Irvine

Irvine’s central location—45 miles from Los Angeles, 85 miles from San Diego, and 15 minutes from Disneyland Resort—makes it a popular hub for Southern California travelers. But there’s a lot to love right in Irvine itself. From kid-friendly outdoor activities to businesses that cater to the college kids to full-service shopping, the little big city of more than 300,000 has something for everyone.

Performing Arts and Museums in Irvine

A strong concentration of universities makes Irvine an under-the-radar destination for lovers of visual and performing arts. The city’s largest educational hub, University of California, Irvine, is home to the Beall Center for Art and Technology, which promotes creative expressions of digital science; The Institute and Museum of California Art, which preserves art by California Impressionists; and The Barclay Theatre, which hosts ballets, symphonies, and musicals. You can view fine art at the UCI Langson Institute and Museum of California Art, or learn about Irvine’s agriculture past at the Irvine Historical Museum. One of the newest additions to the city’s arts scene is Great Park Live, an outdoor venue that hosts concerts by tribute bands as well as artists such as Ludacris. It joins longtime live music destination Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre as a great local place to see a show.

Family Attractions in Irvine

For growing minds, Irvine mixes learning and fun at a number of spots around the city. Kids can learn about the harvest during strawberry and watermelon season by visiting Tanaka Farms. Pretend City Children’s Museum is a wonderland for tykes with miniature interactive versions of the supermarket, dentist, and a post office. The constantly expanding 600-plus acre Orange County Great Park has a Farm + Food Lab where your family can visit the butterfly garden and chicken coop before burning off energy at one of the Sports Complex’s 25 tennis courts. Another not-to-be-missed Great Park offering is the Palm Court Art Complex, where visitors can take in art installations, live performances (at the one-acre Palm Court Plaza), or simply relax or watch a summer movie on the Terraced Lawn. The adventurous can soar 400 feet into the air in the Great Park Balloon; if you’d rather keep things earthbound, go for a spin on the Great Park Carousel.

Outdoor Fun in Irvine

Take advantage of Irvine’s abundance of open spaces and get out and roam. Part of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks (IRL), Irvine was master-planned to preserve green spaces for wildlife and recreation, resulting in 16,500 acres of green space and more than 60 miles of trails—the most of any city in Orange County. The preserve has a packed calendar of activities that include all-ages hiking, horseback riding, and habitat restoration projects. If you are out with four-legged friends, head to the two-mile Quail Hill Trailhead (it’s the only wilderness trail part of the Natural Landmarks that allows dogs); also nearby are Bommer and Shady Canyons, where runners and bikers whiz by magnificent old-growth oaks on a dirt trail that takes you over several wooden bridges.

The students at UC Irvine (whose mascot is Peter the Anteater) have an unbeatable backyard getaway: the 300-acre San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. Located right next to the university and home to 100 different species of birds, a butterfly garden, and 12 miles of trails, the restored coastal freshwater wetlands serve as a welcoming oasis for walkers, joggers, and birdwatchers.

International Cuisine in Irvine

Irvine is also home to an array of cuisines from around the world, particularly Asia. A good place to start your culinary tour is at Diamond Jamboree, a plaza with a number of standout eateries. The baked BBQ pork buns are a favorite at Tim Ho Wan, a famous restaurant with Hong Kong roots; for a taste of Korea, head to BCD Tofu House and BBQ Chicken, and Japanese specialties can be had at Coco Ichibanya and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. For a sweet-tooth fix, try the famous ah-boong, a Korean dessert, at Somi Somi or have a piece of cake at 85C Bakery Café.  The Trade Food Hall is an eclectic take on the classic food court. Tuck into some fish and chips at London Chippie, a steaming bowl of craft ramen at HiroNori, or a sampling of delicious Thai street food at Tuk Tuk, just three of the hall’s merchants. For eclectic fare in a more formal setting, try the omakase (chef’s choice menu) at Ootoro Sushi or head down the street to another neighborhood standby, North Italia, for freshly made pasta.

Other notable restaurants that halp make Irvine such a dining destination are Nep Café, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant, Taiko, a Japanese spot with a strong following, Solstice, a modern American eatery known for their seasonal menu, Oliver’s Trattoria, offering pasta made from scratch, and Cozy Pine, a camp-themed speakeasy.

Shopping in Irvine

Shopping malls are also an Orange County hallmark, and Irvine’s selection does not disappoint. The grandest is, of course, the massive outdoor Irvine Spectrum Center. Visitors can browse more than 100 stores and restaurants, ride the Giant wheel, and ice-skate during the holidays. Check out more places to shop in and near Irvine.