Things to Do in Santa Ana California

Santa Ana offers an eclectic and vibrant lifestyle near the ocean, from an active cultural scene to delicious restaurants – you won’t be short of fun things to do here! With all this diversity comes plenty of things for visitors to do in this coastal city.

Bowers Museum features art from various cultures while Discovery Cube offers visitors a virtual experience of what a 6.4 magnitude earthquake feels like. Also worth seeing: Lyon Air Museum.

Bowers Museum

Santa Ana Museum of Art and Culture is an absolute must for those interested in art and culture, having opened in 1936 as one of Orange County’s oldest institutions. Boasting exhibits and programs designed to delight both children and adults, the museum welcomes both visitors young and old and makes for a fun family outing or social activity on weekends when its paid parking lot opens for only $6 (it remains free during weekdays).

Discovery Cube OC offers something fun and educational for children of all ages to do with the family – the interactive museum teaches children STEM through exhibits that include rainforest adventures and organic waste lab. Furthermore, special events and summer camps teach them about various cultures.

Lyon Air Museum offers an incredible display of rare aircrafts and memorabilia from different military conflicts, while exploring its rich and colorful past can be done by visiting Old Orange County Courthouse which also houses exhibits depicting this part of Orange County’s rich and colorful past.

While in Santa Ana, be sure to visit the historic East End Promenade. Here you will find numerous artist studios and storefront galleries, in addition to being home of Yost Theater (a popular music venue). In addition, there are various restaurants on this promenade – Detention is owned by Great Food Truck Race winner Jason Quinn!

Try the Crab Stuffed Shrimp for something truly delectable; this delectable delight combines lump crab meat and jumbo shrimp in a tasty blend, served alongside celery root mashed potatoes for maximum satisfaction. Another restaurant worth experiencing is Trust Kitchen; their Chef’s Table concept requires you to trust the chef when ordering. During First Saturday of each month Downtown Santa Ana comes alive with its own energy; walk along its streets or visit one of many gallery spaces not normally open to visitors during this eventful nightlife experience!

Discovery Cube

Santa Ana California kids often have their minds blown by the Discovery Cube’s 80 hands-on STEM education exhibits, from nail beds to physics labs – they learn science concepts in an enjoyable, play-filled manner! Additionally, annual interactive events like Bubblefest, Spooky Science, and Science of Gingerbread keep curiosity levels at peak. Frequent visitors can become official members for just $79 annually and gain unlimited access to Santa Ana California’s Discovery Cube!

Santa Ana’s museums reflect its population diversity. The Bowers Museum showcases art from various cultures and is an excellent way to introduce children to global history and culture, while Santa Ana Zoo features monkeys, mini-train rides and walk-through aviary. Heritage Museum of Orange County boasts restored 1890s homes set among gardens. Santa Ana’s historic downtown district also offers unique experiences and restaurants like East End Promenade near historic Fourth Street with Queen Anne Victorian homes lining its streets and musicians performing at Yost Theater.

Santa Ana residents looking for an escape can find peace and serenity at Santiago Oaks Regional Park, which boasts miles of hiking trails through beautiful woodlands. There are also picnic areas, playgrounds and an educational nature center at Santiago Oaks Regional Park that are available to them.

Santa Ana offers plenty of activities and attractions for the whole family to enjoy together, from bowling and arcade games to delicious meals at one of Santa Ana’s many top-tier restaurants such as Detention Kitchen owned by Great Food Truck Race winner Jason Quinn (detentionkitchen.com). At Detention Kitchen’s “chef’s table” concept diners must simply trust Jason Quinn with the preparation of multi-course meals for them.

Centrally located within Southern California, Huntington Beach serves as an ideal hub for touring its famous attractions – Disneyland to Huntington Beach beaches. The Old Orange County Courthouse – built in 1900 as an exquisite example of Mission Revival architecture – makes an attractive visit, particularly Courtroom No. 1, featuring dark wood paneling that has been featured in multiple Hollywood films.

Orange County Museum of Art

Santa Ana boasts no shortage of arts, culture and entertainment. Colorful murals adorn buildings citywide while its small museums showcase world-class exhibitions from around the globe. Learn about art’s impact on cultures at Bowers Museum before counting monkeys at its charming small zoo or testing your ninja skills at American Ninja Warrior Adventure Park!

Get to know your new home’s artistic side by exploring local galleries and attending the first Saturday Artwalk. Many artists work in Artists Village, an expansive 10-block area anchored by Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center on Second Street Promenade; three galleries and project walls there present contemporary, socially-relevant art and performances by emerging and established artists alike.

Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is an internationally acclaimed museum that houses over 100,000 objects from different countries and periods – paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and other types of art are just some of the items found within its extensive collections. Furthermore, OCMA also hosts various temporary exhibits and programs.

OCMA will move into a larger facility in 2021; for now, please visit their temporary space in Santa Ana’s South Coast Plaza Village. This museum provides an engaging experience for children and adults alike with high quality exhibits presented by friendly staff members.

Attend an event at the Observatory OC and immerse yourself in Santa Ana arts by attending an Observatory OC event. This venue hosts many popular and local bands with incredible music that always leaves an amazing vibe behind it all – plus there is often an excellent beer selection too!

If you’re in search of an interactive museum experience, the Discovery Cube should be your destination. Offering everything from learning about hockey’s science to trying an earthquake simulator simulator and so much more – this museum provides the ideal place for visitors looking for some respite from daily routine and fun!

Santa Ana Zoo

Santa Ana, Orange County’s county seat, is known for its vibrant Hispanic culture and abundance of activities to do – be it visiting museums and galleries, trying out a new restaurant or taking part in one of Santa Ana’s enticing festivals or events – there’s always something exciting and new waiting to be discovered here!

One of the top things to do in Santa Ana is visiting its zoo, located at Prentice Park and known for being one of California’s smaller zoos yet still home to over 140 species of animals from all around the globe. Although not as large as some larger California zoos, the Santa Ana Zoo still houses over 140 different animal species including monkeys; its fame as a family-friendly spot stems back to 1952 when 50 monkeys first made an appearance at this family-oriented zoo founded just five years before!

Are you curious to gain more insight into Santa Ana’s rich history? A trip to the Heritage Museum should be on your agenda! Featuring exhibits that showcase those responsible for making Santa Ana what it is today – such as Native Americans, European settlers and citrus industry professionals in Southern California – visitors can gain an insightful perspective at this museum.

Santa Ana art forms an integral part of its culture and can be found throughout its galleries, alleyways and building walls. A great time to visit is First Saturdays of every month when more than 20 galleries open their doors with rotating shows from local artists.

An ideal way to experience the arts is through attending one of Santa Ana’s numerous theatre performances. This city boasts an active theatre scene featuring both professional and amateur companies that perform all year long, along with popular music performances held regularly – whether that be jazz, salsa or classical performances! There’s bound to be one that you love in Santa Ana.