Many tourists travel to Orange County, California year round to enjoy the beachside areas in southern California and the beautiful, sunny weather. There are two airports that service the OC and they are LAX, the Los Angeles airport which is a bit of a longer drive or the smaller and closer John Wayne airport that is right in Orange County. When you arrive to Orange County you can use airport transfers or an airport taxi service to get to your hotel that you have decided to stay in from the airport.

There are a lot of things to do and see while visiting the OC. There are some popular attractions that many people enjoy visiting and some are quite historical as well. The Mission San Juan Capistrano is considered the birthplace of the OC and is over 200 years old. It is a monument to how multi-cultural California is and it’s history. Another historical site to see is the Richard Nixon Library and birthplace of the former President of the United States. This is a great place for history and political buffs to see.

There are many other attractions to see while visiting Orange County. A popular one is the Flight deck Air Combat Center which is great for those people that are interested in all things related to aviation. This is a fun attraction for people traveling with kids too. If you prefer boats to planes, then be sure to take one of the several boat charters that go out to see the dolphins and the whales. Depending on the time of the year, you can see quite a few of these beautiful mammals of the ocean in their natural setting.

There are several different places to go visit and one of them is right off the coast of Orange County called Santa Catalina. It is a cluster of channel islands in a row off the coast and is a fun thing to do on a day trip or stay in a cozy hotel over night. Another must see area is the sophisticated and beautiful ocean side town of Newport Beach. It has a lot of fun things to do such a great al fresco dining, yachting, and a lot of great shopping at several upscale boutiques. Newport Beach emulates what the OC is all about, the beach setting and the opulent lifestyles of the wealthy who live here.

Beaches are what really define Orange County and these areas have become better known to those that enjoyed the TV show The OC or the reality show called Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach does not have extensive beach areas due to the large cliffs that offer unbelievable views for the homeowners in their multi-million dollar homes. One beach that does offer extensive large beaches is the town of Huntington Beach, California. This also has a great city park system connected to it offering a lot of great outdoor activities for the more active visitors such as equestrian areas, golf, tennis, a marina and a wildlife preserve.

Orange County, California, was once a quiet community just south of Los Angeles. Thanks to Disneyland and other family destinations, Orange County is now a hotbed for vacationers. Like any tourist destination, the prices have risen along with the number of attractions, but it’s definitely possible to fund an Orange County vacation without breaking the bank.

Before you get started planning your vacation, it’s best to set a budget. This way you know exactly how much you have to spend, and how much you need to save in order to go on vacation. When you have a budget, it becomes easy to make choices on where you should save and where you should pay full price. For example, if you can save money by driving to Orange County, rather than flying, it will allow you spend more on accommodations or vice versa.

One of those important choices is which amusement park you are going to visit, and how much money you plan to spend at each. With Disneyland, California Adventure, LegoLand, Magic Mountain, Knottsberry Farm and several other smaller parks within driving distance, trying to hit them all will cost you a lot of time and energy. It’s best to choose one or two. That way you can really enjoy each park and not stretch your budget too far. Some parks even offer 2-for-1 deals, such as Disneyland and California Adventure, which allow you to visit two parks for one price.

Check for discount tickets for tours and attractions before you go. You may be surprised at the discounts available for savvy travelers who check around for prices online ahead of time. You may also consider purchasing an Entertainment coupon book for the zip code you plan to visit. That will save you on dining, and it may save you on lodging and attractions as well. If you belong to AAA or other groups, check the group’s website before you go to see if showing your card will save you money on attractions.

If your vacation time is flexible, consider traveling in the fall or the early spring. Crowds tend to be thinner during these times of year, and the weather is still nice enough that you’ll enjoy your stay. The prices drop around these times of year as well, so you’ll pay less than you would if your visit were during peak times. The large travel sites may, throughout the year, offer various coupon codes for their more popular destinations, such as Orange County, so get on the email list of your favorite sites so you can monitor any new deals.

There are a wide variety of hotels and motels surrounding the major Orange County attractions. You can stay at a smaller motel with fewer “frills” and be within the same traveling distance as you would if you stayed at a high priced hotel. If you plan early and travel in the off-season, staying at the Disneyland Hotel is very reasonable. You’ll also save money on travel because there are free tram services to and from the park.

Balance your visit to an amusement park with some free activities, such as visiting the beach or strolling down some of Orange County’s beautiful parks and natural areas. Since the weather is pleasant during most of the year, take advantage of simply being outdoors and taking in some nature during your visit. The beach and mountains are within driving distance of most Orange County towns and Southern California boasts some of the country’s most gorgeous national parks.