Travel Costa Mesa Blog
Create Your Escape in Costa Mesa
Ready to get away, but don’t want to go far from home? Costa Mesa is located 35 miles south of Los Angeles, in the heart of Orange County. With plenty of options open, you’ll find something no matter what type of traveler you are. Make it a weekend getaway with one of our “Create Your Escape” hotel deals.
Go to the Park
With 30 parks of all sizes, Costa Mesa has plenty of outdoor space to enjoy. Fairview Park has trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. There are also open spaces for flying kites or playing frisbee. Nearby Talbert Regional Park offers 9 trails, a BMX area and a pond. You can follow along the Santa Ana River Bicycle Trail straight to the beach. If you want a more relaxing atmosphere, head to TeWinkle Park. The lake and waterfall make a perfect backdrop for a picnic, an afternoon reading or some yoga. If you’re traveling with a pup, TeWinkle is also home to Costa Mesa Bark Park for some off leash fun.
Take a Day Trip to the Beach
Take a short drive to one of our nearest beaches to soak up the Southern California sun. Known as Surf City USA®, Huntington Beach is popular for surfing, volleyball or just enjoying the view. It also has one of Southern California’s only dog beaches. World-famous Newport Beach is home to The Wedge, an area where waves can reach up to 30 feet. You can spend the day surfing, sunbathing or even snorkeling. Both Huntington Beach and Newport Beach have fire pits for bonfires, concessions and more.
Please note: Beaches are closed 4th of July weekend.
See the Arts
Costa Mesa is the City of the Arts™ and you’ll find plenty of art around the city. Take a stroll around Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory and South Coast Plaza on the Costa Mesa Art Walk. You’ll discover more than 20 sculptures, including California Scenario by the acclaimed sculptor Isamu Noguchi. You’ll find art throughout the city too. Even our utility boxes celebrate art. Be sure to snap a selfie in front of one of Costa Mesa’s many murals. If you’re on Instagram, be sure to tag us for a chance to be featured on #MuralMonday.
Enjoy a Little Shopping
A trip to Costa Mesa wouldn’t be complete without a stop at South Coast Plaza. It’s one of the largest shopping destinations on the west coast, with 250 boutiques and 30 restaurants. From designers, like Dior and Gucci, to department stores, like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, South Coast Plaza is a shopper’s dream. There are even two Sephora locations! Find out about their new health and safety procedures here.
Looking to shop small? We have options for you too. Visit The LAB Anti-Mall, which celebrates the “little American business,” with independent retailers and restaurants. Across the street you’ll find The CAMP, an eco-friendly retail space with lots of food options.
Eat Award-Winning Food
Stop in TERRACE by Mix Mix at South Coast Plaza for a delicious lunch on a lush patio where you’ll feel you’ve escaped into your personal oasis. Acclaimed chef Ross Pangilinan has crafted a menu of shared and small plates so you can try his popular Pork Cheek Adobo and Albacore Tostado, as well as a variety of pizzas, meats and cheeses. Grab Top Chef winner Richard Blais’ Southern California-style fried chicken on your way to the park or beach at The Crack Shack. Fellow Top Chef alum Amar Santana has two Costa Mesa restaurants, Vaca and The Hall: Global Eatery. You can also get food takeout at chef Carlos Salgado’s Michelin-star Taco María. Find our full list of open Costa Mesa restaurants here.
Want more suggestions? We’ve created itineraries for solo, couple, family and pet-friendly travel. No matter what you choose to do during your visit, be sure to follow California state guidelines and wear a mask, practice social distancing and frequently wash your hands. For more information on how Costa Mesa is doing our part to keep you healthy, visit our hotel safety and cleanliness procedures page.
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Posted in Food, Hotels, Misc, Music & Art, Shopping
How to DIY De-Stress
Is the second month of staying at home getting you down? We’re working from home, we’ve binged Tiger King and baked all the bread. We don’t know about you, but our minds and bodies could use a little break. We’ve gathered together some ideas for how to stay healthy and stay sane while staying at home. This is a cannabis-infused, liquid tincture. It’s made with 100% natural and organic ingredients that will put your mind at ease for days. Buy now online and get free shipping: https://synchronicityhempoil.com/product-collections/hemp-tincture-500mg/.
