2026 Orange County Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in July)

Our first and last? Father-daughter overseas trip for two 🇺🇸 Watching baseball in LA ⚾️ Visiting Disney 🎠 Exploring National Parks 🏞️ The grand total was... 3,735,097 JPY! Flying round-trip in Business Class, splurging on great baseball seats per my dad's request, and paying for premium passes at Disney to skip the lines and relax... Because I was traveling with my elderly dad, we didn't skimp on transportation or hotels, so the total definitely added up. But... ・Booking cheap economy flights ・Bringing our own food and skipping the booze at the stadium ・Taking public transit like buses and the Metro during the day ・Adjusting the number of games and seat tiers to fit your budget ・Using long-distance buses for intercity travel If you stick to these tips, even on a budget of around 300k to 500k JPY, I honestly think you can easily pull off a 7 to 10-day trip 💡 That being said, my biggest takeaway this time was: "LA is kind of sketchy..." 🙄 Depending on the street, the vibe can be pretty rough even in broad daylight. There are people wandering around who look high and smell like weed, and you can hear random screaming in the downtown area at night... Not to mention the constant blaring of police sirens from morning till night. If the atmosphere can be that sketchy even near major tourist spots, I can't even imagine what those "absolute no-go" zones are like. I had to be way more on guard walking around here than I ever was in Europe 💦 Because of this, even if it costs a bit more, you absolutely need to carefully select your hotel's location and neighborhood. This is the one area where you should never cut corners ⚠️ I'll be posting more detailed cost breakdowns, baseball game tips, and seat reviews over the next little while, so if you're planning a trip to LA, definitely stay tuned! ✨

Step into a world of wonder at Disneyland Resort in California! 🏰✨ From thrilling rides to enchanting shows, every corner is filled with joy. Explore Disneyland Park, home to iconic attractions like Space Mountain 🚀 and Pirates of the Caribbean 🏴☠️. Then, dive into adventure at Disney California Adventure, where Cars Land 🏎️ and Avengers Campus 🦸♂️ bring stories to life. Meet beloved characters 🤩, enjoy dazzling parades 🎭, and indulge in delicious treats 🍭. Whether soaring through the skies on Soarin’ 🌍 or watching fireworks light up the night 🎆, every moment is unforgettable. With charming hotels 🏨, world-class dining 🍽️, and endless magic, Disneyland Resort is the ultimate escape for dreamers of all ages. So grab your Mickey ears 🐭 and let the adventure begin! 🎉✨

Catalina Island is a hidden gem🏝️ located near Los Angeles. From the moment you step onto the island, it feels like summer has returned.👙 The entire island is incredibly comfortable and peaceful, making it perfect for a day trip or an overnight stay. Day Trip Itinerary👇 Arrival by Boat: You can book ferry tickets🚢 on the Catalina Express official website. Our route was from Long Beach👉Avalon, and the return trip was Avalon👉Long Beach. The ferry ride takes about an hour to reach the island.🏝️ 🚗Drive to Long Beach and park in the parking lot.🅿️ ⛳️Once on the island, you can rent a golf cart to explore various scenic spots without walking.📷 ⚠️Cash only. You'll need a driver's license🪪and must be 25 years or older to rent a golf cart. 🚲You can also rent bicycles, which are much cheaper. However, it's not recommended as the uphill climb can be quite strenuous. We saw others struggling to push their bikes uphill.😂 👣If you're up for hiking🚶, that's an option too. Actually, several photo spots are within walking distance. 📸Photo Spots: 📍Catalina Casino 📍Catalina Chimes Tower 📍Buena Vista Point Scenic Overlook 📍Descanso Bay 📍Avalon Town Many places on the island are picturesque, and you can capture great shots effortlessly.🉑 I even brought my camera but didn't end up using it.😂 Photos taken with Dazz turned out great too.👀 🍴Restaurants: Bluewater Avalon: A popular seaside restaurant🌊on the island. You can choose outdoor seating by the ocean. We recommend the scallops🐚, which were incredibly delicious😋and unlike any we've had before. Other dishes were decent. Scoops: A popular ice cream shop🍧. We ordered three scoops, and the portion was huge – enough to last forever!😂The ice cream flavors were generally on the sweeter side. If you're staying overnight, you can also enjoy kayaking🚣, exploring the island in a convertible to see bison🦬, snorkeling🤿, taking a submarine tour to see fish🐟, parasailing🪂, and ziplining. Remember to book in advance.📧

