Things to do

Things to do for everyone

Huntington Beach (OC) – Possibly California’s largest beach with great waves for surfing and boogie boarding, long pedestrian path for bike/walk/rollerblading, fire pits, volleyball courts (where Olympic athletes play!), fishing pier, and shops and restaurants nearby.

Newport Beach (OC) – smaller than HB, but cleaner and also great for many of the same recreation and also has great shops and restaurants nearby.

Laguna Beach (OC) – More picturesque and higher end, but not smaller for beach-going and not as close to restaurants and shops

Catalina Island (OC) – Great for all sorts of outdoor recreation (hike, scuba, parasail, zipline, camp), ride a submarine or see a bison – Yes, this is what the Catalina Wine Mixer (fictional from Step Brothers movie) is based off of! Accessible by ferry from Newport (Catalina Flyer), Long Beach or Dana Point (Catalina Express).

Queen Mary (OC) – Titanic’s sister ship docked permanently in Long Beach, available for tours and special events.

Asian Garden Mall (OC) – Indoor mall located in the heart of Little Saigon. The mall itself is mostly gold/jewelry stores, trinkle shops, and fast food stands now, but surrounded by great eateries.

Irvine Spectrum (OC) – The birthplace of mixed-use outdoor chain strip malls, complete with entertainment (movies, arcade), shopping, and even groceries. Good backup for downtime.

La Jolla Cove (SD) – Swim in cove waters, hang with lazy sea lions if you're lucky.

Torrey Pines (SD) – Small beach, but next to the famous Torrey Pines golf course and beautiful hiking trail with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains.

Balboa Park (SD) – San Diego's version of Central Park, with beautiful Spanish mission architecture, family bikes for rent, arboretum.

Old Town San Diego (SD) – Historic district rich with Baja (Mexicali) culture, restaurants, and shops. You can even ride an old school trolley there!

Carlsbad Beach (SD) – Offers overnight camping on the beach, reservations required.


Things to do for families

Disneyland (OC) – Quintessential with great shows and rides for all ages, make sure to stay for the Fantasmic show! Fireworks show visible from nearby streets at 9:30pm nightly.

Disney California Adventure (OC) – Newer sister to Disneyland, slightly smaller but with newer characters and rides. Also check out Downtown Disney, a free promenade with restaurants and shops.

Wild Rivers (OC) – Water park in Irvine, close (ish) to the wedding venue and Newport Beach.

Knott’s Soak City (OC) – Water park near (ish) Disneyland. Next to Knott’s Berry Farm, an older midsized theme park.

Discovery Cube (OC) – Interactive science museum, great for kids up to tween age.  

Pretend City (OC) – Museum for pretend play, great for younger kids.

Legoland (SD) – Great for Legos enthusiasts and younger kids. Park tickets are very affordable and only about 30 mins drive from the wedding venue.

Sea World (SD) – See water animals do cool tricks!

San Diego Zoo (SD) – One of the best known zoos in the country.

Universal Studios Hollywood (LA) – Much like the Orlando park, but with Super Nintendo World! Download the app to check wait times, Express Pass highly recommended.

Six Flags Magic Mountain (LA) – Great for older kids and thrill seekers.


Things to do for adults

The Camp (OC) – Quaint artist hub with fun local brewery, shops, and restaurants

Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA) – LA Philharmonic venue with iconic Frank Gehry design. Make sure to also check out Little Tokyo or Chinatown nearby.

Salk Institute (SD) – Institute for Biological Studies, designed by famous architect Louis Khan with beautiful views of the sunset, hang gliders, and a little of Black's Beach.

Gaslamp Quarter (SD) – Great nightlife with restaurants, bars, and clubs.