We stayed for several days before the Memorial weekend, so we experienced only one day of the…read moreactual busy portion of the holiday weekend. Good things: We thought the bathrooms and showers were very clean. The food at Moes was good as were the drinks. The store was well-stocked with toys, food, and clothing. The pool and jacuzzi were great, and the kids loved them. Kids' activities and games were plentiful, and they also enjoyed the playground. Staff was helpful in the office. Security was present and doing lots of rounds the first two nights (did not see them the busy Friday night). The camp was VERY, impressively, quiet at night. Middling things (mind you, the campground is not in control of these!): the sand is not soft sand like at the coastal beaches. Kids will probably need shoes for the shells and rocks, and it's packed super hard. The campground is under the flight path of John Wayne airport, so expect to know when it's 7 am each day since that's when the planes begin roaring overhead. Not-so-great things: the sites are super close together. Yes, you will be packed in like sardines, especially in the "standard" back row sites, which were completely filled when we visited. It is hard to back in when trucks are parked along the road, in front of the tiny sites- there is VERY little room for error. The sites are ALL DIRT, which I did not think would be so bad until I lived it. (Never again, unless I buy some turf at some point.) When campers dump their waste, expect to get some whiffs. (Many reviews note something about the angle of the dump/hose- we don't have a bathroom in our trailer so I can't attest to that issue.) Finally, the single biggest deal breaker for us was the allowed use of wood burning fire pits at sites. Since everyone is crammed in there, people burning wood on Friday night resulted in the paths and trailers and even the bathrooms being filled with smoke. They should only allow gas burning fire pits! So yeah- if we return it will only ever be mid week and preferably in the off-season.

Unfortunately, my experience at the market was extremely disappointing. I approached an employee…read morewith a simple question regarding holiday weekend events happening at the Dunes and was met with rude, dismissive, and unprofessional behavior. The employee appeared completely untrained, offered no helpful information, and acted inconvenienced by a basic customer inquiry. Customer service and professionalism matter, especially during busy holiday weekends when visitors are looking for guidance and support. I hope management takes customer experience more seriously moving forward and provides better staff training.

Located at the Dana Point Harbor, Capt Dave has dedicated parking lot. No bathrooms in the building…read morebut 2 bathrooms a skip away. They depart from the building towards the boat 15 mins beforehand so they want you to check in 30mins before (and on weekends/holidays, check in 45mins before). The boat departs on time at the scheduled time, so make sure you are here in the building 15-30mins before your booked time. We booked at 1pm and that's when the boat left the dock. We were gathered at the office at 12:45 to head towards the boat and unfortunately a couple missed their slot because they were not even in the parking lot at 1pm when the boat sailed. Don't make their mistake, just make sure you are parked at least 15mins before the booked time. They were willing to wait 5 mins, but not 30 mins, so timeliness from guests is important as we had almost 30 people on board. As you are led from the building to the boat, they have a pit stop at the bathroom as they warned that the boat's bathroom that can't take toilet paper and can easily clog. Unfortunately the ocean waters was unusually warm when we booked on 7/03 for whale/dolphin sighting so we didn't see any but they have a sighting guarantee so they gave us all a voucher to come back again for free. They gave out a delicious brownie at the end too, so I'm excited to come back for the brownie!

Paid by card online. Capt. Dave's is located by the harbor and offers a lot of parking. I was…read moreeasily able to book online for the 2.5 hour 8 am tour, for my child and me. When we arrived at the harbor, we went upstairs to check in and got the passes to get on the boat. The staff was super friendly at check-in and on the boat (Capt. Matt, 1st mate, Mike, and photographer, Andy.) Everything about the experience was well-organized. The boat was clean and comfortable so it was an enjoyable ride. We saw about 400 dolphins and 1 humpback whale! It was such an enjoyable excursion! I would recommend you bring your own snacks and/or drinks on board if you don't have a chance to eat beforehand, since snacks and drinks are not provided on the 2.5 hour 8 am tour. There is a small snack shack upstairs where you check in if you forget to bring things to eat and drink. I would recommend this tour and would go back.

