How average is Tustin in the OC schema of life? It's the county's 14th largest incorporated city and is basically average on every other major measurer—number of Asian people, number of Latinos, income. What's there to say about Tustin? It once was named a good place to live because its commutes weren't horrible—WHOA. . . .
But it's more than just a buffer between SanTana and Irvine. Start in Old Town, where you can find buildings dating from the late 1800s to 1950, all in their original stylings. Park your car, and it's a 1.5-mile walk through 150 years of history, with a few detours to the side, if you so choose. Make it on the fourth Sunday of the month, and you'll be able to check out the city's vintage flea market and browse knickknacks to your heart's content. Along the walk, you'll find the Tustin Area Museum (395 El Camino Real, 714-731-5701; www.tustinhistory.com), a petite operation that houses documents from the area's past. It's only open Tuesdays and Thursdays and a few Saturdays, but if you've got the time, it's worth a look.
If you're sick of Old Town Tustin, step into the present (well, closer to the present, anyway) by visiting the Marconi Automotive Museum (1302 Industrial Dr., 714-258-3001; www.marconimuseum.org), the brainchild of vitamin mogul Dick Marconi. The building houses his collection of dozens and dozens of cars and other vehicles, worth more than $30 million. It's a truly impressive collection, with cars from all over the world and all throughout history. And entry is cheap—a $5 donation, most of which goes to charity. Hey, if we can't get to the present in Tustin, at least the future will get slightly better.
