Irvine Spectrum Ferris Wheel · 3.Hello Kitty Grand Cafe · 5.Orange County Soccer Club, Irvine Spectrum Center · 5 Free Things to Do Outdoors · Pocket-Friendly Itinerary Enjoy an aerial view of the area 400 feet above ground aboard the Great Park Balloon in Orange County's Great Park. The Great Park Balloon is one of the largest helium (not hot air) balloons and the first of its kind in the United States. Environmentally safe, pollution-free and virtually silent. With more than 52,000 energy-efficient LED lights, the Ferris Wheel is capable of projecting 16 million dazzling color combinations.
Whether you're at the top overlooking Orange County or in the courtyard below, mesmerized by the lights, the view is spectacular. Treat Your Palate to a Variety of International Flavors at Diamond Jamboree. With more than twenty-one restaurants, it's a must-see for everyone who likes to explore the cuisines and cultures of the Pacific Coast. Enjoy afternoon tea or an exclusive cocktail in the Bow Room at Hello Kitty Grand Café.
The Hello Kitty Grand Café inside the Irvine Spectrum Center is no ordinary coffee shop. Under the Bow Room neon sign and behind the white door marked with a simple gold ribbon is an area found only in Irvine, California. The Irvine Bow Room is the Hello Kitty themed oasis, offering traditional afternoon tea during the day and signature drinks at night. Enjoy a professional soccer game as the Orange County Soccer Club takes on your opponents.
It is the only professional soccer team in the OC and is the official affiliate partner of the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) of Major League Soccer (MLS). Visit the UCI Institute and Museum of California Art, the only museum in the state dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of California Impressionism. California has long been a golden land with a beautiful climate and a perfect environment for growing the most succulent fruits. More than 100 years ago, impressionist artists came from miles around to paint the beautiful landscapes of the time.
The Irvine Museum houses many of these paintings and wants to keep the current generation painting the glorious surroundings in which they live. There are many fixed exhibitions, as well as traveling exhibitions, which means there is always something new to see. Let the kids play like adults at the Pretend City Children's Museum. This hands-on Exploratorium is a “magical, interconnected city” designed to “build better brains”.
Children can pretend to be adults through 17 interactive exhibits, purposeful games, role-playing games, educational programming, and hands-on learning experiences. Celebrate 50 Different Cultures at the Irvine Global Village Festival, Orange County's Largest Multicultural Festival. The festival incorporates the best of Irvine's historic Fall Festival to offer more food, art and music. Families Revel in Kids Village with Crafts, Interactive Activities, Treat Hunts, and a Petting Zoo.
Attendees of all ages enjoy local and world cuisine, an artisan market, music, art and exhibits. Get an introduction to the large botanical garden containing more than 11,000 trees and shrubs, including 33 species of eucalyptus trees in Aldrich Park. Aldrich Park is the natural centerpiece of the University of California, Irvine. The campus's numerous trees make UCI one of 74 campuses nationwide to win the Tree Campus USA designation.
Pick Melons, Strawberries, and Pumpkins at Tanaka Farms. Tanaka Farm is a 30-acre family farm in the heart of Irvine, where they grow more than 60 different organic fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Walk the spectacular trails of Bommer Canyon past ancient oak and sycamore groves and rocky outcrops. Over 180 years old, Bommer Canyon attracts hikers, mountain bikers and all outdoor enthusiasts.
There are free programs such as yoga, full moon walking, and rugged mountain bike rides. Discover hundreds of plant and animal species at San Joaquín Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. Learn about the swamp, water conservation and environmental protection at the interpretive center. The 12-mile trail is an oasis for walkers, runners and birdwatchers.
Over 100 different species of birds call this place home, including blue herons, white egrets, brown pelicans and many other feathered friends. Cheer on University of California Irvine athletes as anteaters compete in 18 different Division I inter-college sports. Other things to do in Irvine's typically sunny weather include going to a soccer game, exploring an open space reserve, and attending an outdoor music festival. And for those interested in a shopping experience, the first place to visit is the Irvine Spectrum Center, which comes complete with a Ferris wheel.
For those looking to make Irvine a starting point for extended adventures, there are several easy day trips just a short drive away. This proximity includes ocean adventures, with neighboring Newport Beach providing the quickest route to the ocean. Irvine is also less than an hour's drive from Los Angeles, for those looking to visit or take a break from the city. Ferris Wheel at the Irvine Spectrum Center It's not just shops and restaurants that define the Irvine Spectrum Center, but there are many free or low-cost attractions that add to the experience of visiting.
The manicured, hard-landscaped gardens add a nice touch to strolling, and features such as a carousel and giant ferris wheel are popular with children. Weekend entertainment also adds a soundtrack, which includes live music in all courtyards. The VR experience is also popular at the Irvine Spectrum Center, with SPACES arcade offering an immersive experience fighting robots like the movie The Terminator. The Great Orange County Park is a great place to spend time outdoors in Irvine.
