Legendary Orange County
By Citysearch Editors, Orange County
From pirate coves to movie star hangouts, our editors recommend the most legendary spots in Orange County.
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Newport Harbor
Newport Harbor, Newport Beach, CA
Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Mae West and John Wayne held legendary parties on their yachts in Newport Harbor. -
Crystal Cove State Park
8471 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA
Years after prohibition ended, bottles from rum smugglers who brought their booty ashore were found in the sand and water. -
Surf & Sand Resort
1555 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA
Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and Diane Sawyer frequently stayed here while reporting on President Nixon's visits to San Clemente.
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Dana Point Harbor
Pacific Coast Hwy & Dana Pt, Dana Point, CA
Infamous pirate Hipolito Bouchard anchored his fleet at Dana Point in 1818 while trying to raid Mission San Juan Capistrano. -
Orange County Mining Co
10000 Crawford Canyon Rd, Santa Ana, CA
This hilltop steakhouse sits on an old silver mine site. Memorabilia on display are actual artifacts from the mining era. -
Disneyland
700 W Ball Rd, Anaheim, CA
The Disney Gallery is reportedly haunted by Walt himself, who used the space as an apartment while overseeing park construction. -
Balboa Island Beach
Between Balboa Peninsula and Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA
In 1912 Glenn Martin flew his plane from Balboa to Catalina and set a record for fastest over-water flight. -
Watson Drug Store and Soda Fountain
116 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA
The movies "American Wedding," "That Thing You Do," and "Big Momma?s House" filmed here and around historic Orange Circle. -
The Coach House
33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA
B.B. King, Ray Charles, Leon Russell and Patti Smith are a few of the music legends that graced the stage.
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Richard M. Nixon Library & Birthplace
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, CA
From Watergate to Goldwater, see what life was like as the United States' most infamous president. -
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA
An old-time outpost with kid-friendly rides and a growing number of state-of-the-art thrills.
