Orange County has a reputation as boring suburbia filled with tract housing development and shopping centers – in that pattern across the County. However, there is more to do in Orange County than just going to South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island.
Check out some of these free sources of entertainment if you’re short on cash.
Santa Ana Arts District
The Arts District is sensory overload and sure to stimulate your creative side.
The District is located in downtown Santa Ana and includes the Art Walk and California State University at Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center (where a select number of CSUF art students are able to live for a semester).
The area is home to great restaurants, galleries and eclectic shops. While you may not have money to spend, there’s plenty to look at and see as you wander around this 8-block district.
Carbon Canyon Park
Carbon Canyon is a nice park for those in north Orange County or south Los Angeles County and they’ve got everything to accommodate almost any sort of outdoor activity. There’s even a nice lake for fishing or those wanting to just sit and relax by the water.
If you are into sports, Carbon Canyon has tennis courts, volleyball courts, bike/equestrian trails and a field.
Tables, sinks and counters are useful for those packing food for a picnic.
Located at 4442 Carbon Canyon Road in Brea.
Orange County Great Park
The Great Park, developed by Lennar, has been one of the most talked about projects for a few years now. Its biggest attraction is the hot air balloon ride, which offers visitors free rides daily!
Check the web site at www.ocgp.org for weather conditions prior to driving all the way out there. A lot of people have complained about the long waits and the canceled flights, but all you have to do is either check the web or call their hot line prior to going to find out if its worth the drive. Make sure to go either as soon as it opens or toward the end of the day.
You’re not up in the sky for very long. The view is kind of nice, but nothing too spectacular.
Newport Beach
All the way at the end of the 55 freeway, you’ll bump into Newport Beach. Go there in the morning when there’s ample parking, and it’s still quiet. Otherwise, when it’s crowded (like any beach during the warmer months), it’s sometimes difficult to really enjoy yourself. You may have to put in a few quarters for the meters, but it’s nice to get up early one morning and sit out on the beach when hardly anyone is there (this is usually the case up until about 11 a.m. – unless it’s the summer time).
Centennial Farm
If you’ve got kids with you, the Centennia Farm at the Fairgrounds is fun. It’s a small farm with gardens and livestock. It’s mainly geared towards kids to try to get them to learn about agriculture, but it could be interesting for adults too.
The best part is that both parking and the admission is free.
They are open from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the weekends. The Farm is located at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.
Orange Circle
If you like looking at antiques and novelty items, go to the Orange Circle in downtown Orange. Better yet, if you go during Labor Day, they usually have a really cool street fair with tons of good food. It’s called the circle, because all of the streets converge in a circuluar thoroughfare for cars to drive through. It’s filled with all kinds of local and eclectic retail tenants.
Downtown Fullerton
Downtown Fullerton has retained some of its historical and local character even as new development has sprung up within and around it, making it a unique experience. There’s vintage clothing stores, good sushi, pizza, tattoo parlors, bars and more. During the day, it’s nice for leisurely strolls or just hanging out.
Downtown Disney
It’s not a real “downtown” in the sense that it has any sort of historic character to it, but if you’re more for the made up shopping/entertainment centers and want to see national or chain retail tenants, go to Downtown Disney. It’s located just outside of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim. Usually, at night they have live music, and it’s kind of fun to people watch there. If you go during summer nights, you can watch the fireworks for free around 9 p.m.
Fullerton Arboretum
If you’re into plants or just want a quiet place to relax and reflect, head to the campus of California State University at Fullerton. They’ve got an arboretum open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day that is free. You wouldn’t even know it either when you drive up to the small dirt parking lot entrance located on Yorba Linda Boulevard, but the Arboretum is actually 26 acres and home to more than 4,000 plants. Sometimes they hold vegetable or plant sales, which is kind of fun.
Farmers Market
This isn’t necessarily free considering you have to pay to actually enjoy what’s being offered, but there are Farmers Markets throughout the County and there is no cost for admission. They are held on different days of the week in multiple cities. So, just to highlight some, Irvine’s is on Saturdays from 8 a.m. untl noon at University Center. Huntington Beach’s is from noon until it turns dark at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Anaheim’s is at Center Street Promenade and Lemon Street from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, while Laguna Hills’ is on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Laguna Hills Mall parking lot.
Bowers Museum
Every first Sunday of the month, visitors can get in free to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana for free. They usually have great exhibits, and it’s a nice way to spend a couple of hours.
The museum is located at 2002 N. Main Street in Santa Ana.
