Attractions Nearby Santa Ana, Day Trips and Excursions

(Santa Ana, California - CA, USA)

Being located within Southern California means that Santa Ana is within reach of many superb attractions and enticing tourist destinations, lots of which are highly suitable for day trips or perhaps longer weekend excursions.

The southerly California coastline of the Pacific will likely beckon to those craving a combination of sun, sea and sand, and the wealthy town of Newport Beach is amongst the closest of all the nearby beach resorts. Located just 20 minutes away and to the south of Santa Ana, Newport Beach is best reached by simply following the Costa Mesa Freeway (CA-55) for virtually the entire journey, passing by Costa Mesa.

The principal attractions of Newport Beach tend to relate to its coastline, with this beachfront being popular for vacations and day trips since the arrival of the Pacific Electric Railway way back in the year 1905. The Balboa Pier, recreational boating and some superb conditions (between the Santa Ana River and Newport Pier) are all good reasons for an excursion here, along with the Balboa and Lido Isle yacht clubs, the Orange County Museum of Art and the Dory Fish Market. Both Balboa Island and the Corona del Mar State Beach are further highlights.

General Information

Head a little further along the Southern Californian coastline, in an easterly direction, and you will soon arrive at Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and then Long Beach. Reachable in roughly 30 minutes from Santa Ana, the seaside city of Huntington Beach is another popular destination for day trips, thanks to its lengthy sandy beachfront and boardwalk, and its surfing lessons. The Bella Terra shopping mall is a relatively new attraction here and comes with its very own Cinemark movie theater.

Long Beach is just slightly further away from Santa Ana and is ideal for a family excursion, with its principal places of interest including the guided tours of the Queen Mary ocean liner and its Aquarium of the Pacific, which is one of the biggest aquarium attractions in the whole of the USA. The Long Beach Museum of Art will suit those visitors with a cultural inclination.

For many, it is the world-famous city of Los Angeles that warrants an excursion, particularly since this sprawling City of Angels is a mere 30 miles / 48 km away. Known for its movie stars and Hollywood hill sign, Los Angeles comes with enough attractions to easily fill a week or two. Art museums, large parks, theaters, convention centers, sporting events and a diverse shopping scene are all good reasons to pay a visit to LA, as are the fun 'Movie Star Homes' mini-bus tours.

Anaheim is even closer to Santa Ana, being some 20 minutes to the north-northwest and highly suitable for families, since this is the original home of Disneyland.