Wild Things To Do In Costa Mesa This Weekend, California, USA

If you’re looking for one of the best things to do in Southern California, then you shouldn’t miss out Costa Mesa.

More than just a looking for what to do this weekend, Costa Mesa is also a good base to explore the surrounding areas! Whether you want to head south to SoCal’s famous beaches or north into the mountains, there is always something to do in this part of Orange County.

Known mostly for its shopping, food, arts and cultural scene, Costa Mesa is one underrated town in Southern California’s OC.

More on the epic food scene in Costa Mesa in my other posts, but first, here’s a lowdown on all the unique things to do in Orange County’s Costa Mesa!

Where to stay in Costa Mesa, California

We stayed at Avenue of the Arts Hotel, known to be one of the more Instagrammable hotels in the area.

They have a dedicated multi-storey parking facility, which makes driving in Costa Mesa a convenient mode of transport.

It was very kind of them to allow us an early check-in, so we got checked into a room on the ground floor overlooking the little garden behind their property.

We had a really comfortable time here with a spacious room. There was ample power sockets as well as sufficient mirrors (trust me, some hotels get really stingy with mirrors) for basic vanity needs.

Bathroom

The bathroom was brightly lit. The only caveat was that it didn’t seem to have a ventilation in the bathroom, so it gets really foggy after showers.

They provide complimentary coffee but to my dismay, not tea sachets. This was unexpected, considering most hotels I’ve reviewed would provide the basic coffee and tea availability. Beside the coffee machine lay a sign that indicated that tea is available upon request. 

The absurd extortion aside, the hotel has full-serviced amenities, such as a 24-hour gym, sauna, jacuzzi, and a pool.

We delighted in the fact that the pool and jacuzzi was heated, so even when we came back after our hearty dinner, we still had time to soak in there in total comfort.

The gym was also very necessary for us when we had such hearty meals all day long. It comes adequately equipped with a range of cardio machines as well as a weight rack and exercise balls. It was our saviour and we came down to work on our sedentary bodies every morning.

The location is very conveniently located around the major mall, South Coast Plaza, and restaurants that you can almost walk everywhere from here.

Here are other hotel options in Costa Mesa:

• For central location – Ayers Hotel, Best Western Plus Newport Mesa Inn
• For beach-lovers – Ramada by Wyndham Costa Mesa
• For food and shopping – Crowne Plaza Costa Mesa Orange County

Hop on HotelsCombined to compare the best hotel prices!

Getting to Costa Mesa, California, USA

By Flight

The closest airport to Costa Mesa is John Wayne. It is an international airport serving the Orange County area.

By Car

From LA: 45min drive, 41 miles
From San Diego: 1h20min drive, 87 miles

What to do in Costa Mesa this weekend

SHOPPING

South Coast Plaza

Shopping in Costa Mesa is a HUGE deal. This is in large part thanks to South Coast Plaza

Mention South Coast Plaza and you’ll instantly get nods of recognition. That’s how renowned this shopping mall is.

I can assure you, you’ll be spending more time than you’d plan for when you step into South Coast Plaza. With more than 250 boutique shops and 40 restaurants and cafes, you’ll be taking shopping to the next level. Its diverse collection of retailers range from Bottega Veneta, Cartier and Hermès to household names like UNIQLO, H&M and Gap. It is also home to large department stores Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom.

Besides offering valet services (though free parking spaces abound), they also offer customised concierge services.

If you manage to get hold of the VIP ACCESS pass (easily obtainable if you stay in one of the Costa Mesa hotels), you can visit their Suite, a rest stop between shopping where you can enjoy unlimited supply of drinks and snacks.

Should you require, South Coast Plaza also offers a personal shopper to cater to your shopping needs.

The LAB Anti-Mall

The LAB’s name gives off a rebellious nature. Which is exactly what their focus is about – on “Little American Business”, both in retail and dining.

That is why you’ll find cute, local boutique shops and not chain stores. Container shops, trailer shops, a walkway filled with CDs, a fountain made of painted barrels – the whole place screams hipster and art. It’s hard to believe that this mall is turning 27 years this year!

The only downside to The LAB is its limited parking – we had to circle many rounds to finally find a parking lot by the street, which also goes to show what a popular shopping and dining destination this is!

The CAMP

A sister property to The LAB (and also across the street from it), The Camp is an eco-friendly retail campus and the first known environmentally-sensitive shopping centre in the U.S..

Both spaces are ideal as gathering places with plenty of open spaces to hang out at.

In a similar vein to The LAB, you can pick up all sorts of goods from clothing to antique knick knacks in beautifully redone travel trailers and small shops.

If you’re there, don’t miss the outdoor gear store. I absolutely love being in this two-storey store – I blame it on its woody interior that makes you feel so cosy and comfortable you never want to leave the store. I almost feel like I’m in a cabin.

Apart from outdoor gear and apparel, they also have a section selling jewellery.

