Summer is well underway in Costa Mesa, a coastal community just minutes from the Pacific Ocean in Southern California.It’s a great time to jump in the car and head out for a weekend escape or longer getaway in Orange County. Travel Costa Mesa invites road trippers to “Create Your Escape, Close to Home” with their recently launched summer campaign and great hotel deals. With warm weather, sunshine and many businesses open, the safety and cleanliness of Costa Mesa hotels and businesses is a top priority so visitors can feel confident in visiting. Travel Costa Mesa has also created itineraries for all types of travelers to experience the city’s art, culture, shopping and extensive outdoor dining scene. View the “Calling all Creators” video.
Things to do
There are more than 30 Costa Mesa parks that are ideal for picnics, biking, hiking or simply a place to stretch and enjoy the fresh air.
[Photo Park}
Known as the City of the Arts®, the Costa Mesa Art Walk is an easy, free self-guided tour around the city’s arts district and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. More than 20 sculptures adorn the walkways, performing arts center and buildings throughout Town Center Park. Follow the Art Walk map to California Scenario, where the 1.6-acre open space is designed to showcase California’s natural landscape.
Jump in the car for a city tour to seek and find the dozens of murals and street art painted by locals and paying homage to the creative community that makes up Costa Mesa. A visit to The LAB Anti-Mall provides for a one-stop-shop for many of these art sightings.
[photo Noguchi and Mural]
Two popular beaches near Costa Mesa are Huntington Beach and Newport Beach. It’s just a short drive and each location features miles of sandy beaches and a harbor where visitors can rent stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, electric boats, or just relax on the beach enjoying coastal breezes.
[photo beach}
Plan a visit
Travel Costa Mesa has created four itineraries to help travelers plan an upcoming visit.
Solo travel
Traveling with pets
Family travel
Traveling as a couple
Upcoming Events
Concerts@ The CAMP is a drive-in concert series in Costa Mesa. Locals and visitors to the city can enjoy a live concert and take-out dining from several restaurants located at The CAMP. Guests may pre-purchase meals and dine inside their vehicles while listening to live music from local bands. These events are Thursday evenings from through from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. through August.
On, July 31 and August 1, a drive-in concert featuring The Fab Four, a popular Beatles cover band, will take place at the OC Fair & Event Center. For more information and to purchase tickets (per vehicle), visit autosonicconcerts.com.
OC Fair Virtual 5K Fun Run
In what usually takes place during one of the first weekends of the OC Fair, this year’s 5K Fun Run is going virtual and includes some brand-new OC Fair goodies and a medal, plus entry to the 2021 Fair. With most running and walking events cancelled, this is a great way to get some exercise with friends or family at your own pace, on your own schedule. Those interested can register at the low cost of $35 per adult and $22.50 for children under age 12, complete the 3.1 miles between July 17 and August 18 then go online and record their time. All the goodies will be sent to the participants by mail.
Also during this period of July 17 and August 18, fans of the OC Fair or those looking for a different way to experience the fair can go online to participate in contests, giveaways and more during the month-long 2020 Virtual OC Fair.
Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) will host a roundtable discussion on July 11 at 11 a.m. PDT entitled “Contested Spaces” where writer Carolyn Finney, featured artists Edgar Arceneaux and Kori Newkirk, and curator Daniel Duford discuss how institutional racism has shaped our understanding and experience of public space and the American landscape. The discussion will draw on themes in the exhibition An Earth Song, A Body Song: Figures with Landscape from the OCMA Permanent Collection, which was on view before the museum temporarily closed, and will be on view when the museum reopens. Those interested should RSVP to receive an email with event details along with a Zoom access link.
Visit Travel Costa Mesa’s events calendar with activities happening both in the city and virtually.
Evergreen Content
Travel Costa Mesa has created a virtual vacation page as well as a short video providing a glimpse into the destination.
South Coast Repertory, the Tony® Award-winning theater in Costa Mesa offers artistic and theatrical content through their Facebook page including stagecrafting from sets of performances like Sweeney Todd and videos of theater fashion from the 1800s.
Pacific Symphony offers Virtual Summer Mixer’s on Facebook that can be viewed live or on demand after registering. They also feature extensive musical content on YouTube.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts continues to offer activities to do from home on their Center from Home page. This includes free ballet lessons and programs for children with disabilities.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
