15 Great Places to Play in Orange County
Table of Contents
Story and photos by Julie Diebolt Price (unless otherwise indicated)
Anaheim, California is home to the world-famous Disneyland Resort. You can spend days at the Disney homeland in Disneyland Park, California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney. Park Hopper tickets, multi-day tickets, parades, and classic attractions like “It’s a Small World,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “Haunted Mansion” (my favorites) can fill your days and nights until closing.
The “Play Disney Parks” app makes the park even more exciting with family-friendly activities and helps during long waits for attractions. Must-see lands include Fantasy Land and the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. California Adventure Park includes Cars Land, a roller coaster, and many opportunities to mingle with the famous Disney characters and participate in live entertainment.
Downtown Disney is a shopping, entertainment, and dining district geared to all ages. If you want to get some insider scoop from a Disney annual passholder and certified Disney addict, visit Disney Trippers.
1313 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, CA
Learn about the history of Anaheim, the first city in Orange County, at the three-building complex in downtown Anaheim. The Carnegie Library building, built in 1908, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s the only remaining Andrew Carnegie-financed public library left in Orange County. It is now one of the buildings of the Muzeo complex, home of local art, culture, and history.
Admission is free to the Carnegie Gallery, also part of the complex that houses the historical exhibition, “Anaheim: A Walk Through Local History.” Some artifacts included in the exhibit range from fossils and ancient Indian wares to 19th-Century winery and citrus-farming tools – the origins of Anaheim.
The Anaheim Heritage Center, structured for use by students and researchers, employs trained library personnel to assist patrons.
241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, CA
The “Nixon Library” is home to the birthplace, Museum, and helicopter of the 37th President of the United States. It contains approximately 46 million pages of documents, the “White House Tapes,” broadcast video, still photographs, and many State and Public Gifts.
With the primary purpose of the Nixon Library being to educate and inform, you can visit the Research Room, and schools can arrange free tours.
The Museum features multimedia and interactive technologies where you learn about Richard Nixon’s life before, during, and after his presidency and the impact he had on American culture.
Visitors, accompanied by docents, can tour inside the house where Richard Nixon was born. You may also board Army One helicopter that has been restored and is now displayed at the Library
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA
Today, the official name of the professional Major League Baseball team fondly called the Angels, or the Halos, is the Los Angeles Angels. Over the years, ownership and names have changed. Gene Autry, The Singing Cowboy, and The Walt Disney Company were a couple of owners. The City of Anaheim had a significant influence on the team’s name.
All the Los Angeles Angels’ home games have been played at Angel Stadium since its opening in 1966. The halo, near the top of the “Big A” sign, lights up when the team wins either at home or away games.
While Angel Stadium is dedicated to baseball, you can also host social events, corporate meeting, team-building outings, trade shows, the ever-popular tailgate parties, and even wedding receptions. Imagine the Big A lit up just for you!
Angel Stadium
2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806
While the goal of the Ocean Institute is to inspire children to learn, their educational programs and tours are fitting for adults, too.
Learn about sharks in a guided tour with an expert naturalist, join a tidepool hike, or tour the Maddie James Seaside Learning Center. Take a family-friendly harbor walking tour to explore the beauty and history of Dana Point Harbor. You’ll learn about the history and development of the harbor, from Native Americans to the recreational port of today.
Two Tall Ships replicas, the Pilgrim and the Spirit of Dana Point, maintained by Ocean Institute, offer high seas adventures and are featured during the Tall Ships Festival in September
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA
Boasting strong pours and cold beers, The Swallows Inn is a quirky, fun place to hang out and listen to live music. It’s the mainstay of town during the Swallows Festival and is popular with the locals and tourists alike.
31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA
A visit to Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano will allow you to deeply experience the early California lifestyle, including Spanish Colonial Art, Native American life, the Bell Wall, ruins, agriculture, and the cemetery.
This former Spanish mission, founded in 1776, now hosts over 500,000 visitors every year. Pick up headphones with the recorded tour to get the most out of your visit.
Legend tells the story of how the swallows return to the mission each year in March. While fewer swallows return each year, guests will see “housing” to attract the elusive birds.