Deer Canyon Campground is a primitive picnic area along one of the many intersecting trails of the…read moreMoro Canyon portion of Crystal Cove State Park. While there isn't much to it--a few oak trees shading some wooden picnic tables-- it is a welcome respite from the sun while hiking deep into the park away from the coast and the other maintained campsites. Stop and have a seat for a few minutes, take a drink of water (hope you brought some... 'cause there ain't no vending machine or fountain here... take off your headphones, and just enjoy the sound of... silence. No RV generator, no one playing loud music, no highway noise; just peace and quiet. The hike itself to get here can range from moderate to strenuous, depending on how you got here. Chances are you left No Name Ridge trail and took the Ticketron path to get to Deer Canyon. Co ti ur up the trail a bit to either take the long loop tonthe fenceline or cut back towards the ocean on Rattlesnake trail-- which in my opinion, is the pretties part of the hike. Speaking of rattlesnakes, there are a few up here on the hunt in the warmer months, so watch your step. More likely, you'll enjoy songbirds, small mammals like rabbits and squirrels during daybreak and sunset, and an escort of a few bugs around your head. Regardless, you have my respect for getting out into nature and putting down your tiny touch screen :)

"One's options in this world are as vast as the horizon, which is technically a circle and thus…read moreinfinitely broad. Yet we must choose each step we take with utmost caution, for the footprints we leave behind are as important as the path we will follow. They're part of the same journey -- our story." ― Lori R. Lopez, Dance Of The Chupacabras What an amazing event this was! OC Meets Napa and Baja, presented by Community Health Center AltaMed, brought primarily Latino-centric restaurants and chefs in Orange County and Latino-owned wineries in Napa and Baja together in a celebration of culture. Proceeds from all the ticket sales went toward supporting the Orange County health services and programs that AltaMed spearheads in underserved communities. When I was Housing Manager for the City of Huntington Beach, I funded Alta Med through the City's CDBG program and am very knowledgable about the great services they provide especially in a country that still has an imperfect and expensive healthcare system. What was cool about this event was actually seeing, meeting and talking to the chefs/winemakers. These are the people who chose their path, who chose their own story. The passion from chefs such as Beto Ygei from 930 Sushi (excellent spicy yellowtail), Carlos Selgado of Taco Maria (wonderful scallop here), Gabbi Patrick (I think they did a scallop dish too), Rogelio Martinez of Casa Oaxaca (so excited was he about his sorbets and ice cream), and winemakers such as Alex, Oscar and Lola Llamas (best wines at event and great people too who invited us to hang out afterwards). This is the type of event that I love to attend and is only second to the San Jose Jazz Festival as favorite yelp events of this kind that I was lucky enough to get tickets from Yelp. Was disappointed in the Baja wines as there was little balance or flavor with those wines, and a lot of rustic smells and astrigent finishes. However given that when traveling the local wines always taste better when you are visiting their area (Cinque Terre was an example of this where the wines are fabulous only when you are outdoors on a patio with a great view eating a sublime pesto dish in Italy), I will visit Baja soon and visit the better wineries on their home turf ;-) Thanks again Yelp for this event! Sidney

I was a lucky winner of VIP tickets ($125 pp) to OC Meets Napa and Baja sponsored by AltaMed. I…read morewas worried about rain but it cleared up right before the event started which led to the vendors scrambling to set up their tents. It was warm and muggy but there was plenty of food and drink for all the guests to enjoy. There were plenty of Napa and Baja wine vendors pouring wine throughout the event along with restaurants from LA, OC, and Baja. Some of my favorite food vendors were Anepalco's Cafe, Taco Maria, Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen, and Deckman's en el Mogor. Wine was definitely plentiful as was the food. There was a wine wheel that you could spin for $20, which went to the Women in Action charity and in turn you won a wine bottle valued anywhere from $40 to $80. I won an $80 bottle of wine. It was pretty awesome. There were tables for all the guests to lounge and mingle at. The event was held at Mission San Juan Capistrano which I had never visited before. We were allowed to walk around the exhibits while the Mission was closed to the public. Pretty cool. Thanks to Yelp OC for the tickets. My +1 and I had a great time.

