We all remember the teenage TV series "Orange County - the neighborhood of the rich." It showcases the lives of young people and their families from the rich Orange County in the state of California, USA. The hit TV series made the region renowned worldwide, but it is also famous for other things. This is also reflected in the fact that over 50 million tourists visit it each year.
Orange County is not actually a neighborhood, but a huge area of over 3 million people, starting from the suburbs of Los Angeles and stretching almost to San Diego. Proximity to Mexico has had a huge impact on architecture, restaurants, food and language. Still, this state was once Mexican territory. The climate is temperate and dry, not so wet despite the proximity of the Pacific Ocean.
Summer is almost a year-round season, but there are also rainy months. Winter is completely absent, which promises plenty of sun and greenery throughout the year. The Americans themselves do not know why the weather is like that, but they are happy with the fact that it is a nice place to live. However, ocean waters are too cold for swimming except for surfers with neoprene suits.
Palm trees, greenery and flowers
are everywhere between houses, at the crossroads and around the roads. Orange County is home to one of the most expensive and luxurious houses in the United States and the world. In the USA's expensive property list, the first place is held by a $ 75 million palace. It’s located in the "rich neighborhood" on the Pacific coast and is called "Corona del Mar" (Sea Crown in Spanish).
It’s difficult to describe the area or rather it is difficult to choose where to start. A perfect starting point is the city of Anaheim. De facto center of Southern California and the entertainment center in Orange County. Anaheim has a population of about 330,000 and is located 45 km southeast of Los Angeles. It was founded by 50 German families in 1857. Today the city is the starting point for the adventurers in Orange County.
The emblem of the city and the "rich neighborhood" is the most famous amusement park in the world -
Disneyland
This Disneyland is the first in the world and opened on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California. The ceremony was personally led by Walt Disney, who had the idea of a park where children and adults can have fun together. The idea was on hold for several years while Disney visited many amusement parks to get extra inspiration. The actual construction of Disneyland began in 1954, and for a year the construction consumed $ 17 million. Much of the money was raised through an ABC TV show. The opening ceremony was televised and was hosted by three Disney affiliates from Hollywood - Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan. The ceremony is about to fail apart because of the very hot weather - 38 degrees Celsius, and the flood of people with false invitations. A gas leak closes three of the park’s sections and the asphalt laid just the day before is so soft that the ladies' heels are sinking in it. The press sharply criticizes the event, and in return, Disney invites journalists to a second opening in order to fix the situation. The park is open for visitors on July 18, when the first visitors gathered as early as 2 o'clock in the night at the gates. Today the park is one of the most visited in the world. In 2007 alone the park was visited by 14,800,000 people, with a total of over 515 million visitors since its opening.
You reach Disneyland in Anaheim via an amazing boulevard, on both sides of which palm trees swing back and forth as if they are worshiping the passing cars. Every generation has grown up with Mickey Mouse and there are attractions in this park for the youngest, their parents and even grandparents who have the chance to feel like children for a day. In Disneyland, dreams come true. Meeting fairy tail heroes, riding trains, horror houses, Indiana Jones adventures and pirate ships are just some of the attractions. The novelty is a special Star Wars Park, which was first introduced in early June. It's about to be open to the general public and cause real hysteria.
You can find more extreme entertainment nearby, offered by the oldest amusement park in the US - "Knotts Berry Farm". It was created in the 1920s and is the first theme park. The adrenaline rises from the terrifying, fast and tilting downhill train rides, tall towers, panoramic elevators, water boats, swimming pools and more.
Anaheim's Exhibition and Congress Center organizes world-class business events and concerts each year. The city hosted in early June the international tourism fair IPW 2019, which is held every year in a different region of the United States. This event alone has been attended by more than 6000 delegates from over 70 countries, including Bulgaria. Statistics show that last year Anaheim received over 24.4 million tourists from around the world who spent over $ 9 billion.
The area of Anaheim and Orange County attractive for
Shopping maniacs
as there are over 200 shops, including shopping malls. You can find the most popular fashion chains -Macy's, Nordstrom, Victoria Secret and others. Cozy cafes, pubs, restaurants, clubs are also available. Besides business, the area provides conditions for sports and recreation. Last but not least, Orange County is a nice vacation spot. The area offers hot sun, palm trees, ocean views, true relaxation, where shorts, flip-flops and sunglasses are always relevant. Obtain a beach umbrella and visit one of the nine beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean's 68-mile coastline. They are situated along beautiful resorts that are ideal for family vacations, walking alleys and light cool winds in the otherwise hot California. There are six popular resorts in Orange County - Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente.
