Entertainment

Southern California and specifically Orange County is rich with entertainment opportunities for the whole family. Below are just a few samples of the many attractions that will be available for all the participants.

Irvine Spectrum & Entertainment Center
The Irvine Spectrum Center, one of the country's premier shopping entertainment centers, has quickly become a major destination for residents and visitors alike. This state-of-the-art attraction has received international acclaim for its quality entertainment, top-quality restaurants, architecturally pleasing ambience and superior location.

Located at the heart of Orange County's burgeoning high-tech industry, Irvine Spectrum Center has become a hotbed of nightlife and entertainment that lights up the sky every night of the week. During the day, it is a gathering place for adults, a playground for kids and a voyage into a world of fun for everyone. You'll find that it's easy to relax and enjoy this venture that offers delightful dining, distinctive shopping and unique performances presented by the Sidewalk Theatre. The center is anchored by the country's most visited movie theaters - a 6,400-seat Edwards 21 Cinema complex. Food lovers will enjoy fine restaurants and casual locations.

For those who like to play, the choices are limitless, including the state-of-the-art virtual reality experiences and the latest games and arcades at hot spots such as Dave & Busters and GameWorks.
Disneyland
The "Most Happiest Place on Earth!" Plan on allowing yourself and your group at least one full day to try and fully explore this wonderful place. Keep in mind that during the majority of the year when it's warm, lines for many rides become quite long around noon and stay that way the rest of the day. Head over to your favorite rides early.
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's is a 150 acres of thrilling rides, exciting attractions, outstanding live entertainment, fascinating historic exhibits, world-famous dining and one-of-a-kind specialty shops. Knott's has rides and attractions for the entire family from state-of-the-art thrill rides to authentic Old West stagecoaches, an 1880s passenger train and a turn-of-the century Grand Carousel. Knott's has something for everyone, from its wide variety of outstanding live entertainment and shows to its fascinating historic and educational exhibits. Knott's is more than a fantasy park, Knott's is a place where the history, culture, traditions and excitement of the West come alive.

SHOPPING
No one or anything beats Orange County. The Hotels are conveniently located to the "Best of the Best" when it comes to shopping malls. Just take a look:
Fashion Island
One of Southern California's most extraordinary shopping experiences. With 200 stores, 40 restaurants and two cinemas with more than a dozen screens, you'll have the time of your life shopping outdoors amid sparkling fountains, sidewalk carts, ocean breezes and tree-lined paseos.
South Coast Plaza
106 Stores - 40 Restaurants - Too many Special Events to list - just go to www.southcoastplaza.com and see for yourself.
Laguna Hills Mall
Renovated in the mid-90s, Laguna Hills Mall is anchored by Macy's, JCPenney and Sears and features nearly 100 specialty stores. Enjoy its' beautiful marble floors, fountains, skylights, palm trees and lush tropical foliage while you shop among top-notch stores such as Gap, Ann Taylor, The Disney Store, Victoria's Secret and so many more.

Get a quick bite to eat in its' Laguna Cafe's Food Court, adjacent to the huge B. Dalton Bookseller. For a superb dining experience, it offers 6 exciting restaurants, including California Pizza Kitchen, Ruby's Diner, King's Fish House, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Rubio's Baja Grill and Onami Seafood Restaurant. Laguna Hills Mall is the new home to the megastore WOW!/The Good Guys and Tower Records.
Shops at Mission Viejo
Anchored by Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and Robinsons-May, you can't help but admire the elegance of The Shops at Mission Viejo. Enjoy only the best shopping in our upscale stores including Crate and Barrel, Gary's Studio, Kenneth Cole, Talbots, Abercrombie and Fitch, Celini, a great men's store, MAC and Coldwater Creek.

Visit its' Dining Veranda with numerous choices for fast food, as well as a wonderful Chinese restaurant. P.F. Chang's China Bistro has been rated the best in Orange County for Chinese food. And....if you are looking for a place that not only serves great food but decadent desserts, look no further than The Cheesecake Factory, rated the best for desserts in Orange County.

TOURIST DESTINATIONS AND SITE-SEEING
Orange County has many great tourist destinations that combine great scenery with local color and a wide variety of activities and adventures that appeal to the whole family. Listed below are just a few of the Orange County jewels that are all within a 20 minute drive from any Hotel.
Dana Point
Located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego on the
southern Orange County coast, Dana Point Harbor is truly one of the most spectacular man-made harbors in the world.The harbor and adjacent city are named after Richard Henry Dana, who, in 1835 at the age of 19, sailed around Cape Horn aboard the trading brig "Pilgrim" in search of cowhides for Boston shoe factories. Upon his return, he wrote the book "Two Years Before The Mast". In his book he had the following to say:

"San Juan is the only romantic spot in California. The country here for several miles is high table-land, running boldly to the shore, and breaking off in a steep hill, at the foot of which the waters of the Pacific are constantly dashing. For several miles the water washes the very base of the hill, or breaks upon ledges and fragments of rocks which run out into the sea. Just where we landed was a small cove, or `bight,` which gave us, at high tide, a few square feet of sand-beach between the sea and the bottom of the hill. This was the only landing place. Directly before us, rose the perpendicular height of four or five hundred feet."
Richard Henry Dana off Dana Point in his book "Two Years Before The Mast"
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is Southern California's premier seaside artist haven. Quaint cottages amidst subtropical gardens line bluffs above sandy coves along a seven mile scenic coastline. Inland, luxuriant foliage and seaview homes cover lower canyons and ridges of hills that rise more than 1,000 feet above the ocean. Artists began arriving here over a century ago to enjoy the year-round, picture-postcard weather. Today, visitors from around the world come to Laguna Beach to enjoy the many superb art galleries and restaurants, many with breathtaking sunset views.
San Clemente
The City of San Clemente spans fifteen square miles of coastline and scenic foothills. The location of the City, long admired by explorers and passing settlers, remained virtually uninhabited until 1776, when Mission San Juan Capistrano was established by Father Junipero Serra and led both Indian and Spanish settlers to set up villages nearby.

In 1969, an event occurred which accelerated the growth and reputation of San Clemente. In that year former President Nixon purchased a Spanish mansion in the southern part of town that Hamilton Cotton had built in 1927. This "Western White House" became the site of numerous historical meetings. Despite rapid subsequent growth, the City today maintains its small-town atmosphere.

San Clemente boasts "the world's finest climate", with sunshine 342 days per year. The annual average temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Old Towne Orange
Old Towne Orange dates from 1871 and contains the largest number of buildings in one place within California, that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Old Towne Orange, established in 1886 as the hub for shopping and socializing in the city of Orange, is still a mecca for shoppers and diners 100 years later. Antique stores and restaurants line the streets that meet at the town's center, the traffic circle.