With amusement parks, surfing and migrating swallows, this Southern California destination is a great spot for a warm and wonderful holiday.
Orange County, sometimes called “the OC,” offers a fun getaway with theme parks and water activities on the Pacific Ocean. Plan a sunny California vacation for every member of the family to participate in their favorite activities.
See Mickey Mouse and enjoy dozens of rides at Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim. This popular attraction is much more than a theme park, with hotels, a spa and 100 places at which to eat. Make reservations for the kids to meet their favorite characters at one of the more than 20 special experiences.
Where the Knott family once sold berries and preserves in Buena Park, now Knott’s Berry Farm is a theme park with family rides, thrill rides and even a water park. In addition to exciting rides, participate in fun experiences, including panning for gold, meeting Snoopy and watching a blacksmith at work.
Real life in Orange County is just as exciting as its amusement parks. The Pacific Ocean offers a vast playground that never closes. Watch surfers or learn to surf at one of the beach towns along the coast. Huntington Beach, known as Surf City USA, hosts the US Open of Surfing every summer, with surfers from around the world displaying their skills on world-class waves. Swim, sail or simply relax at some of the other OC oceanfront towns of Seal Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and San Clemente.
See the Mission San Juan Capistrano, a Spanish mission with a lovely chapel, beautiful gardens and more than 230 years of history. Each spring, thousands of cliff swallows fly here from Argentina. Join the Fiesta de las Golondrinas, celebrating the birds’ arrival with flamenco dance, food and the Swallows Parade.
Orange County begins less than a 1-hour drive, depending on traffic, south of Los Angeles International Airport, making it easy for visitors to reach the region from anywhere in the world. Follow the model of the San Capistrano swallows and return every year to appreciate the thrills and relaxation of this special part of California.