Orange County

Orange County covers the coastal basin south of Los Angeles, a 950-square-mile mix of beach cities, master-planned suburbs, and the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. The terrain runs flat across the coastal plain, then rises sharply into the Santa Anas at the eastern edge. Forty-two miles of Pacific coastline run from Seal Beach south to San Clemente. Anchor cities include Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and Fullerton. Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and Knott’s Berry Farm cluster in Anaheim. The coast holds Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach, and the surfing communities at Huntington and Newport. Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776, anchors the southern end. Most trips build around two threads: theme parks and the coast. Anaheim handles a multi-day Disneyland–Knott’s–Angel Stadium itinerary; the beach cities handle surfing, sailing, and dining at Newport Harbor and Laguna Beach. Inland, the Santa Anas hold hiking and the Cleveland National Forest. Year-round mild weather is the strongest seasonality.