Advice needed - visiting So-Cal

Hey all,

I'm going to be visiting Irvine, CA in 2 weeks for work. I'm not going to have much time to myself to really get out and explore but I'm hoping for some suggestions on places to eat/drink and see.

I'm flying in to John Wayne airport and stay close by. I will have a rental car so getting around won't be difficult. I arrive late afternoon on a Tuesday, will be working Wednesday - Friday and then flying back Saturday night so I do have almost all day Saturday to do stuff plus the evenings I'm hoping.

For food, I'll need a place that serves vegetarian/vegan which I'm assuming won't be hard in California. I'm a big craft beer fan and would love to try some local brews.

From what I can tell, it's a pretty suburban area and I'm not going to have too much time to get up to LA but is there anything in the area that's a "must see"?

Also, if anyone has any running routes in the area that can recommend that would be great as well!

Thanks in advance!

 

You'll be in Orange County so stay there and don't bother with LA as OC has plenty of what you want. I don't go up to that area but I'm sure you will get some helpful answers.

 

Santa Anita racetrack

 

The Irvine Improv gets some good comedians. Friday 2/10, if you are there then, Craig Shoemaker is there and he is great.

 

Been there for work and my advice is get out as soon as possible..

 

Do an evening in Laguna Beach and maybe Huntington. Lotsa great trails in Crystal Cove and Laguna Wilderness parks, and Irvine itself has its open space preserve, plus there's the Upper Newport Bay Preserve.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses so far!

 

The Anaheim Packinghouse is a great place to eat. It's a large food hall with a variety of food vendors/bars.

 

For brews, hit the Yardhouse in the Triangle. For a real taste of SoCal, go across the street to Goat Hill Tavern.

 

Well there goes 2 nights! Thanks! I have a feeling I'll have to plan on Goat Hill towards the end of the trip....

 

The swallows won't be around for another month but I liked wandering around San Juan Capistrano and the beaches at Dana point are pretty nice as well.