This little piece of shopping haven has eye-catching decorations everywhere we turned and it’s definitely worth a visit even if you’re just window-shopping.

SOCO and The OC Mix

Driving in, I thought we were in the wrong place as furnishing and home goods stores seem to dominate the space.

It was only when we arrived at The OC Mix, part of the SOCO space, that we realised that this is a space on its own, filled with little stores selling clothing, jewellery, wine, knick knacks, as well as cafes and a food hall. I included this place as one of the best breakfast and brunch spots to go to in Costa Mesa.

There are outdoor green spaces for hanging out when the weather is fine, whether you want to sip coffee, indulge in ice cream or enjoy a crepe.

You won’t find many restaurants here. Rather, the eateries serve mostly brunch food or small plates, like sandwiches, burgers and salads. It is, still, one of the places I recommended for breakfast and brunch in Costa Mesa.

On Saturdays from 9am to 2pm, there’s a small farmer’s market with local fruit and vegetable produce.

ART

Named the City of the Arts, it was fun to be discovering expressive art pieces in the most nondescript places. Whether that be on utility boxes or on wall murals, we made use of the sunny, warm day to be out exploring and hunting them out.

Go mural-hunting.

Whether you take a drive or walk around downtown Costa Mesa, you’ll be surprised at how vibrant this seemingly quiet town is. Here and there, you’ll find artistic wall murals – sometimes random, sometimes not so.

Here are some of the locations you can check off:

• Rockreation (location) – rear parking lot
• The LAB Anti-Mall (location) – parking lot, near the ARTery, Bootlegger’s brewery, and walls near that area
• Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (location)
• Shepard Fairey “Welcome Home” mural (location) – drive along the 55 Freeway North/ Baker Exit for the best view!
• Mustangs Mural (location)
• Costa Mesa Skate Park utility building (location)
• David Bowie, Westend (location)
• Taco Mesa (location)
• Costa Mesa Bloom, commissioned by Travel Costa Mesa by artist Aaron Glasson (location)
• Mural on side of The Crack Shack (location)

Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Renowned for its impressive acoustics, unique auditorium design and imposing arched granite facade, Segerstrom Center for the Arts is the only place in Orange County to see Broadway shows on stage!

We weren’t as lucky as there weren’t any shows going on when we there after Christmas, but Segerstrom Center regularly holds performances – whether it is ballet, dance, jazz, cabaret or classical music.

Costa Mesa Art Walk

We tried to enquire about the exact location of this so-called “Art Walk” since there isn’t a fixed point on Google Maps we can find out from. Pity we couldn’t get any information from the hotel staff, so off we were on our own to explore!

Starting at Noguchi Gardens, this 16-acre park area has over 20 public art pieces dotted around, if you only pay close attention.

Using this map, you can play treasure hunt, looking for sculptures and artwork designed with natural plants and materials to highlight California’s natural resources.

Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA)

Want to see some creative abstract art? This is definitely the place for it, with quite a range of concepts and art straight from the minds of California artists from the 20th and 21st century.

OCMA is the first in the world to expand to the world of contemporary art from the Pacific Rim.

NATURE/ OUTDOORS

Catch the sunset @ Fairview Park

We got here in time for sunset, but almost barely caught it! We didn’t stay here for long as it got dark really quickly. From what we could see, the park is surrounded by plenty of natural, open spaces that make for lots of running around and family fun.

In the stillness, we could make out the sounds of frogs, crickets and what we suspect to be snakes rattling. In any case, we were thankful we didn’t come across any on the way in.

We were really lucky with our timing as we managed to get some shots of a truly magical painting across the evening sky.

Making our way out after the fleeting sun rays were gone, a small rabbit bounced just out of view, quick but slow enough for us to catch it in action!

Sunbathe by SoCal’s beaches

Newport Beach

There’s no shortage of beaches when you’re right smack in the middle of SoCal’s Orange County! This puts you in good stead to explore the best of Southern California’s coastline. From Huntington Beach and Long Beach to your north to Laguna Beach to your south, hitting Southern California’s beaches is always a must when you’re here!

The closest beach, Newport Beach, is a mere 10 minute drive from downtown Costa Mesa. Compared to the other beaches on the coast, Newport Beach is a much quieter beach where it seems only the locals visit.

Usual activities include Stand Up Paddle-boarding, kayaking and surfing.

Lake Arrowhead/ Big Bear snow drive

If you’re looking for a snowy escape in winter, consider driving up to Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear, where many flock to in the winter for some skiing and snowboarding fun.

Getting to Lake Arrowhead is a 1.5-hour drive.

We weren’t expecting snowy conditions when planning for our trip to Costa Mesa, so we were especially cautious with our regular car as it met the snow-covered, slick road. All went well despite us not having snow chains on our wheels, though I advise you to always check the road conditions before you set off.

The higher in altitude we go, the more amped up I was to see snow. The drop in temperature was a refreshing welcome.

