Santa Ana Zoo: “Home of the 50 Monkeys”

For an attractive admission price, the Santa Ana Zoo opens up the worlds of Africa and India through their variety of resident animals. The Santa Ana Zoo is known as home to 50 monkeys, at the request of their founder in 1952. Now spanning 20 acres in a spot not too far away from Coventry Court Apartments, the zoo is also home to exotic creatures housed in plush recreations of their natural climates. Favorite exhibits include Tierra de las Pampas, featuring native South American animals in their natural grassland environment, and Amazon’s Edge, a waterfall habitat for howler monkeys and various birds. Exhibits stress education in addition to conservation, with a number of endangered monkeys calling the Santa Ana Zoo home. The zoo also offers a number of additional educational programs for visitors and school groups. Adults and families can get up-close education by traveling on a Wild Safari through the zoo.

Santa Ana Zoo
1801 E. Chestnut Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 835-7484

The Road Less Traveled: Home Decor and Stationery for the Environmentalist

With its literary name and adorable selection of environmentally friendly products, The Road Less Traveled is a natural living center for bookworms and thinkers. The owners of this adorable home decor and stationery shop also host DIY workshops and the annual Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival.

All of the products at The Road Less Traveled are natural, handmade or eco-friendly, from the scented candles to the colorful tea towels. Clothing items are crafted from natural fibers, and there are even purses made of soda tabs and other salvaged items. The store itself is open and filled with natural light, and it’s decorated with colorful, whimsical displays that are sure to inspire. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift, the shop also sells art made by local artisans that will make a long-lasting impact on your friend, sister, or special someone.

The Road Less Traveled is open noon to 7 p.m. most days and until 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Sundays. The shop is closed on Mondays.

The Road Less Traveled
125 N Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 836-8727
www.roadlesstraveledstore.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-road-less-traveled-santa-ana

Picture Show at Main Place: One Dollar Tuesdays

The Picture Show at Main Place might be the O.C.'s best bargain for movies. Prices here are low, both for admission and concessions. For just a dollar on Tuesday nights you can see a film, for less than it would cost to rent. You can also enjoy the concessions stand where many tasty treats are well under the expected chain theater pricing. For under five dollars one can purchase a variety of snacks and drinks at a price that would be unheard of in most theaters. Seeing a film on the big screen is a vastly different experience and the Picture Show offers customers this wonderful experience at any budget. This is a great place for a date night, or perhaps to take the kids on a Saturday afternoon.

Picture Show at Main Place
2800 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 836-7469
http://www.pictureshowent.com/locations/santa-location
http://www.yelp.com/biz/picture-show-at-mainplace-santa-ana

Trail’s End Cycling Center: Biker’s Delight

Open Mondays through Fridays, Trail’s End Cycling Center is there for you whether you need to buy a new bike, have your current bike repaired, or stock up on cycling accessories. If you’re looking for some wheels, the center features an impressive and extensive showroom of road and mountain bikes along with cruisers from trusted brands like Scott, Jamis, and Cyfac. They also offer bike fittings for a personalized touch that assures comfort. Run by a knowledgeable owner and staff, biking buffs can entrust their darling bikes in Trail’s End’s hands. The website lists the prices of various services from basic tune-ups and brake adjustment to replacing cables and installing shifters. The staff knows how to handle bikes of many varieties — even vintage — and the store stocks basic parts. Call in advance to schedule a servicing appointment to guarantee a quick turnaround.

Trail’s End Cycling Center
1920 E. Warner Avenue
Suite 3C
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(949) 863-1982

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art: Life is Art

Creative types will likely love the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, a place where imaginations are free to run wild. Known for the nice, big space and many awesome exhibits, the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art is worth visiting again and again. Supporting local artists is very important, and the Orange County Center is dedicated to fostering the local art community and garnering interest of art in general, perhaps even for those who would normally not be interested in such lofty pursuits. Current, recent, and upcoming exhibitions include a celebration of found items rendered art by creative minds, a look into graphic noir, and art that engages your subconscious through mysticism and humor. No matter what you end up seeing something is sure to thrill you at this space, an ode to contemporary art and the limitless power of the imagination. Come for one of the many great events, or simply to peruse the collection.

