
Orange County Bucket List
I recently came across this Los Angeles Bucket List as I was browsing Pinterest and decided it was time to put together an Orange County Bucket List. While I love traveling and have a pretty extensive travel bucket list, it got me thinking about all of the things to do right here in my own backyard! So I started doing some research (which included asking my friends and family for suggestions on Facebook and over Christmas dinner) and put together my Orange County Bucket List. The list includes 150 things to do in Orange County that go beyond just the beach and Disneyland (although those are on the list!). There’s also a bonus Cupcakes in Orange County section because it really wouldn’t be a Girl on the Move list if it didn’t include cupcakes!
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Did you know Orange County has more people than 21 of the states in the US? It is a county rich in history, filled with gorgeous views, and full of lots of opportunity for adventure. So grab your Orange County map (Because I think adventures are more fun with actual maps!) and start checking things off the list! And if you want to follow along with my Orange County Bucket List adventures you can find them on Instagram.
I’d love to hear in the comments section…What would you add to this Orange County Bucket List? Is there anything on the list you’ve done that you’d recommend I’d do as soon as possible?
Cruise down PCH in a convertible
Eat a colorful bagel from Bagels & Brew
Have a bonfire at the beach
Visit all five of Orange County piers
Go biking at the beach…any beach!
Eat a sandwich at Mendocino Farm (multiple locations)
Build a sand castle at the beach
Eat a Signature 50/50 burger from Slater’s 50/50 (multiple locations)
Enjoy a lobster roll from Slapfish (multiple locations)
Eat a waffle sandwich from Bruxie (multiple locations)
Hike Holy Jim Falls
Aliso Viejo
Picnic at Soka University
Anaheim
Go to an Anaheim Ducks hockey game
Stroll through Downtown Disney
Go to a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball game
See the Disneyland fireworks
Progressive Dinner at Anaheim Packing District
Attempt to eat “The Beast” at Blake’s Place
Ice skating at The Rinks (the official training facility of the Anaheim Ducks)
Take flight at Flightdeck
Watch the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland
Movie at Oak Canyon Nature Center
Enjoy a Dole Whip at Disneyland
See a concert at Pearson Park Amphitheatre
Have authentic beignets in New Orleans Square at Disneyland
See a show at the Royal Theatre in Disneyland’s Fantasyland
Brea
Take a trip to the Redwoods at The Redwood Grove at Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Buena Park
Cheer on your favorite knight at Medieval Times
Eat a boysenberry funnel cake at Knott’s Berry Farm
Eat a chicken dinner at Knott’s Chicken Dinner
Mine for gold at Knott’s Berry Farm
Corona del Mar
Have tea at the Sherman Library and Gardens
See Disneyland’s original bandstand at Roger’s Gardens
Orange County Bucket List: Costa Mesa
Shopping at South Coast Plaza (3rd largest mall in America)
Shopping at the OC SwapMeet (Costa Mesa)
Spend a day at the Orange County Fair
See a show and eat a themed brunch/dinner at The Segerstrom Center
Eat a waffle at The Iron Press
Eat a donut from Sidecar Doughnuts
See a show at the Costa Mesa Playhouse
Stop by The CAMP in Costa Mesa
Orange County Bucket List: Dana Point
Go whale watching out of Dana Point
Visit the Ocean Institute in Dana Point
Explore the tide pools at Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area
Eat dinner with a view at Cannons Seafood Grill
Dinner at Stonehill Tavern in Dana Point
Orange County Bucket List: Fountain Valley
Spend an afternoon at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley
Orange County Bucket List: Fullerton
Spend a day at the Fullerton Arboretum
Enjoy a picnic at Laguna Lake Park in Fullerton
Orange County Bucket List: Garden Grove
Enjoy the architecture of Christ’s Cathedral (formerly Crystal Cathedral) (fun fact: this was the venue of my high school graduation!)
Afternoon at Atlantis Park in Garden Grove (note: neither adults nor kids may go without the other!)
