Surfing in Huntington Beach

With more than 300 sunny days and moderate to warm temperatures year round, it’s possible to get outside and be active pretty much any time of the year that you choose to visit Orange County. With the ocean to the west and the hills to the east, you can participate in a variety of activities ranging from swimming and surfing to hiking and camping. Besides things to do in Orange County, it’s also just a short (2 hours or less) drive to the big mountains for skiing, making it entirely possible to surf in the morning and ski in the afternoon during the winter!

1. Surfing
Huntington Beach, known as Surf City, is the is the place to learn how to surf or brush up on your skills, whether you are a beginning or more advanced. Pay homage to the greats at the International Surfing Museum, then catch a lesson from one of the many surf schools, such as Surfriders Academy, which offers both private and group sessions. Many classes are held near Bolsa Chica beach where the waves are smaller and the locals aren’t going to fight you for the good waves.

If you already know how to surf, you can rent a board at many of the shops along the pier or near Main Street.

Local tip: You may or may not want to time your visit with the annual Surf Open.

2. Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Paddle boarding is becoming more and more popular, and the best place in Orange County for it is the Newport Bay.
Paddle Power is a shop located in Newport Beach that offers stand up paddle boarding lessons for those interested in learning and rentals if you want to continue after the lessons. You can also just rent a board from them if that’s all you need. The Newport Harbor is a great place to learn how to paddle board because of the calm water.

Local Tip: The Newport Harbor is great for paddling during the day and then catching a meal at one of the great restaurants nearby afterwards!

3. Kayaking

Not just for paddle boarding, the Newport Harbor is a great place for kayaking, too. Grab a friend and a paddle and go!
You can rent a kayak from Paddle Power or from Adventures Boat Rentals, and Paddle Power offers lessons in kayaking as well. The Newport Aquatic Center offers an Introduction to Kayaking class every Saturday.

Local tip: The Newport Back Bay is great for birdwatching while you paddle!

4. Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

The best place for snorkeling in Orange County is in in Laguna Beach down in South County, and one of the most popular places to snorkel or dive in Laguna is Shaw’s Cove. Follow the steps down to the beach from Cliff Drive and Fairview Street to find the cove, which is protected from larger swells, making it a safe haven for marine life. Laguna Sea Sports is a great resource for checking weather conditions, and can also rent diving gear from them. If you are looking for snorkel equipment, check out La Vida Laguna.

Local tip: Laguna Beach is also home to many cool tidepools!

Hiking in Anaheim Hills

5. Hiking

Because of the hills that border Orange County on the east, there are many opportunities for hiking. Most of the hiking is in South County, and some of my favorites are Aliso & Wood Canyon and El Moro State Park. There are some good trails in North to Central County at Chino Hills and Peter’s Canyon. Most of these areas have both out and back or loop options, and many of the trails are dog friendly (though dogs must be on leash) and most are easy to moderate. They are mostly dirt packed fire roads with some single track options. The Orange County trail running group, SoCal TrailHeadz, is a great resource.

Local Tip: Make sure you bring plenty of water on your hike – the air in Southern California might be drier than you are used to at home.

6. Biking

While there aren’t many bike paths within towns, there are some options for mountain biking or road biking. Mountain bikers are allowed to ride on most of the hiking trails mentioned above, and there is also a very popular biking area in Fullerton, known as the Fullerton Loop. For road biking, the best place is the Santa Ana River Trail. It starts at Green River, just at the Orange County/Riverside County line off the 91 freeway, and goes all the way to Huntington Beach. There are many entry points along the trail, which offers both a paved road and a packed dirt path.

Local Tip: The Newport Back Bay also has a great, scenic bike path.

7. Walking/Running

The great weather and ample outdoor opportunities make walking or running the easiest and most accessible activity in Orange County. Whether you are a road runner, a trail runner, or a beach runner there is something for everyone! You can run on the trails mentioned above as hiking trails, or check out some of the local trails in pretty much any South County town, especially those in Fullerton if you are in North County. A great choice is the Santa Ana River Trail, which has both a paved road and a dirt path and plenty of room for bikers, runners, and walkers. Another great choice is to walk around the Newport Back Bay or the Bolsa Chica wetlands near Huntington Beach.

Local Tip: If you decide to run on the Fullerton Loop, you may want to run without headphones so you can hear any mountain bikers that might come up behind you.

