SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GUIDE
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GUIDE | Some of you might not know, New England-loving girl that I am, that I was actually born and raised in California. I grew up in Orange County, and still have many friends and family in that area. It is one of my favorite places to visit, and this most recent trip reminded me how much I love my old home state, and how much I am longing to go back again soon!
My heart is with Californians right now as it remains shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak spreading through the state. I came home three days before the shut down, and I admit a couple rounds of tears my last few days as I wondered if domestic flights would be grounded, and if I would be able to get home easily. I love and worry about all my family and friends in CA and am praying for them during this most difficult time.
With statewide shutdowns, travel at a near standstill, business closed up, and vacations discouraged, I believe now more than ever we should promote our favorite businesses and the places we love. We should all be encouraging people, once the pandemic is over, to start traveling again, and visiting the places they love, and places they have never been! That is why I wanted to write this Southern California travel guide, and put it out there into the world so people can gather inspiration for future trips! Please don’t be afraid to travel when this is all over, tourism is the backbone of the economy for many towns, cities, and even countries around the world!
ORANGE COUNTY
Balboa Island | Newport Beach | Old Towne Orange | Disneyland | Downtown Disney
First, before I begin, I HIGHLY recommend flying into the Long Beach Airport in Orange County, rather than LAX. It is an adorable vintage airport, you disembark on the tarmac, and it took me 10 minutes to get from bag check, to my gate. It’s the most amazing little airport.
There was a long list of fun to-dos on my list for Orange County.
1.) OLD TOWNE ORANGE - I grew up coming to the Orange Circle as a little girl; popping into the Blue Frog for lunch, sitting down for a malted milkshake at Watson’s Drugstore, peeking through the antique shops for vintage goodies, and enjoying cold Italian sodas or gelato.
This vintage downtown still looks like 1920s California in the best way! From the old bank on the corner, to the famous, historic Watson’s Drugstore and Soda Fountain, this spot holds a special place in my vintage-loving heart!
2.) NEWPORT BEACH - Newport is the perfect afternoon trip! Enjoy the sun on the beach, and then a walk down the pier for a milkshake at Ruby’s! I have such fond memories of Ruby’s, and it is one of the things I miss about living in CA!
After the milkshake, rent a boat from Newport Beach Boat Rentals, and have a boat picnic while you cruise by Balboa Island and watch the sailboats zip around the harbor.
3.) BALBOA ISLAND - After the boat cruise, hop aboard the Balboa Island Ferry, and in five minutes, you will be on the cutest spot in SoCal! Peruse the small shops on Marine Avenue, and stroll through the neighborhood to admire each adorable, unique house. Be sure to end the day with Mexican food at Picante Martin’s, and a Balboa Bar at Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop, the true home of the Balboa bar (I liked mine with one side dipped in sprinkles, and the other in toasted coconut…yum!).
4.) DISNEYLAND / CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE - A necessary stop on any Southern California trip is Disneyland, of course. So much has changed there in the last few years.
My recs for California Adventure are:
Cars Land/Care Ride (they have completely recreated Radiator Springs, and it is the cutest!)
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain (the frozen hot chocolate and a warm brownie are the best!)
Guardians of the Galaxy Ride (previously the Tower of Terror, which I miss)
Grizzly River Run Ride
For Disneyland, my favorites are:
Indiana Jones Ride
Pirates of the Caribbean Ride
Splash Mountain Ride
The Matterhorn Ride
Galaxy’s Edge
Rise of the Resistance Ride (possibly the most amazing ride experience ever!)
Smugglers Run Ride (just make sure you are the first in the group of 6, so you can actually pilot the simulator, or pick someone from your group to pilot.)
Cafe Orleans (be sure to order a Monte Cristo and the Pomme Frites!)
5.) DOWNTOWN DISNEY - Another place to spend a beautiful afternoon is Downtown Disney. This is the shopping/eating center just outside the Disneyland Park, and it is magical!
Try the virtual-reality Star Wars experience at The Void, enjoy an elaborate milkshake from Black Tap, grab a churro from the churro vendor (essential), and DON’T forget to take a look inside the Grand Californian Hotel, a craftsman-style masterpiece!
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Riverside | Redlands | Oak Glen
A historic, old fashioned, and highly underrated spot in California is San Bernardino County. There are several, very special spots that I adore visiting when I am there, and I LOVE to share with people!
1.) RIVERSIDE - Downtown Riverside is a beautiful spot! The old Missions and mission style architecture is breathtaking! Stop by the historic Mission Inn, built in the 1870s, for lunch on the patio, and a walk along the flower lined terraces surrounding the courtyard.
Just across the way is the adorable Miss Tiggy Winkles, an eclectic store, perfect for picking out small momentos or gifts!
2.) REDLANDS - Another charming downtown spot is Redlands. Enjoy a pizza and the best lemon bars ever at Bricks and Birch. Get some shopping in on East State Street, and walk around the beautiful Smiley Library, and the surrounding victorian neighborhood!
3.) OAK GLEN - My favorite place in ALL of SoCal is the tiny town of Oak Glen, up in the San Bernardino Mountains.
My dear friends, the Riley’s, operate Los Rios Rancho, the largest and oldest apple orchard in Southern California. I grew up running around the farm with my friends, horseback riding, apple picking, listening to fiddle and the banjo music playing across the hillsides and up to beautiful Wiltshire Peak. Take a hike on the nature trail just off the parking lot at Los Rios, where you will find a a peaceful pond, hillside trails, a boardwalk, and enormous California redwoods looming above you!
Just down the road, also operated by Los Rios, is Wilshire’s Apple Shed. It is a country store, cigar shop, and coffee shop with incredible hot chocolate, and a cozy atmosphere! Soon they will be serving wood fire pizza!
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Old Pasadena | Huntington Library and Gardens
My visit to California is never complete without a stay with my Uncle, Aunt and cousins in Pasadena. I love them to death, and you may remember them from my Switzerland Trip blog post. Here are a couple places I love to visit when I am with them:
1.) Old Pasadena - the bustling Old Pasadena is a great afternoon spot! Grab a hot chocolate and pastry at Le Pain Quotidien, or at Little Flower. Mix up a milkshake or get an ice cream cone at Salt & Straw, which has incredible flavors like Salted Caramel Cupcake, and Coconut Milk with Cashew Brittle!
2.) The Huntington Library and Gardens - You feel absolutely transported as soon as you step into the magnificent Huntington Gardens. Each area of the beautiful 207 acres is perfectly curated, with themes such as, the Japanese Garden, the Chinese Garden, the Rose Garden, the Ranch Garden, the Australian Garden, The Lily Ponds, and more! It feels like an escape from the city that surrounds it, and everything is peaceful and lovely!
I hope beautiful California inspires you all to take a trip out that way in the future! SoCal is truly a gem, and this blog post doesn’t even cover a fraction of all the amazing things there are to see and do there!