Going to be in Irvine California April 30th thru May 6th

[SHADOWFOX]

I am going to be in Irvine, CA all of next week. Anybody know of a cool place in this area that I could check out after all my meetings are done.

[Tom Slick]

you won't be far from disneyland and knotts berry farm. there is stuff to do at disneyland without going into the park. Huntington Beach is near by. it is the surfing mecca of the west coast. it has nice beaches. there is a ton of stuff in Los Angeles which isn't too far away. the petersen automotive museum is neat if you like cars.

[drumpriest]

When I went I did lego land and the drum workshop factory, also the beach. Irvine is a beautiful place, all terriformed of course, but still lovely.

[maxparot]

Head for Hollywood Blvd. and watch all the freaks it's like a free show.

[uncle al]

If you want good high end shopping, South Coast Plaza ( just up the 405 from Irvine) has the highest volume Nordstom's and all the high end boutiqes, as well as restaurants and pretty much a little bit of everything retail oriented.A BIG place

Irvine Spectrum has some interesting /shopping viewing, and some decent restaurants.Tends to draw a slightly younger crowd, but still basically a shopping oriented area.

Head toward the beach, and go to the Newport pier, and have a burger at Ruby's on the pier.

Go to Fashion Island -- good open air shopping, and many good restaurants ( Calif Pizza Kitchen, PF Changs are a couple of mid-priced), lots of others.

Drive down the Coast(south on PCH) toward Laguna Beach, and Dana Point. In Dana Point, you have the Ritz Carlton Hotel right on the water, as well as the St.Regis Hotel. Laguna Beach is a great "artists" town and ton's of good reataurants and easy, good sightseeing.DO NOT IGNORE THE PARKING METERS -- they are closely monitored and very little slack given!!

Go the the Dana Point Marina, look at the boats, and have dinner at the Harbor Grill. Best Seafood in Orange County, nice, casual atmosphere, usually piano music quietly playing, A really nice place to relax and eat great grilled seafood. Lots of othger restaurants, too. Very low key and laid back

Drive farher down the Pacific Coast Hiway to San Clemente, and go to the pier, have lunch or dinner at Fisherman's on the pier. Good atmosphere on the water, pleasant, low-key beach front town area.

Lots to do, but if you want clubbing, head to LA.
Other than LA, most everything will be within 30-45 minutes from you, traffic permitting.

Enjoy

[JR]

Lots of great suggestions so far.

Newport Beach is nice town very near Ivine and can be recommended. Balboa Island in Newport Beach is a very high dollar community, with shops, restaurants and tons if BIG boats. Also The Wedge is a boogyboarding/bodysurfing location south of the Newport Beach pier (I think at 2nd street) notable for a big shore break sometimes breaking over the jetty. The local delicacy is frozen bananas - get one with chocalate sprinkles.

Anywhere in Orange County you will notice that all cars, preferably expensive but not necessarily so, must have polished wheels. Not just nice mags, but highly polished. There seems to be a law requiring it.

There's a nice Woodcraft off Hwy 22, not far from Irvine. There's also a Rockler nearer to LAX if you're headed that way.

FWIW, my boss, who is from New England, lives in Irvine. He says their home heating and cooling bill is $0. They never turn on the heater or the air conditioner. YMMV, but I believe it.

JR

[SHADOWFOX]

Thanks guys I'll surely check these places out. Staying at the Hyatt in Jamboree Rd. If you have anymore recommendation it is surely welcome.