Sandwiched between iconic seaside cities Los Angeles and San Diego lies a sprawling swath of vibrant California shoreline.
Not all of Orange County straddles paradisal shoreline, however after a day of screaming youngsters at Disneyland, there isn’t any higher place to seek out blissful shores, typically with out the extent of vacationers LA and San Diego see.
We at Travel Off Path do our greatest to function your North Star, avoiding the crowds every season. The beauty of the OC is it is well-known, however not as properly related as California’s family names.
That mentioned, Laguna Beach was actually solely a family identify after its tacky, positively unscripted portrayal on MTV’s (someway) widespread actuality present.
Nowadays, Laguna Beach and close by Newport Beach are mainly beachside variations of Beverly Hills. Those being the OC’s most notable names, it clears out different coastal gems, as many vacationers follow locations they know.
That’s why we did some digging and uncovered what we actually really feel are Orange County’s 3 most underrated seaside cities, much more wallet-friendly and fewer touristy.
PLUS: We’ve constructed a quiz for you on the finish of the article so you possibly can know which one is ideal for you, so stick round!
Seal Beach: The OC’s Secret Sliver Of Paradise
For the document, Anaheim most likely tops Laguna Beach by way of recognition, however it’s extra of a sports activities city and family-fun retreat.
While many do choose to remain in Anaheim given the breadth of good inns, it does make sense for coastal day journeys, particularly since little-known hideaways like Seal Beach do not have beachfront resorts.
This map-dot is the OC’s northernmost shores, hugging up in opposition to certainly one of California’s instantly stylish locations, Long Beach.
In truth, I’m going subsequent week…
Seal Beach is for vacationers who cannot stand packing up the automobile solely to need to struggle for area whenever you get right here.
This is the spot to get pleasure from sunsets, the sounds of crashing waves, and dealing in your tan unbothered.
It’s the SoCal you envision should you’ve by no means been — chiseled lifeguards, bleach-blonde surfers, and old-school motels like The Pacific Inn as a substitute of flashy resorts.
Main Street is the place the “action” lies on this small city, and is properly price a cease for a chew to eat or perusing beach-themed boutiques.
Huntington Beach: Hang Loose In “Surf City USA”
Full disclosure: We perceive not each beachgoer hits the waves, and even likes getting in water normally.
Heck, I’ve lived in close by San Diego for a strong decade now and have not hopped on a surfboard as soon as.
That mentioned, many individuals reside and breathe this way of life. For those that do, there’s arguably no place higher.
Dubbed “Surf City USA”, Huntington Beach holds quite a few surf competitions all year long and clearly tends to be within the goldilocks zone for the right situations.
But that is not even near being all there’s to do right here:
According to TripAdvisor, these are the highest 5 ‘Surf City’ points of interest that don’t have anything to do with browsing:
- Huntington Beach Pier (almost 2000 ft. lengthy; nice for fishing, sunsets, and scenic strolls)
- Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (for birdwatching, scenic wetlands, and peaceable strolling trails)
- Huntington Dog Beach (Fido deserves a vacay too!)
- Main Street (get pleasure from eating places, bars, surf retailers, and full of life beachside nightlife)
- Huntington Central Park (Orange County’s largest metropolis park)
Huntington Beach affords many extra lodging than the aforementioned Seal Beach, so you will not need to make the trek from Anaheim or go into debt for a Newport Beach resort.
Beachside Paséa Hotel & Spa has Travel Off Path’s stamp of approval as the right center floor.
San Clemente: An Unexpected Slice Of Spain
If you drive up from San Diego, San Clemente makes for the right entry level into Orange County.
This (principally) whitewashed seaside city with fiery terracotta rooftops is a Spanish oasis brimming with solar, sand, attraction…and taco stands.
Just faux I mentioned tapas…
Exploring downtown is simply as pleasant as its glowing seashores. If you need to indulge its Spanish aura, there isn’t any higher spot than Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens should you do not need to fork over a fairly penny for a waterfront lodge.
Though from firsthand expertise, it truly is price it. There’s no different spot within the OC with this stage of magnificence with out dropping its native really feel.
For these up for the journey, San Clemente is on the very least price a stopping level alongside the must-grab-window-seat route of California’s Pacific Surfliner prepare journey that traverses from downtown San Diego to San Luis Obispo.
