Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park preserves 2,500 acres of canyons, streams, coast live oaks, grasslands and chaparral in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Red Rock Canyon is the most scenic feature of the park and provides striking contrast to the rolling green hills in the Spring. More than twenty trails of varying skill levels make this a park for everyone to enjoy.
#215 Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park is a protected park in the San Joaquin Hills of Orange County. This Mediterranean climate provides home to coastal sage scrub, chaparral and grasslands as well as many mammal species including coyotes and hawks. Native American artifacts like rock shelters and stone tools have been traced from historic Juaneño tribes. The discovery of marine fossils from mammals, fish and birds make this an important area of study. Top of the World Overlook provides sweeping views of Laguna Beach and its coastal canyons.
#207 Disney California Adventure
"This unique place embraces the richness and diversity of California... Its land, its people, its stories and, above all, the dreamers it continues to inspire." (Robert A. Iger, Re-Dedication, June 15, 2012)
Disney California Adventure opened as a separate theme park from Disneyland in 2001. Hollywood Land celebrates California's pioneering role in the entertainment industry with the highlight Tower of Terror. Cars Land relives the glory days of the Mother Road, Route 66 and its desert surroundings. Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier pays homage to the coastal history of piers. Grizzly Peak re-creates the redwoods and mountain peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Buena Vista street reveals the glory days of Hollywood and Los Angeles when the Red Car Trolley line dominated the scenes and the pace of life was slower and happier.
World of Color is a nighttime water and light show and the most beautiful experience that Disney has ever created. It features movie projections and music from its vast repertoire and makes the park worth a visit in itself.
#194 Newport Pier
Newport Pier has been an Orange County signature since 1888. It began as a shipping wharf connected to the famous California railway system. In the early 1900's, tourism flourished and Newport Beach became an oceanfront destination. The current wooden pier has been around since 1940 and continues to draw visitors to the Orange Coast.
#186 Seaview Park
Seaview Park in Laguna Niguel offers breathtaking views of the Laguna Coast and San Joaquin Hills at Aliso and Wood Canyons Regional Park. A trail leading down to Aliso Peak offers even more coastal views of Laguna Beach. On a clear day, views of Rancho Palos Verdes, Catalina Island and the Santa Ana Mountains to the east make it a great spot to watch the sunset.
#177 San Clemente State Beach
Since 1937, San Clemente State Beach has been one of the most popular beaches in California. Located at the halfway point between Los Angeles and San Diego, this is the perfect escape from both cities. Beautiful ocean views surround eroded badlands creating a dramatic coastal landscape while soft, sandy beaches await at the water's edge.
#159 Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel
The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel at Salt Creek Beach is a gorgeous stretch of Orange County Coastline. The rolling hills that drop to the sea as well as soft, sandy beach are perfect for everyone's visit. Landscaped gardens surround the luxury hotel and make for postcard-perfect views of the sea. Relaxation is the key to enjoying this spot.
#151 Fremont Canyon Nature Preserve
Fremont Canyon is a beautiful Nature Preserve in the Santa Ana Mountains of Orange County. Stunning granite formations tower along coastal sage scrub, chaparral and oak woodlands. Many endangered plant and animal species reside here making it a biological hot spot. *Access is limited to programs by the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
#139 Heisler Park
Heisler Park is a premier place to enjoy the Laguna Beach Coastline. Beautifully landscaped gardens blanket the bluffs that drop to the ocean floor while gorgeous tide pools are a wonderland of discovery. Come for the afternoon but stay for the sunsets.
#125 Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park preserves 7,000 acres of coastal park in the San Joaquin Hills. These coastal canyons contain a variety of endangered sage scrub, cactus and bird species. The beautiful hills provide miles and miles of trails and provide the perfect opportunity to explore Orange County as it once looked for thousands of years before development.
