Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [221]
Take the stairs to Pirate’s Cove, a great waveless beach, which is good for families. Some of the scenes for Gilligan’s Island were shot in the cove. A bit further east on Ocean Blvd, near the intersection with Orchid Ave, is Inspiration Point, where the views of surf, sand and sea are equally impressive. Make sure your camera batteries have juice before you get here.
Corona del Mar’s prize attraction is the Sherman Library & Gardens ( 949-673-2261; www.slgardens.org; 2647 E Coast Hwy; adult/child $3/1, Mon free; gardens 10:30am-4pm daily, library 9am-4:30pm Tue-Thu, sometimes closes for lunch at 1pm). The gardens are manicured, lush and exploding with color. Profuse orchids, a rose garden, a koi pond and even a desert garden are just a few high points. The small, noncirculating research library holds a wealth of historical documents from California, Arizona, Nevada and Baja, as well as paintings by early Californian landscape artists. The California city directories here are a boon to detectives and genealogists; some date to the early 1800s and include a citizen’s name, job, spouse, children and address.
Costa Mesa
If not for South Coast Plaza, a sprawling shopping complex boasting 300 luxury stores, Costa Mesa would likely be considered just another landlocked suburb transected by the I-405. But nearby Newport Beach and Anaheim won’t be kicking sand in the face of Costa Mesa anytime soon, not as long as the mall – properly termed a ‘shopping resort’ – continues to attract 25 million visitors a year and report annual sales approaching $1.5 billion.
But Costa Mesa does have other things going for it beside shopping. Visitors will find Orange County’s cultural heart here. The ambitious Orange County Performing Arts Center draws international performing-arts luminaries and Broadway road shows while the Tony Award–winning South Coast Repertory earns accolades for its commitment to original plays and playwrights.
From the beaches, Costa Mesa is the next city inland from Newport Beach via Hwy 55. To reach South Coast Plaza, take the Del Mar/Fair Dr exit and continue straight along Hwy 55, then turn left on Bristol and follow it to the mall.
INFORMATION
Public Library ( 949-646-8845; www.ocpl.org; 1855 Park Ave; 10am-9pm Mon-Thu, 10am-5pm Fri & Sat, noon-5pm Sun) Free internet access and wi-fi.
Travelex ( 714-751-1203; South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa; 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat, 11:30am-8pm Sun) On the 1st floor near the carousel.
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES
Like any self-respecting SoCal diva, South Coast Plaza ( 800-782-8888; www.southcoastplaza.com, 3333 Bristol St) is getting a facelift for her 40th birthday – too bad it’s costing $155 million dollars. The money will cover a new 300,000 sq ft Bloomingdales, the county’s first H&M and 150,000 sq ft of travertine flooring outside glamorous Jewel Court. The changes seem superfluous when added to the mall’s already stellar statistics: 300 luxury stores, seven department stores, five valet stations and 12,750 parking spaces. First-time visitors should grab a map at one of the four concierge booths. Shops range from tried-and-true (Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor and Gap) to high end (Ferragamo, Armani and Hermes).
The Lab ( 714-966-6660; www.thelab.com; 2930 Bristol St; 10:30am-9pm Mon-Sat; 11am-6pm Sun), an ivy-covered, outdoor ‘Anti-mall,’ is a refreshing alternative to the South Coast Plaza. Indie-minded shoppers can sift through vintage clothing, unique sneakers and trendy duds. In-your-face contemporary art exhibits are displayed in the adjoining ARTery gallery.
Vegans, tree-huggers and rock climbers, lend me your ears. The Camp ( 714-444-4267; www.thecampsite.com, 2937 Bristol St; 10:30am-9pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun) offers one-stop shopping for all your outdoor and natural-living needs. Adventure 16, Cyclewerks, Liburdi’s Scuba and Native Foods are a few of the stores clustered around a cozy outdoor walkway dotted with inspirational quotes.
From South Coast Plaza, follow the Unity Bridge pedestrian walkway over Bristol