After attending the Tech Field Day Exclusive with HPE Storage at the Nth Symposium, I ended up with two days in the Anaheim area with no car, but I desire to explore.
Orange | Santa Ana | Laguna Beach
Orange, CA
There’s not a lot to do in this part of Orange, CA. Prior to leaving Maryland, I booked a reservation at the Awaken Float Lounge. In the same shopping center, there was also a deli for lunch and a park beside the shopping center. A picnic table became a #writingspot and a place to watch some pretty chill ass geese.
While I would have loved to get coffee from the Starbucks across the street, it wasn’t worth the risk of crossing the road. There wasn’t a lot for someone to see or do on foot. The Awaken Float Lounge, though, left me feeling pretty zen and was totally worth the trip.
| Lyft: | From Hotel $15 |
| Revisit Likelihood: | Yes |
| Places Visited: | Awaken Float Lounge, OC Wine Mart and Deli; Eisenhower Park and Lake |
Santa Ana
From Orange to Santa Ana. In a quest for a walkable town, I picked Santa Ana off a map. I walked down 4th street with its many jewelry stores. The area kind of seemed like it was in a gentrification transition. Eventually, I ended up at a coffee shop that had just closed. A local (also wanting coffee) recommended the Gypsy Den to me in Artist’s Village. Artist’s Village had a few shops and restaurants. The Den Cafe was a visually interesting #writingspot with good food and great ambiance. It was strangely empty. If I lived in Santa Ana, I would be here all of the time.
| Lyft: | From Orange: $18; Back to Hotel: $11 |
| Revisit Likelihood: | Yes, but only for the Den Cafe. |
| Places Visited: | Grand Central Art Center; Den Cafe |
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, the highlight of my Anaheim detours, is stunning and walkable. While cute shops line Coast Highway, its main street area is Forest Avenue. I spent most of my time walking Coast Highway and its cornucopia of art galleries.
| Lyft: | From hotel to Laguna $37; Laguna to hotel: $38 |
| Revisit Likelihood: | Yes |
| Places Visited: | Laguna Books, The Grill |