Orange+County


 * Travel tips for Orange County, California:**
 * Orange County, CA Wikitravel Website:** []
 * Newport Beach Wikitravel Website**: []
 * Huntington Beach Wikitravel Website**: []
 * Laguna Beach Wikitravel Website**: []
 * Disneyland Wikitravel Website**: []
 * Anaheim Wikitravel W**ebsite: []
 * Anaheim Wikitravel W**ebsite: []


 * Mike Summers - January 2010:**

My wife and I travel to Orange County (SNA) about once a month. YouTube Video from inside the Terminal: []. This can easily be done as a one day trip (or two, or three). Flight 262 leaves Denver at approximately 8:20 AM. It arrives in SNA around 9:35 AM (Pacific Time). We usually rent a car from Thrifty or Avis. If you book it direct from their rental sites, you can always cancel without a fee. Frontier usually uses Gate 21 at SNA. From Gate 21, head directly downstairs. There are bathrooms on either side of the car rental desks where you can change into shorts. There are no rental buses to ride, except for Thrifty. Instead, rental cars are across the street and down one level from bagage claim. We usually drive to Newport Beach. Once you leave the rental facility, follow the signs at the airport exit to the North 405 Freeway. You'll be on McCarthur Avenue heading northeast for about a 1/2 mile before you go North on the 405. Once on the 405, you'll immediately see signs for the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Highway 55). Take the south exit on the 55. You'll drive for approximately 4 miles until the 'freeway' portion of the 55 ends in Costa Mesa (indicated by various traffic lights). Continue on the 55 for another 2 miles where you'll see the exit for California Highway 1 (the 'PCH' or Pacific Coast Highway). If you go north on the PCH, you'll go to Huntington Beach and if you go south on the PCH, you'll go to Laguna Beach. Both are nice, but we prefer to continue on Highway 55 across the bridge into Newport Beach. At 30th Street on the left, there is the Newport Beach Brewing Company (Website: Newport Beach Brew Company: [] ). They have a parking lot in the back. They have a great breakfast on Saturday's and Sunday's. On Sunday's they have bottomless mimosa's (my wife's favorite) for $8.00. My favorite beers are the "Blonde" and the "Wedge-Weizen". After breakfast continue in your original direction on Newport Blvd.

If you want to take a bus and not rent a car, you'll use OCTA (Orange County Transit Authority). Here's a website: [] for planning a trip. Here's a sample trip: []

Map: []

Newport Blvd merges with Balboa Blvd. Follow Balboa Blvd. and park anywhere around 15th Street. There are metered parking spaces in the center of the street, but parking is free on either side or on side streets (certain days/times there is no parking for street sweeping -- read those carefully). You can also proceed to Main Street and turn right. There is a city parking lot by the Balboa Pier that charges by the hour. Along the ocean/beach there is a 3 mile cement sidewalk/bikepath that takes you infront of multi-million dollar homes (some of which you can rent -- I have). From 23rd to 28th Street along the path, there are shops and additional restaurants. My wife and I frequent Mutt Lynch's (23rd and Oceanfront) with it's wide beer and wine selection. It's almost always crowded on weekends, but the menu is wide ranging with some daily weekday specials. Mutt Lynch's Website: []

Jim Campbell likes the Crab Cooker (22nd and Newport Blvd). and JAN CAMPBELL agrees!! Best place ever! Crab Cooker Website: [] or []

Tom Heberlein recommended Woody's Wharf, which is just two blocks from the Crab Cooker along Balboa Blvd. He says: "Woody's has a wonderful menu - tasty cocktails and great food." Their website is www.woodyswharf.com. Give it a try.

You can rent bicycles from any number of shops (we usually don't) and ride if you don't want to walk. The bike path ends at 36th Street. It's well worth your time to turn around and head back toward your parked car toward the other end of the bike path. If you do this, you'll find Palm Street. If you turn North on Palm Street and cross Balboa, you'll come upon the "Fun Zone" and the Balboa Ferry. It costs $1.00 per person to ride the Ferry to the island. You can take a lap around the island and see many more multi-million dollar homes such as JC Penny's former place, George Burn's house, and Shirley Temple's (just to name a few). You can also visit the arcade (or 'Fun Zone') and take a harbor cruise where they will point out these homes and visit a few seals in the harbor.

