Things to do in Orange County

Since I'll be calling Orange County home for at least the next few months, I should probably start looking into unique things to do there. Anyone have suggestions for good local places to eat at, random unique activities for the area, and generally any suggestions for occupying (what may be very little) free time?

Austin really taught me to appreciate the unique local things in a town, with places like the Alamo Drafthouse, numerous BBQ and TexMex resturaunts, and the wonderful scenery topping the list of things I'll miss.

Orange County (assuming the one in California) is really big. You have to define "local" a bit more.

I usually find all my kind of fun on yelp.com.

My car club is having an outing next weekend. We drive over Mt. Palomar to Julian for some apple pie. It's a fun tour through the hills that lie halfway between LA and San Diego.
You're more than welcome to join the group.

Ah- also around Thanksgiving I'll be with a group of friends going to see some dead people. Usually a big group, very techie.

Disneyland. Someone had to say it.

Take a nice book to any random, unsupervised beach south of Irvine. Read it and contemplate the waves.

-ml

Yep, the one in California. More specifically, I'll be in Aliso Viejo to start with.


The drive looks like fun, but I already have my own drive planned for that day. Specifically the second half of my drive from Austin into the area. Not letting the moving company tow my car out.

That's in the "south county". I don't venture there much as it's easier to go to LA from where I am in "north county".

South of you off the 5 is San Clemente, which is my favorite south county town. Also take the 133 to Laguna beach. Both the drive and the town are cool.

South of San Clemente is San Onofre, which is the best beach around these parts. Take a nice book, go to the south end of the beach, and contemplate the nudes.