Get in Touch With Mother Nature at the Santiago Creek Wildlife & Watershed Center

If you’re looking for a way to explore Santa Ana’s natural areas this weekend, Santiago Creek Wildlife & Watershed Center is a great place to visit. This diverse facility contains activities that are fun for the whole family and visitors of all ages, from the youngest children to adults looking for some relaxing fun in the sun.

Take a walk, ride your bike, or go for a jog along the numerous nature trails, which wind through the park’s scenic natural areas filled with lots of greenery. You're likely to see a diverse assortment of native birds, squirrels, butterflies, and other creatures along your route. Venture over to the archery range and learn to handle a bow and arrow on a course filled with targets, and then bring the kids to for a run down the long sliding boards along the hillside.

The Santiago Park also offers lawn bowling, which is a fun way to take your favorite activity outdoors!

Santiago Creek Wildlife & Watershed Center
510 E Memory Lane
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 647-6904
www.yelp.com/biz/santiago-creek-wildlife-and-watershed-center-santiago-park-nature-santa-ana

Cappuccino, Latte or Cortado? Find Your Go-To Drink at Hopper & Burr

If you’re looking for a great go-to coffee shop in Santa Ana, Hopper & Burr is just that place. This modern cafe is run by a team of fellow coffee lovers just like yourself, and it offers a pared-down menu of espresso classics perfect without all the bells and whistles. The result is a perfect cup of joe with every visit, whether you prefer a light, frothy cappuccino or a strong espresso to start the day of right. The skilled baristas deliver the perfect pour every time, and they also make a great avocado toast to go along with it!

The space itself is fresh and stylish, with French-style cafe tables lining the light-filled room and a vintage-inspired espresso bar with green plants surrounding it. Bring your laptop, a good book, or a longtime friend and spend a few hours some of the best coffee in town.

Hopper & Burr
300 N Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 265-7640
www.hopperandburr.com

The Reptile Zoo: 10,000 Square Feet of Snakes, Lizards and Tortoises

Located in Fountain Valley, The Reptile Zoo offers curious animal lovers an up-close-and-personal look at some of the world’s creepiest (and even most dangerous) reptiles. Hailing from all over the globe, more than 100 species of reptiles, arachnids, and amphibians have a home here, housed in glass displays throughout The Reptile Zoo's 10,000-square-foot facility.

Visitors can get hands-on with snakes, lizards, and turtles with the help of one of the Reptile Zoo’s knowledgeable employees. There is a small gift shop inside for those who want to take home a piece of reptile memorabilia, and you can even host a private birthday party or other celebration in one of the zoo’s catered party rooms.

Admission to The Reptile Zoo costs just $5 for children and $10 for adults.

The Reptile Zoo
18822 Brookhurst Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 500-0591
www.TheReptileZoo.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-reptile-zoo-fountain-valley

Explore the Natural World at the Discovery Cube Orange County

Science lovers in Santa Ana love Discovery Cube Orange County for its wide variety of hands-on exhibits that make learning lots of fun. While this bright, modern museum is great for children and families, it’s so interesting that there is something for people of all ages.

Start your visit with a trip to the Rocket Lab, where you’ll experience blast-off from a Boeing RS-68 rocket ship and even launch your own rockets in the Fuel Station. Next, head over to the Planetary Research Station, which enables you to view the Earth’s weather patterns on a suspended, animated globe model. The Dino Quest exhibit will make you feel like a real paleontologist as you dig for dinosaur bones, while the helicopter tour offers a view from the above of the nearby Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. After you’ve toured all of the exciting exhibits, unwind with a short feature movie at Discovery Cube’s 4D movie theater.

Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 N Main St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 542-2823
www.discoverycube.org/oc

Yost Theater: Plan a Night of Old-Fashioned Glamour

The Yost Theater is a historic music venue in the Santa Ana area that hosts a wide variety of performances spanning many different genres. Whether you’re in the mood to see live music, dance to music from a DJ, or even watch a burlesque show, you’ll find it at this local hotspot. The Yost is considered the oldest theater in Orange County, and it still contains the same glamorous, retro charm that it’s had since its opening in 1912. Today, there are many nationally touring bands and tribute performances held on the theater’s main stage, while on the weekends, club nights with popular area DJs turn the entire venue into a pulsating dance floor.

