JJ’s guidebook to Southern Cali!
City/town information
Explore the legendary beach town that the hit TV series "Laguna Beach" on MTV made famous with amazing restaurants, views and tons of things to do and see. There are beautiful hiking trails, shops, art galleries, events (Pageant of the Masters/Festival of the Arts, etc), unique homes and incredible beaches.
845 locals recommend
Laguna Beach
Explore the legendary beach town that the hit TV series "Laguna Beach" on MTV made famous with amazing restaurants, views and tons of things to do and see. There are beautiful hiking trails, shops, art galleries, events (Pageant of the Masters/Festival of the Arts, etc), unique homes and incredible beaches.
Like Laguna Beach, this is a town with a peninsula that has all the restaurants, activities and views you could want. Beautiful homes line the twisty canals and the Newport Harbor is worth exploring. There is the boardwalk with attractions for kids and restaurants and bars for the adults. You can rent an electric duffy boat that seats up to 16 for all the family to explore all the beautiful boats and homes that some celebrities call their own in the large harbor. You can even bring food and drinks on board the boat but need a sober driver of course.
580 locals recommend
Newport Beach
100 Civic Center DrLike Laguna Beach, this is a town with a peninsula that has all the restaurants, activities and views you could want. Beautiful homes line the twisty canals and the Newport Harbor is worth exploring. There is the boardwalk with attractions for kids and restaurants and bars for the adults. You can rent an electric duffy boat that seats up to 16 for all the family to explore all the beautiful boats and homes that some celebrities call their own in the large harbor. You can even bring food and drinks on board the boat but need a sober driver of course.
Plenty of restaurants, bars and events (US Open Surfing competition, Air shows, etc). Explore main street and enjoy a bonfire at night on the beach over smores with dedicated fire pits right on the sand. Also enjoy the open-air mall Pacific City with plenty of shopping, bars and restaurants. I recommend checking out The Bungalow or Tanners Restaurant for an impressive night out.
638 locals recommend
Huntington Beach
Plenty of restaurants, bars and events (US Open Surfing competition, Air shows, etc). Explore main street and enjoy a bonfire at night on the beach over smores with dedicated fire pits right on the sand. Also enjoy the open-air mall Pacific City with plenty of shopping, bars and restaurants. I recommend checking out The Bungalow or Tanners Restaurant for an impressive night out.
Visit the famous Rodeo Drive and explore all that the rich and famous get to, you may even see a celebrity but you will certainly see fancy cars here you may never see anywhere else.
678 locals recommend
Beverly Hills
Visit the famous Rodeo Drive and explore all that the rich and famous get to, you may even see a celebrity but you will certainly see fancy cars here you may never see anywhere else.
San Diego is the dreamland, there is not a soul in Southern California who hates this place. So much to see and do coupled with a relaxed culture that even your glass-half-empty guest could enjoy.
290 locals recommend
San Diego
San Diego is the dreamland, there is not a soul in Southern California who hates this place. So much to see and do coupled with a relaxed culture that even your glass-half-empty guest could enjoy.
I will not even mention the activities and restaurants that are available here. I will however recommend you google "Hollywood Tours" and take the family for a tour of everything LA has to offer including it's incredible history of film-making.
234 locals recommend
Los Angeles
I will not even mention the activities and restaurants that are available here. I will however recommend you google "Hollywood Tours" and take the family for a tour of everything LA has to offer including it's incredible history of film-making.
Malibu
Food scene
This is a great place for a lively date or even bowling at the fancy lounge downstairs with a full bar. There is also a club here for those interested called TIME nightclub. There is a 24 hour fitness as well. There are several restaurants to choose from and many of them have large outdoor dining areas with firepits. There is also a movie theater here.
118 locals recommend
Starlight Triangle Square Cinemas
1870 Harbor BlvdThis is a great place for a lively date or even bowling at the fancy lounge downstairs with a full bar. There is also a club here for those interested called TIME nightclub. There is a 24 hour fitness as well. There are several restaurants to choose from and many of them have large outdoor dining areas with firepits. There is also a movie theater here.
Pacific City
21010 Pacific Coast HwyGreat shopping, restaurants and bars right on the beach.
Explore the area that is adjacent to Disneyland (no Disneyland pass needed to enter) for great shopping, entertainment and restaurants with that Disney feel we all love.
253 locals recommend
Downtown Disney District
1580 Disneyland DrExplore the area that is adjacent to Disneyland (no Disneyland pass needed to enter) for great shopping, entertainment and restaurants with that Disney feel we all love.
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
7662 Beach BlvdAnaheim Packing District
440 S Anaheim BlvdFancy Hampton's-esque hotel with a large rooftop bar + appetizers that overlooks a grand pool with cabanas with views of all of Newport's Balboa Peninsula. There is the Mayors table restaurant below that for fantastic breakfast from a well-known chef.
16 locals recommend
Lido House, Autograph Collection
3300 Newport BlvdFancy Hampton's-esque hotel with a large rooftop bar + appetizers that overlooks a grand pool with cabanas with views of all of Newport's Balboa Peninsula. There is the Mayors table restaurant below that for fantastic breakfast from a well-known chef.
Entertainment and Activities
Fun indoor electric gokart racing - fun for adults and kids alike. This is quite competitive with all kinds of high-tech information tracking that takes place including laptimes for each driver on each lap so you can compare after each race with your opponents. With a big enough group (8+) you can setup a 3-race league where the winner takes home a trophy and gets to stand on the podium for pictures. There is VR and cool arcade gaming here for the kids as well as an eatery.
