After attending the Tech Field Day Exclusive with HPE Storage at the Nth Symposium, I ended up with two days in the Anaheim area with no car, but I desire to explore.

Orange | Santa Ana | Laguna Beach

Orange, CA

There’s not a lot to do in this part of Orange, CA. Prior to leaving Maryland, I booked a reservation at the Awaken Float Lounge. In the same shopping center, there was also a deli for lunch and a park beside the shopping center. A picnic table became a #writingspot and a place to watch some pretty chill ass geese.

While I would have loved to get coffee from the Starbucks across the street, it wasn’t worth the risk of crossing the road. There wasn’t a lot for someone to see or do on foot. The Awaken Float Lounge, though, left me feeling pretty zen and was totally worth the trip.

Santa Ana

From Orange to Santa Ana. In a quest for a walkable town, I picked Santa Ana off a map.  I walked down 4th street with its many jewelry stores. The area kind of seemed like it was in a gentrification transition.  Eventually, I ended up at a coffee shop that had just closed.  A local (also wanting coffee) recommended the Gypsy Den to me in Artist’s Village. Artist’s Village had a few shops and restaurants.  The Den Cafe was a visually interesting #writingspot with good food and great ambiance. It was strangely empty. If I lived in Santa Ana, I would be here all of the time.

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach, the highlight of my Anaheim detours,  is stunning and walkable. While cute shops line Coast Highway, its main street area is Forest Avenue. I spent most of my time walking Coast Highway and its cornucopia of art galleries.