With miles of uninterrupted coastline and a year-round Mediterranean climate to enjoy, life in sun-kissed Orange County is best experienced outdoors. Here are some golden off-agenda options for groups looking to soak up the quintessential Southern California lifestyle.
Yachting is a way of life in storied Newport Beach. Now in its fourth decade, Hornblower Cruises & Events is a premier option for cruising Newport Beach's waters in style. Along with popular specialized cruise programs that include Sunday Champagne Brunch, Weekend Dinner Dance and Summer Sunset, private yacht charters are available for meetings, corporate events, celebrations and social gatherings.
Opened in early 2013, the Anaheim Convention Center's Grand Plaza offers planners a highly versatile option for all kinds of large-scale outdoor gatherings. The National Association of Music Merchants (January 2014) and ConferenceDirect (March 2014) are among the groups that have utilized the 100,000-square-foot plaza for lively gatherings featuring live music, food trucks and more.
Recently launched by the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau, Grand PlazaVille is a new online planning tool that allows meeting planners to seamlessly visualize their event in the Grand Plaza.
In Huntington Beach, groups can also party outdoors with private events on 5th Street, just steps from the city's iconic pier. For a true taste of the "Surf City USA" lifestyle, groups can take to the waves with instruction from local operators such as Banzai Surf School and surfing legend Corky Carroll's eponymous Surf School.
Southern California has the highest concentration of blue whales and dolphins on Earth, and the waters off Dana Point, also favored by gray whales, are a prime viewing area. For close encounters with these celebrated creatures, groups can book tours and private charters with renowned ecotourism company Captain Dave's Dolphin & Whale Safari.
