Top 5 Things to Do in Irvine, CA (2024)
Irvine At-A-Glance
| Population | 309,031 |
|---|---|
| Best known for | Being the paradigm for the master-planned community |
| Character | Quiet, clean, and safe |
Irvine is one of the largest cities in Orange County, CA. It’s well known for being a shining example of a “master-planned community”.
Irvine is an extraordinarily clean and well-maintained city. If you drive through the streets, you’ll come across lots of views like this one:
A big reason for that is the city’s tight restrictions around advertising and signage—you’ll be hard pressed to find a billboard anywhere.
Alright, let’s talk about the top things to do in Irvine.
1. Great Park Balloon
This is a free attraction in the middle of Great Park, a massive 1300-acre space dedicated to parks and housing.
You can ride the big orange balloon 400 feet up in the air and have a 360-degree bird’s eye view of Orange County.
If you’re afraid of heights, there is a carousel nearby that you can ride and plenty of surrounding green space to enjoy.
2. Irvine Spectrum
Irvine Spectrum Center is an iconic outdoor shopping mall. There are great dining options here like Habana (upscale Cuban).
Just be mindful of parking—during peak hours it can be difficult.
3. UC Irvine / Aldrich Park
UC Irvine is a beautiful college campus with some of the most architecturally unique buildings in Orange County.
Fun fact: The campus theme is based on Lord of the Rings. The main buildings are organized around a loop known as Ring Road. At the center of Ring Road is Aldrich Park, an expansive grassy area with towering eucalyptus trees.
4. Dine at one of Irvine’s most popular restaurants
North Italia - A trendy, highly trafficked Italian restaurant serving pizza, pasta, and salad entrees.
HiroNori Craft Ramen - This popular LA restaurant has a location in Irvine!
Ootoro - This sushi restaurant is listed on the Michelin guide.
Baekjong - If you’ve never tried Korean BBQ, this is a great place to start. Expert BBQ-er’s will cook your choice of meat tableside.
5. Wild Rivers
In the warmer months, you can cool off at Wild Rivers—a family-friendly water park with 17 unique attractions, including a lazy river.