The most famous one is Laguna Beach
Where art becomes life. We are familiar with the MTV show, where young and wealthy girls and boys have to live together for a while. They are spoiled enough, but come to traditional love stories and intrigues. Laguna Beach is also a popular place for world artistic circles. The scenic and rocky coast of California turns the resort into a center for artists where they come to get inspired and create. Each summer the Canyon of Laguna hosts a carnival procession, a festival and art exhibition, a culinary festival, a Laguna dance festival and others. There are boutiques, art galleries, cafes, restaurants. The central beach is suitable for sunbathing and volleyball, football or basketball.
Huntington Beach - surfing, sand and sunbaths
It is known as Surf City USA (Surf City USA®). This is a meeting place for surfers from all over America because of the great waves. On this occasion, the main beach alley has a surfers’ walk of fame, the International Surfing Museum. The resort has a beautiful and long beach line. The sand is pure, fine and golden like the one on our own Black Sea coast. The beach is as long as Sunny Beach, but it is two or three times wider. Well, there is another major difference. There are no hotels, bars, restaurants and thousands of sun loungers and umbrellas. It is absolutely empty and you can freely settle down without anyone bothering you and asking for money. You can play football, volleyball. People protect nature. There is a pedestrian alley and another one for riding bikes. There’s a separate beach for walking dogs. You can only see one surfing shop.
Further back there are several small hotels - low-rise buildings, and a number of rich looking homes. In the center of Huntington Beach there are also a few shops, nice cafes, restaurants and clubs. The tables and chairs of the restaurants are pulled out on the sidewalks on both sides of the main street. Sitting there you can observe the typical Orange County life of the rich. Beautiful and skinny women, most of them with silicone (even in their lips) looking like Barbie dolls resembling Pamela Anderson. They walk around tanned from the sun in swimsuits and high heels. Every one of them thinks she’s s star out of your reach. The men have muscular bodies and walk around naked to the waist.
Showing off is in fashion at Huntington Beach, unlike other places in the US where people do not like to show off their wealth. Understandable as the city is in Orange County. Sitting at a café or a restaurant, it is becoming apparent that all kinds of cars pass through the street. It looks like a parade - everyone is showing off their car and blasting their music of choice. Interestingly, most are retro cars that are pimped and transformed with lots of money.
The other resort, Newport Beach, isn’t any less attractive than its competition. It’s thought of as the inspiration of Orange County. It mostly consists of wealthy middle-aged people. In it the houses are even bigger and more luxurious, and some are literally next to the sea and there are yachts parked in front of them. There are many yacht harbors and miles long beaches in the resort. Golf championships are taking place in the large golf courses. Newport Beach is suitable for active recreation, sports and sailing - whether by boat or cruise ships. This sophisticated place also offers shopping, the so-called Fashion Island, a variety of restaurants with a rich menu and prestigious awards for their dishes and service, as well as ultra-modern interiors.
Seal Beach is a charismatic movie location. It is called that because of the seals that used to go out on the shore. Today, behind the pier there are antique houses. The center is preserved in an old style from the 20s of the last century. The restaurants offer burgers and shakes as they were back in the 1940s. Dana Point is the sea escape. The famous traveler of the 1800s Richard Henry Dana has given the name of the resort as one of the most romantic places in California. Today it is an attractive yacht port with expensive villas. Offers fishing and cruises it is known for whale watching excursions. There is even a festival - whales. San Clemente is the Spanish village of the sea. The resort is preserved in the ancient Spanish architecture of the Mediterranean. It has pristine beaches, cafes and an interesting annual competition for sand castles. Of course, here too you can find the clothing and jewelry stores. More special are those for antique items. San Clemente is a famous spot for surfers.
Miroslav Ivanov, Anaheim, California, USA
IPW is the biggest exhibition of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), bringing together industry professionals from around the world in order to attract tourists to the United States. This year's IPW 2019 was attended by over 6,000 delegates from around the world. Next year, IPW will be hosted in Las Vegas gambling capital of the world.