ABOUT IRVINE
This centrally located Orange County city is the perfect home base for shopping, dining, and kid-friendly exploring.
Irvine’s central location—45 miles from Los Angeles, 85 from San Diego, and 15 minutes from Disneyland Resort—makes it a popular hub for Southern California travellers. But there’s a lot to love right in Irvine proper. From kid-friendly outdoor activities to full-service shopping, the little big city of more than 250,000 has something for everyone.
A strong concentration of universities makes Irvine an under-the-radar destination for art lovers. The city’s largest academy, University of California, Irvine, is home to the Beall Center for Art and Technology, which promotes creative expressions of digital science; The Institute and Museum of California Art, which preserves art by California Impressionists; and The Barclay Theatre, which hosts ballets, symphonies, and musicals.
For growing minds, Irvine mixes learning and fun at a number of spots around the city. Kids can learn about the harvest during strawberry and watermelon season by visiting Tanaka Farms. Pretend City Children’s Museum is a wonderland for tykes with miniature interactive versions of the supermarket, dentist, and a post office. The constantly expanding 600-plus acre Orange County Great Park has a Farm + Food Lab where your family can visit the butterfly garden and chicken coop before burning off energy at one of the Sports Complex’s 25 tennis courts.
Shopping malls are an Orange County hallmark, and Irvine’s selection does not disappoint. The grandest is, of course, the massive outdoor Irvine Spectrum Center. Visitors can browse more than 100 stores and restaurants, ride the Ferris wheel, and ice-skate during the holidays. Other options include the South Coast Plaza known for its high-end boutiques and Quail Hill Shopping Center.
The mall culture has even informed some of the area’s most exciting dining. The Trade Food Hall is a trendy take on the classic court. Tuck into some pork belly fries at Pig Pen Delicacy or a waffle on a stick at Sweet Combforts, just two of the hall’s merchants. For eclectic fare in a more formal setting, try the omakase (chef’s choice menu) at Ootoro Sushi or freshly made pasta at North Italia.
Source: Discover Irvine
REAL ESTATE INSIGHTS
There are 655 homes for sale in Irvine, CA, 67 of which were newly listed within the last week. Additionally, there are 298 rentals, with a range of $1.8K to $29.9K per month. Discover more Irvine listings for open houses, price reduced, foreclosures, recently sold, new home communities, and new home construction.
In July 2021, the median listing home price in Irvine, CA was $1.2M, trending up 28% year-over-year. The median listing home price per square foot was $564. The median home sold price was $1.1M.
Source: Realtor.com
THE PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE
Recognized as one of the happiest cities in America and one of the best U.S. cities for raising a family, this California city is incredibly safe, offers a rapidly growing job market, and has an abundance of family-friendly activities. Here are 11 things you need to know about living in Irvine!
Source: Greater Irvine
insider tips
Irvine offers 16,500 acres of parkland, sports fields and dedicated open space, the most in Orange County! Featuring miles of trails and rustic canyons.
The San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, a 300-plus acre coastal freshwater wetland with 12 miles of trails for walking and running. It’s also a bird paradise with hundreds of species. Download the San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary Bird Checklist.
The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks stretch in a giant green crescent from Weir Canyon near the 91 Freeway at the north end of the Irvine Ranch… connect with the Cleveland National Forest along the ranch’s northeastern border… continue south where they include the massive regional open space network in the northern and southern hillsides of Irvine… and extend all the way to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Crystal Cove State Park near Laguna Beach.
To bring your dog or not to bring your dog? Dog-friendly Orange County Parks.
The preserved open spaces on The Irvine Ranch are beautiful, environmentally valuable and accessible to millions of people. The land encompasses 50,000 acres stretching 22 miles from the mountains to the sea, including the Mountains to Sea Trail. These lands have been named a Natural Landmark by both the U.S. Department of the Interior and the State of California.
Source: Destination Irvine
If shopping is considered the ultimate retail therapy, Irvine promises major rehabilitation! This fashionista haven truly has something for everyone from the casual shopper on the hunt for a great bargain to those seeking the finest luxury goods.
Irvine Spectrum Center should be the first stop for shopping in Irvine — easily spotted by its iconic 108-foot tall giant Ferris wheel, handcrafted in Italy. Over 130 nationally recognized retailers call Irvine Spectrum Center home, including award-winning Australian active wear retailer Lorna Jane; Brandy Melville for Bohemian-inspired apparel, and Kaitlyn Clothing for a curated collection of trendy designer brands such as Fresh Laundry, True Religion, Juicy, Seven, and many others.
Fashion Island is undoubtedly the shrine for the serious shopper, a perfect symbol of California lifestyle featuring an expansive open-air layout comprised of 150+ high-end shops, an amazing variety of eateries, live musical performances, and plenty of comfortable spots to just relax and people watch. From world-class department stores like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s to specialty boutiques found nowhere else in Orange County such as Kate Spade, Jonathan Adler, and Halston Heritage, Fashion Island is well worth a visit.
South Coast Plaza is the largest mall on the West Coast and is unparalleled in its collection of über luxury stores. Here you will find 250 boutiques from Balenciaga and Cartier to Hermès and Gucci, plus 30 restaurants. It’s a great spot to window shop, catch up on current fashion trends, and capture the latest runway items from your favorite designers.
For other shopping options in Irvine, check out The Market Place, which has a great variety of stores plus dining and entertainment; Orange County’s newest shopping destination The District at Tustin Legacy, where you’ll find everything from Whole Foods and TJ Maxx/Home Goods to Costco and Target, plus the new Union Market Tustin, an artisanal marketplace of independent gourmet food, fashion, and lifestyle shops.
Irvine Retail Heaven: 3 Unmissable Shop-til-you-drop Experiences >>
Irvine Insider Tip
Irvine Spectrum Center is more than just a mall! It’s a true entertainment venue complete with great shops, varied dining, a seasonal ice rink, IMAX theater, Giant Wheel and Carousel. There’s something for everyone here.
Source: Destination Irvine
When the sun goes down, you can be assured Irvine’s nightlife reflects the city’s vibrant, sophisticated, and global culture.
Hotels have really upped the ante when it comes to Irvine nightlife experiences, providing guests and visitors alike with opportunities to enjoy local music, inventive cocktails, and, of course, Southern California’s amazing year-round climate. After a long day of meetings or sightseeing, there’s no more welcoming sight than a comfy sofa or chair surrounding a magical fire pit to relax, connect, and sip on something wonderful.
Floe Lounge at the Irvine Marriott offers a cool coastal vibe with a variety of spots to chill from dining tables to a vibrant bar, an outside patio, and more casual seating areas. Expect to find weekly local musicians performing, Happy Hour specials with complimentary parking, as well as signature dishes for dinner or lighter fare.
Experience Orange County with 360 degree views featuring on-trend cocktails and lite bites at Hive & Honey Rooftop Bar at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum. The cocktail culture comes sweet, and with a sting: the signature drinks all play on the name of the locale, and most have house-made syrups in the mix.
Red Bar and Lounge at the Hotel Irvine is a social oasis where a sleek contemporary design, plush sofas, small group seating, and Wi-Fi connectivity create a communal, modern vibe for an array of small plates, local craft beers, fine wines, and specialty cocktails.
Irvine nightlife doesn’t lack creativity and that is never more evident than at the artful Bistango, where art takes center stage featuring live music happenings as well as an art gallery display for local and regional artists. This is all in addition to the venue’s New American cuisine and 400+ wine list.
If you’re not sure what you are hungry for, Diamond Jamboree is Orange County’s international dining destination, which brings together a variety of cuisines and international flavors with more than 20 places to eat. It’s a great late-night spot with most venues open till 11 p.m. weekdays and midnight on weekends.
Finally, if you want to channel your inner rock star, Plush Karaoke Lounge is the city’s only karaoke spot with 16 beautiful private rooms that are great for small groups to connect and have fun.
Irvine Insider Tip
Most of Irvine’s nightspots are just minutes apart, making it affordable to taxi or rideshare between them without worrying about who will be your designated driver.
Source: Destination Irvine
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