A quiet beach town, San Clemente's downtown is home to boutique shops conducive to beach life. Also, just a mile or so further down is the San Clemente pier where you can still watch the Amtrak train speed by, and surfers can be spotted on the waves any time of the year.
Laguna Beach, home to art festivals, and MTV reality TV show, has made it a landmark in southern Orange County. It is well known for its cozy village ambiance that plays host to cafes and restaurants, as well as many art galleries and boutique retail stores.
An offshoot of Disneyland, Downtown Disney is a kid-friendly shopping district with stores like Build-A-Bear and the Disney store itself. But it's restaurants, like the Rainforest Café and more famous, the House of Blues, make it a hip place to be in Anaheim.
Brea's distinctive downtown is a central space for community events, but it is also a place to shop. It provides a casual, urban feel for shopping and dining for Brea's locals.
An outdoor entertainment destination, The Block is the place to be in northern Orange County with retail shops, restaurants and cafes, and movie theaters. Its nightlife is boosted by the unique dining experience at restaurants like Cafe Tu Tu Tango, and establishments like Lucky Strike Lanes and Dave & Buster's.
Near Cal State Fullerton, downtown Fullerton is an eclectic mix of boutique shops specializing in antiques, clothing, and furniture. Generally attracting a subdued crowd, the streets of downtown Fullerton are not generally crowded, making it a pleasant place to shop and dine. Shops like Otto, specializing in all things modern, and the Red Hat Society Tea Shop, make downtown Fullerton a unique shopping experience.
It would be nearly impossible to discuss shopping centers in Orange County without naming South Coast Plaza. This 2.8 million square foot shopping center is home to more than 280 stores, many of which fall in the luxury and ultra-luxury category. Brands such as Sak's Fifth Avenue, Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino have a presence at South Coast, which has over 24 million visitors annually. But don't assume this is only a fashionista's paradise. South Coast is also home to many small boutique and specialty stores as well.
You will never be at a loss for places to check out or things to see at this gigantic shopping center. In addition to plenty of shopping, South Coast has plenty of restaurants, as well as a food court. If you still have energy after a day at the mall or want to head out for a night on the town, there's always the Edwards Cinema located upstairs.
The mall will soon be finished with its current remodeling, which is rumored to cost as much as $30 million. South Coast is certainly the "jewel" of Orange County shopping. For a detailed listing of stores and a map directory, check out their website.
If you happen to be in Orange County, near the Irvine area, take advantage of the Irvine Spectrum Center. Whether it's a night out with family, friends, or a date, the Irvine Spectrum Center offers a plethora of fun and entertaining activities for people of all ages. From movies, children's fashion, adult fashion, restaurants, book stores, beauty stores, to specialty shops, you name it - the center has it all.
For a relaxing time out, enjoy the Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 & IMAX Theatre, which offers one of the best movie going experiences with its recently renovated facilities. Nothing beats watching the latest IMAX movies with stadium seating and updated surround sound systems - all from an eight-story movie screen.
If you want to add a little romance to the event, take your honey on the Spectrum Ferris Wheel. There's no better way to impress your date.
If you're looking for more of a boys or girls night out, Dave and Busters is a must. One can describe it as an adult version of Chucky Cheese. Dave and Busters offers a variety of adult entertainment, including a restaurant, bar, pool tables, and tons of arcade type games. They even have a genes machine, which produces a picture of what your baby will look like. The most exciting part of it is that you can choose your baby's race, regardless of what race you and your partner are. The machine basically takes you and your partner's facial structures and combines them with the chosen race.
If you want to experience a more upbeat evening, party until the late night (well, until about 1:30am anyways) at either Crazy Horse or Yard House, although the latter is a bit less brouhaha-ish. Both bars usually have a $5 cover charge.
Lastly, if you're just looking to get some quality shopping done, enjoy from the numerous stores that the Spectrum has to offer, including Forever 21, H&M, and an array of other eclectic clothing stores.
Whatever kind of entertainment you're looking for, Irvine Spectrum will most likely offer the service. As an outside shopping mall and entertainment center, one can't help but enjoy the experience under a nice sunny day or under a warm, clear night.
