Orange County, California

[JillLuvsNate]

Hey! Don't forget Orange County! :) So, how many people from OC are on CC? Introduce yourselves!

Me:
Name: Jill
Age 23
In college studying Child Development
Married for 6 months
0 kids (for now)
Lived in south OC - for all but 6 months of my life. Born & raised here!

[ladybug777]

Name: Jazmine
Age: 27
Occupation: RN
Married: 6/15/02
Kids: Baby #1 due 2/07
I've lived in So. OC since 1992

[BuffaloBlondie]

I posted this in the travel section, but I thought it might get more suggestions here....
I am going crazy trying to plan our summer trip to California. My sister is getting married in La Verne and we are staying around there before the wedding. My trouble is the after the wedding planning. We are staying in Anaheim for two days. One of the days we are doing Disney and the other day we would like to drive to a beach. This is where I am overwhelmed. Would anyone be able to recommend a nice, calm beach close to Anaheim? I would like something with little shops, bathroom facilities & food. We are also bringing our 10 month old so it would be nice if the beach was kid friendly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[JillLuvsNate]

Hey ladybug777! Welcome! :)

BuffaloBlondie: Hmmm... let me do some thinking. I'm from more of the Laguna Beach area so I don't know Anaheim that well but I will ask some friends and get back to you! What month are you coming in?

[ladyjusticemoni]

I don't currently live in the OC but my extended family lives in Irvine (Woodbridge). Irvine is so clean and a nice place to raise kids :) I heart it!

[BuffaloBlondie]

JillLuvsNate~ Thanks for getting back to me so soon. We will be in California this June 26-July 4. We can't wait!!! After doing some research, I have been looking for a beach that is closest to Anaheim. I thought that Laguna looked like the closest. Let me know if you find anything else oput. Thanks!! ~Jennifer

[JillLuvsNate]

ladyjusticemoni: I know! Irvine is fantastic. If only I could afford the rent... ;)

BuffaloBlondie: I think Huntington Beach would be closer. The beaches there are bigger too, much more child friendly in my opinion. If you are a Laguna Beach fan (tv show) Laguna Beach might be more fun, although it is very small and crowded at that time of year.

[stevesbabygirl]

I grew up in the OC, but am now living in Lakewood, just inside LA County.

I also recommend Huntington Beach to Laguna. It has a cute Main Street downtown area, and IMO is much more family friendly than Laguna Beach.

[framboise]

BuffaloBlondie, I'd recommend Huntington like the other ladies said. Another option is Newport Beach & specifically Balboa Island. A Google search for Balboa Island brings up quite a few sites with decent info. Newport is really easy to get to from Anaheim (5 south to 55 south & you're pretty much there). Huntington is a little harder because the freeways between there & Anaheim kinda go in a circle so you can't go "straight" there, it's kinda roundabout. If that makes any sense.

Have a great trip!

[BuffaloBlondie]

Thanks everyone! I did a search for Newport and the pier and funzone look kind of fun!

[kimbers]

Name: Kim
Age: 37
Occupation: SAHM
Married: 8/25/01
Kids: 2 girls almost 4 & 2.5
I've lived in OC since 1994

I 2nd the recommendation for Balboa Island. Very easy to get to from Anaheim. That's where I live (Anaheim) so if you have any questions BuffaloBlondie, feel free to ask.
The beach has an island you can actually walk all around, takes about an hour. The homes are beautiful to look at and the water in front of the homes is very calm. It's not for swimming but wading and playing in the sand would be great. They also have a quaint 1 street shopping area, and a ferry to take across to the beach area where there is a fun zone and more shops/food.

Another great place to go, which is right around the corner from the island, is Fashion Island. It's a trendy, kid-friendly outdoor shopping area. They have many fountains and one the kids can play in.

Huntington is great but it is really for the hang-out type of people. Also the beach isn't very calm. That's where they have surfing competitions.

[Shapsgrl]

Name: tash
Age: 28 in a few weeks
Occupation: director of product development for a toy company
Married: getting married in Cabo San Lucas -- 3/24/07
Kids: none
I've lived in OC all my life with the exception of when I went away for school. I'm a 4th generation OC born kid.

[mxgirly]

I'm here too (although I never post) - just wanted to introduce myself. Some of you may remember me from the other side as Beach Bunny . . .

