perfect
The Orange County town of Laguna Beach gets to have it both ways:...
4 Incredible Resorts in Orange County
Enjoy unparalleled views, world-class golf, fine dining, and much more at these high-end destinations
With long stretches of golden sand, prime surfing spots, excellent dining, and top golf courses, the good life doesn’t get much better than along...
Courtesy of Disneyland Resort
Spotlight: Disneyland Resort
Just saying the name sets a child’s face glowing
The undisputed granddaddy of theme parks, Disneyland Resort has been leading the...
The magic of Disneyland, walking through the tunnel underneath the train station to Main Street, it just transports you to other places and other times.
Carsten Erler/Getty Images
Spotlight: Anaheim
This Southern California city is home to much more than Disneyland
With its welcoming vibe and unbeatable attractions, this lively city on Orange County’s northwest side is a popular destination for visitors from...
Courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm
Spotlight: Knott’s Berry Farm
Play at the theme park that was launched out of a family farm
The boysenberry is a hybrid berry—part loganberry, raspberry, and blackberry—and Knott’s Berry...
Courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm
Buena Park
Feast on boysenberries, ride coasters, and take in some shows
A few miles from Anaheim, Buena Park first found fame around a small family farm—and...
Courtesy of Visit California
3 Distinctive Orange County Shopping Experiences
Retail therapy is a time-honored tradition in the O.C., and these three destinations deserve a visit
A charming collection of shops on the...
Jon Bilous/Alamy
Newport Beach
Old California charm and laid-back surfer vibes meet modern glamour
Look one way in Newport Beach, and you’ll see oceanfront mansions and a yacht-...
Courtesy of Pelican Hill
The Resort at Pelican Hill
Indulge in Mediterranean elegance, world-class golf courses, and five-star service at this Newport Beach resort
Tuscan elegance paired with panoramic ocean views is central to the eternal allure of...
Courtesy of Visit California
Culinary Guide to Orange County
From acclaimed French bistros to thriving food courts, the restaurant scene in this SoCal region is thriving
It’s not an overstatement to say chef Florent...
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
O.C. Shopping
Discover boutique brands and bargains
Shopping in The O.C. is almost as legendary as surfing. Start at expansive South Coast Plaza, California’s largest luxury shopping complex, with...
Courtesy of Visit California
The Sophisticated Side of Orange County
Take a helicopter ride, shop at world-class boutiques, and enjoy the seemingly endless bounty of this SoCal destination
Orange County is famous for its epic coastline and year-round sunshine, but what may not...
Courtesy of South Coast Plaza
Costa Mesa
This Orange County town spoils both foodies and shoppers
Although it was named after its topography—“coastal tableland”—Costa Mesa has...
Mitch Diamond/Getty Images
Irvine
This centrally located Orange County city is the perfect home base for shopping, dining, and kid-friendly exploring
Irvine’s central location—45 miles from Los Angeles, 85 from San Diego, and 15 minutes from...
OC Stock Photos 2016
Irvine Spectrum Center
With a Ferris wheel and Spanish ambience, this shopping center expands the definition of “mall”
Southern California is known for its sunny, open-air shopping centers, but this outdoor mall in the heart of Orange County ups the ante with...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Where to release your inner fashionista
Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you're in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you'll find it here. Want to sample fresh produce? Try our farmers...
Courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge
The hotel-meets-water-park chain brings its all-weather family fun to Orange County
At first glance, a completely indoor water-park hotel might seem unnecessary in sunny Orange County. Fans of the Great Wolf Lodge brand, however,...
The Howlin’ Tornado water slide at Great Wolf Lodge near Anaheim is as tall as a six-story building.
Thomas H. Story/ Sunset Publishing
Orange County Surfing & Surf Culture
Take a lesson or just watch pros carve it up
Orange County’s surfing tradition dates back more than 100 years, when pioneering Hawaiian surfer George Freeth performed wave-riding...
Orange County is the cultural center of the surf world and Huntington Beach is like the heartbeat.
