Despite its reputation as a quiet suburban city, there are many things to do here in Irvine, or within the surrounding area in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. I offer a few suggestions below, focusing primarily on activities close by but also offering a few must-see locations for those wishing to venture a bit farther. Unless otherwise stated, I have personally visited and enjoyed all of the locations!
Activities
- University Center: Run by the Irvine Company, this shopping center is located adjacent to campus and connected by a walking bridge accessed by Aldrich Hall. It features a Trader Joe’s grocery store, a post office, and numerous restaurants and shops. Students can also be found studying at Peet’s Coffee & Tea or watching a movie at Edwards Theatre, which features a mix of newly released blockbuster and independent films.
- Mason Regional Park: Located just north of campus, behind University Town Center, is William R. Mason Regional Park. The park features 339 acres of cultivated green space, lined with trees, and centered around a lake that is home to a community of ducks. It also offers trails for walking or biking, two sand volleyball courts, and a small physical fitness course with instructional signs. It is a wonderful location for a picnic, or to just relax and study.
- Irvine Spectrum Center: Located a few miles from campus is a large shopping center, commonly referred to as “The Spectrum,” which features more than 100 shops and restaurants. In addition, it offers a number of attractions including the Giant Wheel, Carousel, movie theatre, Irvine Improv comedy club, and Dave & Buster’s arcade. Also, open this July will be the first Hello Kitty Café in the United States!
- Irvine Lanes: Located just a few minutes from campus, Irvine Lanes is a bowling alley, great for a low-cost group activity. For those who may not know, bowling involves rolling a ball and trying to knock down a set of ten pins. It sounds simple, but is actually quite a challenge. Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights feature “Galaxy Bowling” with black lights and music.
- Boomers: Located in the same complex at Irvine Lanes is Boomers, an arcade and activity center. It features miniature golf, go karts, bumper boats, a rock wall, laser tag, batting cages, and a game room. During the summer, they also open Buccaneer Cove, which features three water slides. I have yet to visit this location, but it surely offers something for everyone.
- PaintNite: Offered in various locations, PaintNite offers a unique option for those desiring a more creative activity. Those 21+ years old can meet at a local bar or restaurant to eat and drink while also being taught to paint by a local artist. No experience is necessary and you’ll get to take your painting home!
- Color Me Mine: Another creative choice, Color Me Mine studio gives you the opportunity to select a piece of pre-made pottery such as a cup or bowl and then paint it. After you complete your design, the pottery is fired in a kiln to make it food-safe and ready to use.
- Trampoline Parks: Orange County features not one, but two trampoline parks: Sky High Sports in Costa Mesa and Rockin’ Jump in Santa Ana. These locations enable you to jump on trampolines and try out obstacles such as basketball, dodgeball, and a laser maze. I have not personally visited either of these locations, but I include them here as they present a rather unique activity for the adventurous type who wishes to try something new!
- Santa Ana ArtWalk: Offered on the first Saturday each month in Downtown Santa Ana, the ArtWalk encourages you to visit local art galleries and museums and also features live performances and vendors.
- Museums: There are many museums throughout Southern California. The Bowers Museum is located in nearby Santa Ana. It features a permanent collection of art from across the world and also features rotating exhibitions. The fascinating Mummies of the World exhibit is on display until September 5, 2016, but is not for the faint of heart. Those wishing to venture into Los Angeles have access to some world-class art collections. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States and features more than 130,000 works of art from diverse styles, time periods, and geographic locations. One of my personal favorites is the Getty Center. It is located on a hilltop in the Brentwood neighborhood and offers breathtaking views of Los Angeles. It features European and American art from various time periods, unique modern architecture and sculptures, and an elaborate garden area. Though there is a fee for parking, entrance to the museum and daily tours are offered free of charge! A second location, the Getty Villa, is located in Pacific Palisades along the Malibu coast. It is a recreation of an ancient Roman country house and features Greek and Roman art and antiquities as well as a large Roman-style garden. I have yet to visit this second location, but I am confident that it is worth the trip and hope to visit soon.
Amusement Parks
In addition to the variety of attractions described above, Southern California is home to some of the best amusement parks in the United States. For those looking for an adventure, be sure to check these out! A word of caution, amusement parks are quite expensive, so be prepared for a steep admission fee and parking charge. Most parks do offer annual passes at a discount to California residents (bring proof of your local address) for those wishing to enjoy multiple visits.
- Disneyland & Disney California Adventure: Southern California’s most iconic amusement park is Disneyland, located about 30 minutes from campus in Anaheim. Disney offers a wide variety of attractions, including thrill rides, slower rides, and water rides. Popular attractions at Disneyland include: Splash Mountain, Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Star Tours, and the Haunted Mansion. California Adventure is home to: Tower of Terror, California Screamin’ roller coaster, Grizzly River Run, Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin’ Around the World, and Toy Story Midway Mania. There are many other attractions, shows and dining options at both parks. At Disney it’s all about offering an immersive experience, so you really feel that you have entered a whole new world. Disney is actually two parks, located directly adjacent to one another: Disneyland and California Adventure. A special Park Hopper ticket is required if you wish to visit both parks on the same day, or you can purchase a multi-day ticket that enables you to visit one park per day. Annual passes grant you access to both parks. Disney also offers a limited number of FASTPASS tickets free with admission, that enable you to move to the head of the line at some of the most popular attractions. Before you leave, check out Downtown Disney, a promenade featuring restaurants and shops.
