Orange County – Beachcomber Pete Travel Adventures

Catalina Island, California

Catalina Island, California is located about 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, and its two major municipalities are Avalon and Two Harbors. It is accessible via a one-hour boat ride from several California coastal cities. Two firms offer boat transportation to Catalina Island on a set schedule of departures from San Pedro, Newport Beach, Long Beach and Dana Point.

Visitors to Catalina can get a history lesson about the island by touring the many interesting buildings in Avalon. For example, there is the Catalina Casino Building which is the most prominent structure in the town. The round, 12-story edifice was constructed in 1929 and, contrary to what its name suggests, it is not a place for gambling but rather a venue for entertainment. During the Big Band era of the 1930s and 40s, the Casino Building rocked with the sounds of Harry James, Kay Kyser and Glenn Miller. The Catalina Country Club and Golf Course in Avalon evokes memories of the years that the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball held spring training on Catalina Island. From 1921 to 1951 the Cubs trained on Catalina, and the Catalina Country Club served as the clubhouse for the players.

Today, tourists come to Catalina because it offers beautiful scenery, pristine waters, and excellent beaches. There are so many ways for visitors to enjoy the waters that surround the island. For example, the glass bottom boat tours afford the opportunity to observe the colorful and exotic undersea marine species that thrive around Catalina. In fact, it was the people of Avalon on Catalina who invented the glass bottom boat. There is also para sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and ocean rafting. Anyone who enjoys scuba diving probably knows that the waters around Catalina Island are ideal for this activity. Tourists who would rather expend their energy on dry land can choose from golfing, hiking, zip lining, ghost tours of Avalon, the Avalon Museum and much more.

Accommodations on Catalina range from tent sites to luxury condominiums and four-star hotels. In between, there are quaint cottages, family-oriented inns and comfortable hotels on the beach. Catalina can offer an attractive and pleasant place to stay to all visitors regardless of the size of their vacation budget.

Filed Under: California, Catalina Island, Dana Point, featured, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Newport Beach, North America, Orange County, United States

Anaheim, California

Anaheim, California was originally settled in the mid-19th century by immigrants from the area around Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany. They called their settlement Annaheim, which is German for “home by the Santa Anna River.” City leaders eventually changed the spelling of the name, but the immigrants left their indelible mark on the community. They cultivated grapes and produced wine. In the 1880s, insects transmitted a disease that decimated the grape vineyards. The farmers and winemakers abandoned grapes and grew avocados, lemons, oranges, walnuts and other crops. They shipped their produce to the surrounding region on transcontinental railcars that served the area. Due to the growth in the region, Anaheim became part of the newly formed Orange County in 1889. It is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in California.

Agriculture and manufacturing were the main driving forces of the economy until the mid-20th century. The city was a hub for the aircraft parts and electronics industries. This changed with the arrival of Disneyland, which opened in 1955. Due to the popularity of the theme park, Anaheim has reorganized itself into a major tourist destination. In addition to the theme park, the city also has a convention center, an indoor sports arena and major league baseball stadium. The sports arena is home to the Mighty Ducks of the NHL, and the stadium is the home field for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball franchise. Today, the tourism and hospitality industries are major segments of the city’s economy. The convention center is the largest facility of its kind on the west coast. The city has additional tourist attractions, such as Adventure City, which features classic amusement rides, an ice rink, an art museum, several golf courses and an extensive urban park system.

Anaheim boasts a Mediterranean climate of hot summers, warm winters and little precipitation. Summer temperatures range from overnight lows in the 60s to daytime highs in the mid to upper 80s. The temperatures in the winter range from the mid-40s to the mid-60s. Annual rainfall averages less than 12 inches. The remarkable weather and numerous well-known attractions draw millions of visitors to Anaheim each year.

