Orange County, California Travel Guide
Situated on the West Coast of the US, Orange County is the smallest county in Southern California. From the sparkling Pacific Ocean to the Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County is a collection of small cities. To the south is San Diego and to the north is Los Angeles but this city has a unique flavor and attitude of its own.
For thousands of years, Orange County has been home to Native Americans. With the construction of Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1776, Europeans took hold here. Ravaged by droughts, floods, and earthquakes, this self sufficient and determined settlement never lost faith. Here are some must-see attractions in Orange County, California.
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach began attracting vacationers in the late 1800s. In the past, half of the residents here are artists and they established a creative community which still thrives today. Laguna possesses a natural light, spirit, and beauty that can serve as an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
Crystal Cove
Crystal Cove is a little to the north and early Californian beach culture time capsule. It is a park of pristine coastline and features a historic collection of classic beach as well as the jetsam and flotsam of the ocean.
Newport Beach
This is an upscale coastline that features boutiques, fabulous bars, and famous pier. The Newport Harbor is some blocks from this beach. It used to be a busy maritime port but now filled with pleasure craft. It is hard to imagine that an acre lot here once sold for a dollar looking at the stunning homes that line the shore.
Huntington Beach
Once dotted with oil derricks, the only oil on Huntington Beach now is suntan lotion. The all-year round waves on this beach has inspired hit songs such as the Surf City by the Beach Boyd Dean and Jan. Huntington hosts its own pro series and the locals here are crazy about beach volleyball.
Theme Parks
The theme parks in this county make it a great vacation destination. Disneyland Park is one of such theme parks and it is only 35 miles from Los Angeles. Another one is Knott’s Berry Farm. It started as a collection of relocated ghost towns but now many family’s favorites.
Lyon Air Museum
Situated next to John Wayne Airport, Lyon Air Museum specializes in automobiles and aircraft from the World War II era.
Discovery Science Center
Explore the inner workings of space flight and Dinosaurs at the Discovery Science Center. You can also count the monkeys at the Santa Ana Zoo.
Bowers Museum
This museum allows you to journey the world of cultures through arts. The Bowers Museum has a relationship with the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institute, so the exhibitions here are always world class.
Crystal Cathedral
Orange County is a city full of surprises when it comes to architecture. This cathedral is many years away from this county’s early adobe churches.
For all of Orange County’s culture, thrill rides, shopping and fabulous architecture, nothing compares to this city’s sunsets. They are free to everyone and pure Californian gold.
How Getting Lost Is Actually a Good Thing
It’s safe to say that getting lost while traveling is one of the worst, as well as one of the most uncomfortable things that could ever happen to a traveler. Generally speaking, most travelers don’t like to be lost. They just don’t like feeling like they have missed something very important, and most importantly, they don’t like feeling vulnerable in an unfamiliar area that is inhabited by people that they have never seen before. We can understand this, because we are all human beings, and we feel the same way. If you are driving around in your car and you lose your way, you will probably get frustrated, won’t you? You will get nervous, snap at your passengers, and say a lot of bad words, and then you will just regret it. But what can you do about it? You just don’t like getting lost – that’s all!
However, the more time you spend on the road, the more you will understand that getting lost is actually not that big of a deal. In fact, getting lost can sometimes be a good thing. Sometimes, getting lost is actually much better than successfully finding everything on the first try. And yes, we are saying that getting lost can actually make your trips much more fun!
Hone Your Problem-Solving Skills
Getting lost in a foreign country sounds like a pretty scary thing, doesn’t it? But instead of looking at it as a devastating situation, you should try looking at it as a great opportunity to hone your travel skills. So, instead of sitting behind the wheel and crying your eyes out, get the map out of your travel backpack and learn how to read it. Also, don’t be afraid to ask people for directions. There are always some nice people out there who are willing to help others. That being said, getting lost in an unfamiliar area is actually a great opportunity to test your problem-solving skills.
Learn How To Handle Stressful Situations
Have you ever wondered if screaming at your travel buddies is actually ever any helpful? While screaming at your travel buddies is actually not a positive thing, it still gives you a chance to see whether or not your travel buddies will be able to handle stressful situations. Stressful travel situations can truly bring out the true colors in everyone. Also, getting lost while traveling allows you to have unexpected adventures. As you can see, getting lost is actually not that bad – it is a great opportunity to experience new things.
What You Need To Know About Backpacking
Did you put your passport in the bag? Is everything hotel and motel-related already sorted out? Did you double check everything, including your flight times? If you have done all of these things, you are almost ready for your upcoming backpacking adventure. But did you notice two little words here – almost ready? Yes, that’s right, because there are still some very important things that you need to do if you want your backpacking adventure to go as smoothly as possible! Planning the trip out in beforehand has been critical to a successful and enjoyable trip. The reason for this is because there is so much more to backpacking than just putting your passport in your travel bag and hitting the road. One very important thing that you need to remember here is that it is your duty to sort everything out, including where you want to go and who you want to go with, as well as where you are going to sleep once you get there.