Aside from its musical performances, the Yost also hosts fashion shows, dance performances, and burlesque shows that promise a night of wild entertainment. There is even a gourmet restaurant inside of the theater that serves up delicious meals and beverages to go along with the show.

Yost Theater
307 N Spurgeon St
Santa Ana CA 92701
(888) 862-9573
www.yosttheater.com

River View Golf Course: Set a Tee Time With Your Golf Buddies

If you’re a golf fan in the Santa Ana area, River View Golf Course is one of the best places in town set a tee time. This scenic course is well equipped with all of the essential golf facilities, including an 18-hole, 6,190-yard course that is well maintained. The matching 18-hole putting course is the largest in the area, and there is even a driving range if you want to practice your swing before playing.

If you’re looking for a place to stock up on golf supplies, the well-stocked pro shop contains equipment, appare,l and gifts for golf lovers from all of the top brands. Once you finish a day out on the course, stop in to the on-site Niblick Bar and Grill from a filling breakfast, a casual, affordable lunch, or an icy-cold beer out on the sunny patio.

River View Golf Course
1800 W Santa Clara Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92706
(714) 543-1115
www.riverviewgolf.com

Olis Bakery: Mexican Fare That Sates a Sweet Tooth

If your Mexican food of choice is usually tacos or burritos, you just might change your mind after visiting the family-owned Olis Bakery. This cozy bakery specializes in south-of-the-border baked goods like flan and Mexican bread, as well as savory tamales for lunch in your choice of cheese, pork, or chicken. If you stop by in the morning, you can pick up a breakfast sandwich and a freshly baked muffin, as well as hot coffee to go along with them.

Conchas and pan dulce (a customer favorite) are prepared fresh on site, but where the bakery really shines is in its gorgeous custom wedding cakes. The friendly staff will work with you to decide on the perfect theme, and the bakery's affordable prices will help keep you right on your wedding budget.

Olis Bakery
204 E. Warner Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92707
(714) 546-6962
www.olisbakery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/olis-bakery-santa-ana

The Outlets at Orange: A Colorful Shopping Experience

Savvy shoppers know that great bargains can be found at outlet malls, and The Outlets at Orange is one of the most popular outlet centers in the Santa Ana area. This sunny outdoor shopping mall features tall palm trees lining the spacious walkways, a variety of different restaurants, and all of your favorite mall stores in one area.

You’ll find great deals on shoes at the Nike outlet and the Vans store, while style mavens can spend hours browsing the great deals at Nordstrom Rack and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th. Clothing retailers like Old Navy, Banana Republic, and American Eagle offer options for shoppers of all ages, and there are even cell phone stores and drugstores if you need to run some errands. Stop by for lunch, enjoy a game of bowling, or even catch a movie at this all-encompassing shopping and entertainment plaza in Santa Ana.

The Outlets at Orange
20 City Boulevard West
Orange, CA 92868
(714) 769-4000
www.theoutletsatorange.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-outlets-at-orange-orange

Bowers Museum: A ‘Local Treasure’ in Santa Ana

“A local treasure.” That’s what locals say about Bowers Museum, which is dedicated to arts and cultures from around the world. The museum, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, hosts permanent collections of artwork from Native America and Latin America, the Pacific Islands, Asia, and Africa. The museum also features a collection of historical artifacts from around Orange County. Visiting collections come through often, as well.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. General adult weekday admission is $13, and weekend admission is $15. Children under 12 are admitted free. Bowers Museum is also known to host after-hours events and special educational events for all age groups regularly, so check the website’s calendar for upcoming events.

Bowers Museum
2002 N .Main Street
Santa Anna, CA 92706
714-567-3600
bowers.org
yelp.com/biz/bowers-museum-santa-ana

Cost Plus World Market: A Globally-Inspired Shopping Experience

Upon entering the Cost Plus World Market, you’ll be transported to another place, a bustling bazaar brimming with eye-catching items of every color and foods imported from across the continents. World Market got its start in the 1950s after a jet-setting businessman began bringing home his unique finds from distant lands and selling them in his shop.

At the World Market in Santa Ana, you’ll find eclectic and unique decor items to spruce up your home, as well as various European and Asian foods and beverages. A large wine and alcohol selection from around the world is also available. Regular shoppers say that the low prices are hard to beat for such interesting finds.

The Cost Plus World Market location in Santa Ana is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Cost Plus World Market
1313 W. Sunflower Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92704
714-957-6553
www.worldmarket.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cost-plus-world-market-santa-ana

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