Filed Under: Anaheim, California, featured, North America, Orange County, United States

Dana Point, California

Nestled between Los Angeles and San Diego along the California coast, Dana Point, California is a picture perfect town with a slow pace and temperate climate. This Orange County gem is the perfect destination for visitors to Southern California who want to spend lots of time at the beach or in the water, and is known for its fishing opportunities and whale watching tours. On land, the public trails course links all of the city's main parks and open spaces.

The main attraction in Dana Point is the aptly named Dana Point Harbor, which houses more than 2.000 boats. The harbor also boasts venues for kayak rental, boat charters, boat rental and jet skiing. Situated in a man-made cove, the harbor is also littered with small boutique shops and more than 15 restaurants.

Dana Point is home to miles of sandy beach front, including Doheny State Beach, which is a part of a 62-acre property managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The beach spans across one mile, and the waters off the shore are popular for surfing and swimming. In low tide, this area of Dana Point is a treasure trove of visible sea creatures. The other beaches in Dana Point are Capistrano Beach, a scenic bit of sand on the south side of town replete with volleyball and basketball courts, and Salt Creek Beach, which sits underneath undisturbed cliffs. Salt Creek Beach is adjacent to a small reef, which affords excellent left swells for surfers and body boarders.

In keeping with its proud status as a favorite beach town, Dana Point is home to the Ocean Institute, a non-profit organization founded in 1977. The institute aims to bring awareness to ocean preservation and cleanliness, and draws in visitors interested in marine mammal cruises and educational children's programs.

Dana Point enjoys a temperate climate, with temperatures that tend to hover around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and about 275 sunny days each year. Even in the winter months, at its coldest the city still averages temperatures in the mid-60's during the day. The average rainfall is well below the national average — the city only sees about 13 inches of rain in one year.

Filed Under: California, Dana Point, featured, Los Angeles, North America, Orange County, San Diego

San Juan Capistrano, California

The romance of colonial California begins in San Juan Capistrano, California. In the propitious year of 1776, Franciscan missionaries from Spanish Mexico opened the Mission San Juan Capistrano. The target population for the mission was known to themselves as the Acjachmen tribe but to the Spaniards as the Juaneños. Happily, these Native Americans still exist as a political entity. Now called the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, the tribe is headquartered right there in San Juan Capistrano, more than 2,800 strong.

Los Rios
Capistrano also boasts Los Rios, literally the original surviving neighborhood in the entire state. Adjoining the Mission, 31 historic structures line both sides of Los Rios Street and include three 1794 adobe structures that housed mission families. The Serra Chapel of the Mission is California's oldest continually used religious facility, found not far from the state's original vineyard and winery.

The Birds
Spanish Mission style architecture dominates the city, inspired by the mission. Most striking is the variety of homes, from modest working ranches to multi-million dollar mansions. But when it comes to home, San Juan Capistrano has always been most widely known for the cliff swallows that used to migrate from Argentina. They nested in the high tower of the mission until 2009, when they chose cliffs some miles away for their nesting site. Apparently, urban sprawl and the distraction of ever taller buildings had confused the birds. "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano", a love song from 1940, celebrates the annual events that honored the return of the swallows.

The Fox!
Capistrano is not large, with an unchanging population of about 34,000 souls. Considering that the biggest employer is the public school system, it is a place to live, not work. However, in 1919, Capistrano received its fair share of fame in The Curse of Capistrano, the very first appearance of Zorro, the Fox! Johnston McCulley was obviously inspired by the Spanish Mission buildings which dominated the town. And Richard Henry Dana, author of Two Years Before the Mast, visited the area and described it as the only romantic place in California. An easy drive to San Clemente and Capistrano Beach, it has the typically mild Southern California climate and, for its size, impressive shopping, cultural events and historical sites.

Filed Under: California, featured, North America, Orange County, San Juan Capistrano, United States

Laguna Beach, California

Nestled in the heart of Orange County, is world renowned Laguna Beach, California, a artist colony and tourist destination. Tucked along the coastline in between the San Joaquin Hills and the Pacific Ocean, Laguna Beach is known as one of the most idyllic towns in Southern California, famous for its beautiful beaches, exquisite scenery, and near-perfect weather.

