Discover your limits.
ORANGE COUNTY, CA - FREE AND FUN
Downtown Disney
Just outside of Disneyland, is Downtown Disney. The Downtown Disney District is free to walk through and gives you a little bit of Disney magic without the fee. Shopping, dining, and nighttime entertainment are just a few of the many wonderful things that you will find in this district.
The LAB Anti-mall
The LAB Anti-mall is a unique indoor-outdoor shopping venue that goes against every idea of the conventional shopping mall. This relaxed shopping venue provides an environment where you can trade and buy clothes, search for vinyl records, browse boutique shops, enjoy live entertainment, and engage in other unconventional shopping behaviors.
Ride a Mini Train
Orange County Model Engineers offer free rides on their mini trains on the 3rd weekend of every month. Each train is made up of 4-6 bench cars that fit 5-6 adults. Each ride circles the park twice and lasts approximately 12 minutes.
Soak up the Sun at the Beach
Orange County is home to many beautiful beaches. Some of the more popular beaches include Huntington beach, Crystal Cove State park, Newport Beach, Treasure Island, and 1000 steps beach. Orange County beaches are the perfect place for surfing, swimming, and just soaking up the sun!
Bolsa Chica Wildlife Refuge
Located in Huntington Beach, the Bolsa Chica Wildlife refuge is a 1,300 acre reserve with over 7 different types of habitats. The reserve is home to over 200 species and is a great place for hiking, bird watching, and photography.
Surf City Nights
Once a week, Huntington Beach closes off 3 blocks of Main street to hold one of the largest street fairs in Orange County. The street fair and market has a variety of shops and vendors that spread out down the street to sell clothes, food, flowers, and unique items. If you're not interested in shopping, you can simply walk the street and enjoy some of the many live entertainers that perform each week.
Go Shopping!
One of the best places to shop in OC is the Spectrum Center. Spectrum is an outdoor shopping center with lots of great stores, as well as restaurants, a movie theater, and regular events and entertainment.
Explore Laguna Beach
Okay, so it's not a guided tour, but Laguna Beach offers free trolley rides throughout the city! Free weekend trolleys run until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8pm on Sundays. Study the Trolley guide to learn of all the great hop-on, hop-off destinations around Laguna.
Laguna Tide Pools
A tide pool is the small world that exists between low and high tide. When the tides are low, these rocky areas are open to the public. They are home to many different unique and fascinating species such as urchins, mussels, crabs, and sometimes even Octopus! Keep in mind, however, that these areas are protected and it is a crime to remove, touch, or harm any living or non-living species that live here.
Try Laughter Yoga
You don't have to be flexible to do this type of Yoga - you just need to know how to laugh! Theory has it that laughter, even when forced, can improve mood and happiness! At laughter yoga, a group of people comes together and simply laughs! Laughter Yoga groups meet 7 days a week at Main Beach in Laguna Beach. All laughs are free!
Seal Rock
Appropriately named for the number of seals and sealions that congregate there, Seal Rock is found just off the shore of Crescent Bay. The rock can be viewed from shore, or you can kayak out to get a closer look.
OC Filming Locations
Fan of the Television show "The OC"? If you're visiting Orange County, you can also visit all of the famous shooting locations. The homes, the piers, the hotels, and the restaurants found on the hit TV show can all be found throughout Orange County. Check here for a list of shooting locations: http://www.seeing-stars.com/OC/
Marine Mammal Center
The Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach is a rehabilitation center that takes in marine animals in need of help. The Center is an excellent place to take children to learn about different species and inspire education and research. The Center is free, but donations are always appreciated.
Drive the PCH
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), runs along the highway of California's Pacific Coast. It runs 147 miles and stretches from Carmel to Morro Bay. The highway is a popular route for motorcyclists, and makes for one of the most beautiful and scenic drives in America.
