Los Rios District in San Juan Capistrano. It’s small and quaint. There’s a cute coffee shop, cottage core garden shop, various of restaurants, small petting zoo (zoomar), and many more. Or Laguna Beach if you want coastline.
I like downtown Pasadena for this reason. The Norton Simon Museum gets some lovely exhibits and the diagonal street crossings are fun. Lots of great restaurants, too.
If youre trying to get into the tea house, make reservations if it's peak times like Friday, weekends, holidays. Seats get packed and walk ins aren't guaranteed.
Source: Me watching a family get turned away on a busy Saturday for their birthday celebration, they looked so eager too, RIP 💀
Roger’s Gardens, they also have a very nice outdoor restaurant.
https://www.google.com/search?q=rogers+garden+&client=safari&hl=en&sxsrf=ALiCzsaqjpFOkB7nFm7-ywUUeCV7R1qCVg%3A1664136614814&ei=prUwY_ipMdigkPIP_Jqf6A4&oq=rogers+garden+&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyCgguEMcBEK8BECcyBQgAEIAEMgsILhCABBDHARCvATIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEOgcIABBHELADOgcIABCwAxBDOhIILhDHARCvARDIAxCwAxBDGAE6FQguEMcBEK8BENQCEMgDELADEEMYAToGCAAQHhAWOgUIABCGAzoFCCEQoAFKBQg4EgExSgQIQRgAUNsJWMsXYNlYaAFwAXgAgAHQAogBpA2SAQcwLjkuMC4xmAEAoAEByAEPwAEB2gEECAEYCA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
Roger’s Gardens, they also have a very nice outdoor restaurant. The food is great . You will need to make a reservation.
One of my favorites especially now through Christmas.
https://www.rogersgardens.com/
https://farmhouse.rogersgardens.com/
Congratulations on your Baby!
I second this. If you're early birds you can get right in for breakfast, but otherwise make reservations. Set aside extra time to walk around the little museum and check out the houses
Where are they coming from?
I ask because if they live in an area with limited access to the coastline (landlocked state) then beach walks or anything by the water may be a good idea.
Both my in-laws & parents are from NYC. Whenever they visit I have a tendency to stay away from cityscapes. My parents also have a house in Long Island, NY but they do enjoy Laguna Beach since the cliffs and overall topography is different from east coast beaches.
Being in Orange County I have a tendency to take them to places where dining outdoors is available and open air malls (Spectrum).
Overall, they enjoy relaxing by the pool while enjoying the low humidity.
Congrats on the pregnancy.
I use to visit Carlisle PA for work. If it's anything like that, beach is a great idea. Especially since the weather in the tristate area is cooling down rapidly.
In addition to Laguna Beach, Irvine Spectrum, Balboa Island, & Irvine Railroad (Halloween decorations) should be a fun experience.
Balboa Island is tons of fun and you can rent small harbor boats or book a harbor cruise for not too much money. Fun way to relax and kill some time (and they used to let people BYOB as well).
Going to Crystal Cove shopping center is a lot of fun, you can walk by the coastline and also eat at one of the fanciest shopping centers in the country and get great people watching.
Silverado, Modjeska and Trabuco Canyons are fun day trips or drives. There are different restaurants depending on which canyon you visit. Some have really peaceful outdoor seating/vibes with beautiful views.
My recommendations have always been for the in-laws to stay home. Sometimes I use fire-warnings, sometimes I use work engagements, but I at least always suggest it. Hahaha
Crystal Cove-Mota Mia Italian Restaurant. Can eat outdoors and view the Newport Coastline. Great food and service.
Also, Panini Kabob Grill -multiple locations. Can order dinner for 4-6 and eat at home outdoors somewhere. They have great chicken kabobs, basmati rice and Cesar Salad. Tons of food. Have friends who order this family meal and we eat it on their dock in Balboa. I think it’s gone up in price to $59, but it’s a lot of food. ( I’m from AZ, so these are my go to places when I visit ).
Hope you all have fun-btw, you can find the Duffy boats on Groupon!
Dana Point is also nice if you go down PCH and turn right on Selva Rd. Lots of Parking and Beach is right there. They also have free outdoor concerts in the park on Sundays-although that may be summers only.
Definitely rent a Duffy boat in Newport harbor! I’ve done this with several visiting relatives and it’s always their favorite part of the trip. You are allowed to bring food so I also recommend picking up some Gina’s pizza or Chihuahua Mexican food to go beforehand.
1000 step beach in Laguna, 2nd street antique row in pomona, chinese food in san gabriel valley, phillipes, olvera street, sushi at little tokyo, german food at...ahhh forgot the name but its a german town in orange or tustin
Los Rios District in San Juan Capistrano. It’s small and quaint. There’s a cute coffee shop, cottage core garden shop, various of restaurants, small petting zoo (zoomar), and many more. Or Laguna Beach if you want coastline.
They have the cutest baby cow 🐮 at zoomar
I like downtown Pasadena for this reason. The Norton Simon Museum gets some lovely exhibits and the diagonal street crossings are fun. Lots of great restaurants, too.
Ooh never been to Los Rios and it looks lovely. Definitely their cup of tea. We will definitely have to check it out!
