Tourist stuff to do in Costa Mesa?

[ra1nman]

I'll be traveling to Costa Mesa this weekend for work until Friday. I'm 38 and just wondering what there is to do as while i'm down there. Looking for the obvious good places to eat (sushi, steak, etc). I'll be primary working nights till 8 to 10 in the morning and traveling to Huntington Beach, Newport, Garden Grove and Ranch Santa Margarita.

Oh, another quick thing. I'll be leaving from Santa Margarita to catch an 8:45am flight out of LAX. What kind of traffic would I expect as I'm leaving for the airport? Any idea what time I should hit the road to so I'm not in terrible jam?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

405 to LAX, I would say leave at 6:30, as for stuff to do in Costa Mesa, go spray graffiti.

 

[FleshLight]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-lu-santa-ana

Cash only

 

[Ns1]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-lu-santa-ana

Cash only

A+ rec

 

[ZaneNBK]

I'll be traveling to Costa Mesa this weekend for work until Friday. I'm 38 and just wondering what there is to do as while i'm down there. Looking for the obvious good places to eat (sushi, steak, etc). I'll be primary working nights till 8 to 10 in the morning and traveling to Huntington Beach, Newport, Garden Grove and Ranch Santa Margarita.

Oh, another quick thing. I'll be leaving from Santa Margarita to catch an 8:45am flight out of LAX. What kind of traffic would I expect as I'm leaving for the airport? Any idea what time I should hit the road to so I'm not in terrible jam?

Costa Mesa is kindof a shithole, and Garbage Grove definitely is. Newport Beach and Balboa Island are nice. Take a drive down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) toward San Diego and stop in the small shopping/restaurant areas and beaches along the way.

 

[ZaneNBK]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-lu-santa-ana

Cash only

Excellent post/username combo.

 

[Markbnj]

Costa Mesa? Not a very touristy place. South Coast Mall is there, and John Wayne Airport. But the good news is that you drive a few blocks south and WTFGORGEOUSBEACHES! Newport Beach and Balboa are right there. Huntington Beach a mile or two north, Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Dana Point, all are a short drive. Disneyland is probably about half an hour away at the right time of day.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Costa Mesa? Not a very touristy place. South Coast Mall is there, and John Wayne Airport. But the good news is that you drive a few blocks south and WTFGORGEOUSBEACHES! Newport Beach and Balboa are right there. Huntington Beach a mile or two north, Laguna Beach, Corona Del Mar, Dana Point, all are a short drive. Disneyland is probably about half an hour away at the right time of day.

Technically triangle square is in Costa mesa, but yeah, I'd go to Newport or Huntington.

 

[holden j caufield]

Newport Pier, it's a good place people watch. The wedge is a great place to watch if the surf is up. The Montage hotel has a great beach and view. Triangle square is not interesting. I hate those smokey cafe's regardless of the sights.

Also if you have to fly out of LAX and assume you need to get there 1.5 hrs before your flight. Which is 7:15 I would leave at 6 or 6:15.

 

[zerocool84]

Like others said, nothing to do in Costa Mesa if you're a tourist. Go to Huntington Beach/Newport Beach if you want the touristy stuff.

 

[foghorn67]

I live in Costa Mesa in a pretty good neighborhood. But its not for tourists. South Coast Plaza if you want to window shop all the expensive shops towards the Nordstroms end. There is Fashion Island in Newport Beach. But the beaches is where you want to be. Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Dana Point. Lots of good food around there too.

 

[foghorn67]

Also look for Maestro's Ocean Club if you got some cash. Javier's right next to it right off of PCH, good Mexican food. Good atmosphere. There is a row of good restaurants on PCH just south of MacArthur. Seafood aplenty around Balboa.

 

[AgentUnknown]

Angotei sushi next to the japanese market. MESA for a drink a block away.

 

[QueBert]

Maestro's for a Tomahawk steak and some of their Gargonzola Mac & Cheese.

HOLY FUCK! Best food in So Cal, uuuuuuuuugh!

 

[ra1nman]

Great suggestions fellas. The Cafe lu sounds like my kind 1 stop fits all place...scenery and finger food...yes! The engineer that i'm traveling with booked our hotel arrangements and snuck me by taking the majority of the Huntington area installs but oh well. Not knowing what I was getting into, I wanted to take more of a drive and take in more scenery on the drive home.

I grew up next to the beaches living in Norfolk, Va for many years. I've been to CA once 10yrs ago but it was primary a training opportunity in Sunnyvale. Didn't have much time to sight-see though.

Newport and Huntington do sound interesting as I do miss fresh seafood....it doesn't help living in the upper Midwest. The closest i get nowadays are Friday fish fry's.

I forgot to mention suggestions for good Bloody Mary's (the drink kind ).