Another very important thing that you need to do while you are still at home is calculate how much money you have available, as well as how much of it you are willing to spend on your upcoming backpacking adventure. You also need to be prepared for anything and everything, because backpacking is an adventure in its own right. That being said, if you are wondering how to get the most out of your upcoming backpacking adventure, we are very happy to inform you that you came to the right place! And now, here are some tips that should make your upcoming trip easier.
Do the Necessary Research
Spontaneity is one of the biggest parts of any backpacking experience. But this absolutely doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t spend at least a little bit of time doing some research while you are still at home. Not only will a little bit of research give you some necessary information regarding your destination of choice, but it will also give you even more motivation to take that trip that you have always wanted to take.
Eat Local Food
It is pretty much safe to say that you are going to explore all sorts of places during your upcoming trip. This means that you are going to try as many new things as possible, aren’t you? But did you know that you could actually save a lot of money by eating local food? Yes, you read that right!
Don’t Put Too Much Weight On Your Shoulders
We all know that packing too much stuff is never a good idea, right? Well, this is especially the case when you are planning on going on a backpacking adventure. This is because you are going to spend a lot of time on your feet, not in your car. Putting too much pressure on your shoulders would only slow you down.
What You Need To Know About Packing a Carry-On Bag
We all know that packing and preparing for a road trip can be a pretty exhausting task sometimes, right? One of the biggest reasons for this is because the process of packing and preparing for a road trip is usually quite long, and you really need to think about every little detail when doing it. And if you think that packing a carry-on bag for a road trip is much easier than packing a regular travel backpack, we are sorry to break it down to you like this, but you’re wrong. While packing a carry-on bag is not really the most difficult thing in the world, it is definitely not the easiest one either. With this in mind, if you would like to pack your carry-on bag like a pro, you need to posses the right packing skills. The reason for this is because packing a carry-on bag is not just another part of the preparation process – it is a form of art in its own right. If you fancy yourself a wise world-traveler, it will be easy for you to balance the requirements of both the airport and the airlines security systems, and you will know how to keep all of your important items easily accessible at all times.
One of the most important things that you need to remember here is that bigger doesn’t necessarily have to be better. What does this mean? This means that you should try to get a carry-on bag that is just the right size for what you need – not too big, but not too small either. Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that your airline might set a certain limit on the weight of your carry-on bag. With that said, be sure to check the maximum size and weight that you are allowed to carry. And now, here are some things that you should never do when packing a carry-on bag!
Don’t Overpack
Generally speaking, overpacking is never a good idea. This is especially true if you are going on a long trip. Speaking of overpacking, did you know that checked bags are subject to additional fees if they are overweight? That’s right, and carry-on bags are not really safe from this either!
Don’t Bring Any Weapons
Don’t even think about putting any prohibited items in your carry-on bag. When we say prohibited items, we mean things like guns, explosives, or pretty much anything else that could be used as a weapon. After all, you wouldn’t want to end up in a jail or something like that, would you?
Don’t Bring Unnecessary Liquids
Don’t put a full-size bottle of shampoo in your carry-on bag – put it in your checked bag instead. Also, bringing any liquids that are larger than 3.4 ounces wouldn’t be your best idea. So, if you are going to buy a bottle of fresh juice or something like that for the plane, you should do it after you have passed all the security checks, not before.
Top 3 Ways Travel Can Make You a Better Person
We all know that life is filled with moments that both change and define who we are and what we want to be. This is especially the case with people who love to travel on a regular basis. You see, when you are traveling to a new, unfamiliar place, you are completely open to the world and everything that it has to throw your way – and that is one of the moments that can completely change who you are as a person. When you are traveling the globe (whether it be alone or with a group of friends), you get to learn about the world and its cultures, but you also get to learn a lot about yourself.
While it is true that travel changes people in many different ways, there are some certain events that you can expect to occur while you are on the road that will change who you are as a person, and we mean this in the best way possible. For example, when you are traveling the world, you become more independent in so many different ways. You get to learn how to get yourself from point A to point B without spending too much time or money. That being said, here are three more ways travel can make you a better person. Enjoy the ride!
Planning For the Unexpected
While having a travel plan ready is always a good idea, planning every single detail of your trip is almost impossible. With this in mind, you need to know how to plan for the unexpected. Sometimes, the things that you least expected to happen are what actually makes the whole trip much more fun, as well as much more interesting.
Living in the Moment
When it comes to traveling the world, it is kind of like being in love with someone you really care about. The only major difference is between the two is that you don’t get to be intimate with another person, but with a place that you are visiting. You want to explore that place as much as you possibly can.
Price and Value Are Not the Same Things
The cost of your trip might be hundreds or thousands of dollars. It all depends on where you are going. But the value that trip could have on both you and your life could be priceless. As you can see, price and value are two completely different things.