Best Single-Day Road Trips Around Orange County
Orange County is a prime location for single-day road trips. It is near all kinds of famous streets and highways leading to new adventures. Some of these roads are so famous that they are destinations unto themselves, and they are specifically good for cruising (ex. the Sunset Strip; the dirt roads of Temecula's Wine Country). The last trip destination is a classic, car specific adventure that lets your car become a major part of the experience: a drive-in theater.
Mission San Juan Capistrano
26801 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 234-1300
www.missionsjc.com
A drive on the famous Ortega Highway will take you to Mission San Juan Capistrano. The mission features several different kinds of tours for visitors (audio, guided, garden, etc). There are also tours of the historic downtown district, which lies not far outside the mission. One tour focuses on architecture and the other on history. There is also dining and shopping available in the historic district.
Temecula Wine Country
(951) 699-3626
www.temeculawines.org
Drive to Temecula and make your way to its nearby Wine Country, which is just outside city limits. Luckily, the Temecula Valley Winegrowers have a handy map on their website to help you make your way into the rural area. Travel down the dirt roads and visit local wineries. Besides viewing the acres of vineyards, there are relaxing things to do at the wineries. Depending on where you visit, you can find wine tasting, food and other amenities.
The Sunset Strip
West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.thesunsetstrip.com
On Sunset Boulevard, a mile and a half stretch of road called The Sunset Strip offers visitors everything you could want and more. This famous strip of road is home to a number of famous rock 'n roll venues and other top spots. Among other places, there's the infamous Viper Room and The Comedy Store's talented stand-up comedians. The strip is famous for its active nightlife and great music, but it's also good for a daytime trip of shopping and eating. While cruising the strip, you can admire its interesting use of billboard advertising (big, colorful, and wall-to-wall).
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 458-8901
www.santamonicapier.org
Follow The Pacific Coast Highway, and get on the off ramp at Ocean and Colorado Avenues, and you will make your way to the Santa Monica Pier. At this iconic landmark, there are plenty of activities to take part in, including a Ferris wheel, a great arcade, restaurants and food galore and much more. The park on the pier is known as Pacific Park and is one spot you won't want to miss out on visiting in Los Angeles. There are also plenty of interesting shops near the beach with an eclectic mix of items.
Vineland Drive-In Movie Theater
443 N. Vineland Ave.
City of Industry, CA 91746
(626) 961-9262
www.vinelanddriveintheater.com
It's been decades since drive-in theaters have been in style, but this one isn't a relic from the past. It's one of the last functioning drive-in movie theaters that plays current films and it is open seven days a week. There is an average theater price of $9.50, but children 5 to 8 get a low price of $3.25 per ticket. All kids under age 5 get in for free. You'll need an FM radio to listen to your movie, so either have one with you or purchase one at the snack bar.
Related: Best Upcoming Summer Festivals In OC
Leilani Allmon writes for fun and enjoys sharing her thoughts on the internet. She resides in Murrieta, CA. More of her writings can be found on Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/everyday-people-in-anaheim/leilani-allmon
