Irvine California
Verdant trails at sports and recreation complex Great Park
Bommer Canyon Preserve, a former cattle ranch that’s now a hub for outdoor adventures
The scenic greens of Oak Creek Golf Club
A colorful celebration during the annual Irvine Global Village Festival
Historic aircraft parked in front of the Heritage and Aviation Exhibition at Great Park
Dining on modern Italian fare at Postino Wine Bar
Orange County Soccer Club plays a match at Great Park
A serene hike with a rewarding view at Turtle Rock View
Family fun at Wild Rivers Water Park
Aerial view of Great Park and the iconic Great Park Balloon
- Major Airports:
- John Wayne Orange County (SNA)
- Long Beach (LGB)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- States:
- California
Soak up the sun in Southern California
World-Class Dining and Shopping
Over 80 languages are spoken in Irvine, and that diversity is evident in the city’s booming culinary scene. Treat your tastebuds in innovative establishments like Diamond Jamboree, a multicultural dining and retail center with an emphasis on Pan-Asian cuisine, and Marble Steakhouse and Grille, a fusion restaurant combining Korean barbeque, American steakhouse and Italian cuisine. Nightlife in Irvine is lively, yet refined; when the sun goes down, locals and visitors alike head to the Irvine business district for craft cocktails and conversation. Insider tip: Many of Irvine’s hotel lobbies host live music performances on the weekends. You can’t visit Irvine without spending a day at Irvine Spectrum Center. Shop an amazing array of well-known brands, specialty items, and boutiques with full-service restaurants and casual dining options.
Family-Friendly Attractions
Irvine offers fun outings for all kinds of travelers. Centrally located Great Park offers state-of-the-art athletic fields and amenities for sports, recreation and education. Take in panoramic views of the area on the Great Park Balloon, then, learn about urban gardening and see butterflies at the Farm + Food Lab, an interactive outdoor education center. For aquatic fun, check out Wild Rivers, a water park for all ages. Pretend City Children’s Museum is a hands-on, child-sized “city” designed for exploration and creative free play. Nature lovers can’t miss a trip to Tanaka Farms, where guests are invited to pick their own produce and flowers.
Year-Round Outdoor Adventures
Irvine balances developing urban spaces with protecting its natural resources. At the Irvine Open Space Preserve, discover wildlife and sweeping vistas in a network of parks, trails and wildlands for hiking and biking. Irvine’s mild climate makes for great golfing throughout the year, too: At Oak Creek Golf Club, play a serene, secluded course that showcases the natural beauty of the area. Challenge your skills on greens set along a coastal inlet at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course, or hit the links at Strawberry Farms Golf Course, nestled among canyons and wetlands. For a classic California escape, take a short trip to Orange County to frolic on picturesque beaches.
Fun Fact
More than one-third of Irvine is permanently preserved as parks, natural spaces and trails.
Comedian Will Ferrell was born in Irvine and attended both middle and high school there.
You may recognize Irvine from the silver screen: Several Hollywood films, including Iron Man and Ocean’s Eleven, were filmed there.