It covers more than 1,300 acres in what used to be a former Marine Corps air station and has a growing number of amenities and attractions that go far beyond running water and picnic tables. The park's main attraction, the Great Park Balloon, takes tourists 400 feet in the air for a panoramic view of the park and the surrounding region. And next to the Great Park Balloon, the Palm Court Art Complex features the Great Park Gallery and a 10,000 square foot event center converted from a former military hangar. Other Orange County Great Park attractions include a kids' favorite carousel and an airport hangar with preserved planes on display.
The Great Park also features a multi-purpose sports complex, rotating art exhibits and freshly picked food at The Farm+ Food Lab. Great Ice Park is the newest addition to Orange County's Great Park, offering public skating and year-round events. The San Joaquín Wildlife Sanctuary is a true wilderness area within the boundaries of the. The easy accessibility of this wildlife refuge is a big draw, especially for birdwatchers and photographers.
The wildlife sanctuary comprises several ponds throughout the property, with more than 10 miles of trails navigating through the swampy terrain. Newport Beach is a charming coastal town centered around one of the largest recreational ports on the West Coast. And the city offers the fastest route to the ocean from Irvine, accessible with less than 10 miles by car. Skating, strolling along the coast and enjoying a sunset cruise are just a few ways to experience the stunning beauty of Newport Beach.
Other avenues of attraction include boutique shops and local restaurants that line the harbor. And million-dollar mansions are always in sight. Tanaka Farms is a 30-acre farming attraction offering family fun and fresh fruit. The farm sprouts something new every season.
And a great way to experience this working farm is to hop on one of the Farm Tours, which run all day long. Currently, the IMCA exhibits its collection in a temporary museum in the Airport Tower building, just northwest of the campus. This first-floor museum does well to showcase art, with more than 2,500 square feet of exhibition space. The museum currently shows one exhibition at a time and rotates the exhibition once a year.
The rich agricultural region surrounding Irvine is blessed with a year-long growing season, much of which is showcased at several farmers' markets throughout the week. The Orange County Farm Office offers two certified markets in Irvine, one in Irvine Regional Park on Tuesday mornings and one Saturday morning near the picturesque Mariners Church. Orange County's Great Park is also home to a third certified farmer's market on Sundays from 10 to. m.
at 2 p. m. The Irvine Open Space Preserve connects with other wilderness spaces in Orange County to provide a surplus of public land that may seem surprising within the dense population of Southern California. Crystal Cove State Park and Fremont Canyon Nature Reserve add to the total area, as well as the public space found in Irvine Regional Park.
Taken together, the natural space found in this region has a total of more than 20,000 acres. Located within the Great Park of Orange County, this championship soccer stadium is home to Orange County's only professional soccer team in the United Soccer League. This state-of-the-art stadium is a favorite with players and spectators, and Irvine's warm evenings are the perfect time to watch a game. The stadium can accommodate more than 5,000 fans.
Even so, the excitement on the field often keeps visitors out of their seats. The interactive fan zone and food truck concession stands also tend to keep fans roaming around. The venue can accommodate 12,000 guests, and some shows sell out completely. The calendar of events covers the whole year and ranges from comedians to music festivals and national touring acts.
Food trucks are available at most events, as well as several other vendors. Other special collections at the Arboretum include species from the Channel Islands, Baja and the Mojave Desert. The 12 acres of the arboretum are a living classroom and play an important role in the educational development of students. This nonprofit museum and play space provides an interactive world for children to explore.
Comprised of a large interconnected mini-city, with facilities such as a cafe, construction site and grocery store, Pretend City has 17 exhibition spaces that allow young children to play adult roles. The Balboa Peninsula is another day trip worth visiting Irvine. It's less than 15 miles by car from this unique piece of California paradise, where visitor attractions include vacation homes, ferris wheels, and pristine beaches that belong on a postcard. The Irvine Museum is the only museum in the state dedicated to preserving and exhibiting California's Impressionist art form.
The FBI has ranked Irvine as the “Safest Big City”, making it a fantastic place to raise your children or a perfect place for a vacation. The population is just over 200,000 and the city extends for approximately 45 square miles. Due to the location of the cities, you are right at the gateway to some of California's top attractions. Combine climate, location and low crime rate and you're left with a city with an exceptional quality of life.
One of the iconic images of Orange County is the Great Park Globe, where you can take a walk in the Great Park of Orange County. The balloon is 72 feet in diameter and offers a tethered ride for passengers from Thursday to Sunday. The balloon rises 400 feet above the ground and, at its peak, you can see Irvine and Orange County below. You can take a walk during the day and night and it is a must for all visitors who are not afraid of heights.