Practice yoga to unwind from a busy day of sightseeing!

8. Yoga

There is a blend of yogis in Orange County – those who practice yoga for a workout, those who make it part of their daily routine, and those who practice to calm their minds from the craziness of their day job. With more yoga studios coming in all the time and a variety of styles, you can try yoga for the first time or maintain your practice while on vacation!

If you are looking for a workout, check out CorePower Yoga in Huntington Beach. There are bikram classes in Fullerton (http://purpleyogastudio.com/rebrand.php), Costa Mesa (http://bikramyoganewportmesa.com/), and Laguna Beach (http://www.bikramyogalaguna.com/).
There are yoga studios of all types in Irvine, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach.

Local Tip: YogaWorks offers many classes of all levels and styles and are have three studios in Orange County – Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and Newport Beach.

9. Rock Climbing

There aren’t any options to rock climb outdoors in Orange County, but if you are looking to learn or want to try a new gym, Orange County has some great options. The gym that I like the best, with some solid routes and boulder problems is Rockreation in Costa Mesa, which has over 12,000 sq. ft. of wall and a small fitness center in the back with a few cardio machines and some weights. There is a gym in Anaheim Hills called Rock City, which recently added a whole new cave section. The third gym in Orange County is in Huntington Beach, called ClimbX, which has a variety of routes for rope climbers. All of these gyms offer day passes and lessons.

Local Tip: Some of the gyms offer climbing trips to places like Joshua Tree National Park if you’d like to test your skills outside!

10. Golf

Orange County is home to some of the nicest golf courses in the country, giving it the name “California’s Golf Coast.”
There are golf courses in cities throughout Orange County, so depending on where you are, there is probably a great course to play on near you. According to the Best of Orange County, annual awards that are presented by the Orange County Register local newspaper, the best golf courses in Orange County are Tustin Ranch Golf Club in Tustin, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, and Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Beach.

Now that you have 10 great ideas for being active, what are you waiting for? Pick one and get going!

Photo Credits:
Surfer: digitizedchaos on Flickr
Hikers: bojacobson on Flickr
Yoginis: lululemon athletica on Flickr

BBQs with friends and family, fireworks, a three-day weekend – who doesn’t enjoy celebrating the 4th of July? Orange County has some parades, lots of fireworks, and most importantly, lots of fun scheduled for Independence Day weekend! Events are free unless otherwise noted.

Fullerton Community Festival and Fireworks

This free festival features games for everyone in the family, live entertainment, food for purchase, and of course, a fireworks display.

When: July 4, 5-9:30 p.m.

Where: Fullerton High School Stadium, Lemon St. & Berkeley Ave.

Disney’s Concert in the Sky

A special 4th of July fireworks show at Disneyland, set to music.

When: July 1-4, 9:30 p.m.

Where: Disneyland (park entrance fee applies)

Old Glory Boat Parade

Over 100 decorated boats cruise through the Newport Beach Harbor.

When: July 4, 1-5 p.m.

Where: Newport Harbor/Balboa Island

Independence Day Celebration and Parade in Huntington Beach

Known as the “largest and oldest parade of its kind West of the Mississippi,” the parade features bands, clowns, and floats. There’s also a 5K run/walk if you want to get some exercise before the BBQ! Fees apply for the 5K.

When: July 2-4

Where: Huntington Beach pier (Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway)

Anaheim Hills Festival and Fireworks

Anaheim Hills is well-known for it’s Firecracker 5K, Yankee Doodle Dog Show, 4th of July parade, and fireworks at night. The events are all day long – fun for the whole family! Fees apply for some events.

When: July 4

Where: Canyon High School (220 South Imperial Highway) and Peralta Park (115 N Pinney)

Photo Credit: Beverly & Pack on Flickr

Days are hot and nights are cool in Orange County in the summer, a perfect atmosphere to relax and listen to some music after a day at the beach. Here are some of the best concerts coming up in 2011.

Fullerton

Get out for a picnic and some good music! There will be food for sale or you can bring your own. The concerts are held on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Fullerton Sports Complex (560 E. Silver Pine St.).

