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#1 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
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Things to do around OC/Newport Beach
I'll be there for a wedding this weekend. Will have one or two half-days free.
Any ideas on cool parks, sights, places of interest? Generally prefer not too touristy, a bit off the beaten track. A nice, clean swimming beach (we're not surfers), or a state park with a nice 3-5 mile running loop would be of interest. Went to San Juan Capistrano some fourteen years ago. Don't remember much other than it being cute and that I couldn't afford anything as a student. Any nice nightlife spots? |
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#2 | |
Finn is in puppy heaven
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '02 325i
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,405
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If you've got very early Saturday morning free, you could do the Cars'n'Coffee in Irvine. http://irvine.carsandcoffee.info/
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#3 | |
Finn is in puppy heaven
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '02 325i
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,405
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If you've got evenings free, you could do the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. http://foapom.com/
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#4 |
Finn is in puppy heaven
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '02 325i
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,405
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There is also Balboa Island.
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#5 |
older fart than ZBB
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: On the road again
Posts: 8,900
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Laguna Beach area doesn't suck. I am not up on the night life there, but it is a pretty area, lots of artists and a nice beach
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2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE 2020 Fusion Titanium |
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#6 |
Finn is in puppy heaven
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '02 325i
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,405
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#7 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
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Great ideas folks... Sounds like Laguna Beach for the evenings. I'll keep an eye on the yelp list.
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#8 |
Fresh-faced Optimist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Carmudgeonly Ride: E92 M3, B7 A4 Ti
Posts: 30
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-- Things to do in South Orange County --
Beaches/Parks 1. Crystal Cove (http://www.crystalcovestatepark.com/) I believe you can park at the Crystal Cove Shopping Center (off of PCH) and take a shuttle bus to the beach for a few dollars. 2. Victoria Beach - Laguna (http://www.beachcalifornia.com/victo...a-beaches.html) Will be a rather busy on the weekend, and parking in Laguna is a nightmare, but it's more of a locals beach than most of the other Laguna beaches. 3. Wood and Aliso Canyon (http://www.ocparks.com/alisoandwoodcanyons/) The panoramic view from the top of the mountain/hill is quite nice. 4. Doheny or Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point (http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/, http://www.ocparks.com/Saltcreekbeach/) Both of these beaches are in Dana Point and have substantially more parking than the Laguna beaches. 5. Corona Del Mar Beach in CdM/Newport (http://www.beachcalifornia.com/coron...ate-beach.html) Little Corona is probably one of the most picturesque beaches in Southern California. I recommend staying off of the Newport Peninsula on the weekend unless you want to show up at 6 in the morning. The beach is great and quite large, but there's essentially only one way on/off the peninsula and traffic is horrendous. Nightlife/Restaurants 1. Nick's (http://www.thenickco.com/laguna.php) 2. Sorrento Grill (http://sorrento-grille.com/) 3. Hush (http://www.hushrestaurant.com/) 4. 230 Forest Ave (http://www.230forestavenue.com/) 5. The Crow Bar (http://www.crowbarcdm.com/) 6. The Rusty Pelican (http://www.rustypelican.com/) 7. Blue Fin (http://www.bluefinbyabe.com/) |
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#9 |
Alphanumeric
Join Date: Aug 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i
Posts: 9,584
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Checked in at 830pm, didn't bother renting a car for the evening...
Then we walked out of the hotel in a random direction.. Walking in OC, weird, huh? Well it worked, the next direction we walked in we found a really nice restaurant, Ten. All red, trendy, eye-candy, etc. etc. And this would be nothing to write home about, but the food was excellent... In the morning we picked up our 'stang vert, drove down to newport beach, futzed around, went to a cafe from Yelp, C'est si bon. Realized had no hat/cap with me for the 'vert or the beach so went to a nice surf shop, Jack's... So far so good. Only bummer is that our hotel wants exorbitant amounts for parking. I just don't get it. Parking is expensive in NYC, but at least the place is dense. I feel funny being asked to pay $28 ($18 with some discount we have) per day to park in an area that's surrounded by square miles of empty asphalt office parking lots. |
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#10 | |
Finn is in puppy heaven
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '02 325i
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,405
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money. All those empty office parking lots are costing their owner a pretty penny. |
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Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Sometimes it's the little things | Rob | Car Talk | 1 | 05-16-2008 02:46 PM |