Incorporated in 1927, Laguna Beach is the second oldest city in Orange County. Since the early 1920s it has been a haven for artists, and it is still home to a flourishing artist community today. In addition to attracting a large art crowd, the city holds a number of art festivals each year, the most popular of which is the Pageant of the Masters. Adding to the art scene are the Laguna Art Museum, and the Laguna College of Arts and Design, as well as numerous art galleries.

Although small in size with a geographic area of 9.2 square miles and a population of only 22,000, the beautiful landscape and outstanding weather attracts a large crowd. Each year over 3 million tourists flock to Laguna Beach to visit the scenic beaches or enjoy the many events that this city has to offer. Historic tours, nature walks, art festivals, whale watching, wine tasting, shopping, and dining are all popular attractions. The city is pedestrian-friendly, and many people enjoy the ease of walking through the town visiting the many unique shops and art galleries. Others prefer to head straight to the beach, which is warm and welcoming. With seven miles of pristine coast, visitors can spend all day at the beach or choose to explore the numerous hidden canyons and coves that line the water.

Those who like theater will want to visit one of Laguna Beach's most popular attractions, the Laguna Playhouse. The oldest continually operating theater on the west coast, the Laguna Playhouse is known for its live entertainment. Its convenient location to a number of shops and restaurants makes for a wonderful, fun-filled day or evening.

Laguna Beach enjoys a Mediterranean-like climate with average year-round temperatures in the 70s and abundant sunshine throughout the year. Its beaches also boast some of the warmest water found on the California coast.

Filed Under: California, featured, Laguna Beach, North America, Orange County, United States

San Clemente, California

San Clemente, California a city of over 65,000 residents, is situated in Orange County, California. At the southern tip of the county, San Clemente lies halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. The city is renowned for its breathtaking ocean, hill, and mountain vistas in addition to its architecture which, speaks to a Spanish Colonial style. San Clemente's slogan captures its appeal – "Spanish Village by the Sea".

Pleasant weather delights San Clemente's residents and visitors alike. Temperatures hover in the seventy degree range, a hallmark of its Mediterranean climate. December, San Clemente's coldest month, features average temperatures that never drop below sixty-four degrees while, August, the warmest month, never exceeds median temperatures of seventy-nine degrees.

San Clemente remained mostly uninhabited until 1776 when Father Junipero Serra, part of the Mission San Juan Capistrano, enticed Native Americans and Spanish settlers to colonize new villages. The area remained sparsely populated until 1925 when Ole Hanson, the former mayor of Seattle, purchased and created a 2,000 acre community. Banking on San Clemente's beautiful scenery and pleasant weather, Hanson envisaged his community as a haven for Californians fed up with big city life. In a revolutionary move, Hanson insisted that all new buildings must be submitted for architectural review, thus preserving his vision of San Clemente as the city brimming with Spanish architecture.

In 1969, San Clemente received national attention when Richard Nixon purchased a Spanish mansion in the southern part of town. Dubbed the "Western White House", it acted as a popular vacation spot for the President while in office. World leaders such as Soviet Premier Leonard Brezhnev, Prime Minister of Japan Eisako Satu, Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, and Henry Kissinger visited San Clemente during Nixon's presidential term.

Known as a surfers' paradise, San Clemente catches swells regardless of the season. Going from north to south, popular surf spots extend from Poche Beach to the Trestles. In addition to being a popular surfing destination, San Clemente houses many surfing media publication including Surfer's Magazine and The Surfer's Journal. Many famous surfers, such as Mike Parsons and Shane Peschen, call San Clemente home.

San Clemente is the location for many television shows and movies. The MTV show, Life of Ryan, was shot in the city. In 2005, the movie Brick, was shot in San Clemente by director Rian Johnson. Born and raised in the area, Johnson attended San Clemente high School, the setting for the film.