• July 13 – Southbound (70′s and Southern Rock)
• July 20 – HELP (Beatles Tribute Band)
• July 27 – The James Harman Band (Blues)
• August 3 – The Mighty Cash Cats (Johnny Cash Tribute Band)
• August 10 – Yard Sale (Classic Rock)
• August 17 – The Lucky Stars (Country)

Costa Mesa

Family-friendly concerts at Fairmont Park in Costa Mesa (2323 Placentia Ave.) on Tuesday nights in July, starting at 5:30 p.m.

• July 5 – The Peggy Nelson Project, Top 40 hits
• July 12 – Time Bomb, Classic Rock
• July 19 – Help, Beatles Tribute band
• July 26 – Flattop Tom and his Jumpcats, Swing, Blues & Oldies

Irvine

Irvine will hold three free concerts to celebrate the city’s 40th Anniversary at Woodbridge Community Park
(20 Lake Road). There will be food trucks on site with food for purchase and proceeds benefiting the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, the Irvine 2/11 Marine Adoption Committee and other Irvine non-profit organizations.

• July 23 at 5:30 p.m. – Gregg Young and The 2nd Street Band
• July 31 – Target Symphony in the Cities featuring the Pacific Symphony
• 5:30 p.m. – Musical Playground
• 7:00 p.m. – Concert
• August 14 at 6 p.m. – Tina Turner Tribute with the Proud Mary Band

Newport Beach

Newport Beach offers both concerts and Shakespeare by the Sea, an evening of Shakespeare performed by a professional acting troupe. The concerts will be from 6-7 p.m. and for the Shakespeare performance, pre-show activities begin at 6:45 p.m. and then the curtain will go up at 7 p.m. The events will each be held on two evenings, so click the Newport Beach link to the events calendar for exact dates. You can also call the Cultural Arts FAQ Hotline at 949-644-3211 for more details.

Huntington Beach

Surfin’ Sundays Concert Series offers free music on Sunday nights from July through September, sponsored by the International Surfing Museum.

• July 17 – Multiple performers, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Pier Plaza
• July 31 – Multiple performers, 1-4 p.m., museum back lot
• August 14 – Multiple performers, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Pier Plaza
• August 28 – Surfer Joe, Kelp 1-4 p.m., museum back lot
• Sept 11 – Mauraders, The Fabulous Nomads, 1-4 p.m., back lot
• Sept 18 – Surf Rockers & Guest, 1-4 p.m., museum back lot
• Sept 25 – Multiple performers, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Pier Plaza

Pier Plaza – 315 Pacific Coast Highway (PCH & Main St.)
Surfing Museum – 411 Olive (in parking lot)

Photo Credit: laffy4k on Flickr

Even though more and more people are traveling with their furry friends, it can still be difficult to find a dog-friendly hotel, especially if you have a larger pooch. Lucky for you, Orange County has several hotels that welcome your dogs with open arms!

It will be easiest to find a pet-friendly room in one of the many chain hotels that allow pets in most (if not all) of their locations, such as Extended Stay America, Motel 6, Residence Inn and other Marriott hotels, and Days Inn. There are also three hotels in particular in the area that offer something a little extra for guests traveling with their favorite four-legged friend!

Hilton in Anaheim

Whether you are in town for a meeting at the convention center or to visit Disneyland, the Hilton in Anaheim offers in-room pet sitting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (for an additional fee)! The hotel allows up to two pets up to 75 pounds, and charges a pet fee of $50 per stay.

Embassy Suites Irvine-Orange County Airport

This is a great place if you have a layover for a flight, or if you just want to stay near the airport. Embassy Suites allows pets up to 50 pounds, and charges a $100 non-refundable pet fee. This hotel is also a 10-minute drive from the Costa Mesa Bark Park, a spacious dog park where your pup can stretch his legs and make some new friends.

Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach

The Shorebreak Hotel is a Joie de Vivre boutique hotel on the Pacific Coast Highway, just a mile from the Huntington Dog Beach. Not only does the hotel welcome dogs, but they stay for free!

Photo Credit: Sarah_Ackerman on Flickr

Whether you’re looking for a weekend trip or something a bit longer, Orange County is a great place to start your California/Southwest U.S. road trip. Here are five of the best places to go from the O.C.!

San Francisco

Drive six hours north of Orange County through Los Angeles and past vineyards and you will eventually get to San Francisco, one of my favorite cities. It’s worth the drive to go over the Golden Gate Bridge and get a picture of this famous red bridge. Don’t be fooled by the Bay Bridge, which looks a lot like the famous one. You want the Golden Gate Bridge via Highway 101. There is a one-way toll, so if you don’t want to pay, you can get a picture from the shore.

