ORANGE COUNTY

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Orange County…is home to the world famous Disneyland and many vacation attractions. The "Magic Kingdom" is the country's first major theme park, open in the late 1950's. 714/999-4565

San Juan Capistrano: Home of the Mission San Juan Capistrano founded in 1776. This restored structure contains a museum, and is the place where thousands of swallows return in March.

Dana Point Doheny State Beach: Camping and beach area is 1.2 miles of sandy shores with an adjacent 5 acres shaded lawn and picnicking site. Camping swimming, surfing, fishing and biking. 192 acre designated underwater marine life sanctuary for divers.

Knott's Berry Farm is located in Buena Park, offering six theme areas, shows and over 150 rides.

Movieland Wax Museum features more than 258 wax likenesses of movie and TV stars.

Newport Beach, California…

epitomizes the true essence of Southern California living. Famous for its pristine beaches and stunning harbor, the city is home to a wide variety of attractions, world-class dining, shopping and activities to tempt you this spring. With something for everyone from a film festival to a jazz series and a food and wine festival, Newport Beach is the perfect seaside city to visit. “Newport Beach is the perfect getaway for families, couples or just those looking for something in the sun,” explains Marta Hayden, executive director of the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. “Our event calendar is full of wonderful activities for everyone and many of the city’s hotels have designed the perfect packages to help you experience the best of Newport Beach.”

Newport Beach Film Festival

The city of Newport Beach will roll out the carpet for the 6th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival. From April 21 through the 30, hundreds of features, shorts, documentaries and animated films from around the world will be showcased just miles from the sandy beaches of Orange County. The festival also offers the rare opportunity to meet with directors, screenwriters and cinematographers during question and answer periods following the screenings. For more information, call the Film Festival Office at (949) 253-2880 or www.newportbeachfilmfest.com.

Newport to Ensenada

Yacht RaceThe Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race will launch in Newport Harbor on April 22, 2005 at 12:00 noon. The 125-mile race, which concludes in Ensenada, Mexico, will include more than 500 vessels in 20 different race classes. More than 10,000 spectators are expected to view the beginnings of the race, and more than 12,000 people will drive, sail or cruise to Ensenada to witness the finish line. For further information on the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, please call (949) 644-1023 or visit www.nosa.org.

Jazz Series

Southern California’s premier Jazz Festival will return to the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Newport Beach Friday, May 13 through Sunday, May 15. Hosted by The Wave 94.7, the three days of food, music and wine will feature the smooth sounds of jazz artists performing at the Summer Jazz Amphitheater as well as on the Golf Courses and Fesital Grounds of the Hyatt. 949/729-1234 or www.summerjazzseries.com.

Recently named “America’s Best Beach Town” by The Travel Channel, Newport Beach plays host to visitors from around the world looking for sunshine and relaxation. The city has more than 2,600 deluxe rooms at its broad selection of hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfast properties. Larger properties include Balboa Bay Club & Resort, Four Seasons Hotel, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, Newport Beach Marriott Suites, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Tennis Club, Radisson Hotel Newport Beach and The Sutton Place Hotel. Smaller properties offer everything from pampering romantic hideaways to tasteful accommodations for the budget conscious. They include Balboa Inn, Best Western Bay Shores, Doryman’s Oceanfront Inn, Little Inn by the Bay, Newport Channel Inn, Newport Classic Inn, Best Western Newport Beach Inn, and Portofino Beach Hotel. www.newportbeach-cvb.com.

Visitors can enjoy the nine miles of pristine beaches perfect for walks, or other activities including swimming, surfing and volleyball. Or make a visit to one of Newport’s quaint villages including Balboa Island where you can explore more than 70 gift shops, galleries and restaurants on foot. Or take a spin on the Ferris wheel at the historic Balboa Fun Zone located on Balboa Pier. For serious shoppers, the city’s main shopping center sits atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Balboa Island. With more then 200 specialty stores, Fashion Island is where visitors can feel the cool ocean breeze and smell the sea air- it is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. For outdoor enthusiast, a nature walk through Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve with its 1,000 acres of coastal wetlands, or try a round of golf at a number of highly rated courses are available.

Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau

Newport Beach, located 55 miles south of Los Angeles and 85 miles north of San Diego, epitomizes the true essence of Southern California living. John Wayne/Orange County Airport offers more than 290 flights daily with short transfers to area hotels. For additional information, contact the Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau at (800) 94-COAST.

Beach Cities

Huntington Beach

The number one reason why tourists visit Orange County may be a trip to Disneyland, but surveys over the past five years have found that the beautiful beaches along Orange County’s 42 miles of Pacific coastline run a close second.

If you’re looking for the best spot on the coast to spread your towel and soak in the classic Southern California beach experience, you can find it all in Huntington Beach. With eight miles of wide, sandy beaches, the longest stretch of boardwalk in the county, extensive bike paths and a 1,800-foot-long pier, Huntington Beach is the quintessential spot for a beach vacation.?Beach volleyball, along with outdoor sports like surfing, in-line skating, kite-flying and biking, make Huntington Beach an outdoor playground for sports and fitness fans. Nicknamed “Surf City,” the beach town hosts the largest surfing contest in the country ą the U.S. Open of Surfing and Beach Games - and ESPN’s 10th Annual X Games of Surfing.

