A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Southern California, my first visit to the O.C. This was a first for me, as the furthest south I had been in California before this trip was Los Angeles.

I’m excited to go back and spend more time there in the future, but there were a few important things that we made sure to do since it was all our first time in the area.

Here is my list of 5 great things to do in the O.C. for a first-timer, based on my own first time experience.

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1. Main Street, Huntington Beach

The Main St. of Huntington Beach was bustling with both locals and tourists alike and for good reason. Directly across from this street is the Huntington Beach and Pier. Beside it on either side, many hotels and apartments. The street itself boasts a wealth of clothes and surfer gear shopping, souvenir stores, and numerous restaurants and bars.

Shopping

With Huntington Beach being “Surf City, USA”, it will come as no surprise that there were many surfer-focused shopping options down the street. In line with this lifestyle, many sports and skateboard brands were present as well. Hurley, Vans, and Billabong are just a few that come to mind. We spent some time poking around these shops as John quickly realized shorts and sandals were going to be key during our visit. Sprinkled between the sports brands were surfboard rentals and souvenir shops. Additionally, lining the road every few feet were stands offering a variety of goods from handmade bracelets, to henna, and beach essentials.

Food

All along either side of the Main Street were an array of restaurants and bars offering different themes, flavors, and decor to draw you in. Many were filled with people happily enjoying their meals and drinks or waiting for their turn to be seated. During our visit, we had the chance to eat at two different places on the Main St. Both were delicious.

We visited No Ka Oi for breakfast our first day. Obviously, this restaurant was Hawaiian based and offered a variety of standard breakfast options with a Hawaiian twist. For example, I chose the King’s Hawaiian French Toast. It was served with coconut syrup which I was intrigued by as I am a huge coconut fan. The syrup was divine. It honestly tasted like a coconut flavored frosting of sweet and delicious goodness. The french toast was sweet and fluffy, surrounded by fresh fruit and potatoes. Not a bad way to start the day.

Our second day, we stopped at Sushi On Fire for lunch. The menu was extensive – offering standard rolls to many signature and lavish sushi rolls, noodle dishes, soups, and more. Completely out of character, I wasn’t feeling sushi for once and so I ordered the Miso Soup Ramen. I was not disappointed. The noodles were clearly homemade and the fresh miso broth was just the thing to help me recover from the jetlag and hangover clinging to me after the previous day.

2. Huntington Beach Pier

The beach was thriving with life as visitors enjoyed the glorious summer day. Families played games in the sand, children splashed in the shallows of the ocean, and young people competed in games of volleyball. Locals and tourists alike leisurely strolled along the boardwalk leading to the pier. An array of brightly colored, eccentric kites decorated the sky above. As a girl from Michigan, used to contained lakes, the thing that took my breath away was the expanse. Looking across the ocean, I knew on the other side was my friend Erica in South Korea! To either side of me, the beach stretched on to Canada and to Mexico and beyond! It was mind-boggling.

We stopped several times along the length of the pier to take in the magnificent view. There wasn’t a cloud to be seen, both the sky and water were a friendly blue, and the sun was shining brightly in California fashion. Along the pier, various shops and stands offered souvenirs and ice cream. At the end of the pier was the famous Ruby’s Surf City Diner. We didn’t have the chance to eat there, but people crowded around the building waiting eagerly for their turn to enjoy the iconic fare.

3. The Lab, Costa Mesa

The Lab Anti-mall in Costa Mesa was the first of its kind, offering visitors a unique shopping experience with shops connected outdoors rather than the sterile, warehouse-like buildings that we all know as “malls”. If I had had the opportunity to spend more time here, I would have surely left with an empty wallet and shopping bags on each arm. An extra-trendy Urban Outfitters complete with an Airstream full of records was just one example of one of the shops there. All of the shops were just as cool and hip as the space itself. A criss-cross of string lights was hung overhead and large potted cacti spotted the walk connecting the stores.

