Food Scene
California-style cuisine, outdoor seating available, excellent martinis
20 locals recommend
Citrus City Grille
122 N Glassell StCalifornia-style cuisine, outdoor seating available, excellent martinis
Excellent food and service. The pastry case is phenomenal. Outdoor and indoor seating.available. About 3 miles from the Cottage, and worth the drive.
9 locals recommend
Zov's Bakery
17440 17th StExcellent food and service. The pastry case is phenomenal. Outdoor and indoor seating.available. About 3 miles from the Cottage, and worth the drive.
Terrific Italian food. Gourmet food items available.Indoor and outdoor seating. available.
11 locals recommend
Francoli Gourmet
100 S Glassell StTerrific Italian food. Gourmet food items available.Indoor and outdoor seating. available.
Authentic Mexican food, just 3 blocks from the Cottage. Handmade tortillas and lots of traditional dishes, at reasonable prices.
7 locals recommend
El Pico De Gallo Grill
901 W 17th StAuthentic Mexican food, just 3 blocks from the Cottage. Handmade tortillas and lots of traditional dishes, at reasonable prices.
Excellent seafood and first-class service in a beautiful restaurant only recently built. A great place to dine for a special evening. A bit pricey, but worth it.
30 locals recommend
Water Grill South Coast Plaza
3300 Bristol StExcellent seafood and first-class service in a beautiful restaurant only recently built. A great place to dine for a special evening. A bit pricey, but worth it.
Best view of Laguna Beach (Main Beach) and excellent food. Spring for the valet parking right next door--it's well worth it.
26 locals recommend
The Cliff
577 S Coast HwyBest view of Laguna Beach (Main Beach) and excellent food. Spring for the valet parking right next door--it's well worth it.
Lola Gaspar
211 W 2nd StTapas restaurant on a charming brick courtyard.
Good food, huge beer menu, bright and cheery location. Within walking distance of the Cottage (but I'd Uber if I were you.)
21 locals recommend
Chapter One: the modern local
227 N BroadwayGood food, huge beer menu, bright and cheery location. Within walking distance of the Cottage (but I'd Uber if I were you.)
Creative chef Jason Quinn's modern gastropub offers changing New American fare & top-shelf drinks. I once had a guest who came all the way from Cleveland, Ohio, just to go to this place. Popular among foodies.
25 locals recommend
Playground
220 E 4th StCreative chef Jason Quinn's modern gastropub offers changing New American fare & top-shelf drinks. I once had a guest who came all the way from Cleveland, Ohio, just to go to this place. Popular among foodies.
A refurbished old fashioned soda fountain. Featured in the Tom Hanks' film 'That Thing You Do,'
9 locals recommend
Watson's Soda Fountain & Cafe
116 E Chapman AveA refurbished old fashioned soda fountain. Featured in the Tom Hanks' film 'That Thing You Do,'
Family-style restaurant with terrific fresh pies. Walkable from the Cottage, although one must walk over a busy freeway to get there. My Ohio and West Virginia relatives LOVE this place.
Polly's Pies Restaurant & Bakery
2660 N Main StFamily-style restaurant with terrific fresh pies. Walkable from the Cottage, although one must walk over a busy freeway to get there. My Ohio and West Virginia relatives LOVE this place.
In-N-Out Burger
1168 S State College BlvdSo Cal's favorite burgers are just a mile away.
Sightseeing
For first-time visitors, this the first recommendation on my list. Charming old California town atmosphere with lots of restaurants and dozens of antique shops. Just two blocks from Chapman University, the atmosphere is youthful and vibrant. Watson Drug Store is a must-see; it was featured in the Tom Hanks movie 'That Thing You. Do.'
Plaza Square
Plaza SquareFor first-time visitors, this the first recommendation on my list. Charming old California town atmosphere with lots of restaurants and dozens of antique shops. Just two blocks from Chapman University, the atmosphere is youthful and vibrant. Watson Drug Store is a must-see; it was featured in the Tom Hanks movie 'That Thing You. Do.'
Santa Ana, county seat for Orange County, is chock a block with interesting late-18th century, early 20th century architecture. Lots of art galleries and restaurants. About a 20 minute walk with the Cottage.
35 locals recommend
Downtown Santa Ana Historic District
Santa Ana, county seat for Orange County, is chock a block with interesting late-18th century, early 20th century architecture. Lots of art galleries and restaurants. About a 20 minute walk with the Cottage.
