Welcome toSanta Ana
So Much Yum
Tacos are not just for Tuesdays anymore; Santa Ana is home to the most sought-after and followed taquerias, from al pastor to birria to baja fish. Former Orange County Register food critic named the “50 Best Tacos in Orange County,” not surprisingly 20 of them are in Santa Ana!
For truly elevated dining experiences, Omakase by Gino (OMG) isn’t just a meal — it’s an entire experience of the freshest nigiri, sashimi, and sushi. This highly coveted dining destination only seats 10 people at a time and books up quickly.
El Mercado Modern Cuisine is like walking into a cozy Mexico City gastropub, where bites and drinks are just as stunning to look at as they are to enjoy. Try the aguachile with razor-thin slices of cucumber piled into beautiful fractal art with shrimp, chilis, and avocado.
Explore Orange County
Anaheim
Hip hangouts, hidden gems, and in the heart of Orange County.
Buena Park
A hub for adventure seekers, foodies, and history buffs, make Buena Park your next destination. 5 minutes from the Disneyland ® Resort, Buena Park is centrally located in northern Orange County. The entertainment hotspot is a must-visit for those looking to add hair-raising thrills, delightful dishes, and historical interest to their itineraries.
Costa Mesa
Located just minutes from famous Orange County beaches, Costa Mesa welcomes you with a vibrant array of performing arts and public art on display, a killer foodie scene and diverse shopping, from the world’s top fashion designers to unique local goods.
Dana Point
Dana Point remains an overlooked treasure in Southern California. While the state is known for its fast-paced cities and thrilling attractions, Dana Point is where you go for a more relaxed pace of travel. You can walk along the beaches that surround the quaint village that has sprung up around them.
Garden Grove
Just on the other side of Anaheim’s Harbor Boulevard lies Garden Grove. Garden Grove is a vibrant Southern California city in the middle of all the action.
Huntington Beach
There are many great surf towns on the Orange County coast, but few are as famous as Huntington Beach. In fact, Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City USA, hosts the annual Vans US Open of Surfing.
Irvine
Welcome to Irvine, California! The urban community is often recognized for livability, with planned communities, globally inspired cuisine, and plein-air shopping. It’s also a wonderful destination for travelers who want to be at the heart of it all. John Wayne Airport (SNA) is conveniently located just minutes from most of Irvine hotels.
Laguna Beach
A trip to Orange County isn’t complete without a visit to Laguna Beach. Laguna is a refined upscale beach city, regularly listed as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. It’s the Hollywood star residents and their ocean-view mansions that have earned this area’s nickname, “The Gold Coast.”
Newport Beach
From strolling around Balboa Island grabbing a frozen banana to basking in the seaside charm, Newport Beach is Orange County’s most family-friendly beach city.
City of Orange
Just across the Santa Ana River is the City of Orange, a unique piece of city planning. The center of the city is situated around a roundabout and is shaped like, you guessed it, an orange! The circle surrounds Plaza Park, which is the heart of Orange and the site of the annual Orange International Street Fair.
San Clemente
While Orange County is one of the most urbanized parts of California, San Clemente is where the development takes a little break. Here, the Pacific Coast Highway enters a long stretch of emptiness and the traffic of I-5 becomes a bit more relaxed. The beaches here are less crowded, have great surfing, are relatively quiet and many feature seaside campsites.
San Juan Capistrano
The San Juan Capistrano Mission was the first European settlement in what is now the state of California, back when it was still New Spain. You could say, this mission is where the story of the state as we know it began and history buffs won’t want to skip a visit to this historic settler church.
Seal Beach
Seal Beach is the first taste of Orange County that travelers get when they are driving down the coast. Just off the Pacific Coast Highway, visitors can catch a glance at the iconic wooden Seal Beach Pier and head straight to Main Street, which features dozens of shops and eateries along a picturesque strip that’s just a few blocks long.
