Adventures in Anaheim Head to the Beach
Orange County's 42 miles of beautiful coastline and beach cities illustrate the definitive Southern California retreat. Orange County beaches reflect an active California lifestyle, filled with an abundance of coastal recreation. Surf spots, vintage neighbourhoods, boutiques, art galleries, sport fishing, whale watching and scenic views of nature are just some of the things you'll find along Orange County's coastal communities.
Huntington Beach:
The city's moniker, Surf City USA®, pretty much says it all. From surf-wear shops and local wave-rider hangouts to suntanned surfers in search of that perfect wave, you can't help but dive into this beach town's infectious surf culture. In fact, Huntington Beach hosts the annual Vans US Open of Surfing. The open is the world's largest surf competition and lifestyle festival showcasing, world-class surfing, skateboarding and BMX competitions, movie premieres and more.
Main Street is lined with the 'Surfing Walk of Fame’, a beachside answer to Hollywood Boulevard. The many surfing schools scattered around Downtown make Huntington a perfect place to get out there and ride the waves or watch locals from the safety of the sand or the pier.
Beachfront loungers, lively breweries, distilleries and cocktails on the sand - Huntington is one of the best party spots in Orange County…maybe in all of Southern California. While its bars are legendary there is a lot more to do here than just bar hopping.
For beautiful views, you will want to visit Downtown Huntington Beach, situated just across the Pacific Coast Highway from the majestic Huntington Beach Pier. Here you can explore the Surf City Nights Certified Farmers Market every Tuesday evening on Main Street. If you want to get away from the city buzz, check out Huntington Harbour. This gorgeous system of man-made islands has bars and restaurants like Downtown but with a quieter feel.
Newport Beach:
From strolling around Balboa Island grabbing a frozen banana to basking in the seaside charm, Newport Beach is Orange County’s most family friendly beach city. Filled with miles of sandy beaches, the largest small-craft yacht harbour in the United States and championship golf courses, Newport Beach encompasses a variety of aquatic recreational activities, including kayaking in the Newport Back Bay and relaxing on a chartered harbour cruise.
As you go inland, the Newport Bay becomes the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, a tranquil bird sanctuary in the middle of bustling Southern California. The Peninsula ends in a point that is known as The Wedge, which is one of the most famous surf beaches anywhere on the coast. Right across the Corona del Mar Bend is Corona del Mar State Beach, which offers fire-pits and world-class surfing on a pristine beach.
The kids will love a trip on the ferry to the Balboa Peninsula, where they are dropped off right in front of the Balboa Fun Zone. This classic amusement park
is centred round a Ferris wheel that offers a birds-eye view of the ocean and harbour. From there families can learn about marine life at the Discovery Cube’s Ocean Quest and then walk the pier or spend some time on Balboa Beach soaking up the sun. Don’t miss the ocean-fresh seafood available around the harbour.
Laguna Beach:
Seaside community, Laguna Beach, was discovered by a group of landscape painters in the 1920s and quickly became a destination of choice for the artistically inclined. With posh hillside mansions, trendy shopping areas and a rugged coastline of cliffs leading to secluded sandy beaches, it's a great place to discover hidden gems and relax in a low-key setting.
A trip to Orange County isn’t complete without a visit to Laguna Beach. Laguna is a refined upscale beach city, regularly listed as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It’s the Hollywood star residents and their ocean-view mansions that have earned this area’s nickname...The Gold Coast. It offers natural, artistic beauty and the combination of creative glamour and surfer chill makes Laguna Beach a great representation of Orange County in the media and in real life.
There is so much to explore here, from hiking to the ‘Top of the World’ and seeing Orange County from above, to walking seemingly endless beaches to discover the century-old Pirate Tower.
Crystal Cove State Park is Laguna’s must-visit site. This park combines miles of gorgeous beaches with a mountain section that includes some of the most scenic and easily-accessible hiking in Southern California. And if you’re here on the weekend, be sure to take a ride on the free trolley through Laguna Beach.
Tide pools and a network of sea caves to explore make Laguna Beach the most adventurous beach town in Southern California. Visiting Heisler Park will help you find the best tide pools Laguna Beach has to explore. 1,000 Steps Beach is indeed a steep descent, but the turquoise tide pools are worth the walk. The colourful beach cave here is often cited as the most beautiful in the entire state.