My favorite beach city by far. Walk along Heisler Park for stunning views of the ocean and, on a clear day, Catalina Island. Dozens of interesting shops and restaurants. The quintessential So Cal beach venue.
844 locals recommend
Laguna Beach
My favorite beach city by far. Walk along Heisler Park for stunning views of the ocean and, on a clear day, Catalina Island. Dozens of interesting shops and restaurants. The quintessential So Cal beach venue.
Arts & Culture
The museum's permanent collection includes more than 100,000 objects, and features pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, Native American art, the art of Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and California plein-air painting. The museum has a second campus two blocks south of the main site, Kidseum, a children's museum with a focus on art and archaeology. The Bowers Museum and Kidseum are both easy 10 minute walks from the Cottage.
154 locals recommend
Bowers Museum
2002 N Main StThe museum's permanent collection includes more than 100,000 objects, and features pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, Native American art, the art of Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and California plein-air painting. The museum has a second campus two blocks south of the main site, Kidseum, a children's museum with a focus on art and archaeology. The Bowers Museum and Kidseum are both easy 10 minute walks from the Cottage.
Shopping
Main Place Mall
2800 N Main St15-minute walk from the Cottage. Lots of restaurants.
One of the premier shopping malls in the US. Dozens of high-end stores and restaurants.
790 locals recommend
South Coast Plaza
3333 Bristol StOne of the premier shopping malls in the US. Dozens of high-end stores and restaurants.
My favorite shopping mall. Outdoors, overlooking the ocean. Interesting stores, good people watching (you'll see rich people), and the Island Cinema is a terrific place to see a film--beer, wine, snacks served right to your comfy reclining seat. Pricey, but worth it.
719 locals recommend
Newport Center/Fashion Island
401 Newport Center DrMy favorite shopping mall. Outdoors, overlooking the ocean. Interesting stores, good people watching (you'll see rich people), and the Island Cinema is a terrific place to see a film--beer, wine, snacks served right to your comfy reclining seat. Pricey, but worth it.
Essentials
Smart & Final
707 W 19th StGood prices, two miles away.
Organic, health food store. Walkable from the Cottage. Excellent selection of freshly prepared foods, as well as organic produce.
96 locals recommend
Mother's Market & Kitchen
19770 Beach BlvdOrganic, health food store. Walkable from the Cottage. Excellent selection of freshly prepared foods, as well as organic produce.
Entertainment & Activities
Two miles away, smack dab in the middle of the Outlet mall. Easy to get to.
29 locals recommend
AMC Orange 30
20 City Blvd WTwo miles away, smack dab in the middle of the Outlet mall. Easy to get to.
The stadium is so close,we can often see the lights glowing in the northern sky at night. It's just across the freeway from the Honda Center.
478 locals recommend
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
2000 E Gene Autry WayThe stadium is so close,we can often see the lights glowing in the northern sky at night. It's just across the freeway from the Honda Center.
Honda Center
2695 E Katella AveHome of the Mighty Ducks.
Turnbeck Cottage quests will hear the fireworks from Disneyland nearly every summer night beginning at 9:30. It's just five miles away if you want to see them in person.
3085 locals recommend
Disneyland Park
1313 Disneyland DrTurnbeck Cottage quests will hear the fireworks from Disneyland nearly every summer night beginning at 9:30. It's just five miles away if you want to see them in person.
Three fewer screens than AMC, but it has my favorite big theatre for viewing 3D Imax-type films. Just down the street from Honda Center.
11 locals recommend
Century Stadium Promenade 25
1701 W Katella AveThree fewer screens than AMC, but it has my favorite big theatre for viewing 3D Imax-type films. Just down the street from Honda Center.
A short walk from Turnbeck Cottage, this place is a mecca for kids. Adults....not so much.
159 locals recommend
Discovery Cube Orange County
2500 N Main StA short walk from Turnbeck Cottage, this place is a mecca for kids. Adults....not so much.
Getting Around
2.5 miles away. Easy access for the train to San Diego or to Los Angeles for quick and easy day trips from the Cottage. Used in a few movies, including "Jerry Maguire.''
7 locals recommend
Train Station
2.5 miles away. Easy access for the train to San Diego or to Los Angeles for quick and easy day trips from the Cottage. Used in a few movies, including "Jerry Maguire.''
Sitting between Angel Stadium and Honda Center, it looks like a padded silver bicycle helmet.
32 locals recommend
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center station
2626 E Katella AveSitting between Angel Stadium and Honda Center, it looks like a padded silver bicycle helmet.