Name: Kristin
Age: 28
Occupation: Marketing Product Manager
Married: yep - June 21, 2003
Kids: 1, Kaitlyn. She'll be 2 on August 3rd
I've lived in Southern California my whole life, North San Diego County to be exact - moved up to Long Beach to go to school and met my husband. Currently live in La Palma (on the border of Orange and LA counties) - smallest city in the OC!! :D

[Rancid13]

Another OC gal checking in...

Name: Jennifer
Age: 28
Occupation: Real Estate~office manager
Married: Yes, Dec 13, 2003
Kids: 1 boy on the way, due in early Dec

Born in Garden Grove. Raised in GG, Fountain Valley, GG again, Westminster, FV again, hubby made me move to El Segundo with him for 1.5 years (near LAX) but I still commuted to my job in HB. We moved back to the OC (Los Alamitos) in January 2005 and plan on staying here forever if we can...would like to eventually get a place in HB, FV, or CM though.

[taffers]

I didn't even know there was an OC thread!!

Name: Temre
Age: 30
Occupation: Attorney
Married: September 24, 2005
Kids: None...yet.
I've lived in Orange County my entire life (well, except for college and law school, but I was still home almost every other weekend!).

There must be more of us out there!

[Cali_Katy]

Hey ladies of "the OC!" My sister lives in Laguna Niguel and I'd like to surprise her with a gift certificate for a massage or facial. Can you recommend any spas in the area? The only one I know of is the Montage in LB, and while I'm sure it is lovely, I have a feeling it might break the bank! ;)

[linekelei]

Burke Williams Spa in Mission Viejo is nice. I personally prefer Spa Gregories (it's a bit smaller & more personal). There is one in Newport and one in Rancho Santa Margarita, so she could choose whatever location is most convenient for her. The Spa at South Coast Plaza is good, too, but not as relaxing (at least in my opinion).

[Rosebud]

Hey OC ladies,

A CC member posted in travel (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1507325&postcount=81) looking for feedback on restaurants/bars/clubs in the Anaheim area-- and also the Newport/Laguna areas.

Will post your recommendations and tips here for her? TIA!

[lilo]

If you could only spend a day visiting either Laguna Beach or Newport beach, which would you choose? I am traveling to CA later this month and would like to take DS (11 months) to one of these beach communities for the day to walk around, shop, and eat a casual lunch by the ocean.

Thanks!

[stevesbabygirl]

Laguna Beach is a more artsy area, and Newport (in certain areas) can be very ritzy. I would probably suggest Newport because then you can go to the Balboa Fun Zone and spend some fun time with your DS :).

[jesvet]

Anyone around? I want to get the hell out of San Diego for a day or so and I'm thinking of going to Disneyland. Is it safe for kids to be outside? The air quality here is awful county-wide.

[karilynne_97]

I'm in South OC (Portola Hills, yep, we were evacuated) and the air is horrible out here. My parents are in HB, and when we evacuated to their house the air was bad there too. I'd stay away. Keep 'em indoors for now. Hope you and your family are ok during this trying time.

[BusyBee21]

I would not take your kids to Disneyland right now---the air is so bad that schools are cancelled in most of South OC (including some daycare!) My daycare has kept everyone inside since Monday. DH and I had a romantic weekend planned in SF, and now we will be taking DS (and a babysitter) along just to get him out of this bad air! If you can take the kids OUT of SoCal, I'd do so. Hope things start to improve down there!

[BusyBee21]

Name: Suzie
Age: 34
Occupation: Development Consultant
Married: 2/07/04
Kids: 1 DS, 14 months. Two French Bulldogs

I have lived in San Clemente since 2003, and I love it. Went to college at UCSB and it's the closest thing to SB that I have found so far. And the cost of living is lower! :-)

[Rancid13]

Anyone around? I want to get the hell out of San Diego for a day or so and I'm thinking of going to Disneyland. Is it safe for kids to be outside? The air quality here is awful county-wide.

I'm about 8 miles directly west of Disneyland, and I wouldn't recommend heading out this way with a little one because air quality right now isn't that great region-wide. That being said, I did go to Knott's last night for 5 hours and didn't have any trouble with the air or with breathing.