It’s that time of the year again! The Orange County Marathon, one of Southern California’s premier races, returns this spring. Now that registration is open, we’re breaking down where to eat and play, and what OC Marathon hotels are your best bet for a successful race weekend.
Costa Mesa offers some of the best OC Marathon hotels for runners and their families thanks to their proximity to the finish line and shuttle services to the course. You can rest easy knowing that your hotel will get you to the race on time Sunday morning! (But, booking must be completed by April 20.)
But first, begin the weekend with the OC Lifestyle and Fitness Expo at the Orange County Fair & Event Center Friday or Saturday. After picking up your bib, head to 17th Street for last-minute carb load dinner at The Country Club or The Crack Shack, or a late breakfast on Saturday at Plums Café, a Costa Mesa favorite for more than 20 years.
Enjoy a relaxing visit to The CAMP, the first known eco-conscious retail campus in the country. Stroll through the unique center, which is filled with health and fitness-centered vendors, or venture across the street to The LAB, which offers distinctive dining, shopping and lounging areas. Just a short drive away is also SOCO and The OC Mix, an outdoor venue where you can find gourmet dining, quick eats and local boutiques to kill the time without killing your energy reserves.
After the race, make up those calories burned at one of Orange County’s best breweries, Barley Forge Brewing Co. or Gunwhale Ales in Costa Mesa! Both welcome a rotating schedule of food trucks, in case you’re in the mood for a victory meal.
If a more structured dining experience is your preference, try one of Costa Mesa’s more than 150 restaurants. With so many options, it’s easy to turn the rest of your stay into an Eatcation™!
Extend your stay in the City of the Arts® to catch a show at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, OC’s performing arts center. Or, if you’re feeling particularly Herculean after race day, several Costa Mesa hotels offer convenient shuttle service to Disneyland® for the family to enjoy a day at the “happiest place on earth” while you’re in town.
Check our calendar of events for more things to do in Costa Mesa over the race weekend!