Enjoy strawberries at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
See a show with Shakespeare Orange County
Orange County Bucket List: Huntington Beach
Dinner during sunset at Pacific City in Huntington Beach
See the sunset at the Huntington Beach Pier
Go surfing in Huntington Beach
Visit the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach
Stroll through the Tuesday Farmers Market in Huntington Beach
Attend the US Open of Surfing
Attend the Huntington Beach 4th of July parade
Kayak in Huntington Harbor
Watch a movie on the beach in Huntington Beach with Beachfront Cinema
Progressive Dinner at Food Truck Thursdays in Huntington Beach (Beach Blvd & Stark)
Eat a donut from The Donuttery
Bird watching at Bolsa Chica Wetlands
Stay overnight at Paséa Hotel & Spa
Take a trip to Europe at Old World in Huntington Beach
Orange County Bucket List: Irvine
Take a tour at the ChocXO Chocolate Factory and Tasting Lab
Ride the big orange balloon at Orange County’s Great Park
Ride the Giant Wheel at the Spectrum
Take a produce tour at Tanaka Farms
Explore the University of California, Irvine Arboretum
Take a walk along the Walkable Historical Timeline in Orange County’s Great Park
Have a milkshake at Strickland’s Frozen Custard
Orange County Bucket List: Laguna Beach
Stay overnight at The Ranch at Laguna Beach
Drinks at Splashes Bar at the Surf and Sand Hotel
Enjoy First Thursdays Art Walk in Laguna Beach
Take a selfie at Heisler Park
Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach
Hike to the Top of the World in Laguna Beach
Take an art class at the Sawdust Art Festival
Have a cocktail at the Lobby Lounge at Montage Laguna Beach
An afternoon at 1000 Steps Beach
Drinks at The Rooftop Lounge
Spend an afternoon reading a book at Treasure (Goff) Island Beach
Hike Laguna Coast Wilderness park
Explore Orange County’s only lighthouse – Pirate Castle
Walk the streets of Laguna Beach on a Historic Bungalow Tour
Visit St. Francis by the Sea (once the smallest church in the world)
See a film on a third Thursday at California’s oldest museum, Laguna Art Museum
Eat a short rib grilled cheese from Three Seventy Common
Take a food tour with Flavors of Laguna
Pool day at Montage Laguna Beach
Listen to music at Reggae Night at Sandpiper “Dirty Bird”
Enjoy fresh gelato from Dolce Gelato
See a play at The Laguna Playhouse
Eat Brulee French toast from Break of Dawn
Orange County Bucket List: La Habra
Explore history at the La Habra Historical Museum

Orange County Bucket List: Mission Viejo
Enjoy a wine tasting at A Hidden Vine On The Lake
Explore the Butterfly Garden while hiking Oso Creek Trail
Orange County Bucket List: Newport Beach
Brunch at The Beachcomber Café
Fruity Pebbles French Toast from Bosscat Kitchen & Libations
Spend a night at the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages
Go stand-up paddle boarding in Newport Harbor
Spend an afternoon at Newport Dunes Waterpark
Enjoy a milkshake at Ruby’s Crystal Cove shake shack
Take a boat ride in Newport Harbor
Enjoy a frozen banana from Dad’s on Balboa Island
Spend an afternoon at Balboa Island Fun Zone
Watch a movie Newport Dunes’ Movies on the Beach
Enjoy the pink sauce at Mama D’s Italian Kitchen
Orange County Museum of Art
Explore Balboa Village
Relax for a day at The Spa at Pelican Hill
Take a gondola ride with Gondola Adventures in Newport Beach
Have a glass of wine at Orange Coast Winery
Watch surfers at The Wedge in Newport Beach
Enjoy a picnic at Inspiration Point in Newport Beach
Shopping at Fashion Island
Eat a ham and cheese croissant from Seaside Bakery in Newport Beach
Orange County Bucket List: Orange
Aquacycle ride in Irvine Park
Hike Peters Canyon
Ride the wine trolley in Old Town Orange
Antique shopping in Orange Circle
Eat dinner at Orange Hill restaurant (note: this is where my parents got engaged!)