Other things to do in San Francisco:

• Visit the former prison island of Alcatraz. I highly recommend the audio tour.
• Take a cable car as your mode of transportation. Tickets are $5.
• Go shopping (window or otherwise!) in Union Square.
• Walk through the Chinatown gate at Grant Ave. and Bush St.
• Visit the market at Pier 39 on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Lake Tahoe

About a nine-hour drive from Orange County to South Lake Tahoe, the drive up the Highway 5 is well worth it! Visitors can enjoy the snow in the winter and the water in the summer, and there is something for everyone.

Las Vegas

Viva Las Vegas, baby! From Orange County, Sin City is an easy 3.5-4 hour drive on the 15 North through the desert. If you want to avoid traffic, you would ideally head out during the week, but if you go out Friday morning/early afternoon, you might get lucky, too. There isn’t too much besides desert and mountains to see along the way, except the World’s Tallest Thermometer in Baker, CA, and then the outlets at Primm just over the California/Nevada line.

Once you’re in Vegas, most people like to visit the Strip at night, but during the day if you don’t feel like lounging around the pool, you can get outside and do some hiking in Red Rock Canyon, which is about 30 miles away from the Strip. If it’s too hot to get out of the car, you can always just drive around and look at the gorgeous scenery.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is about an eight- or nine-hour drive from Orange County (depending on traffic and if you are going to the North Rim or the South Rim). The South Rim is open year round and the North Rim is open mid-May through mid-October, depending on the snow. Reservations are highly recommended for lodging and restaurants at the North Rim while it is open and for the South Rim during the busy summer season.

The Grand Canyon has amazing hiking (guided and backcountry) and camping as well as commercial and non-commercial river and mule trips. You can also drive and walk around the rim for scenic viewpoints.

Salt Lake City, Utah

For the skiing or snowboarding enthusiast, a journey to Salt Lake City might be the perfect road trip! Nearly 80% of the state land is managed for public use, so the opportunities are just about endless. Between 10 and 11 hours away, winter activities include snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and of course, skiing and snowboarding at the nearby resorts. During the summer, birdwatching and fishing are popular activities, as is golf, horseback riding, or taking a hot air balloon ride. Salt Lake City also has tons of shopping, with everything from traditional malls to outlets to specialty boutiques and antique shops.

Photo Credits:

Grand Canyon – chucklepix on Flickr
Las Vegas – LaserGuided on Flickr

Feed a goat at the Orange County Zoo

While we may not have a big zoo like Los Angeles or the Wild Animal Kingdom in San Diego, visitors to Orange County are able to choose from two less crowded options.

Orange County Zoo
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA 92869

Open M-F 10:00 am to 3:30 pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 am to 4:30 pm

Admission is $2 per person 3 years and older, but the zoo is located within Irvine Regional Park, so you will need to pay an entry fee to the park which is $3.00 per vehicle weekdays and $5.00 per vehicle weekends (major holidays are $7.00 to $10.00 per entry as posted).

The zoo’s focus is on animals and plants native to the southwestern United States, and exhibits include include black bears, mountain lions, bald eagles, island foxes, ocelots, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, porcupines, coyotes, turkey vultures, and coati. There is also a barnyard with goats, cheviot sheep, jacob sheep, pot-bellied pigs, doves and pheasants. A new feature is an audio tour that you can take by dialing (714) 249-4086 on your cell phone. You can enter the exhibit number and hear all about the animals, including their names, what they eat, and how they came to the zoo.

The Orange County Zoo is located within Irvine Regional Park, which is 477 acres of protected wilderness, making it a great place for families to visit the zoo, take a hike, and/or have a picnic afterwards. The park also offers pony rides, and has a fun train ride that kids love!

Santa Ana Zoo
1801 East Chestnut Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Open M-F 10 am to 4 pm; Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 5 pm

The admission fee is $8 for adults, $5 for children 3-12 years old and for Seniors 60+, and free for children under 3 years. The Zoofari Express Train Ride is $3 per person, and runs from 11 am – 2 pm daily. The Conservation Carousel also costs $3 per person, and runs from 11 am – 2 pm daily.