Rad. So much fun on this beverage seeking delight!…read more Hop On Safari is the go-to choice for event transportation! I recently used their services for a corporate team outing, and the experience was phenomenal. The custom-built safari transport vehicle was spacious, making our journey enjoyable from start to finish. The staff was professional, punctual, and friendly, ensuring everything ran smoothly. If you're looking for reliable and unique event transportation in Orange County, Hop On Safari is the best option. Highly recommended!

We had a business group out for one of our monthly meetings on the vehicle, an they're still…read moretalking about how much fun they had! Wonderful way to spend an afternoon in sunny Southern California. So many people stopped to take photos of the vehicle. Quite an adventure.

This is an amazing camp site for youth groups, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts when you want the…read morecamping experience without the long drive. The site has private bathrooms, parking, outdoor cooking area with sink and bbqs, as well as a ton of tables and lights. I definitely recommend this site for your next outing

A diamond in the rough...this campsite is tucked away in the middle of Mile Square Park and barely…read moreanyone knows about it. Well maintained, great amenities, and ridiculously cheap for a group campsite. The following are provided: - A large shaded area with large tables for approximately 60 people with lights for night time - 4 sinks - Outlets - Campfire Ring with seating - Additional Picnic Tables - 5 private, unisex restrooms - Large campsite area for tents - Decorative wood structure I like to reserve this campsite for training camps since it is perfect for classroom / lecture settings while still providing an outdoor experience. Making reservations is not too difficult if you call in. You can pay by cash, check, or authorize card payment on the phone. You pick up a key a day(s) prior to your arrival if you want to get there first thing when it opens at 7AM. All in all, it is not too removed from civilization but it serves as a great location for any kid's first time camping.

I have cuzzin's here from New Mexico who really wanted to see the whales and dolphins. So I got us…read moretix with Capt. Dave's. We traveled out to sea for awhile and I was really getting discouraged 'cause there was no action, when all of a sudden the oceans God's arrived and we were sitting amongst 1000s of dolphin. They were flying in the air, spinning, breaching abreast 4 at a time. Almost like they knew they were there to entertain our boat. It lasted for long time too. Then as we started to return to the harbor, we spotted the biggest sunfish ever. About 1000 lbs, who just laid right next to the boat the entire time. Never left us. We got back to the harbor a little late because we were all so entertained. The crew was so kind and accommodating and we even got a brownie as we all disembarked. I live very nearby, and I have to admit that hearing all the tourist getting excited with their "oohs, ahh, sqeeels and laughter" was heartwarming for me. The way the world should be. I only remember Capt. Matt's name but wish I remember the rest of the deck members. Truly a Blessed afternoon. Will return soon.

This was an AMAZING experience. I wasn't expecting to see anything, and then there were dolphins…read more Once we got farther out. We saw a few blue always. Amazing! First time for me and my sister. We also saw a Fin whale briefly. All in all, the event was spectacular. I highly recommend it. The Captain and the crew were super and helpful with answering questions. I will be going back when I visit my sister in SoCal! Woot!

Love taking this Ferry. It's an iconic way to get around Balboa and take in the scenes around…read moreNewport Bay. When I visit family on the island and have time. I take the Ferry to explore Balboa Village and Fun Zone, or walk to the Balboa Pier. I'll also find places to grab a bite or snack. A nice treat, especially during nice SoCal weather. Operating hours are 6:30 am to 12 am daily, and usually two ferries run every few minutes. Using the ferry is easy. Board as a pedestrian, in your car, bike, etc. Up to three cars can take the ferry per trip. Cash payments are only accepted when you are on board, and the ferry is on the way to the other side. They also offer a Commuter Booklet for those who regularly need to transport their cars. If you need a day out exploring or driving, visit Balboa Island via Jamboree Rd, spend time on the island, then cross the ferry to Balboa Beach, then head through Newport along Balboa Blvd to see more beach, pier, and plenty of places to grab some good food and enjoy the sights. The crossing price has increased over the years, but for an occasional trip, it's worth a relaxing ride across the bay.

I can't believe this was my first time taking the Balboa Ferry as someone who loves walking around…read moreBalboa. It was very cheap, $2 per person one way (cash only). It takes you to and from Balboa Island and the Balboa Fun Zone. Super quick 5 min ride which is so much faster than driving around.