Filed Under: California, North America, Orange County, San Clemente, United States

Newport Beach, California

Newport Beach, California is home to a recreational harbor large enough to dock 9,000 boats. This upper crust community of about 85,000 people in Orange County has a popular (concrete) boardwalk and a wide range of yearlong recreational activities. For upscale shopping, Newport Beach plays second fiddle to no community anywhere. After all, more than a quarter of its households have incomes over $200,000 a year. So you get the picture: when you do the tourist thing in Newport Beach, dress well, bring your credit cards and expect everything to be super-nice!

Humble Beginnings
This prosperous little California city began humbly, in 1906, when 206 folks from scattered farms and houses incorporated as Newport Beach. The Pacific Electric Railway had just reached out from Los Angeles to build its southern terminus near the ocean. Newport Beach then developed as a beach escape from the city and when the wealthy discovered its charms, the city flourished. It has been home to many celebrities, including Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Jimmie Cagney, Nicholas Cage, Shirley Temple and Cathy Rigby. It's a cinch that Bogie and Bacall, enthusiastic sailors, settled there for the harbor.

Unique Islands
It's fair to say that Newport Beach is a boater's paradise. Cruisers looking to tie up on a week-end for shopping, dining and lying on the beach have made the marina super-popular. One favored destination is Balboa Island, where you can rent a cabin for a week and enjoy the finest in shopping, eating and relaxation. The most fantastic aspect of Newport Beach may be that the harbor was dredged out of a river estuary shortly after the railroad arrived. The stuff dredged up from the bottom was then used to create a series of artificial islands: Newport, Balboa, Little Balboa, Collins, Bay, Harbor, Lido Isle and Linda Isle all are developed and fun to visit.

Fun!
If you have never sailed and you want to learn, Newport Beach awaits. The offshore breezes are regular and the opportunities, boundless. You can also surf, bike on the boardwalk, relax on the beach and take in a plethora of cultural activities, including wine tastings, theater, concerts, art galleries and street shows.

Newport Harbor has had a rich commercial history, having once been home to commercial fishing and boat-building, but now the littoral is filled with beautiful mansions, private docks and 9,000 boats. Whether you prefer to sail, fish, row, canoe, kayak, water-ski or jet-ski, it's all there waiting for you in Newport Beach.

Filed Under: California, Newport Beach, North America, Orange County, United States

Orange County, California

Orange County, California is located on the southern coast of California, just below Los Angeles. This sprawling community is a conglomeration of 34 independent municipalities, and is widely recognized as one of the most culturally diverse communities in the world. Climate Orange County has a pleasant climate. This area is known for having very little rainfall, all year-round, residents enjoy mild temperatures ranging between 60 and 80 degrees. Cities There are many cities in Orange County, here are some the more notable cities to visit:

Anaheim – Home of Disneyland
Buena Park
Fullerton- Home to Cal State Fullerton
Irvine – One of youngest and the largest cities in the region

Understand This burgeoning city has a population of 3 million, and is the fifth largest county in the United States. Santa Ana is the county seat. English and Spanish are the most prevalent languages in the county. Public Transportation Although it is a widely held belief that you need a car to travel from Orange County to Los Angeles, this is not true. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner connects many communities within Orange County with Los Angeles Union Station. Public transportation also takes you everywhere that you may want to go inside the county as well.

Places to See and Things to Do

Disneyland in Anaheim is the number one tourist destination in Orange County.
Knott's Berry Farm
The Ocean Institute
Mission San Juan Capistrano
The Beach – Newport Beach is the area's most popular.
Nickel Nickel – an arcade room where, on weekend nights, every game costs only nickels.
Balboa Island – a beachfront community with a vibrant boardwalk
Laguna Beach's Top of the World – witness the Pacific from the highest location in the county.

Eat Orange County is a world renowned location for fine dining with almost 5,000 restaurants serving something for everyone. Below is a list of some of types of food you can experience in Orange County: