3 Places To Go Sightseeing in Laguna Niguel

A large tree overlooking a lake in a green park, much like you'd find at Laguna Niguel Regional Park.

Like the rest of Orange County, there’s always a plethora of things to do around Laguna Niguel. From the bustling food scene to spending a relaxing day in the coastal climate at the country club, there’s a little something for everybody. One thing that no one should pass up on, however, is catching some breathtaking views in Laguna Niguel’s beautiful parks. Here are three places to go sightseeing!

Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Watch the sunrays dance off the stunning 44-acre lakefront and center in Laguna Niguel Regional Park. In between appreciating this dazzling sight, you can take advantage of the regularly stocked fishing population. Make sure the whole family has a line to cast!

Picnic shelters and some of the best hiking trails in the region surrounding the lake. Visitors can also enjoy playing horseshoe, exploring the playground, some friendly volleyball and tennis matches, and the community amphitheater. Fond of model gliders? There’s a dedicated area for that too!

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

Dazzling sunsets are a big part of the equation for many landscape chasers, but for others, there’s another important element: wildlife! Visiting spaces full of thriving wildlife is a great reminder of who we share this planet with, and is a great opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park is the perfect place in Laguna Niguel for this. The 45 hundred acres of wilderness stretch further than your eyes can see, layered with mature oaks, sycamores, and elderberry trees. The park is designated as a wildlife sanctuary, and many endangered plants and animals call it home.

Niguel Botanical Preserve

Not all breathtaking sights have to involve strenuous hikes, of course, and the Niguel Botanical Preserve offers some beautiful views on a comfortable stroll. As they put it on their own site, “the purpose of the Niguel Botanical Preserve is to display garden-worthy plants appropriate to the Southern California region, collected from five areas of the world with similar Mediterranean climates.”

There’s an impressive variety of fauna on display, from South Africa to Australia, that can thrive in your own OC backyard! It may not be endless acres of wildlife, but the comfortable path through the Botanical Preserve is a beautiful masterclass in how breathtaking your own garden can be.

These are our favorite places in Laguna Niguel to catch some beautiful sights. Have you visited all of them? Which was your favorite? Let us know!

Want to grab something to eat next? Check out this article on 3 great restaurants in Laguna Niguel.

Not only is Laguna Niguel an amazing place to visit, but it is filled with innovative businesses. If you are a business owner looking for the best bookkeeping and business advisory services available in Orange County, check out My OC Bookkeeper. We help businesses in Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, and all over Orange County reach their potential. Give us a call at 949-345-0639, email us at admin@myocbookkeeper.com, or contact us here.

Take a look at the video below for some more great info on Laguna Niguel.

3 Best Places To Visit In Newport Beach

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Newport Beach is a beautiful beachfront city in Orange County, popular among yachters and surfers alike and famous for incredible whale watching experiences. Whether you’re an ocean lover, a shopping fanatic, or a dedicated foodie, there’s something for everyone here. Here are three places we think everyone should visit while in Newport Beach!

The Beaches … Of course

It’s not just a pretty name! Newport Beach is home to some of the most beautiful beach experiences you’ll ever have, no matter what experience you’re looking for. The Corona Del Mar State Beach is perfect for beachgoers looking for a relaxing soak in the water and in the sun, with calm surf and a long stretch of sand. Not to mention, of course, it’s perfect for dazzling pictures.

If adrenaline is more your speed, The Wedge is the spot for you. With some of the largest waves in SoCal, this beach attracts some of the most skilled surfers to take on Mother Nature. Whether you’re one to get under the waves or you just like to watch safely from the beach, this is a great spot to be. (Want see some great footage of The Wedge? Check out the first video in this post on Orange County’s best beaches.)

As we mentioned, Newport Beach is also a fantastic spot for whale watching. Whales migrate through these waters every year. In winter and in early spring, if you keep your eyes peeled, you might catch a glimpse of some breathtaking gray whales.

A Ferris Wheel on Balboa Island - one of the great things to visit in Newport Beach.
The Ferris Wheel on Balboa island sure looks like a lot of fun.

