Orange County, California, began as a rural area with vast spaces of land dedicated to growing oranges. It has since become a sprawling metropolis. Located in the shadow of Los Angeles, Orange County, California, often gets overlooked by visitors enjoying their summer holidays in southern California. But Orange County has miles of coastline, acres of well-kept parks and plenty of activities to enjoy on a summer day.
Surfing
Orange County boasts some of the best surfing spots along the California coast. Northern beaches like Newport and Huntington have great surfing spots. Newport Beach’s the “Wedge” can get waves of 35 feet or more. Every summer the world’s greatest surfers converge on Huntington Beach to compete in the U.S. Open, one of the world’s premier surfing competitions. Beaches in the south, such as Salt Creek in Laguna Beach, are also popular with local surfers. For long boarding, try Doheny Beach near Dana Point. If you’re new to surfing, try taking surfing lessons with a local surf school, such as Newport Surf School, which has been teaching surfing since 1985.
Snorkeling
If you’re interested in seeing what’s underneath the spectacular waves of Orange County, then snorkeling might be a good way to spend a hot summer day. The best snorkeling sites in Orange County are located in south-county in Laguna Beach. One dive off of Cleo Street will take you to a shipwreck from 1958 that has colorful ocean wildlife growing all over it. Most of the spots can be reached simply by walking into the water and swimming to the location. No boat is needed and most areas have lifeguards.
Bike Riding
There are many places to ride bikes in the summer in Orange County, but perhaps the most enjoyable bike ride is along the coast. Begin at Huntington Beach in north-county and ride your way south toward the Balboa Peninsula. The bike path runs along the beach, past houses, piers, shops and O.C. locals enjoying a day in the sun. If you’ve traveled to Orange County without a bike, Zak’s Beach Concessions offers bike rentals beginning at $30 per day, as of 2010. Zak's is located on the beach in Huntington, so there is no need to transport the bike.
Walking and Hiking
For a brisk walk on a summer day, there are many parks in Orange County that offer trails from paved to rugged. Carbon Canyon regional park is 124 acres and 10 of those acres are a grove of redwoods. Arroyo Trabuco is a wilderness preserve that offers hiking trails and picnicking. For a long walk, the 345-acre William R. Mason regional park in Irvine offers plenty of opportunity to walk for exercise or simply enjoy the summer day.
Fishing
If you’d prefer a relaxing day of fishing, there are several places to fish in Orange County. Hidden in the hills of northern O.C. is Irvine Lake, which offers 750 acres of fishing. Due to the secluded nature of the lake, there is abundant wildlife, and the lake is fully stocked with large catfish, trout and bass. If you’d like to take a boat out into the lake, boat rentals are available beginning at $25 per day, as of 2010. No license is required; however, there are some fishing limits.
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