27 locals recommend
K1 Speed - Indoor Go Karts, Corporate Event Venue, Team Building Activities
17221 Von Karman AveFun indoor electric gokart racing - fun for adults and kids alike. This is quite competitive with all kinds of high-tech information tracking that takes place including laptimes for each driver on each lap so you can compare after each race with your opponents. With a big enough group (8+) you can setup a 3-race league where the winner takes home a trophy and gets to stand on the podium for pictures. There is VR and cool arcade gaming here for the kids as well as an eatery.
Duffy Electric Boat Company Sales and Rentals Newport Beach
2001 West Coast HwyDiscovery Cube Orange County
2500 N Main StThe famous "wedge" where many famous surfers have cut their teeth. It is a dangerous place to surf but fun to watch the professionals at sunset. It's in a beautiful area of the Peninsula to boot.
106 locals recommend
The Wedge
E OceanfrontThe famous "wedge" where many famous surfers have cut their teeth. It is a dangerous place to surf but fun to watch the professionals at sunset. It's in a beautiful area of the Peninsula to boot.
A hidden beach that only the locals know about. The steps are steep to get down to the beach but it's a spectacular hidden gem to explore and impress your friends with. Don't forget to spot the elevators to the houses above and the "guest bungalows" on the sand. Enjoy a swim while you're down there.
30 locals recommend
1,000 Steps Beach
31972 Coast HwyA hidden beach that only the locals know about. The steps are steep to get down to the beach but it's a spectacular hidden gem to explore and impress your friends with. Don't forget to spot the elevators to the houses above and the "guest bungalows" on the sand. Enjoy a swim while you're down there.
There is so much to do in L.A. you can spend an entire weekend and only scratch the surface. Here you can see all the hand prints of famous celebrities that have influenced us over the years and earned their plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
175 locals recommend
Walk Of Fame
6901 Hollywood BlvdThere is so much to do in L.A. you can spend an entire weekend and only scratch the surface. Here you can see all the hand prints of famous celebrities that have influenced us over the years and earned their plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierAwesome island just 30 miles off the coast of Newport Beach. You take a Catalina ferry that takes roughly an hour to get to the island and you can explore all day. Rent a golf cart and see everything the island has to offer. Go in a semi-submersible submarine and explore the incredible sealife that live off the shores of this island. It is a very unique and beautiful place to visit that everyone will enjoy. There is world-class scuba diving and spearfishing as well as snorkeling and zip-lining. Restaurants and bars as well.
36 locals recommend
Santa Catalina Island
Awesome island just 30 miles off the coast of Newport Beach. You take a Catalina ferry that takes roughly an hour to get to the island and you can explore all day. Rent a golf cart and see everything the island has to offer. Go in a semi-submersible submarine and explore the incredible sealife that live off the shores of this island. It is a very unique and beautiful place to visit that everyone will enjoy. There is world-class scuba diving and spearfishing as well as snorkeling and zip-lining. Restaurants and bars as well.
During the winter enjoy an incredible skiing experience up at Big Bear mountain and ski resort. During the summer there is hiking, offroading, and mountain bike trails.
119 locals recommend
Big Bear Mountain Resort
880 Summit BlvdDuring the winter enjoy an incredible skiing experience up at Big Bear mountain and ski resort. During the summer there is hiking, offroading, and mountain bike trails.
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrFun Casino with restaurants, bars and clubs in Wine Country (Temecula)
215 locals recommend
Pechanga Resort Casino
45000 Pechanga PkwyFun Casino with restaurants, bars and clubs in Wine Country (Temecula)
Large adult and kid-friendly arcade and bar/restaurant/lounge inside of the Irvine Spectrum outdoor Mall
35 locals recommend
Dave & Buster's
20 City Blvd WLarge adult and kid-friendly arcade and bar/restaurant/lounge inside of the Irvine Spectrum outdoor Mall
For the adrenaline junkies this is the place to go. Some of the most insane roller coasters in the country.
716 locals recommend
Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain PkwyFor the adrenaline junkies this is the place to go. Some of the most insane roller coasters in the country.
Shopping
The Lab Anti-Mall
2930 Bristol StNewport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center DrThe largest mall on the west coast. A lot to do and see here, and can appeal to the high-end brand shopper (Gucci, Prada, etc) as much as it can to the frugal one (H&M, Forever 21, etc). Plenty of great restaurants nearby, check out Maggiano's for some great Italian food at a fair price.
790 locals recommend
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol StThe largest mall on the west coast. A lot to do and see here, and can appeal to the high-end brand shopper (Gucci, Prada, etc) as much as it can to the frugal one (H&M, Forever 21, etc). Plenty of great restaurants nearby, check out Maggiano's for some great Italian food at a fair price.
Neighborhoods
A fun and lively area on the tip of Newport Beach with a plethora of sightseeing, restaurants and bars to entertain anyone.
47 locals recommend
Balboa Peninsula
A fun and lively area on the tip of Newport Beach with a plethora of sightseeing, restaurants and bars to entertain anyone.
Sightseeing
Original Muscle Beach
Ocean Front WalkUSS Midway Museum
910 N Harbor DrGreat hiking trail with breathtaking views of Laguna Beach and the ocean.
85 locals recommend
Top of the World
West RidgeGreat hiking trail with breathtaking views of Laguna Beach and the ocean.
City advice
Don't miss
An ultimate list of things to do + how to operate the home!
https://www.evernote.com/l/AF2YX-FRPE5BtLVJfm1nE4QcDuZ7brFQIag/
Copy and paste the above link into a web browser for a list of all activities, restaurants, fast food, bars and fun things to do nearby. It also includes instructions for how to operate the technology in the your Airbnb (like lights, the projector/TV, etc)!
Don't miss
Duffy Boat Rental
Explore the Newport Beach harbor in style and from the water - captain your own boat that seats from 12-16 people with a table in the center of everyone to share meals and drinks as you take in the views and beautiful boats and homes that line the large harbor.