Balboa Island (not to be confused with Balboa Peninsula) is a lovely 15 minute (south) car ride straight down Jamboree right onto the Island from Irvine. It’s got a sweet main street (Marine Ave.) with mainly mom-and-pops and a couple of amazing eateries (4 blocks long in each direction). Even Wilma’s, the coffee shop there, is yummy. Park the car and walk. The circumference of the island is about 1.3 miles, it’s walkable, with beautiful boats and homes, and no cars to contend with. On the west side about 8 “blocks” (short) you’ll find a 2 car ferry (pedestrians and bikes as well) that for a buck or 2 will take you across to the Balboa Peninsula (8 minutes) – walk another block and a half and you’re at the ocean…you can walk or sit and read a book, listen to the waves, whatever. I walk the 2 Balboa Islands every day (rain or shine) together it’s 3.25 miles. It’s so relaxing, and very safe.
I second Laguna Beach. Very arty (it was the hub of the first real Orange County bohemian art scene in the early 1900s) - you don’t mention your timeline (or I missed it) – but if you’re here during the summer, definitely check out the Pageant of the Masters (https://www.foapom.com/) and across the street the Sawdust Art Festival (https://sawdustartfestival.org/). There’s a free trolley that runs down Pacific Coast Hwy and is fun to hop on and check out the further southern parts of Laguna. It only runs on the weekends until June otherwise it’s daily (http://www.visitlagunabeach.com/trolley/).
For the best whale watching in the state, Captain Dave and his “dolphin safari” can’t be beat. Anytime something to do with whales happens, the media goes and talks with Dave (http://www.dolphinsafari.com/meet-captain-dave.html). I went one morning and while we didn’t see any whales, he lead us straight into a dolphin “stampede” – with no exaggeration we were surrounded by well over 3,000 dolphin! His crew is unsurpassed, and they never disappoint. My friends and I go at least once a year.
Again, based on your timing…IF you’re in town on your actual birthday (or another in your party is), Catalina Express in Dana Point (about 45 minutes S of Irvine) offers a free sailing for that person. The hook is it must be the actual date, and there must be at least 2 booked passengers. But a lovely day trip. Take the boat over, walk the village, eat lunch, people watch, take the boat back. http://www.catalinaexpress.com/ It’s worth it, even to just get away solo for the day!
The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is a wonderful space, and the current Frida Kahlo exhibit is a treat. While I’m normally a fan of “free” museum day, they get the crowds! So just pay the nominal $13 ($10 if you’re a senior) and enjoy! https://www.bowers.org/index.php/exhibitions/current-exhibitions
Couple Bowers on the first Saturday of the month with the Downtown Santa Ana art walk - downtown is safe and has a beautiful historic arts district. The galleries and studios are open, and you can just walk from one to the next, at leisure, from 6-10 - if nothing else, explore the Santora Arts Building - you could Uber/Lyft into Santa Ana and back and not even think about parking or anything else. Santa Ana is about 12 miles from Irvine.
Did I overwhelm you? I hope so! There are all sorts of cool and unusual things to do in our neck of the woods.