Fun Zone: []

Newport Beach has two piers. The one near Mutt Lynch's and 23rd Street is the Newport Pier. The one near the Fun Zone is the Balboa Pier. Close to the Balboa Pier is the Cabo Cantina, which has a happy hour starting at 4:00 PM. A great place to sit at the bar and have either guacamole and chips or nachos.

Cabo Cantina: []

If you're making this a day trip, you'll want to think about dinner around 4:30 - 5:00 PM. The last SNA - DEN flight is 269, which leaves SNA at 7:05 or 8:05 PM Pacific Time and arrives in Denver around 10:00 or 11:00 PM Mountain. Any of the above restaurants are good for dinner, but another place with good food and fast service is El Ranchito, which is located on Newport Blvd and 28th Street as you head toward the airport.

El Ranchito: []

As you head back toward the airport on highway 55, remember to stop and fill your gas tank. Rental companies will automatically add a fuel fee if you drive less than 50 or 75 miles. If you stop and fill the tank, make sure to get a receipt and show it at the car rental return. There is a Chevron station near 18th Street in Costa Mesa (not 18th Street in Newport) and a Conoco near 19th Street (both are on the 55, which is Newport Blvd). As you drive to the airport take the 405 SOUTH exit (just past Baker Street) from the 55 freeway. The first exit on the 405 South is MacArthur which is your Airport Exit. From this exit, you'll drive straight into the airport and follow signs for Car Rental return. If you rented from Thrifty, they are south of the terminal where Campus Drive changes to Irvine Drive.

Map: [|http://maps.yahoo.com/index.php?ard=1&q1=Costa%20Mesa%2C%20CA%2092626#mvt=m&lat=33.678577&lon=-117.868512&zoom=15&q1=Costa%20Mesa%2C%20CA%2092626]

If you're at the rental car return by 6:15 - 6:30 PM, you'll be fine. Frontier's counter is the last one in the southwest corner of terminal 3.

If you decide to spend the night, I prefer Hotwire. A four-star hotel is either a Hilton, Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, or Westin, which are all within 5 miles of the airport. Prices run from $59.00 to 89.00 per night (usually around $65.00). It's easy and free to join. I've used this site for over three years.

Hotwire: []

Nearby sites to SNA are Disneyland (Website: [] ) and Knott's Berry Farm (Website: [] ). In addition there is a nice outdoor mall called the Irvine Spectrum, which is south from the Airport on the 405 Freeway. Nice shops, food, theatre, and sights. Also visit the RAINBOW factory outlet for your Famous FlipFlops.

Irvine Spectrum: []

Orange County is a great place to explore, and it's only a 2 hour flight away. There's much more. Feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Here's a YouTube video of take-off from SNA: []

Mike Summers


 * Jenny Heidel - February 2013:**

While on a trip to Orange County, my daughter and I discovered Crystal Cove State Park. The park is located off the Pacific Coast Highway between Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach. We took a short hike down to the beach to explore the tidepools. The park offers backcountry primitive camping, backcountry trails, beach activities, and the very popular Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. (www.crystalcovealliance.org) The park is described as one of Orange County's largest remaining examples of open space and natural seashore. It is a beautiful beach and a nice break from the traffic and congestion. The website is www.crystalcovestatepark.com.

Jenny Heidel


 * Elise Goshorn - January 2013:**

This was my first trip as a Scout after the 30 day wait period. My husband, son and I were invited to our Nephews/Cousins wedding and I was thrilled to be able to go. We all three were able to get on the first flight out from Denver. The trip home was a little longer in the airport. We had to wait for the last flight out, but it's all part of the adventure.

We went to Disneyland ( [] ) for three days before the wedding - if you have a military person in your family you can get a screaming deal on passes. The only stipulation is that the military personnel has to be with you the first day your use the ticket. This is for retired military as well. Visit the new Cars Land in California Adventure - what a gas!! The Christmas decorations were still up while we were there and the Haunted Mansion has a Nightmare Before Christmas theme.

We rented a car from Enterprise (no charge if you don't show up). Stayed at a Best Western across the street from Disney. This BW did NOT have breakfast every day like most do, but there is a Denny's right next door. The hot tub was most welcome after a full day at the park. We were able to walk to the park, though it is probably close to 3/4 of a mile from the gates.

So much fun - I'm very blessed to be part of this Scout Family!!

Happy Travels!