Newport Beach & Balboa Island

Newport Beach with its famous pier and the world’s largest small boat harbor is the gateway to Balboa island. This quaint and charming island community is a popular attraction for visitors and residents and includes the Fun Zone, Balboa Pier, Balboa Island Ferry, sportfishing, shopping, fabulous restaurants and nightlife with live music, dancing and concerts in the park. Sufing, biking and rollerblading are available. Protected from the pounding Pacific surf and surrounded by beaches and a tranquil, secluded bay, Balboa Island is a sun-washed island paradise, perfectly situated in the beautiful Newport Harbor. The island is accessed from the mainland via a bridge at the end of Jamboree Road and from the Balboa Peninsula by ferry. Best seen on foot, this picturesque island is home to more than 70 gift shops, galleries, and restaurants. Stroll down the North Bay front walkway to get a better view of the stately yachts moored at the docs. Wander down Marine Avenue and enjoy the unique shopping and culinary delights in the island’s casual atmosphere. You can get a bite to eat at one of the many sidewalk cafes, or enjoy award-winning cuisine at one of its fine restaurants. As you walk around the island, you’ll notice an enchanting mix of architectural styles, from Cape Cod to beautiful modern homes. When you’re ready to leave, catch the Balboa Ferry via Agate Avenue on the South Bay front for a memorable ride to the Balboa Peninsula.

Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove Recreation Area, south of Newport Beach, offers truly great bike trails placed along PCH with entry at ocean’s edge, leading from one exceptional cove to another. Recreational trekkers can access miles of sandy beaches and coves from paths leading down steep cement grades. Pelican Point is an especially outstanding for viewing tidepools. At Reef Point, you can cross over to the eastern side of PCH and drive up to the visitor center at El Moro Canyon. This is entry to the canyonlands and treks through a large natural and wild zone called El Moro Canyon Backcountry, yielding magnificent views of El Moro Canyon and the Pacific Ocean. This backcountry is part of the San Joaquin Hills and containing 2,343 acres. A map can be obtained at the Visitor Center at the south end of Crystal Cove State Park for biking, hiking and equestrian trails. 8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, Park Hours: 6am to Sunset. 949/494-3539.

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve & Nature Preserve

Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach is an estuary - a place where fresh and saltwater meet and mix. It is one of only a few remaining estuaries in Southern California and is the home of nearly 200 species of birds, including several endangered species, as well as numerous species of mammals, fish, other critters and native plants. www.newportbay.org

Laguna Beach Golden Coast

You'll not find a better travel destination to sunny vacations than the golden coastline along “California’s Riviera.” Laguna Beach is south of Newport Beach, on PCH or Pacific Coast Hwy 1. The perfect endless summer climate and rolling surf draws those bound for pristine shores. Laguna’s coves and bays are as unique as are the numerous boutiques, stores, restaurants, hotels and art galleries that line its shores.

Crescent Bay is one of its most famous and located to the north of town. Its big hollow waves offer some of the scariest and best body surfing in Laguna. Known for the best surf, Salt Creek off PCH, is near the Ritz Carlton property and golf course, a short walk to consistent waves and swell.

Alsio Creek Beach and Pier is county operated, at the junction of Alsio Creek and PCH. A popular and scenic hangout with excellent surfing and good south leading swells, the pier attracts surfers and visiting fisherman, who often find the catch of day at this spot.

"La Tour" is located at Victoria Beach, one of Laguna's most private public beaches. Volleyball courts at the north end and at the south end, but the main attraction is the tower built in 1926 to provide a spiraling stairs from the precipitous cliffs above. Its appearance of an early Victorian lighthouse or turret of a 16th century castle, delights tourists who often photograph it.

This year's Sawdust Art Festival is a vibrant Laguna Beach annual tribute July 2 through September 5, attracting the most visitors to this area during its daily exhibits. Easels and art gear are a common sight, exhibiting the talents of both amateur and illustrious painters. Nearly 200 Laguna Beach artists attend selling their original artwork, jewelry, ceramics, glass, textiles and other pieces.

Laguna Beach Cottages

Looking for the perfect Laguna Beach getaway with views to the ocean? Your vacation could be an extra special one staying at the Laguna Cliff Cottages, a unique vacation property on Cliff Drive. Built in the 30s, two cottages are roomy, located right in town and excellent for families, or just for two. Relive the “laid back days” of So Cal, when Laguna Beach was, and still is, the place for Summer fun. Laguna Cottages include every necessity, patios, barbecue and oversized palm trees surrounded by terraced flowers gardens. Each cottage has convenient parking and is within walking distance to the restaurants, ocean views and restaurants. Nearby, Heisler Park and Crescent Bay are a short walks for enchanting sunset views. 866/888-8505.

Dana Point

Due south of Laguna Beach, is the elegant town and rich waterfront history of Dana Point. With largest harbor facility south of Los Angeles, departures to venture into the open seas can be arranged for any day. The Dana Point Whale Festival is a must for whale lovers and is celebrated every February. Numbers of whale species travel along the inner coastal seaway, migrating each year to and from Alaska and Baja, Mexico.