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100 Reasons to Be Ecstatic About Summer In OC!
Summer here is bliss, better than anyplace else in the States
87.WATCHING KITE SURFERS IN LONG BEACH
There's something about the air just east of the Belmont Veterans' Pier in Long Beach . . . oh yeah—it blows. For that reason, it's the best spot in the region to watch kite surfers ride the whitecaps just offshore. The wind picks up in the early afternoon—bring binoculars to check out the daredevils near the breakwater. Most important, bring a kid with a kite. 15 39th Place, Long Beach.
Star Foreman
Star Foreman
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Orange County Fair & Exposition Center
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Costa Mesa
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Mo Ran Gak Restaurant
9651 Garden Grove Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92844
Category: Restaurant > Korean
Region: Garden Grove
Fullerton Farmers' Market
801 W. Valencia Drive
Fullerton, CA 92832
Category: Restaurant > Street Food
Region: Fullerton
Irvine Lake Cafe
4621 Santiago Canyon Road
Silverado, CA 92676
Category: Parks/Outdoors
Region: Silverado
Villa Romano Green Farms
200 Avenida La Pata
San Clemente, CA 92673
Category: Restaurant > Street Food
Region: San Clemente
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
12827 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Category: Retail
Region: Garden Grove
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
2200 S. Ritchey St.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Category: Retail
Region: Santa Ana
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Buena Park
Aliso Beach
31131 S. Pacific Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
Category: Parks/Outdoors
Region: Laguna Beach
The Fisherman's Restaurant
611 Avenida Victoria
San Clemente, CA 92672
Category: Restaurant > American
Region: San Clemente
Costa Mesa Speedway
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Category: Sports/Recreation
Region: Costa Mesa
Mugs Away Saloon
27324 Camino Capistrano
Laguna Beach, CA 92677
Category: Music Venues
Region: Laguna Niguel
Fullerton Sports Complex
560 E. Silver Pine St.
Fullerton, CA 92835
Category: Sports/Recreation
Region: Fullerton
The Festival Amphitheatre
12852 Main St.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Category: Performing Arts Venues
Region: Garden Grove
Ocean Institute, Dana Point
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629
Category: Parks/Outdoors
Region: Dana Point
Angels Stadium Of Anaheim
2000 E. Gene Autry Way
Anaheim, CA 92805
Category: Music Venues
Region: Anaheim
Irvine Meadows Fairgrounds
8800 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
Category: Parks/Outdoors
Region: Irvine
Art-A-Fair
777 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Category: Community Venues
Region: Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach Festival of Arts
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Laguna Beach
Sawdust Art Festival
935 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Laguna Beach
Richard & Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 Atherton St.
Long Beach, CA 90815
Category: Music Venues
Region: Long Beach
Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari
24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive Dana Point
Dana Point, CA 92629
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Dana Point
United States Sailing Center
5689 E. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90803
Category: Services
Region: Long Beach
Oaks Blenheim Riding Park
Via la Plata
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: San Juan Capistrano
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
20612 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Category: Services
Region: Laguna Beach
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Long Beach
Dockside Boat & Bed
316 E. Shoreline Drive
Long Beach, CA 90802
Category: Hotels/Resorts
Region: Long Beach
Cook's Corner
19122 Live Oak Canyon Road
Coto De Caza, CA 92679
Category: Bars/Clubs
Region: Coto de Caza
Bolsa Chica Wetlands
Pacific Coast Highway and Warner
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Huntington Beach
Hi-Time Wine Cellars
250 Ogle St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Category: Restaurant > Wine Bar
Region: Costa Mesa
Wild Rivers Waterpark
8770 Irvine Center Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Irvine
Doheny State Beach
25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629
Category: Parks/Outdoors
Region: Out of Town
The Rinks- Anaheim Ice
300 W. Lincoln Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
Category: Sports/Recreation
Region: Anaheim
Oak Canyon Ranch
5305 E. Santiago Canyon Road
Orange, CA 92869
Category: Attractions/Amusement Parks
Region: Orange
Las Brisas
361 Cliff Drive
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Category: Restaurant > Mexican
Region: Laguna Beach
Tanaka Farms
5380 3/4 University Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
Category: Restaurant > Raw Food
Region: Irvine
Portfolio Coffee House
2300 Fourth St.
Long Beach, CA 90814
Category: Coffeehouses
Region: Long Beach
Art Theatre of Long Beach
2025 E. 4th St.
Long Beach, CA 90814
Category: Movie Theaters
Region: Long Beach
Details
Photography and post-production: Star Foreman
Hair and makeup: Autumn Sanders
Styling: Devon Nuzer
On-set stylist: Sunshine Harding
Models courtesy of Models International: Haley Bartlett, Thor Knai, Samantha Summers
SEE ALSO:
VIDEO: Click here to go behind the scenes of our cover photo shoot.
INFOGRAPHIC: Click here to see the last orange groves in Orange County.
Hair and makeup: Autumn Sanders
Styling: Devon Nuzer
On-set stylist: Sunshine Harding
Models courtesy of Models International: Haley Bartlett, Thor Knai, Samantha Summers
SEE ALSO:
VIDEO: Click here to go behind the scenes of our cover photo shoot.