Los Angeles is surrounded by mountains and sea, with beautiful scenery. Here are some recommended spots for sea fishing, lobster fishing, and beach activities: 🎣 Sea Fishing Spots Marina Del Rey: The New Del Mar boat here offers a stable fishing experience, suitable for beginners and those prone to seasickness. The boat is large and offers free bait and hooks, as well as fish cutting services. Recommended for catching California halibut, grouper, and whitefish. Venice Fishing Pier: Located in one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Los Angeles, this place is full of incredible crowds, roller skating, and street art. It is also a great fishing spot, where you can catch halibut, barracuda, queenfish, and white bass. Legg Lake: Located 1.5 miles from South El Monte in Los Angeles County, it is known for crappie fishing. Anglers can catch a variety of fish here. 🦞 Lobster Fishing Spots Santa Catalina Island: The water is clear, suitable for night diving and lobster fishing. Long Beach Pier: Suitable for beginners, offers boat rental services, and you can catch lobsters and crabs. Malibu Beach: Rocky, a good hiding place for lobsters. San Pedro: A historic fishing ground, suitable for trap fishing for lobsters.🏖️ Other Beach Activity Spots Laguna Beach: Known as "epic scenery," with heart-shaped palm trees, suitable for vacation travel. Santa Monica Beach: The end of Route 66, with a Ferris wheel and roller coaster, suitable for watching the sunset. Huntington Beach: The most famous surfing spot on the West Coast of the United States, suitable for various water sports. 📝 Tips Except for public piers, anglers over 16 years old need a California fishing license, which can be obtained online or at sporting goods stores and authorized retailers. The fishing season in Los Angeles varies depending on the type of fish and the type of water (saltwater or freshwater), with the best fishing time generally from late spring to early fall. Some places offer boat rental services, but reservations are required in advance.

#islandtour Oil painting island around LA, Catalina island, attacked Easter and went to Catalina lsland with boyfriend! I really feel like I'm in a world of oil paintings, and just a snap feels like dust on a screenshot. Now, on the official website of Catalina Express, you can book a ferry ticket to the island. We have chosen to depart from Long Beach, and the whole journey takes one hour. The one-way ticket price is now $42. "+$10 can upgrade to a Lounge ticket, but it can avoid queuing and there are free snacks and drinks available

Visiting Disneyland's Main Street during the Christmas season was like stepping into an American town of the 1900s that is full of festive cheer - cheery music filled the air, and the lights from the countless decorations twinkled brightly. We snagged ourselves a spot along the sidewalk of Main Street while waiting for the start of the Christmas Fantasy Parade. As the Christmas Fantasy Parade made its way down the street, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pure joy and nostalgia wash over me. The colorful floats, beloved characters in their holiday attire, and the infectious energy of the crowd created an unforgettable experience. Watching the parade reminded me of the magic of childhood and the importance of cherishing moments of wonder and happiness. Disneyland at Christmas truly captures the spirit of the season like no other place. #WinHKFlight #winhkflight To me, Hong Kong is a city that has so much to offer - culture, outdoors, nightlife, food and history! I want to travel to Hong Kong to visit Disneyland, Happy Valley on a Wednesday night, eat traditional dim sum at Lin Heung Tea House and...so much more!

The Ferris wheel, the representative photo zone of Disney Adventure Park! In addition to the photo zone, I recommend the must-ride fun rides in Adventure~ 1. Radiator Springs Racers⭐️ 🎞️ Rides 👑 TOP3 ❌ Genie Plus not applicable ($18) The quality is so good that it looks like it came out of a real movie and the speed is so good that it feels like you're actually racingㅠㅠ Of course, it's important to be thrilled and fun, but the quality of the details in the rides makes you think, 'Oh, this is why it's Disneyland~' and understand the expensive ticket price... 2. Incredicoaster 🎞️ Rides 👑 TOP3 ✔️ A super thrilling roller coaster that rotates 360 degrees 3. Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! 🎞️ Amusement rides ✔️ Similar to Gyro Drop 4. Soarin Around the world⭐️ ✔️ You can experience travel destinations around the world in 4D ✔️ My personal pick for the best attraction It was so realistic and spectacular that I cried when I saw it.. If people stood up and applauded at the end, that said it allㅠㅠ ​5. Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure 👑 TOP3 ✔️ It's not an amusement ride, but an experience attraction They say you have to split into teams to shoot spider webs, so I skipped it because I thought it wouldn't be interesting 📍Disneyland Park, LA Anaheim USA 92802 California, Anaheim #USA Travel