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
117 N. Sycamore Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 667-1517
http://www.occca.org/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/orange-county-center-for-contemporary-art-santa-ana

The Dinner Detective: Dining Intrigue in Santa Ana

Looking for some suspense and intrigue to spice up your evening? Look no further than The Dinner Detective, an interactive theater experience that will leave you asking ‘whodunit?’ The food served at The Dinner Detective is a step up from your standard banquet fare. The performances are top-notch as well. Expect lots of laughs, quips, and improvisations. The actors involve the diners frequently during performances, usually with hilarious results. At the end of the show a prize is awarded to the audience super sleuth, but even if you fail to crack the case you’ll still have a great time eating, drinking, and laughing the night away. The performers here are all consummate professionals and are dedicated to putting on a great show every night. Assemble a group of friends, or perhaps bring along a fun loving date and watch the suspense and hilarity unfold right in front of your eyes at this Santa Ana spot.

The Dinner Detective
The Embassy Suites Hotel
1325 E. Dyer Road
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(866) 496-0535
http://www.thedinnerdetective.com/sites/orange-county/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-dinner-detective-santa-ana

The Crosby: Always Something Different

Both vegetarians and meat lovers will find something to rave about at The Crosby. This innovative eatery features gourmet menu items suited to every taste. In addition to stellar food, The Crobsy’s excellent bartenders mix up a mean drink, both classic cocktails and new concoctions that are sure to leave you impressed. There is always something new cooking at The Crosby thanks to the seasonal menu. Past dishes include wagyu carpaccio, filet of ono in savory soy mirin glaze, as well as swordfish ceviche, quail and hen ragu, and duck jerky served with assorted gourmet cheeses. Appetizers include garlic truffle fries, spinach stuffed mushrooms, lobster queso tacos, and even mac n’ cheese. Of course The Crosby is also a killer nightlife spot, with bands and DJs and lots of drinks to help you dance the night away. All genres of music get some play here, with a little something to appeal to every taste and interest.

The Crosby
400 North Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 543-3543
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-crosby-santa-ana

The OC Pavilion: Not a Bad Seat in the House

The OC Pavilion is Santa Ana’s prime destination for performance. This 500 seat theatre features everything from musicals to comedians to stage shows. The intimate setting is perfect for smaller performances, and allows you to get up close and personal with the performers. Concessions, though limited, are reasonably priced and the theatre is beautifully maintained. Inside this luxurious space you will marvel at the beautiful lights and fixtures,  sweeping arcs and majestic tapestries. VIP and balcony seating is available — please inquire when arranging tickets. No matter where you sit there's not a bad seat in the house! The program is huge and varied. Check the website for more information.

The OC Pavilion
801 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 550-0880
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-oc-pavillion-santa-ana

Discovery Science Center: Plug In and Play Around

If a trip to Disneyland has left you thirsty for a more intellectually stimulating experience, take a day trip from Coventry Court Apartments to Santa Ana's Discovery Science Center and recharge your mental batteries in this top-notch facility. Opened in 1998, this is one of the largest science museums on the West Coast, with over a hundred amazing hands-on exhibits to entertain and educate. A massive ten-story solar array cube provides power for the structure in an environmentally responsible way while also providing a striking local landmark. Once inside, kids will flock to the cloud ring generator, rock climbing wall, hurricane tube, and other awesome nature-related exhibits on the first floor. Upstairs there’s a tremendous assortment of construction toys and tools to let kids work out their own ideas. This is a place where it’s very easy to blink and find a day’s gone by, so set aside lots of time for your little ones to explore.

Discovery Science Center
2500 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 542-2823
www.discoverycube.org

Bowers Museum: One of SoCal’s Finest Collections

Santa Ana’s Bowers Museum has been in operation for almost 80 years, upholding its longstanding reputation as one of Southern California’s finest museums. Featuring exquisite art exhibits from all over the world, the museums permanent exhibitions include everything from 5,000-year-old Chinese and early Native American (specifically, early Californian) works to a collection of over 30,000 objects from Orange County's own colorful history. The Bowers Museum also features a variety of rotating exhibits that have covered interesting topics such as Evita: Up Close and Personal and an entire showcase on Egyptian Mummies borrowed from the British Museum. The museum also holds frequent lectures and family festivals, so there's something for every art-inclined family. In 1994, in fact, Bowers opened its “Kidseum,” an arts-and-culture experience in which children’s creativity is encouraged. 

The Bowers Museum is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children (children under 6 can visit for free). It might just be one of the best museums near Coventry Court Apartments.

Bowers Museum
2002 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714) 567-3600
bowers.org

Pin It on Pinterest