- Knott’s Berry Farm: Also about 30 minutes from campus, in Buena Park, is Knott’s Berry Farm. Knott’s has more a carnival atmosphere and features an Old West Ghost Town theme. Attractions include roller coasters, thrill rides, and water rides. Those looking for a terrifying adventure, check out Knott’s Scary Farm. This special event happens annually in October, leading up to the Halloween holiday, and features haunted mazes and roaming monsters. Adjacent to the park, but requiring a separate admission charge, is Knott’s Soak City Water Park. Soak City is open seasonally from May to September and features water slides and other water attractions.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain: Those who love roller coasters may wish to travel a bit further to visit Six Flags in Valencia, north of Los Angeles. This park features a record breaking 19 roller coasters as well as a few other rides and attractions. If you’re looking for a rush, try rides such as Tatsu, Goliath, and X2. Those whose stomachs turn at the thought of roller coasters might want to try a different park. Adjacent to Magic Mountain is Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, a water park openly seasonally featuring a variety of water slides and other water attractions.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Located in Universal City, just north of Los Angeles is Universal Studios. This park features a unique variety of attractions. It is famous for its Studio Tour, a tram ride through Universal’s backlot where various films and TV shows are filmed. It also features immersive attractions including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy The Ride, The Simpsons Ride, and more. Don’t miss the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride and the WaterWorld show! Fans of zombies can explore the newly opened The Walking Dead attraction or visit during October for the Halloween Horror Nights. Before leaving, check out Universal CityWalk, offering a variety of shopping and dining options.
- Warner Brothers Studio Tour: Although not a theme park, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour also offers an exciting experience. It offers a more immersive experience than the Universal Studio Tour, allowing you to get off the tram at select locations to get an up-close view of movie and TV backdrops and sets. You even get to visit the soundstage of a current production. I recently got to see the set for award winning show The Big Bang Theory. Highlights also include an exhibit with props from Harry Potter and DC Comics, the Picture Car Vault, and Studio 48: Script to Screen featuring details of the film production process as well as the Central Perk set from the TV show Friends.
Beaches
One of the best features of living in Southern California is that our entire coastline offers beautiful beaches. Pacific Coast Highway, also known as State Route 1, follows the California coastline throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties and beyond. It offers a beautiful drive for an alternative to the I-405 and I-5 highways, or make a stop at one of the many beaches along the way! Below are a few of my favorite area beaches, but there are many more to explore as well.
- Corona Del Mar: The closest beach to the UC Irvine campus is Corona del Mar State Beach, operated by the city of Newport Beach. It features a sandy cove framed by rocky cliffs and jetty. It is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing, and volleyball. There is a fee for parking in the adjacent lot, but free street parking is available in the neighborhood at the top of the cliff. There are also a number of fire pits for barbecuing or roasting marshmallows. Note that only some fire rings allow you to burn wood (concrete rings), green fire rings are for burning charcoal only. If you wish to build a fire, be sure to comply with the city’s policies.
- Balboa Pier Beach: Also in Newport Beach, Balboa Pier Beach features a large sandy beach great for swimming, sunbathing, and boogie boarding. It also offers fire pits, which are bound by the same policies as Corona del Mar. A paid parking lot is available nearby as are a variety of restaurants and shops. A paved trail also connects it to Newport Beach Pier, about a 2 mile walk or bike ride away.
- Crystal Cove: A state park, Crystal Cove features more than three miles of beach and many miles of hiking trails. It is located between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Check out this informative brochure about the history of the area and the park’s offerings. There is a fee to park in all Crystal Cove lots.
- Laguna Beach: Main Beach in Laguna Beach is easily accessible, located right off the Pacific Coast Highway. It is a large sandy beach, great for swimming, sunbathing, and boogie boarding. It also features a boardwalk, basketball courts, and volleyball courts. It is located directly adjacent to downtown Laguna Beach, which offers a variety of restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Just north of Main Beach, is Heisler Park, which happens to be my favorite spot in all of Orange County. A well-manicured park at the top of the cliff above the beach, it offers walking paths, picnic tables, barbecues, a gazebo, and several sculptures and other artwork. It has wonderful ocean views and is a prime location for watching colorful sunsets. It also offers several paths connecting to coves and beaches, including Main Beach at the southern end.
- Salt Creek Beach: Located in Dana Point, in south Orange County is Salt Creek Beach, a large sandy beach adjacent to the famed Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Beach Resort. The beach is great for swimming, sunbathing, and boogie boarding. It also features a large grass park with picnic tables and walking paths. There is a paid parking lot available. It is a bit of a long walk from the parking area to the park and beach, but the views are worth it. There is also a shuttle available for $1 to help you up the hill.
- Huntington Beach: Huntington City Beach features a wide-open stretch of sandy beach great for swimming, sunbathing, and boogie boarding. It is also known as “Surf City USA” and annual hosts the US Open of Surfing as well as other surfing competitions and special events. There is also a large and iconic pier. Across the street from the pier is downtown Huntington Beach, which features a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops. For those wanting to meet some furry friends, head a couple miles north to Huntington Dog Beach where dogs are able to run off leash and enjoy the sun and sand alongside their human companions.
- Santa Monica: Los Angeles County offers a variety of beaches of its own, though I have less experience exploring these locales. One of the most recognizable, however, would be Santa Monica. It features long stretches of sandy beach, split into North Beach and South Beach, divided by the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The Pier features a visitor center, restaurants, food carts, arcade, trapeze school, and occasionally live music and special events. It is also home to Pacific Park, an amusement park featuring a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and several other rides and games.
