Get to know Orange County

If Spotify’s “Surf Rock Sunshine” playlist was a place, it would most certainly be Orange County. Spanning the Pacific Coast just south of Los Angeles and due north of San Diego, it’s quintessential Southern California at its finest, splashed with name-brand beaches, legendary attractions and a perfect climate. It’s the second most densely-inhabited county in the state and the sixth most populous nationwide—its three largest cities, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine each have populations in excess of 200,000. You’ll find 34 distinct communities in total, including six beachfront ones and more spaced-out neighborhoods rolling gracefully into the hills. Surfing, sailing and volleyball in the sand are just a few favorite pastimes residents enjoy year-round. Add an average 278 days of sunshine annually with 70-degree temperatures and it’s no wonder why more than three million locals have chosen to call “The O.C.” home.

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Orange County History & Culture

Few still associate the county with its namesake citrus, but it was the prized historic export of this once-agrarian region, right alongside avocados and crude oil. Mentions of Orange County today more often conjure a lovable cartoon rodent and his Magic Kingdom—Disneyland is arguably the best-known landmark here, but there’s countless more, including (but hardly limited to) Balboa Island, Mission San Juan Capistrano, Knott's Berry Farm, Modjeska House, Yost Theater, Angel Stadium, and Honda Center. With 40+ miles of shoreline, Orange County is a world-class surfing destination and home to Huntington Beach—officially nicknamed Surf City USA—which hosts the Vans US Open of Surfing each summer. There’s no excuse to be bored, and every excuse to be on a board.

Orange County Dine & Shop

From cozy surf shops to outdoor malls, you’ll peel back all sorts of less-conventional, only-here shopping and dining experiences. Downtown Disney, Disneyland Resort’s vibrant retail district, pulls A-grade eateries and entertainment towards the shadow of Sleeping Beauty Castle—no park admission is required. Historic Fullerton, where Leo Fender once perfected the electric guitar, boasts a thriving downtown district that’s a block-by-block architectural treasure chest of storefronts in every style from Beaux-Arts to Brutalism. Head over to Buena Park to experience Mrs. Knott’s famous fried chicken dinners, a boysenberry-forward feast so beloved by locals it led to the creation of America’s first theme park just to help guests pass the long wait times.