The adult O.C.

By Karen Ashbee

MTV may have made California's Orange County famous as a playground for the young and the restless, but here’s a guide to grown-up good times in the O.C.

What to do

Start with a power walk along one of the numerous beaches. Lookout Point in Corona del Mar offers a fabulous view of the rugged coastline ­– not to mention Balboa Island’s million-dollar waterfront properties, which Dennis Rodman, Kobe Bryant and Dean Kuntz call home. If you crave a closer look, rent an electric boat from Duffy Electric Boat Rentals and cruise the harbour.

Further down the coast on Crystal Cove Beach, The Beachcomber Café (accessible only by trolley) is a refurbished historic cottage with wooden floors and a rustic, casual vibe. Worth a visit not just for the views but for the fries.

Lookout Point, Ocean Blvd. between Goldenrod and Helitrope, Corona del Mar
Duffy Electric Boat Rentals, 2001 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949-645-6812
The Beachcomber Café, 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, 949-376-6900

What to see

Check out the dozens of art galleries in Laguna, all within walking distance of one another. (Try the studios of abstract artist Ron Burkhardt, plein-air painter Cynthia Britain and figurative painter Robert Story.) On the first Thursday evening of every month, member galleries organize an Art Walk, an evening tour of new works, including lectures, student exhibitions and wine and cheese.

Or simply rent a convertible (make it a Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 coupe to look the part), and cruise the Pacific Coast Highway. The numerous antique shops in Corona are worth a stop. Not to be missed is Veldhuis Interior Design, a treasure trove of antiques.

Burkhardt Studios, 3275 Laguna Canyon Rd., Suite N2, Laguna Beach, 949-500-5100 (by appointment only)
Britain Gallery, 3251 Laguna Canyon Rd., A-4, Laguna Beach, 949-494-8698
Robert Story Gallery, 3251 Laguna Canyon Rd., Studio A-2, Laguna Beach, 949-510-6311
First Thursdays Art Walk, Laguna, 949-683-6871
Veldhuis Interior Design, 2737 East Coast Highway, 949-723-9330

sage on the coast

Where to eat

For dinner, the Tabu Grill is a must. With tiki-chic decor, this 32-seat space serves up some of the best grilled Mexican scallops in town. Sage on the Coast, a happening restaurant/bar, is packed every night with the chic and soigné. Given the white walls and stripped-down interiors, you’d almost think you were in New York at the MoMA's The Modern, but the year-round outdoor patio and palm trees are a sure sign that you’re in sunny California.

Since most restaurants in the O.C. allow corkage, the 24,000-square-foot Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa is an oenophile’s dream come true. The serious wine lover might head straight for the extensive collection of Italian wines, like La Spinetta Barbera or Pin La Spinetta. For a dependable Cali, try the Napa Valley Schramsberg, a champagne-style wine.

For a cocktail, brave the packed bar scene at Mastro’s Ocean Club. Less than a year old and located in the same plaza as Sage, it's where the who's who of the O.C. hang out. Little-known fact: Patrons’ cars are parked by model.

Tabu Grill, 2892 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949-494-7743
Sage on the Coast, 7862 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949-715-7243
Hi-Time Wine Cellars, 250 Ogle St., Costa Mesa, 949-650-8463
Mastro’s Ocean Club, 8112 East Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949-376-6990

fashion island

Where to shop

If acquisition is what you're after, don’t miss Orange County’s two most popular shopping centres: South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island. Top international retailers, such as Gucci, Versace and Hermès, all have outposts here. Prefer to shop local? Try anti-mall The Lab, a mix of contemporary and up-and-coming designers. Pick up new and recycled fashions at Buffalo Exchange or a trendy hoodie at Habit.

South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-435-2000
Fashion Island, Pacific Coast Highway and Newport Center Drive, 949-721-2000
The Lab, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-966-6660

Where to Stay

Call it a day at the intimate Hotel La Casa del Camino, with its Mediterranean beach house flavour and mix of Mission and antique furnishings. You'd feel comfortable here in your swim trunks and flip-flops. At Laguna’s luxurious Craftsman-style Montage Resort, each unit has its own private ocean-view balcony. Just steps from the beach, both offer spectacular accommodations as well as premier vantage spots for watching the sun set on another perfect California day.

Hotel La Casa del Camino, 1289 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949-497-2446
The Montage Resort, 30801 South Coast Highway, 949-715-6000

(Calgary-based freelance writer Karen Ashbee jumped at the chance to seek out life in the O.C. She wrote about her Alberta ranching holiday in the August issue.)

Getting There

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