Select Your Travel Dates

Orange County, CA: Why Go

Recommendations & Suggestions

Bowers Museum and Kidseum
2002 North Main Street
Phone: 714.567.3600

One of Southern California's finest museums and Orange County's largest, the Bowers Museum is ideal for all ages. Its state-of-the-art facilities enable the Bowers to present world class exhibitions and preserve collections of cultural art for future generations. These collections are particularly strong in the areas of African, Oceanic, Native American, pre-Columbian, and California Plein Air paintings.

Check out the current exhibit, Gems! The Art and Nature of Precious Stones features some of the rarest and largest gemstones in the world. Highlights include the largest faceted gemstone, weighing 220 pounds or 500,000 carats, a necklace featuring the two largest known examples of the sapphire-like California state gemstone, benitoite, a 400-carat golden sapphire, and the world's largest tanzanite (242 carats)set in a tiara with 1,000 diamonds.

The Kidseum, an 11,000 square foot children's museum, provides arts and cultural activities for thousands of children and their families. Creativity, stimulated by exposure to art, can be the basis for the development of ideas, problem solving and social understanding. Kidseum is a place where children can experience and celebrate the beauty and history of many different cultures.

It's also conveniently located close to four major freeways and four miles south of Disneyland.

Disneyland? Park
1313 South Harbor Drive
Phone: 714.781.4000

Disneyland? is still the "Happiest Place On Earth." Just stroll down Main Street with some cotton candy in your hand and you'll agree. Visit the park's four original sections: Fantasyland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland and Adventureland, all packed with themed shops and rides. Drop by Critter Country for some foxy fun and New Orleans Square for sweet jazz. Buy a Mickey Mouse hat with your name sewn on it! In the spirit of Disneyland, you're never too old...

Laguna Art Museum
307 Cliff Drive
Phone: 949.494.8971

A visit to one of Southern California's oldest art colonies wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Laguna Art Museum. Located on a corner hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Laguna Art Museum, housing a fantastic art collection, stands on the site of the first art gallery built in Laguna in 1927 and was extensively expanded and renovated in 1986. It's permanent collection consists of California impressionist painters, focusing on the 1890-1920 period. The museum also has a variety of high profile visiting exhibits, featuring historical, contemporary and emerging artists, throughout the year. Stop by the Museum Store for its unique collection of books, stationary and jewelry. Admission to the museum is $5 for adults.

Newport Pier
Newport Pier runs along Oceanfront
Phone: 949.722.1611

Follow Newport Boulevard into the Newport Pier area, passing the landmark 1952 Crab Cooker restaurant in its red building with the big clock out front. Speaking of landmarks, Newport Pier is where the historic Dory Fleet fisherman of the West Coast have arrived each morning since their first catch in 1891. Honor tradition and order up some clam chowder! You'll find plenty in the lively McFadden Square on the pier, which has many great snack bars featuring other pier-musts like pizza and fish tacos. Rent a bike or some in-line skates, grab a slice and cruise this happy pier on some wheels!