Kodiak Greenwood
Huntington Beach
Southern California’s surf culture makes waves on this sandy city’s shoreline
The endless summer was born in Huntington Beach. Surfing forefathers George Freeth and...
Fortune Live Media/Flickr
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Mediterranean splendor in The O.C.
Set like a wedding cake on cliffs high above crashing Pacific waves, this snow-white, Mediterranean-style ...
Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776, was the first winery in California.
Behind The Lens/Getty Images
Dana Point
Begin your Highway One odyssey in this scenic town with views over the ocean bluffs
The southern origin of California’s Highway 1 winds through some gorgeous locations, like beach town and ...
Courtesy of Monarch Beach Resort
Monarch Beach Resort
Relaxed sophistication in charming Dana Point
Beyond the Mediterranean–style exterior of this perfectly manicured resort, you’ll find posh but not ornate contemporary rooms and suites. This...
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
Crystal Cove State Park
Stroll a perfect beach with an intriguing past
In 1912, an early Laguna Beach artist described finding a rugged coastline “with cove after cove and headland after headland, golden cliffs and...
Liz Boyd/Alamy
Santa Ana
Orange County’s largest city boasts a walkable downtown with an emerging arts and culinary scene
Not showy or sassy like some of Orange County’s more touristy towns, Santa...
July - August
Arguably one of the most unique events in the world, the Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters in...
Courtesy of Paegent of the Masters
Courtesy of Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
The Orange County museum offers a fascinating look at a turbulent time
Walk through the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum to explore a...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Unleash the kid within at California’s ultimate playgrounds
From Disneyland classics to beachfront carousels, the Golden State’s best-in-class theme parks deliver something for everyone. Take a tram ride to tour movie back lots at Universal Studios...
Lucas Himovitz
SPECIAL FEATURE
Get into the coastal vibe
Maybe it’s the sun-streaked hair, the frequent smiles, the eyes always gazing west, looking to the horizon to see when the next set might roll in. It’s the unmistakable look and vibe of a...
CLIF Bar/Mason Mashon
California Questionnaire: Greg Long
Although he’s traveled the globe in search of big waves, this professional surfer will always call California home
California native Greg Long has carved out a name in the world of competitive big wave surfing by conquering the most challenging waves on the...
July/August
With a nickname like “Surf City, U.S.A.,” Huntington Beach is the obvious place for the...
William Fovall/Flickr
Courtesy of Brian Huskey
California Questionnaire: Brian Huskey
The Top Chef alum loves riding his bike to work, taking road trips, and vacationing at Lake Tahoe
Brian Huskey first came to national attention in 2013 when he competed on season 11 of Bravo TV’s Top Chef, set in New Orleans. The...
October
Get dressed up to party at the multitude of special events that make up the Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival, in the...
Pacific Coast Highway South
Perfect architecture, and perfect setting. Santa Barbara, aka “The American Riviera” enjoys a dreamy Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunny days and mild winters. Add wine country producing, award-winning vintages, outdoor adventures...
End your trip at this sunny, waterfront city. Downtown, shop the many independent boutiques throughout the historic Gaslamp Quarter, or catch a baseball game at Petco Park. See the giant pandas...
SPECIAL FEATURE
From Gold Rush history to the 8th wonder of the world, visit these favorites
Amy Meredith/Flickr
Golf in Orange County
Tee up at top courses, with some ocean views
With ideal Southern California weather and some of the country’s most celebrated courses, Orange County justly earns the nickname “California Golf...
Every year, the Orange County Great Park Balloon dons a smiling jack-o-lantern mask, marking the unofficial start of fall in Orange County.
California
California’s northeast corner is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, with safe-to-explore volcanoes, hushed forests, and trout-filled rivers. This is the place for blue-ribbon...
California
Snow-covered peaks in winter, gushing waterfalls in spring, wildflower meadows and glistening lakes in summer, vibrant colors in fall—this is a land of dramatic and wild...
Discover the San Francisco Bay Area
Food Network fans know Tyler Florence as the debonair celebrity chef who is passionate about great cuisine and living well. San Francisco residents—and foodies who flock...