Try Meditation
If you feel like things are monotonous, it may be time to try something calming for the mind. The app Headspace is offering free “Weathering the Storm” meditations and exercises that are as short as 1-10 minutes. Titles like “Stressed,” “Walking at Home” and “Focus” are perfect for coping with quarantine. They’ve even added a special section for New Yorkers. Headspace also has a 7 day trial for their non-Covid related meditations and exercises.
Get Exercise
We’ve all been visiting the kitchen more frequently these days. We’re also working, and pretty much everything else, from home. Gyms are closed, but even getting outside for a walk (with a mask) can help you de-stress. You can also find a local fitness studio on social media to see if they’re posting classes online. LXR Yoga, in Costa Mesa, has a YouTube channel with free yoga and meditation classes. Trim Fitness Studio, at The CAMP, started Trim at Home, 45 minute Lagree-inspired Zoom classes.
Find a way to move, even for a few minutes, to keep the stir crazy at bay, you could also try with vitamins, minerals, we suggest you to give it a try to the Rootine products.
Have Fun
Doing everything from home often means lines get blurred. You might be working longer hours, spending the day in your pajamas (no judgement) or filling multiple roles in your household. We recommend finding something that’s fun for you and schedule it into your calendar. Spending 20 or 30 minutes doing something fun for yourself can actually help you be more productive in other areas of your stay-at-home life. Adult coloring books, crafts, cooking or baking are just some options. Local Fare, here in Costa Mesa, has a section on their website devoted to activities that help you unplug. Visit some of your local gift shops online to see if they have activities that interest you.
Treat Yourself
The uncertainty of COVID-19 is stressful. If you’re dealing with anxiety or even stress, vaping aqua vape vape juice helps in relaxing the tension from your mind. We also encourage you to take time out of your busy schedule to take care of yourself. A short walk, a fun game, a mini-spa treatment, or an online shopping spree at stores like Altitude Sports can help make all the difference in your day. If possible, we recommend shopping local because helping the community also makes us feel better. Stay safe, stay well and let us know what you’re doing by tagging us on social media: @travelcostamesa.
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Travel Costa Mesa From Home
Getting restless indoors? We get it. We also know that we all need to do our part to flatten the curve and #CrushCovid. We were recently inspired by an Australian couple who decided not to let their cancelled cruise stop their vacation, so they recreated it at home. They wore sunglasses and comfy robes while enjoying their “view” from their living room.
Since you can’t come visit us right now, we’re bringing Costa Mesa to you. Use our tips to create your escape.
Set the scene
Miss going to The LAB and The CAMP? Wish you could take a walk through Fairview Park? Head over to our Costa Mesa Virtual Vacation page to experience 360º views of 15 hot spots in the city. Take a tour and choose your perfect backdrop. Add ambience by grabbing some Southern California gear, like sunglasses and flip flops. You’ll be enjoying the sun in no time.
Experience the arts
A trip to the City of the Arts®, even a virtual one, isn’t complete without the arts. Watch the talented musicians of the Pacific Symphony play from home on the Quarantine Clips playlist. The Philharmonic Society of Orange County also has a resource list of daily live stream concerts and video clips.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is sharing their favorite performances and resources on social media. South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers started a series on YouTube called “At Home with Ivers.” Watch the latest episode where he interviews actress/writer Amy Brenneman about her play coming this fall to SCR.
Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) just launched their OCMA Expand virtual experience. Each week you’ll find ways to listen, learn, watch and relax with new content. There are also live programs on Thursday evenings.
Add some creativity to your day with “Chuck Jones on Your Phones” from the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. They’re posting free projects and classes, whether you’re staying home with kids, pets or yourself.
Enjoy the food
You might not be able to dine in your favorite restaurant, but you can watch our Chef Spotlight series. See why Costa Mesa is becoming a foodie destination, as chefs make their signature dishes. If you’re in the area, you can bring the taste of Costa Mesa home with restaurant pickup or delivery. View our Costa Mesa Business Updates page to see which restaurants are available for pickup and delivery.
Don’t forget self care
Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, so make sure to take some time for self care. Trim Fitness Studio is offering daily Instagram live Lagree fitness classes. Subscribe to LXR Yoga YouTube channel for their daily yoga and meditation classes, which range from a few minutes to an hour-and-a-half. Follow Align Costa Mesa on Instagram and play Self Care Bingo.
There are many ways to take a vacation while staying home and helping fight COVID-19. How are you spending your time? We’ll continue to share ideas on social media.
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