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Best Alternatives To Shopping On Black Friday In OC

610 header beach
(credit: istockphoto)

Trade in a day full of stressful shopping for some of these unique Orange County activities. You can relax on beautiful beaches, take a picturesque hike, go to the happiest place on Earth and add to your cultural, artistic and scientific prowess.

Corona del Mar city of Newport Beach
(credit: City of Newport Beach)

Go To The Beach
Orange County, CA

Orange County is known for its alluring beaches and temperate climate throughout the year, so instead of waiting in line for several hours to make purchases on Black Friday, make the most of the day by relaxing in the sun. You can experience some of the area's most beautiful shoreline views all in Laguna at Goff Cove Beach, Crescent Bay Beach and Shaw's Cove. Goff Cove Beach has places suitable for snorkeling, paddle boarding and kayaking, and Crescent Bay Beach provides a breath-taking view and medium-sized waves for surfing. Shaw's Cove is ideal for diving, snorkeling and a more private day on the beach.

Related: Guide To Paddleboard Yoga in OC

Disneyland Magic Castle
(credit: HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)

Visit Disneyland
1313 Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 781-4565
www.disneyland.disney.go.com

Let's face it, Black Friday can consist of too many shoppers racing to get merchandise first; therefore, the "happiest place on Earth" may be a better option than fighting crowds on the busiest shopping day of the year. Hop on your favorite ride, take a tour of the park or watch a live show and leave holiday stress at the door. You can escape reality with some of your favorite Disney characters including Indiana Jones, Goofy, Alice from "Alice in Wonderland," Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" and Peter Pan; you may even get to snap a picture with Mickey Mouse.

discovery science center FB
Explore Discovery Science Center
2500 N. Main St.
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 542-2823
www.discoverycube.org

Take the family out for a day of fun-filled learning at Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. Add to your level of knowledge instead of diminishing funds in your bank account. You can journey through the world of "Ripley's Believe It or Not" exhibit and squirm inside a large ancient snake and even compare yourself to the tallest man in the world. Additionally, the exhibit provides opportunities to participate in hands-on activities to enhance knowledge pertaining to biology, geology and fossils.

muzeo
Tour The Muzeo
241 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 956-8936
www.muzeo.org

Immerse yourself in the novelty of rock n' roll at Muzeo's exhibit, "Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket." The showcase not only illustrates one of the universal symbols of rock and biker culture, the leather jacket, but the exhibit also investigates how the garment transitioned from being worn by a subculture to being a popular jacket worn and embraced by so many. You can see over 50 jackets at the museum; some were even worn by rock n' roll icons while performing and others are from the Harley Davidson collection.

Related: Best Art Museums In Orange County

topanga hike
(credit: Getty Images)

Take A Hike
Orange County, CA

Instead of spending money on Black Friday, take a hike in some of Orange County's serene hiking trails; the activity will be better for your pocket book and health. Check out Top of the World Park and El Moro Trails and Crystal Cove Beach in Laguna or explore Peters Canyon Regional Park in Orange. You will be mesmerized by the views and feel accomplished at the end of the hikes.

Stacy Brecht is a professional writer, dancer, marketer and model in the Los Angeles area. Brecht also enjoys traveling, wine, fitness training, volunteering, movies and trying new restaurants. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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