Irvine is a really exciting place and there are lots of activities to do here. Here are some of the exciting places to visit and things to do that I enjoy going to and that are free.
Beaches – Orange County is famous of its pristine beaches which are world famous. The closest pier to UCI is the Newport Beach and Pier. Located a mere 5 miles from UCI, it is an amazing pier with fabulous nightlife. There are a lot of bars and shops around Newport Beach which come alive at night. Corona Del Mar is another popular beach close to Newport Beach. Another famous beach is Laguna Beach. Laguna is a large and extremely popular beach with a lot of parks and recreation areas. Laguna Beach is a 20 min drive from UCI. Other famous beaches close by include San Clemente, Dana Point and Balboa pier.
Parks – Irvine is extremely famous for a huge variety of parks. This is what makes it very popular among families. Aldrich Park is located right in the middle of UCI. William Mason Park is located next to University Town Center. Other parks close by include Bill Barber Park, Deerfield, San Marco park etc. Plenty of places to have a picnic or kick a ball around.
Hiking – OC is not all about sun and sand. There is no shortage of hiking trails in and around Irvine. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is a popular hiking location just next to UCI. Other popular spots include Quail Hill and Turtle Rock. Further north near the San Bernardino mountains, are more arduous canyons for hiking. These include Black Star Canyon and Red rock canyon. Hikes here range from moderate to difficult and you are treated to spectacular views on top.