Happy lamb, happy lamb🎶 Your meat is so delicious🎶 If you want to eat hot pot. This is an AYCE place. My favorite items in their menu are the Lamb Shank/US Beef/Pork and the best of both worlds hot pot. Accompanied by additional seafood and vegetables. It is such good value for money. 7271 Franklin Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95823

Address: Located in Hanmi Plaza between Galway and Kerry. 9816 Garden Grove Blvd. Garden Grove, CA 92844 This casual Korean restaurant serves classics such as sulungtang & kimchi in a simple space. So far one my favorite spot for Korean soups! I've had their sullungtang, yookgaejang and galbitang... All of them were hearty in flavor and delicious! Their side dishes were very good, we kept asking for more! They are known for their kimchi and sulleongtang. Unfortunately I got the gamjatang this time but the gamjatang was delicious! Next time I will try the sulleongtang for sure! #SpooktacularTrip #foodie #gooutside

address: Disneyland park - 1313 Disneyland Dr Anaheim, CA 92802 location: Mickey toon toon within Disneyland park attraction: Mickey and Minnie’s house! for Mickey lover! can see Mickey everywhere in this world. it’s super cute. the house the fridge the car, Minnie vanity corner, their gym, their clothes etc. can take photo with Mickey himself as well (if you’re lucky) there are merchandise stores selling Mickey souvenirs as well. recommend to buy if you love Mickey like I do! there are stores selling drinks and mini bites if you’re hungry. full of places to sit and rest as alot of walking required here. cost: s$140 for disneyland park as I have no time for 2. it was very crowded as well. #meetlosangeles

Address: 2647 E Coast Hwy. Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 Sherman Gardens is an inspiring horticultural oasis and nationally renowned botanical garden. The Sherman Library & Gardens are botanical gardens in Corona del Mar, California. The Gardens’ collections include: · Over 100 species of palms from around the world · 130 unique varieties of begonias · A lush tropical conservatory featuring a koi pond, carnivorous plants and an extensive orchid collection · An artistic succulent garden · A formal garden · A tea garden with numerous hanging baskets of fuchsia, begonias, and seasonal favorites. #SpooktacularTrip #urbanexplorer

Address: 4790 Irvine Blvd. Ste 103. Irvine, CA 92620 Never frozen and always fresh, Hako’s Katsu’s come from the most prestigious farms in America. Hako’s locally sourced 3-tier panko is prepared in a superior oil imported from Japan. When choosing their name, just like the food they serve, they wanted to keep it simple. Hako in Japanese means “Box”. Their most popular orders from Hako are tho Chicken Katsu, Hako Tonkatsu, and Curry Tonkatsu. You can get extra side of curry on the side for an additional $3. The tonkatsu’s come with a salad and miso soup as well. #foodie #staycation #urbanexplorer #california

Address: 3333 BRISTOL ST., #1073 COSTA MESA, CA 92626 Marugame Udon provides hand crafted udon bowls, tempura, and beverages from a theater kitchen, allowing guests to watch as their food is prepared. The udon noodles here are made to order to ensure that we as customers are getting the best tasting Japanese food around in California. Born in Japan, Marugame Udon holds true to the authentic tradition of noodle making and its origins which started centuries ago in the Kagawa Prefecture in the southern part of Japan. #foodie #udon #california #summervacation #passionpassport #urbanexplorer

Literally on the beach is a bar called Sahara Sandbox & Pizza. Sahara is right on the beach and there’s a great biking / walking trail that is right next to this bar. People who bike stop by and grab a drink! When I went, I saw many bikers (including me) who took a pit stop to grab a beer and chill. There’s lots of games such as large-size connect four and more! Next time I want to come at night because the lights are colorful here from what I’ve heard! The vibes are super cool and I feel like the vibes here at night would be amazing 🤩 Definitely going back! #hungtingtonbeach #beachlife #beach #california socal #orangecounty #huntington #beaches #bar #biking