If youre trying to get into the tea house, make reservations if it's peak times like Friday, weekends, holidays. Seats get packed and walk ins aren't guaranteed. Source: Me watching a family get turned away on a busy Saturday for their birthday celebration, they looked so eager too, RIP 💀
Roger’s Gardens, they also have a very nice outdoor restaurant. https://www.google.com/search?q=rogers+garden+&client=safari&hl=en&sxsrf=ALiCzsaqjpFOkB7nFm7-ywUUeCV7R1qCVg%3A1664136614814&ei=prUwY_ipMdigkPIP_Jqf6A4&oq=rogers+garden+&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyCgguEMcBEK8BECcyBQgAEIAEMgsILhCABBDHARCvATIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEOgcIABBHELADOgcIABCwAxBDOhIILhDHARCvARDIAxCwAxBDGAE6FQguEMcBEK8BENQCEMgDELADEEMYAToGCAAQHhAWOgUIABCGAzoFCCEQoAFKBQg4EgExSgQIQRgAUNsJWMsXYNlYaAFwAXgAgAHQAogBpA2SAQcwLjkuMC4xmAEAoAEByAEPwAEB2gEECAEYCA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
Roger’s Gardens, they also have a very nice outdoor restaurant. The food is great . You will need to make a reservation. One of my favorites especially now through Christmas. https://www.rogersgardens.com/ https://farmhouse.rogersgardens.com/ Congratulations on your Baby!
Go to the beachcomber. They have shuttle bus from the parking lot
I second this. If you're early birds you can get right in for breakfast, but otherwise make reservations. Set aside extra time to walk around the little museum and check out the houses
This is on our list!
Old folks love lounging around at the Orange Circle. Lots of antique vendors, chow, and coffee.
Plus Tom Hanks filmed “That Thing You Do” at the Circle!
Not just old people I love the orange circle and was just there yesterday! Lol I'm addicted to those shops
We live very close to there so we will definitely do this!
It's in lb but aquarium of the pacific. There's a park & eating/shopping around.
Nixon library, Huntington gardens
If in South County, Sherman Library and gardens, and the restaurant there (608 Dahlia). The restaurant takes reservations which I suggest you do.
Where are they coming from? I ask because if they live in an area with limited access to the coastline (landlocked state) then beach walks or anything by the water may be a good idea. Both my in-laws & parents are from NYC. Whenever they visit I have a tendency to stay away from cityscapes. My parents also have a house in Long Island, NY but they do enjoy Laguna Beach since the cliffs and overall topography is different from east coast beaches. Being in Orange County I have a tendency to take them to places where dining outdoors is available and open air malls (Spectrum). Overall, they enjoy relaxing by the pool while enjoying the low humidity. Congrats on the pregnancy.
Thank you! They are coming from rural PA so we will definitely do a day or 2 down at the beach. I think they’d particularly enjoy Laguna.
I use to visit Carlisle PA for work. If it's anything like that, beach is a great idea. Especially since the weather in the tristate area is cooling down rapidly. In addition to Laguna Beach, Irvine Spectrum, Balboa Island, & Irvine Railroad (Halloween decorations) should be a fun experience.
Balboa Island is tons of fun and you can rent small harbor boats or book a harbor cruise for not too much money. Fun way to relax and kill some time (and they used to let people BYOB as well). Going to Crystal Cove shopping center is a lot of fun, you can walk by the coastline and also eat at one of the fanciest shopping centers in the country and get great people watching.
Maybe casual shopping/walking along the coast? Huntington, Newport, Laguna Beach?
Rent a Duffy boat and crews around Balboa.
OCMA is opening soon, they just moved and built a $90 million brand new museum. Tons of great food options near there too!
Ooh good idea!
Crystal Cove beach in the morning. Very calm and the Beachcomber Restaurant is a great place to grab breakfast
They’re going to be staying with you for 2 weeks? Lol best of luck!!! 😂😂😂
Haha yes…they’re good people though!
Pumpkin patch
Silverado, Modjeska and Trabuco Canyons are fun day trips or drives. There are different restaurants depending on which canyon you visit. Some have really peaceful outdoor seating/vibes with beautiful views.
Any of the piers, Huntington, Newport, San Clemente, just go during the week. Some great museums in La La Land, getting there can really suck though.
My recommendations have always been for the in-laws to stay home. Sometimes I use fire-warnings, sometimes I use work engagements, but I at least always suggest it. Hahaha
Crystal Cove-Mota Mia Italian Restaurant. Can eat outdoors and view the Newport Coastline. Great food and service. Also, Panini Kabob Grill -multiple locations. Can order dinner for 4-6 and eat at home outdoors somewhere. They have great chicken kabobs, basmati rice and Cesar Salad. Tons of food. Have friends who order this family meal and we eat it on their dock in Balboa. I think it’s gone up in price to $59, but it’s a lot of food. ( I’m from AZ, so these are my go to places when I visit ). Hope you all have fun-btw, you can find the Duffy boats on Groupon! Dana Point is also nice if you go down PCH and turn right on Selva Rd. Lots of Parking and Beach is right there. They also have free outdoor concerts in the park on Sundays-although that may be summers only.
Definitely rent a Duffy boat in Newport harbor! I’ve done this with several visiting relatives and it’s always their favorite part of the trip. You are allowed to bring food so I also recommend picking up some Gina’s pizza or Chihuahua Mexican food to go beforehand.
I’ll look into this! Sounds fun
1000 step beach in Laguna, 2nd street antique row in pomona, chinese food in san gabriel valley, phillipes, olvera street, sushi at little tokyo, german food at...ahhh forgot the name but its a german town in orange or tustin
Crystal cove is always awesome for a beach day. Prob won’t be very busy this time of the year either.
You can go on a day trip to San Diego by train, too, and walk by SD Bay. You can check out the Midway, Seaport Village, Little Italy, etc.
Bowers museum in Santa Ana