The balloon itself is orange, so during the day it looks like a rising sun and at night a harvest moon. If you love shopping, then you'll love the Irvine Spectrum Center. The center is a complete facility that offers more than 100 boutique stores, as well as a cinema, spa, and many dining options. One of the main attractions other than shopping is the 108-foot tall Giant Wheel.
The wheel offers shoppers the opportunity to get on the wheel and see the area from a different perspective. The wheel is open every day, but it's especially elegant at night, when you can see the local area lit up. If you are interested in seeing plants native to the Floristic Province of California or a collection of South African plants, then you can take a walk around the UCI Arboretum. The area is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday and there is no entrance fee.
The gardens cover 12.5 acres and offer plant lovers a beautiful and relaxing walk in the sun. The park is located on the main campus of the UCI. If your kids like swimming, they'll love Buccaneer Cove. Buccaneer Cove is a water play area that is divided into five levels, each with water slides, tunnels, loops and splash buckets.
In total there are more than 1000 feet of water slides to ride. There are slides to suit different age groups, starting with a children's slide that's perfect for very young children. Parents can sit back and relax in a comfortable chair while their children have fun under the watchful eye of trained professionals. If you are a chocolate lover, then you will love everything related to Chocxo.
Richard Foley has spent 30 years in the chocolate industry and has used all that experience to create some of the best chocolates in North America. You can even visit the factory, where you can watch people using the latest technology to ensure that the quality of the chocolate produced is always at the highest level. There is an on-site coffee shop where you can try and compare the different chocolate coffees before deciding which ones to bring home. Every year, the Irvine Korean Cultural Festival attracts people from all over the city of Irvine.
The festival hosts traditional Korean music, dances and other performances. There is also a large selection of food stalls selling many unusual and interesting types of food. In 1903, the first Koreans arrived on US soil and, more than 100 years later, the Californian government recognized this day and declared January 13 as the “Day of Korean Americans”. California has long been a golden land with a beautiful climate and a perfect environment for growing the most succulent fruit plants.
The University of California at Irvine has a rich sports history, and if you like sports, you'll love it. UC Irvine's anteaters are the nickname used by each of the 18 different sports teams that represent the university. There are a wide variety of sports you can come and watch, such as basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, athletics, volleyball and more. Glen Tanaka and his family have been farming in California for more than 30 years.
In recent years, they have opened their farm to the people of Irvine to give them a tour of the organic produce grown here. You start by taking a wagon ride around the farm, which will give you an idea of how a farm is managed. After the tour, you can harvest some of your own produce to take home. Tanka Farm is right in the heart of this community and you have an idea of this the entire time you are on the farm.
Every September, the City of Irvine gathers for the annual Irvine Global Village Festival. The festival is held in Bill Barber Park and is one of the most cultural festivals in all of Orange County. The event usually starts around 10 a. And it presents more than 100 musical and dance demonstrations.
Like any international festival, there are plenty of food stores that allow you to sample delicacies from many countries around the world. The event is completely free and free shuttle buses are usually placed to help with the fact that there is no parking at the event. Within Northwood Community Park is the Gratitude and Honor Memorial. The only monument in the United States that lists by name all the American men and women who lost their lives in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
At the time the monument was dedicated, it had 5,714 names, as time goes on, the monument has been updated and now contains the names of 6,786 Americans. The monument is a special place where you can come and remember the heroes who died for this great country. The Marconi Automotive Museum houses an impressive collection of cars worth more than $30 million. The cars found in the museum are mainly racing cars and will leave any car lover, adrenaline junkie, weak in the knees.
The museum can be hired for corporate events and the proceeds are invested in Foundation for Kid's, a charity that supports at-risk children. One of the highlights of the museum is a 1996 Ferrari Formula 1 racing car that was driven by Michael Schumacher. The Irvine Meadows Amphitheater opened in 1981 and is the largest amphitheater in Orange County. The fantastic music venue has a maximum capacity of 16,085 and has seen many famous artists on its stage.
Michael Jackson performed to a sold-out crowd three times during his 1988 Bad tour, and Ozzy Osbourne and The Offspring have also performed here in front of their local fans. The Bicycle Club of Irvine is the perfect place to start if you like to ride your bike. The club is relaxed and friendly, and is also a great way to meet new people from all over the city and also a lot of people from out of town. The club has been open for more than 30 years and has several cycling events throughout the week.
You don't have to be a member right away, so why not go for a walk with existing members to see if it works for you?. This is one of Irvine's best tourist attractions, a valuable addition to your list of fun things to do in Irvine, CA. This makes things to do in Irvine, CA for golf lovers, the course is open every day of the week with subsidized rates Monday through Thursday. .
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