Spring Breakers: Orange County Style
Kathryn Aurelio ‘25
It’s that time of the semester where you can unwind after all those midterms and projects. If you’re in California for spring break and are tired of the Fryft zone, Santa Monica, Downtown LA, or just LA as a whole, consider making your way to LA’s sister-city, Miss Orange County!
I was born and raised in the OC moving from Westminster to Fullerton – so here are my best recommendations for traveling locally this break.
Eat Your Way Through the Seven Days
Shootz
This Hawaiian-fusion restaurant (serving similar dishes to Ono’s Hawaiian BBQ) has the most crisy and well seasoned chicken katsu I’ve tried, served on a bed of perfectly cooked white rice with a scoop of crab mac and cheese. I also make a point to always order their spam musubi with caramelized cheese. The stand is located in Rodeo 39 in Stanton.
Holdaak
This small Korean Fried Chicken place is ranked in the top five fried chicken spots by the Orange County Register. Whether you prefer spicy seasoning, a soy glaze, or just their original crisp, this chicken joint has great chicken in Fullerton and Orange. Try their chicken tender or sandwich combos.
In N Out
Yes, I know this is a general California staple, but the burger franchise doesn’t have a location close to USC’s campus, so be sure to indulge while it’s nearby. Also, an extra crispy fry and animal-style double double just hits different after a post-OC beach outing or movie night.
Joe’s Italian Ice
This is a staple for high schoolers, college students, and young adults alike! You can find people flocking from all over OC after late night drives or dinners to this outdoor stand that houses a large menu of frosty Italian ice flavors. Open until 11 p.m., you’re sure to satisfy your sweet treat cravings here. My personal go-to order is the strawberries and cream “Joe-latti” (classic Italian ice topped with vanilla soft serve ice cream).
Blue Bowl
With locations mainly in South OC, this build-your-own flat-rate acai place is the best bang for your buck to satisfy your “healthy” dessert needs. Unlike most other acai spots, you can stack on as many flavors, fruit, butters, granola, and more with no upcharges!
Cha for Tea
Perhaps one of the most debated topics in Orange County: the best boba. I’ve tried my fair share of boba spots, but nothing beats Cha for Tea (so far). The shop is located in UC Irvine’s shopping plaza right across from campus if you want to pick up a boba and wander around a different college campus. The honey boba is cooked to perfection for chewy and sweet goodness along with their quality teas that will leave you levitating.
Best Beaches and Amusing Activities
Whether it’s through The OC, Selling the OC, The Real Housewives, or any other depiction of the California County, the stereotypes aren’t all true. The OC has plenty of different enclaves that all offer different spring break experiences.
For those who want some time to soak up the sun and breathe in some salt air, I recommend circling the coast of South OC hitting these beaches. Disclaimer: I am very biased because these were the beaches I grew up on.
Huntington Beach
If you’re into surfing or playing beach volleyball, this one's for you! Waves are huge and they have nets for volleyball.
Newport Beach
If your budget is a bit bigger, you can spring for Newport’s beach sailing classes, harbor tours, Balboa Island rentals, or yacht charters to create a memorable spring break moment.
Laguna Beach
My absolute personal favorite, this beach is the most picturesque with bright blue waters, vibrant flowers, and a relaxing beach town vibe.
If the beach isn’t your thing, fear not, the county has much more in store. Here are the top attractions you can’t miss.
Disneyland/Downtown Disney
Home to the most famous amusement park in California, Anaheim allows you to step into the magical world of Disneyland where you can enjoy a day with friends and family riding attractions from your favorite childhood tales, engage with attractions from your favorite movies, and watch fireworks or parades at the end of the night. If ticket prices are a bit hefty, you can still feel the magic from Downtown Disney – a shopping and dining plaza with great beignets and free admission.
Knott’s Berry Farm
Another way to keep busy (that’s much more affordable than Disneyland), is to drive fifteen minutes east to Knotts! This amusement park is a little more rollercoaster heavy for adrenaline junkies but has a good mix of intermediate and kids’ rides as well. You definitely need to try their boysenberry desserts or funnel cake!
Catch a Game At Angel Stadium of Anaheim
End the day with an all-American baseball game to sample stadium treats and get cute game day pictures.
Eat and Shop at the Anaheim Packing District
This Instagrammable warehouse of food and aesthetic seating was HUGE back in 2015. With lightbulb boba and ramen that “floats,” the interesting eats here are timeless. Between rainbow grilled cheeses and floral ice cream pops, you can shop around at the pop-up boutiques and carts for cute trinkets.
Shop at Fashion Island, South Coast Plaza, and Irvine Spectrum
Whether you have the budget for luxury or just want to windowshop, take a walk through these picturesque malls and shopping centers to browse or buy. Spend a day treating yourself to a new outfit, a Hello Kitty Cafe dessert treat, or ride on the Irvine Spectrum ferris wheel.
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