Irvine is a planned community that originated in the 1960s and was fully incorporated in the 1970s. Many technology companies have their headquarters in this city of more than 300,000; there are also multiple colleges and campuses in Irvine. In the midst of all the urban sprawl of Irvine, you can find plenty of fun attractions to visit.
If you want to do some shopping, head to the Irvine Spectrum Center. This open-air mall is home to dozens of shops and restaurants, as well as a multiplex. You can also take a ride on a carousel and a tall Ferris wheel.
When looking for a family-friendly museum in Irvine, visit Pretend City Children’s Museum. As its name implies, this museum has a variety of sections set up like real places so that children can learn to interact with the world in a fun way. Those in search of a great art museum should check out the Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute & Museum of California Art. It's home to some of the best examples of California Impressionism and contemporary art.
Beverly Hills Film Festival - Beverly Hills hosts this influential film festival every early April. You can hang out with filmmakers, directors, writers, and actors at this artistic event.
California Watermelon Festival - An hour away from Irvine is Lakeview Terrace, which hosts this annual tribute to watermelons and fun. Admission buys you unlimited watermelon slices, as well as access to a variety of attractions.
Latin Food Fest Los Angeles - Some of the Latin world’s most delicious food and drink are available for sampling at this LA festival that takes place in the middle of March.
Joshua Tree National Park is about two hours east of Irvine, so you can easily visit this fascinating desert park. While there are plenty of beautiful trees on display here, there are also numerous awesome rock formations and desert animals to see.
To get to Channel Islands National Park, you need to travel an hour and 45 minutes to Ventura and then hop on a boat or a seaplane. These five channel islands are home to plants and animals that are found nowhere else on earth.
Sequoia National Park is a four-hour drive north of Irvine. At the end of this trip, you’ll get to walk in the midst of some of the largest trees in the world. Horseback riding, rock climbing, and camping are other favorite pastimes here.
The entrance to Crystal Cove State Park is only 20 minutes from Irvine. The coastal scenery here is gorgeous; beauty awaits you on the beach, in the canyons, on the bluffs, and even under the water.
Since Southern California has a vast array of gorgeous beaches, you should drive 25 minutes northwest of Irvine to Bolsa Chica State Beach. This 3-mile stretch of beach between Huntington Beach and Sunset Beach is a great place to go swimming, surfing, and camping.
Half an hour northeast of Irvine is the entrance to Chino Hills State Park. You’ll forget all about the city for a while when you set foot in this lovely park full of rolling hills and 90 miles of trails.
You can easily find some of California’s great landmarks in the Irvine area. One of the most iconic of these is the Hollywood Sign, which has greeted visitors and residents alike for decades.
Another interesting Hollywood landmark is Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, also known as the TCL Chinese Theatre. This working moviehouse has a distinctive facade and a sidewalk full of the handprints and footprints of various movie stars.
Knott’s Berry Farm may not be quite as well-known as Disney, but it’s still an iconic California theme park in its own right. The park has grown significantly from its origins as a berry stand in the 1920s; nowadays, you can experience attractions like GhostRider, HangTime, and Montezooma’s Revenge.
Finding high-quality campgrounds in the Irvine area is easy. One excellent campground is Sutliff RV Park, located in nearby Tustin. Some amenities here include Wi-Fi, cable TV, showers, and laundry facilities. Another nice place to camp is the OC Fair & Event Center Campground. This campground in nearby Costa Mesa is a great place to stay if you want to attend the Orange County Fair or stop by Newport Beach without camping there. If you want to camp near the beach, then Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort may be right for you. This full-service resort on Newport Bay offers plenty of planned activities, boat rentals, and more to customers.