The grounds include a lily pond with giant Koi fish, gardens, and many arches and brick paths suitable for quiet contemplation. The chapel, with its brilliant gold-clad altarpiece, is remarkable and a must-see.
26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Red sandstone cliffs, known as The Sinks, are exposed in Limestone Canyon, part of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Outdoor enthusiasts on foot, mountain bike, or horseback access The Sinks during scheduled programs and on Wilderness Access Days.
Four miles into the preserve from the Augustine Staging Area, you reach a viewing deck. Traveling through open meadows filled with dazzling yellow wildflowers in the spring and several shady oak groves, the breathtaking view of the miniature Grand Canyon of Orange County is a terrific reward for the effort.
Don’t forget to bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. As you may already realize, it’s a four-mile return trip.
OC Parks Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve
Orange County Great Park is a public park decommissioned from the Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro. With MCAS history dating back to 1943, Hangar 244 was preserved to house the permanent Heritage and Aviation exhibit and a walkable historical timeline created to educate visitors.
A sports and recreation complex is currently under construction in multiple phases. With ice rinks, a soccer stadium, ball courts, and ball fields, Orange County Great Park is a family destination complete with a carousel, a Certified Farmers Market, and Farm+Food Lab.
The Great Park Balloon, the park’s signature attraction, is filled with helium, is environmentally safe, non-polluting, and is silent. Take a balloon ride up 400 feet (the balloon remains tethered to the ground) to enjoy a panoramic view of the county and Saddleback Mountain. The iconic orange balloon is wheelchair accessible. The balloon is the best way I’ve found yet to see Orange County
8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
Put on your swashbuckling hat and discover the Pirate Tower on a secluded beach in South Laguna. During low tide, you can also explore the tidepools.
After a short trek from Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll descend the public access stairway to hidden Victoria Beach. Admire the dazzling turquoise waves and power of the Pacific Ocean. Discover the Pirate Tower hiding just around the bluff.
Built in 1926, the 60-foot tall tower houses a stairway to the beach from the bluff-top home above, which is unused today. One former owner, a Navy officer who was popular with the neighbors and kids, used to dress up like a pirate and hide coins around the tower for the local children to find.
While the tower is not accessible these days and you probably won’t find hidden treasure, you can explore around the foot of the tower, dodge the waves, and keep your eyes peeled for the Jolly Roger on the horizon.
2713 Victoria Dr, Laguna Beach, CA
Fashion Island is a trendy and upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment complex in Newport Beach. Complimentary personal shoppers will help you stay up to date with styling services and gifting needs. There are more than 100 boutiques in the center for accessories and clothing.
If you work up an appetite or thirst from all the shopping, many restaurants and coffee shops from fast food to a prime steakhouse will surely quench your needs. Take a break in the cinema with snacks and adult beverages from late morning until late evening. The luxury leather theater recliners are just part of this lifestyle entertainment experience.
401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA
Did you know that it takes about 30 hours and 15,000 gallons of water to process the ice for hockey games at the Honda Center? It only takes about six hours to remove it. And, it takes eight hours for a 25-man crew to go from hockey to concert set up. These are just a couple of fun facts about Honda Center in Anaheim.
Honda Center is the home of the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks, host to sporting events such as basketball, boxing, Harlem Globetrotters, and Stars on Ice. Concerts by entertainment stars like The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Michael Bublé, and André Rieu, along with family matinees and evening show of Jurassic World Live Tour are some of the highlights of past and current seasons
2695 East Katella Ave., Anaheim, CA
Newport Harbor is a fun place to play! Balboa Fun Zone, the charming seaside amusement park, is located on the famous Balboa Peninsula and is open year-round.
Take a short (900 feet) ferry ride across the harbor to Balboa Island, ride the Ferris Wheel, take a narrated harbor cruise, get a bite to eat, or shop for souvenirs.
Samantha Brown found this place to love…see her segment on Orange County, CA. You will love it, too!
600 E. Bay Blvd.,, Newport Beach, CA
Julie Diebolt Price is an award-winning photographer, educator, travel writer, guide, and a passionate traveler. Along with extensive travel in the United States, she has many European, Mexican, and Chinese stamps in her passport. She enjoys planning, researching, creating and sharing experiences. Julie is a member of TravMedia, Professional Photographers of America, International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance, and Travel Massive.