Balboa Island

One of the gems of the community, Balboa Island is a manmade island connected to the mainland by a bridge. You’ll find plenty of shopping and dining opportunities, full of independently owned shops, restaurants, and boutiques. This is where you’ll find the island’s claim to fame by the same name: the Balboa Bar.

It’s a quaint little concept and a great experience for locals and tourists alike. The ferry costs just a few quarters and is a great opportunity to avoid the traffic and enjoy some more time on the water.

Balboa Fun Zone

There’s something about beach scenes with a Ferris wheel that people can’t seem to get enough of, and Newport Beach is one to deliver. The Balboa Fun Zone is a small amusement park that seems to grow bigger and more popular each and every year. The park is intended for children, but with such beautiful views, anyone is bound to have a great time.

These are some of our favorite options for a great time in Newport Beach, but the list is certainly not exhaustive. Did we miss your favorite spot to visit? Let us know!

Not only is Newport Beach picture-perfect, but it is filled with all manner of exciting businesses. That’s why we love doing business there ourselves. Who are we? We’re My OC Bookkeeper. We provide bookkeeping and business advisory services to companies in Newport Beach and all over Orange County. If you think you might need some help, call us at 949-345-0639, email us at admin@myocbookkeeper.com, or contact us here.

Click on the surfers to learn a bit more about what we do.

4 Best Things To Do in San Juan Capistrano

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Nestled between the big cities of San Diego and Los Angeles, the beautiful community of San Juan Capistrano might easily be overlooked by visitors and nearby locals alike. With so much to offer, however, we certainly don’t think this city should be outshined. Whether you’re visiting Orange County or live right nearby, it’s easy to have a fun-filled, eventful day in San Juan Capistrano. Here are some of our favorite things to do while in town.

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San Juan Capistrano.

Visit the San Juan Capistrano Mission

There are many missions throughout the state of California, but San Juan Capistrano is certainly one of the most popular, and the most striking. Sometimes referred to as the “Birthplace of Orange County,” a visit here will transport you back to colonial times with its preserved historical architecture, detailed exhibits, and award-winning self-guided audio tour.

There’s a reason this mission receives millions of visitors each and every year. If nothing else is, the San Juan Capistrano Mission is the must-visit on this list.

Visit A Museum

Of course, with such a rich colonial history, it’s no surprise that a museum visit or two would make for a great addition to any San Juan Capistrano trip. Especially if history and learning are your ideas of a good time, there are great places in the city to go for a bit of a history lesson.

San Juan Capistrano Historical Society walks you through the community’s past with different documents and artifacts, as well as tours through the Los Rios Historic District. The Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum gives you an in-depth look at the history of San Juan Capistrano.

Try Some Local Beer

Not all culture comes in museums and historical sites, of course. If you’re like us, you love supporting a bit of local artistry as well, especially when that means visiting local breweries. Besides, there’s nothing like a cold beer after walking around in the Orange County sun.

Capistrano Brewing Company is a great spot that serves several local beers, some brewed by them and some by other local brewers. They share a spot with Heritage BBQ, which means your ice-cold brew can be enjoyed alongside some delicious barbeque.

A beer glass being filled, indicative of one of the fun things to do in San Juan Capistrano.
San Juan Capistrano has some great beer!

Enjoy Some Afternoon Tea

Not everyone drinks beer, and that’s okay! If a little afternoon brew isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps you should consider The Tea House. This lovely spot for tea is another great option for sitting down and taking a breather while enjoying some delicious tea, as well as desserts and other treats. As much as we love a good beer, we’re suckers for some high tea as well.

These are our choices for some of the best things to do while in San Juan Capistrano, but there are certainly tons more options to enjoy while visiting. The city is, after all, a hidden gem among the huge Orange County cities. Did we miss your favorite spot or activity? Please let us know!

Want to learn some more cool stuff about Orange County? Check out this great post on the 5 best beaches in the OC, or this one on 5 attractions to see in Mission Viejo.

Orange County is full of entrepreneurs that run businesses of all sizes – check out My OC Bookkeeper if you are interested in bookkeeping or business advisory services. We have years of experience and understand a wide range of industries – including restaurants. Make sure to contact us here.

Before you go, check out an awesome 4th grader’s video report on the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. At My OC Bookkeeper we plan to hire her as soon as she is ready to go pro.