We ate at Habana Cuban Bistro. The atmosphere eating outdoors surrounded by a canopy of interwoven lights and plants was just as lovely as the food. The sandwich I ate, while on the pricey side, provided mouthfuls of savory flavor that was so filling I could not finish my plate despite my efforts.

4. In & Out Burger

You’ve probably heard the hype about In & Out Burger. As this chain is only available in the United States’ Southwest and Pacific Coast, the rest of the country has glorified it into something magical. So naturally, I had to at least try it. The small In & Out Burger in Costa Mesa we visited was absolutely packed. The parking lot was full of both cars and people milling about, waiting for their food. The drive-through line stretched around the building and we waited a good 10-15 minutes for our food.

It came as no surprise to me that the food tasted like that of any other fast food burger joint. The burger itself was pretty good for what it was. I got mine with cheese, lettuce, pickles, and ketchup. The fries, on the other hand, were not good at all. In my opinion, the fries were greasy and soggy. They fell limp in my fingers as I raised them from the bag to my mouth. This didn’t stop me from eating half of them because I’m a garbage person. But then even I had to draw the line. Despite the far-from-unordinary cuisine, I would still recommend visiting an In & Out Burger if you never have if only to make your friends at home jealous who still believe the hype.

5. Newport Beach Pier & Balboa Peninsula

We planned our day to reach the Newport Beach and Balboa Peninsula area to catch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Much like Huntington Beach, the shore was spotted with people soaking in the final rays of the sun and trying to catch another wave. This was definitely the most magical part of our short visit to the O.C. Fishermen lined the sides of the pier. I saw one pull up a line with 6 small fish attached, all flailing and one even successfully broke free. Unlike the one at Huntington Beach, the building at the end of this pier was boarded up and vacant. The paint was peeling off of the wood and children sat on the cement steps that once led inside. A missed opportunity for a busy and beautiful beach. As the sun dipped down below the salt water horizon, the light evolved from a glowing yellow to a fiery orange-red and then faded from sight.

After taking in the breath-taking views of the sunset from the end of the pier, we headed back to the beach to grab ice cream. We stumbled upon an Italian gelato place were I indulged in a cup of vanilla and chocolate chip that was light and refreshing. As the sky grew darker, the bars grew busier. We had heard that this area of Balboa Peninsula was a popular destination for bar hopping, but we weren’t able to join in as our flight out the next morning was extremely early.

Photo Credit: Pasea Hotel website

Hotel: Pasea Hotel & Spa

This isn’t really a recommendation of a “thing to do” in the O.C., but I wanted to share with you the hotel that I stayed at for this weekend visit. I had the pleasure of staying at the Pasea Hotel & Spa and would highly encourage anyone who can afford to stay here to as well. This was by far one of the nicest hotels that I have ever stayed at, rivaled only by the Les Orient that I visited in Shanghai.

The room was luxurious and frankly, better than I deserved. Everything in the space coordinated in a modern style and was colored in turquoise and shades of blue to match the ocean. The bathroom was chic and the shower was sided in clear glass that allowed you to look freely through the room and past to the stunning views from the window. (No, the toilet wasn’t heated though).

There was a coffee maker and mini fridge accompanied by a complimentary bottle of wine. The king size bed was covered in a pile of neatly placed, plush, decorative pillows. Beside the bed, a matching lounge that overlooked the commanding scene the window had to offer. What a scene it was! From the balcony I could turn my head to one side and survey the Santa Ana mountains in the distance. In the other direction, the waves crashed up against the shores of Huntington beach, palm trees flowing gently in the wind. Need I say more?

Book your stay: Pasea Hotel & Spa on Hotels.com

What are some more things to do in the O.C. for your first visit?

Although this was just a short weekend visit, Southern California was something from a dream and stole my heart. I eagerly look forward to revisiting the O.C. with more time to properly explore. Until then, keep up with my adventures by subscribing to my YouTube channel if you haven’t already! I would really appreciate it. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram. Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Have you ever been to So Cal or the O.C.? What are some activities or places that you would recommend to a first time visitor? Please share them in the comments below!

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