The Santa Ana Zoo has a strict rule put in place by Joseph Prentice, the founder of both the zoo and of Prentice Park (the park in which the zoo is located) – 50 monkeys at all times! And 50 monkeys you will see, as well as endangered species, an aviary filled with birds ranging from hawks to parrots to a bald eagle, a rainforest, and an electric train. The zoo also houses snakes, frogs, and even a couple tarantulas!

The zoo offers educational programs for teachers, parents, grandparents and students of all ages.

Photo Credit: digitizedchaos on Flickr

With Father’s Day right around the corner, there are still many great options available for celebrating in Orange County. Whether your father loves the Anaheim Angels, or would rather spend a day on the golf course, there is something for every Dad!

Take me out to the ball game!
Though the Anaheim Angels are out of town until the end of June, one of the mini-plans would make a great gift for any baseball lover! Plans start at $50 for 10 tickets, which can be used either individually or all at once. This is great if you want to spend the day with Dad yourself or take out the whole family.

If you are looking to get Dad great seats for a particular division rival, get your tickets now – they go fast! Check out the Angels schedule on their official website.

Grab some grub
There is nothing my Dad loves more than a good meal, and a quick search on OpenTable.com shows that there are still reservations available at many fine Orange County restaurants.

You can’t go wrong with one of these choices:

Steak – Agora Churrascaria, Irvine
Seafood – Bluewater Grill, Tustin
Vegetarian/Vegan – 118 degrees, Costa Mesa

Fore!
Orange County is home to some world class golf courses, and the OCC Golf Card is a great gift for your father. With the OCC Golf Card, Dad gets 50% off one round of golf at each of the seven OC Golf Trail member courses (Coyote Hills Golf Course, Tustin Ranch Golf Club, Strawberry Farms Golf Club, Monarch Beach Golf Links, San Juan Hills Golf Club, Anaheim Hills Golf Course, and Aliso Creek Golf Course). The card costs $49.95 and is not valid on holidays.

For a complete list of Orange County golf courses, visit playocgolf.com.

Sportfishing
Dana Point is well known for excellent sportfishing, so why not treat Dad to a day on the boat? Dana Wharf offers trips to fit any schedule – twilight, 1/2 day, 3/4 day, all day, and even overnight trips for adults and children. Prices range from $44-125 for adults and $29-125 for children. For the month of June, twilight trips are only $25 Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Be a kid again!
Some Dads love the opportunity to let it all out and act like a kid again! Orange County has you covered with two great amusement parks – the world famous Disneyland theme park and America’s first theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm. Be sure to check out Downtown Disney for a variety of restaurants (including ESPN Zone), or Medieval Times near Knott’s Berry Farm.

Relax
If your dad is looking forward to a relaxing day, you could head out to one of the local beaches (Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach) with a beach umbrella and a cold drink!

Photo Credit: Scott Ableman on Flickr

As much as we love our Orange County airport, it is a smaller airport that doesn’t offer the variety of flights that bigger airports like Los Angeles International can, which is why I wanted to share this big announcement – United Airlines (operated by Continental Airlines) is offering daily non-stop flights from LAX to Hilo starting June 9! Many people go through Hilo on the east side of the Big Island en route to Kona on the west side, or on their way to one of the other islands, but Hilo is quite the destination itself.

On your next trip to Hilo, there are a few sights that you just can’t miss:

• Hilo Farmers Market (Saturday and Wednesday mornings) – at the corner of Mamo St. and Kamehameha Ave.
• Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots State Park – drive up Waianuenue Ave. and follow the signs
• Pacific Tsunami Museum – provides information about tsunamis and exhibits showing the devestating effects that past tsunamis have had on the town. You can also pick up a pamphlet with a driving/walking tour of tsunami sites.


The Iki ("little") Crater in the National Park. You can hike across it!

• Stargazing on Mauna Kea – Mauna Kea is a stargazing sight that is famous to both locals for ceremonial reasons and to the international audience for the atmospheric clarity- some of the world’s largest telescopes are found here. Arnott’s Lodge offers quality sunrise and sunset stargazing tours at rates that are usually lower than anyone else on the island.
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park – just 30-45 minutes southwest of Hilo. KapohoKine Adventures, based in downtown Hilo, runs a tour that is very informative and a great introduction to what the park offers visitors.

