Orange County Cool Towns
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Newport Beach is located at PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, Highway 1) and the 55 Freeway. This VERY upscale community is a hub for entertainment and activities. Both the Newport and Balboa piers offer restaurants, bars and touristy shops. A paved bike path spans the length of Newport and bike rentals are available at the piers. Surry boat rentals and dinner cruises are a great relaxing activity. Other activities include swimming, surfing, fishing, skating and walking.
TIP: Check out Hornblower Cruises for cruise options through Newport Bay. 'The Wild Goose' is the former yacht of John Wayne who made his home in Newport Beach.
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Laguna Beach is located at PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, Highway 1) and the 133. This artist community is nestled in the cliffside of Laguna Canyon and widens to a white sand beach with rock outcroppings. Shopping, sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, hiking, mountain biking, surfing and great night life are the activities here. Five star hotels and equivalent restaurants line PCH.
TIP: The best place to take in the full beauty of Laguna is at the outdoor bar of the Las Brisas restaurant. Las Brisas is located on PCH, two blocks north of Highway 133.
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Disneyland® is not really a town but a Land as the name suggests. OK, this may be stretching it but Disneyland has all of the entertainment of an entire city packed into its park. Disneyland® is still the best theme park there is. Classic rides like Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Matterhorn are still some of the best rides around. Two for one tickets are sometimes sold for California Adventure® also. Downtown Disney® is located just outside the park and can be accessed without purchasing a ticket. There you can find Disney souvenirs, shopping and entertainment.
TIPS:
Take advantage of FastPass®. Grab a ticket from the dispenser in front of each ride and come back at the designated time. You can maximise your ride intake this way. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner at the Blue Bayou restaurant in the Pirates of the Caribbean® when you first enter the park. It's one of the best places to eat in the park with great atmosphere. Head to the right side of Pirates of the Caribbean to find it. Carry a small backpack with snacks, water and a light jacket. Once inside the park, you'll be having too much fun and dread having to head back to the entrance whenever you need something from the locker. Lockers are located near the entrance to the park, which are great for storing food to beat the high food prices in the park and jackets for the cool coastal evenings. Apply sunscreen and drink lots of water in the summer months.
Disneyland
1313 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 781-7290
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Old Towne Orange is located at the intersection of Glassell Street and Chapman Avenue between the 91, 57, 22, and 5 freeways in Orange. Old Towne (also known as 'The Plaza') proclaims itself to be the antiques capital of Southern California. Dozens of antiques stores are mixed with touristy boutiques, restaurants and cafes. A walk around The Plaza is like a trip back in time with turn of the century brick buildings, a central park & fountain and an abundance of Craftsman homes. Watson's Drug Store and Soda Fountain is a historic place that still functions as it did over 100 years ago with a drug store, pharmacy, diner and still operational soda fountain all in one location. The Filling Station was a historic gas station that now operates as a cafe complete with antique filling pump on their outdoor patio. The Abbey is a Gothic-style church that was converted into an award-winning restaurant.
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