If you’re looking for a light brunch menu + delicious cocktails and amazing coffee, NEP Cafe is the perfect spot to go to. I got their Banh Mi Chao with Pork while my friend got it with Fillet Mignon. We also ordered the Xoi Man as well. I didn’t order alcoholic drinks but their alc drinks are very tasty! This time I ordered the Strawberry Matcha Latte 🍓 and it was super good as well! They make great coffee! Tip: Make a reservation before you go! Otherwise, you can end up waiting for an 1 hour and 40 minutes to get seated. NEP Cafe is a popular brunch spot in the area so make sure to reserve beforehand. Name: NEP Cafe Address: 10836 Warner Ave. Fountain Valley, CA 92708 #foodie #awesomepic #vietnamesefood #orangecounty #california #fountainvalley #nepcafe #oc #food

If you ever plan on traveling to Irvine, you have to go to the Irvine Spectrum Center! Also, yes, it is dog friendly!! 🐶 I went this past weekend and so many pets! Address: 670 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618 The outdoor shopping mall has tons of activities such as escape room, virtual reality labs (VR games and activities), arcade for kids and adults, bookstores, gift-stores, and tons of restaurants and dessert shops! The spectrum center also has a large movie theater as well. You’ll never get bored. The Spectrum Center is so huge, you can spend hours here! 🎡 Irvine Spectrum Ferris Wheel is one of its prettiest attractions and you can see it from the freeway! 🍴I went to Cucina Enoteca for brunch and I recommend to sit outside! The patio is beautiful. #irvine #foodie #irvinespectrumcenter #brunch

Finally got off work? Must hit an izakaya, order a pitcher of Sapporo, order a bunch of food, and just enjoy the rest of the evening with your friends. Tip: Make sure you get there before dinner rush because once you get here at 7PM, you’ll definitely be waiting for another 1.5 hours to get seated. Either come a bit earlier or later. The atmosphere is amazing and the food here is delicious 🤤 I haven’t tried a bad item here yet! Their chu-hi’s are great and they even have a matcha ipa beer that has a great matcha scent as an aftertaste. Love this restaurant! Name: Kappo Honda Address: 18450 Brookhurst Street, Fountain Valley, CA, 92708 #foodie #orangecounty #izakaya #food #drinks #awesomepic

Address - Irvine Spectrum Ambiance/Facilities - great location Highlights - clean room and amazing customer service Avg. Price per Person - 200usd per night Rating - 8/10 overall good experience for my 11 nights stay over there. breakfast is good but limited choice. they have a chef to cook/fry eggs of your choice. good customer service and support. room is clean with super big screen size of 60+ inches. enough charging ports as well as ironing board around for you to iron clothes. good choice for business travellers. coffee machine is there with coffee bean tea bag refill on a daily basis overall good experience

Enjoyed a nice relaxing day outside fishing with my dad and the kiddos

There are two California Disneyland Parks, one is Disneyland Park and the other is Disneyland California Adventure Park (the one we visited!). Really fun experience at Disneyland with lots of cool attractions and rides to play with! It’s definitely worth a visit! It was also really nice to see Disneyland incorporating Lunar New Year celebration as part of their decorations! Address - 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States Highlights - Super amazing and interesting rides Avg. Price per Person - USD 100+ per pax (tip: you could also purchase a day pass on Klook which will give you some discount) Rating - 4/5 for an amusement park! #themepark #tigeryear2022 #california #disneyland #holiday

gotta love the OC california #themepark#beaches

night life at it's finest.. good music laughs and nothing but great memories to happen.

I'm going to the Packing House at night Drink, eat, dessert🍮 A two-story place There is everything We tried the marshmallow milk tea. I was so happy! Drink in a light bulb I also tried the ball ice cream 🍦 Fire fire is super happy 🥳

#qingmingtravel

#tripaway #anaheimca #caligirl #anaheimmarriottsuites another getaway to orange county. I have a weakness for suites and private balconies. if I can score both it's a definite winner in my trip book. #tripaway

#triplocal There is always excitement in my city especially with this pandemic you cant travel far anyways so you just have to find happiness in this city born and raised. #triplocal

#triplocal Was very satisfied with my hotel view. had a very beautiful sunset as well as my sun rise. Very comfortable beds and helpful staffs I would recommend those on a budget to have a 3 star hotel with no problem or complaints #triplocal

#tripaway