The drive up is one for the eyes, featuring panoramic views of both dry and snow-covered land.

As we got closer to the village, the roads became narrower, and more log cabins come into view. All of the houses look so adorable, especially those with Christmas decorations still on them. We saw so many gingerbread-type houses that look almost edible!

When we made it to Arrowhead village, what I did not expect was how much snow there would be, considering it doesn’t snow in the major cities of SoCal all winter. To think Costa Mesa had a cloudless, sunny sky when we left that morning!

Definitely recommend waterproof shoes for walking in the snow here.

Arrowhead Village is a small little village, almost reminiscent of a Christmas village, with shops mostly catering to tourists. The original Lake Arrowhead Village opened officially in 1922, and over 120 movies have been filmed in and around Lake Arrowhead since then!

Granted, it is quite the picturesque spot, with all sorts of winter birds frolicking in the lake and on the ice.

We were glad for a little respite away from the city to engage in some snow fun, though I would also recommend to come early as it gets really packed during the peak season!

Over at Big Bear, you can experience all sorts of snow sports, from skiing and snowboarding to tubing.

Coming back down from Big Bear, the sights were breathtaking as the horizon kept going on and on with never-ending ranges and a view of California’s skyline. Of course, Cade’s favourite part was the meandering drive.

FUN

Costa Mesa is not devoid of family fun or sporting fun. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Costa Mesa, or rather, fun things to do in Orange County, you cannot discount the theme parks at Knotts Berry Farm and Disneyland.

What’s cooler is that (much to my extreme delight), we found a rock climbing gym and a bowling arena to unleash our inner child.

Rock climbing @ ROCKreation

We were stoked to find out there are rock climbing gym facilities available even in a small town like Costa Mesa! (Also, I am biased, having been a climber for 9 years and not going without climbing for long periods of time.)

This facility is larger than the ones I’ve been, with bouldering, top rope, lead arch and auto belay options, all in an air-conditioned space. With a wide variety of holds, difficulty levels and tall, overhanging walls to lead with, it made for quite a highlight of our day.

The bouldering was Cade’s favourite while I absolutely smashed the lead walls. It wasn’t a problem if you don’t have a belay buddy – the staff on site are more than happy to assist you.

They also have a fully-equipped gym section where guests can weight train, and conduct fitness and yoga classes periodically. If I lived there, I will sure to apply for a membership pass!

I highly recommend spending some time rock climbing when you’re at Costa Mesa – it’s surely going to be a fun activity for everyone!

$20 per adult
$15 per child

Bowling @ Irvine

For a fun time to take a break from sightseeing, we decided to get our bowl on. We found the closest bowling alley to be at Irvine and had a good dose of fun with 3 rounds of strikes, spares and gutter balls, which gave us a good shoulder and wrist workout.

A great group activity!

Location here

Knotts Berry Farm

I went on a separate trip to Knotts Berry Farm thanks to an invite by a fellow travel creative in September. You wouldn’t think 2 fully grown adults would choose Knotts Berry Farm as a meeting point but hey, there we were!

I went at a time leading up to Halloween, so the decorations were in full swing. I also listed this as one of the spookiest places to visit in LA!

Spookiness aside, it wasn’t as mild as I thought the rides would be. There were actually some pretty thrilling ones!
A must for every family, and a favourite for fun-loving adults!

Disneyland

Another family favourite, Disneyland needs no introduction does it?

You’ll be surprised at how close it is from Costa Mesa – only a 20-minute drive!

PAMPER

Spa/ Pedicure @ Nordstrom

Need a wet weather plan? Fret not, it’s time to pamper yourself. Did you know, Nordstrom offers spa, manicure/ pedicure and facial services? This one at South Coast Plaza does!

From Nordstrom’s department store, there is an exclusive elevator up to the spa room, which we didn’t even know Nordstrom offers!

An exquisite and exclusive enclave, we were first led into a waiting room where we were served a beverage while the staff prepared themselves for our pre-arranged appointments.

We were then brought individually to our rooms for my facial and Cade’s pedicure. I was led to a dim spa room to change and lay on the bed, which was already heated!

As part of the facial, my beautician also gave gentle massages on my feet, hands and shoulders.a I imagine facials are meant to be relaxing, and granted, it was. So much so that I fell asleep midway.

Here’s Cade’s take on his pedicure session:

My feet and toes were treated like royalty for a good long hour. Sanding, shining and even soaking in hot water made me absolutely relaxed, soothed and pampered.

I’ve now got shiny clean feet and toenails!

Facial USD150
Pedicure USD45
Thanks for reading Wild Things To Do In Costa Mesa.

These are but some of the unique things to do in Orange County (OC). Whether you are in Costa Mesa today or for the weekend, don’t miss out on some of these activities that will surely make your trip here worth it!

Special thanks to Travel Costa Mesa for this experience! All opinions remain my own.

26 – 30 December 2019, Thu – Sun