Step back into history with dinner at the Filling Station Cafe
Have a soda at California’s Original Soda Fountain – Watson’s Soda Fountain Café
Eat pancakes from Flappy Jack’s Pancake House
Orange County Bucket List: Rancho Santa Margarita
Take a walk around the lake and enjoy sunset drinks with lake views at the Blind Pig
San Clemente
Go running on the San Clemente Beach Trail
Build a burger at Riders Club Café in San Clemente
Eat crepes at the beach at La Galette Creperie
Attend an event at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Watch surfers at Trestles – the “Yosemite of Surfing”
Take a trip to the South with dinner at Iva Lee’s
Enjoy a cheese plate or board from The Cellar
San Juan Capistrano
Visit Mission San Juan Capistrano
Santa Ana
See the monkeys at the Santa Ana Zoo
Progressive dinner at 4th Street Market in Santa Ana
Explore Discovery Cube: Orange County
Attend a performance at Orange County School of the Arts
Learn about the history of Orange County at the Heritage Museum of Orange County
Visit the Lyon Air Museum
Explore the Bowers Museum
“First Saturday” Artwalk in Santa Ana
Westminster
Dinner at Little Saigon in Westminster
Yorba Linda
Visit the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum

Susie Cakes
Casey’s Cupcakes
Patty’s Cakes and Desserts
The Perfect Circle Cupcakery
Bubba Sweets
Simply the Cupcake Store
Rockwell’s Bakery
Sprinkles Cupcakes
French’s Cupcake Bakery
Sweet N Saucy
B Candy
Beverly’s Best Bakery
Hapa Cupcakes
Frostings Cupcakes
Wonderland Bakery
Sugar Blossom Bake Shop
Frosted Cupcakery


22 Comments
Rob Taylor
#88: apparently we are soul mates. I love this list because I’ve done so many of the fun things. Time to head back and cross the rest off (mostly food ones… and the art class).
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
Y’all should definitely take a family trip down here to cross these things off the list!
Spencer Spellman
Love it! Great list. And thanks for the shout out to my LA list.
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
I’ll need to work on tackling the LA list next!
Sara Broers
Wow~ What a great list- I’m keeping this list nearby for my next visit!
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
Thanks! And you should definitely head out this way…so much to do here!
Jessica Short
You are going to have a busy year, my friend! Love this list and I hope to try a few as well!
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
Let me know what you try or if you want to try one together!
Alycia
Little Corona del Mar beach and tide pools
Ham and cheese croissant at Blue Frog Bakery and Cafe at the circle, downtown Orange
Breakfast at the Sugar Shack Cafe in Huntington Beach
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
So many more great suggestions! I’ll clearly need to end up doing a Part 2!
Patricia - Ze Wandering Frogs
South Cal is a great place and offers so much to do and see! We did not visit that much yet, but with such a list, can’t wait to go back!
Sandy N Vyjay
Wow! What a great bucket list. Amazing things to do. Adding some of your ideas in my list too.
Can’t wait to tick them off soon.
Maryrose
What a great list! I love visiting Orange County. I’ll have to use this list as my bucket list!
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
Let me know which ones you try out!
Lisa
#40 and #51 are my favorites. I ❤️ the list. Thank you.
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
That’s good to know! I’ve never done either of those things and I can’t wait to do them!!
Roland Denzel
Love it!
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
Enjoy the list!
Courtney
You forgot my little City of Lake Forest! Don’t forget to come to Heritage Hill Historical Park!
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
I’ll need to check it out! Is there anything else I should be doing in Lake Forest?!?
ALEX THOMPSON
Very nice article, it helped us a lot to explore. I am an entrepreneur by profession and a traveler by heart.
I and My friends had a great time in Orange county. We had a wonderful time there and enjoyed the culture of the region. We are in love with the place and explored so many places. After reading your blog I would like to visit again.
Julie - "Girl on the Move"
Glad you had a great visit in Orange County!