INFOGRAPHIC: Click here to see the last orange groves in Orange County.
Related Content
More About
88.GETTING SCARED AT THE ABANDONED CRYSTAL COVE COTTAGES
Drive down Pacific Coast Highway from Newport Beach until you see the sign for Crystal Cove parking. Take the shuttle bus, or hike down to the beach, and spend the day playing in the sand. After nightfall, turn on your flashlight and head to the right of the Beachcomber Restaurant, walking down the beach and looking up at all the abandoned historic beach cottages on the hillside. Shine your light onto the empty structures. Then turn off the light. It's as spooky as Scooby-Doo! 8471 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach.
89. FRYING A FISH IN SAN PEDRO
If you like your fish fresh, and by fresh, we mean fresh-off-the-hook-and-straight-onto-your-lunch-plate fresh, drive across the Vincent Thomas and Gerald Desmond bridges from Long Beach into San Pedro, then hang a left down Harbor Boulevard to Nagoya Way. At the end of the road is the San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant. Buy a pescado, take it to the outdoor frying station, and then rip that sucker apart with your fingers. Good luck eating the whole thing, though; a better bet is to take the carcass home and use the leftovers for a few days' worth of fish tacos. 1190 Nagoya Way, San Pedro.
90. LOVING THE ANTI-SUMMER
You need not fear Southern California summers if you have vampiric tendencies. Those who don't fare well in the signature Orange County rays can stroll into the powerhouse of air conditioning, the ice-skating rink. Take up hockey, figure skating or curling, or just rent a pair of moldy skates and putter around the rink while you count down the days to the cool relief of autumn. One of the best places to do it is The Rinks' Anaheim ICE (which Anaheimers will always call Disney ICE, just like they call the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim you-know-what). Anaheim Ducks fans who are pining for the return of hockey season can relish in knowing they are falling on the same block of ice on which Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry hone their craft. 300 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, (714) 535-7465; www.anaheimice.com.
91.HOOTENANNY!
If you've yet to experience Hootenanny in the flesh, then you're as OC as the Dodgers. The county's greaser culture has a long, brawling history, and this music festival is as formal a reunion as it'll ever have: pretty girls with inked sleeves and form-fitting 1950s dresses rocking stilettos till Tuesday; guys with DAs and ciggies snugly held in the rolled-up sleeves of white tees; and the legendary chili billies, the Latinos who saved the lifestyle from oblivion just as they did Morrissey, almost all wearing perfectly coifed, high, tight pompadours. We could also rave on about the cool cars that'll be in attendance, but let's not forget the music, which this year features festival staple the Reverend Horton Heat. There's a reason why organizers keep asking this guy back—you'll figure it out after you witness him mount an upright bass while delivering a face-melting solo. It might even make you feel bad about cracking all those derisive Fonzie jokes at the front gate. Oak Canyon Ranch, 4700 Santiago Canyon Rd., Siverado Canyon; www.thehootenanney.com. July 2.
92.ROLLER DERBY
Though roller derby can be enjoyed year-round, there's something about drinking a cold beer from a can while sitting in a folding chair at an old roller rink that goes well with summer. Though the OC Roller Girls' bouts often involve fishnet-clad ladies pounding one another in the face or doing their damnedest to see opponents crash to the floor, you'll find a lot of family camaraderie at matches, with moms, dads and kids on hand to cheer on their favorite team members. Better—and cheaper—than a night at the old ballpark, folks. For more info on the OC Roller Girls bouts, visit ocrollergirls.com.
93.VINYL SHOPPING IN THE OUTDOORS
Here's a seemingly antagonistic combination: vinyl record shopping under the medium's mortal enemy, the summer sun. Local bluesman-turned-entrepreneur Parker Macy recently decided to sell his platters not in the typical enclosed storefront, but rather from a small Kenskill camper trailer, with open-air record bins, parked near the Urban Outfitters in Costa Mesa's Lab anti-mall. Not to worry: There's plenty of shade courtesy of the surrounding, aesthetically chic buildings, whose layout funnels a pleasant ocean breeze while shoppers at Creme Tangerine flick through titles from Harry Nilsson and Miles Davis. 2930 Bristol St., Kiosk 2, Costa Mesa, (714) 932-0552.
94.HAVING A MARGARITA ON THE LAS BRISAS PATIO
It's hard to find much to complain about life in Orange County—or about life in general, for that matter—when you're overlooking the Pacific Ocean under a cloudless blue sky, margarita in hand. Perched atop a cliff on Laguna Beach's Cliff Drive, Las Brisas has a breathtaking view of the sea. The venue, originally the Victor Hugo Inn before El Torito founder Larry Cano transformed it into Las Brisas in 1979 to match Mexican coastal resorts, has become a Southern California landmark for its prime location. Chill out on the patio one of these gorgeous days and indulge in any of the restaurant's fine margaritas; our favorite is the Crystal Cove Margarita, its tart citrus smoothed out by just a touch of Amaretto, a perfect way to let worries melt away like the ice in your glass. 361 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach, (949) 497-5434; www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com.
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