Archives for Misc

#1 – It’s an Eatcation®

Costa Mesa has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in Orange County, including six recognized Michelin guide stand-outs, and that’s just the beginning. Costa Mesa’s culinary landscape is a mix of upscale dining, local favorites, and craveable bites.

Discover Mercado González, the first concept of its kind from the multi-generational González family, responsible for the 40+ Northgate Markets across SoCal. This wonderland of Mexican food, drink, and culture features churros, tortillas, mole, agua fresca, and so much more created right in front of you.  

For carnivores, visit Butcher’s House Brasserie, where they practice the craft of butchery, with a menu anchored by dry-aged steaks and chops. New this fall is Ospi, modern Italian meets classic, with a twist of Brooklyn counterculture.

Vaca, located in Costa Mesa’s Arts Plaza, is a Michelin recognized tapas restaurant, helmed by Bravo TV’s Top Chef alumus Executive Chef Amar Santana. Try their exceptional Spanish cocktails paired with an atmosphere of California comfort.

#2 – Relax and take in the arts

Broadway? You’ve been there, done that, and you don’t want to fight crowds for a ticket or a cab—but you still love the shows. Segerstrom Center for the Arts brings Broadway shows and beloved musical classics to Costa Mesa, without the price tag, traffic, or hassle of Los Angeles or Manhattan.

SCFTA’s 2024-2025 calendar includes Hadestown, Annie, Hamilton, and Mamma Mia! Arrive early and grab dinner or a cocktail at Silver Trumpet, just steps away from the theatre. Silver Trumpet, inside Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, creates themed cocktails for the Broadway season, like “The Hamilton’s Temptation,” a blend of Templeton’s Rye and blood orange-infused liqueur that harkens to the Caribbean origins of Alexander Hamilton.

Segerstrom Hall has many accessibility features, like opened captions, wheelchair locations, easy access to elevators, ASL interpreters, and audio description. You can request a large print program or binoculars.

Visit the Samueli Theater for intimate conversations or small-format jazz or cabaret. This fall, Tony Kushner, Pulitzer and Emmy-winning playwright and creator of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes takes the stage with Frank Rich, television producer of Succession and Veep. The conversation between Kushner and Rich is once in a lifetime and one of kind, a dream evening for purveyors and patrons of art, drama, and great conversation. 

Click here to check for available tickets. 

#3 – You can drive, but you don’t have to

Vacation should be for relaxing and exploring, not hopscotching your way through Southern California’s endless circuit of freeways.

Costa Mesa is located just a few miles away from John Wayne Airport, and it’s easy to pick up a rental car at the airport or schedule a shuttle from one of Costa Mesa’s many excellent hotels.

Skip the chaos and confusion of LAX and fly in direct to Orange County. John Wayne Airport offers many non-stop flights from all over the United States. From Atlanta to Newark, or even to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, there’s over 35 non-stop destinations that connect directly with Orange County, and even more seasonal destinations.

Stay near the beach to soak in the sun or stay in the Arts Plaza for shopping and theater. Both are easily walkable. If you prefer to drive, Costa Mesa is the perfect gateway to your SoCal adventure.

#4 – Budget-friendly travel

Can Southern California be budget-friendly? Yes, and you don’t have to sacrifice high quality accommodations to stay within your travel budget. Costa Mesa has excellent hotels at a range of prices, from select-service and wallet-friendly, to full-service with all the bells and whistles. Staying in Costa Mesa puts you right in the middle of everything Orange County has to offer.

There’s plenty to do and see at no cost. Take in the arts and culture that Costa Mesa is known for at the self-guided Art Walk tour or Isamu Noguchi’s California Scenario. Both are free and can be experienced at your own pace. At Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA), all visitors receive free entry for ten years due to a generous grant. OCMA hosts several exhibits at a time, indoors and well-curated to fill an afternoon without overwhelming a day. Recently, OCMA has welcomed “Yves Saint Laurent: Line and Expression,” an exhibit of original drawings and dresses from the famed fashion designer.

#5 – Or live large with luxury

South Coast Plaza brings luxury to Costa Mesa—as well as spacious parking lots, many spots to sit and rest, and air conditioning. It’s the little things, right?

New to the international shopping destination’s designer roster is a 5,000 sq ft Giorgio Armani boutique and adjacent Armani Caffè, bringing together style and culinary excellence. Don’t shop till you drop. Instead, make a pit stop for cold brew and a pastry to recharge.

Bvlgari is also fusing fashion and food, introducing the first-ever Bvlgari Lounge in North America. It’s described as a chic bar and café with light refreshments. The lounge opened at South Coast Plaza in the summer of 2024.

The CEO of Bvlgari North America, Herve Perrot, reflected on the new boutique: “I think there is a Bvlgari before and a Bvlgari after South Coast Plaza. “You will see that when you visit the store. This is quite impressive.”

If you’re a fan of the classics, Gucci has a recently remodeled, two-story footprint with exclusives available only at South Coast Plaza.  

South Coast Plaza has multiple concierge locations equipped with strollers, wheelchairs, bottled water, and anything else you might need for your Shopcation.

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Whether you’re retired and looking to make the most out of a fixed income or looking to live it up with kids and grandkids, Costa Mesa represents the heart of Southern California, without all the fuss of bigger cities.

Make it an Eatcation®, Artcation, Shopcation, or little-bit-of-everything-Cation. Ready when you are!

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