Where to Eat

In downtown, check out Cafe Pesto, famous for their gourmet pizzas, or Cafe Il Mondo for a delicious calzone.  Sombat’s serves authenticThai food and is on the way out of town, just past Ken’s Pancake House, which is open 24 hours. If you continue past the Hilo airport on Highway 11 (Kanoelehua Ave), you will find the Hilo Bay Cafe, which serves slightly more upscale food and has a great menu with fresh seafood and vegetarian choices.

Where to Stay

Hilo doesn’t have any chain hotels, and there are few choices. The good news is that if you love B&Bs, I have two very different but equally amazing B&Bs to recommend – the historical Shipman House and the oceanview Hale Kai Hawaii. The Shipman House is on the National Register and is currently run by Barbara and Gary Anderson (Barbara is the great granddaughter of the Shipman family that lived in the house and has some great stories to tell!). The house had electricity as far back as the late 1880’s, when one of the only other homes in the U.S. to have electricity was the Vanderbilt mansion in Asheville, NC. It’s within walking distance from Historic Downtown Hilo on Reed’s Island surround by rainforest. Room rates start at $219/night with a 2 night minimum.

Hale Kai Hawaii is located a couple miles outside of Historic Downtown Hilo, closer to the scenic Hilo-Hamakua Heritage Corridor. This means that guests will be rewarded with gorgeous ocean views, and a great point for watching the surfer’s at the local surfing spot just down the road. Maria makes the most mouthwatering Macadamia nut cinnamon rolls and delicious homemade scones. With just four rooms, this B&B is sure to give you individualized attention, and Ricardo and Maria give great suggestions for local restaurants and things to do! Rooms start at $155/night, two night minimum in most cases, although one night stays can be arranged in certain circumstances.

View of the surfer beach from Hale Kai Hawaii.

Disclaimer: Though I recently visited Hilo on a trip sponsored by the Big Island Visitor’s Bureau, all opinions expressed are my own!

Photo Credits:

Waterfall – tauntingpanda on Flickr
Crater – author
View from Hale Kai – author

The Five Crowns, a Lawry’s brand restaurant, is holding it’s Grand Re-Opening on Thursday, May 19. An updated menu and some interior changes will be noticed by frequent diners. Signature favorites such as Lawry’s Rib Eye, Creamed Spinach, and Creamed Corn will always be available, but the menu will change seasonally to reflect the availability of local ingredients.

Five Crowns was originally established in 1965 and is a replica of Ye Olde Bell, England’s Oldest Inn located outside of London.

According to Lawry’s Design Director, Susie Frank,

“our goal was to rely on our wonderful antiques and artifacts to maintain the warmth and authenticity of our English Inn setting, while adding some new highlights such as stunning photographs by David Halliday.”

I was able to taste some of the new menu items at a recent media event, and the additions definitely compliment the restaurant’s staple dishes.  The Artichoke Tarte Tatin ($15) was an excellent appetizer – the goat cheese melted onto the artichoke on a pastry and was delicious!  I have tried a couple different fish dishes, and have enjoyed them all, so you can’t really go wrong with that.  I also hear the steak is very good, especially considering it’s their signature dish.  If that’s what you’re into, you can choose from Veal Skirt Steak, their Signature Ribeye, or roasted Prime Ribs. I found the grilled asparagus with blood oranges ($8) very tasty, as well as my favorite at the Five Crowns, the Stilcheddar Mac n’ Cheese ($7).  Both could compliment just about any entree choice.

If you want a rich, chocolately dessert, then the Dark Chocolate Souffle ($12) is for you! the 68% chocolate souffle came out piping hot with Devonshire double cream melting on top. The menu says it’s a portion for sharing, but I had no problem finishing off the entire thing myself!  For a lighter dessert, the Tangerine custard cake ($7) was light and fruity.

Five Crowns is located at 3801 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, and is open for dinner nightly. Valet parking is available for $4.

Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (949) 760-0331 or online.

Photos courtesy of Five Crowns

Solspot: the good surf guide

Instead, check out Adam Wright’s free surf forecast for SoCal at www.surf.solspot.com. You don’t need to drive anywhere as it’s on the internet which you’re on now.

A fellow surfer, Wright is a weather nerd with a sense of humor. This means that his forecasts aren”t comprised of the usual dryness one associates with weather forecasts, but are instead sophisticated predictions blended with frequently infantile humor. Worth reading in advance of your holiday to make sure you’re going to get the best surf for your time in God’s chosen county.