Our annual Readers’ Choice awards has returned for another year of taking you through the best and most unique parts of Orange County. As we’ve done before, we’ve also thrown in some Editors’ Choices to give you a sense of the greatness we see in the county. Sit back and enjoy. Compiled and Written by […]

Best Traditional Day Camp Camp James A “summer magic” has put smiles on the faces of an estimated 40,000 kids during the camp’s 26-year run and It’s a place where kids aged 4 to 11 can relish in the joys of nature by kayaking, interacting with wildlife and splashing in the Pacific. The camp has […]

Best Family Beach and Family Hiking Trail Crystal Cove State Park The secluded, protected and usually uncrowded three-and-a-half-mile cove offers a tranquil day at the beach for families, especially those with small children. Now in its seventh year on the readers’ list with 31 percent of the vote. crystalcovestatepark.org | Newport Beach/Laguna Beach Best Park […]

Best Nail Salon The Nail Lounge Placing a high priority on cleanliness and safety, The Nail Lounge surpasses the state’s requirements for nail salons, according to its website. It is the salon’s standard protocol to clean, disinfect and sterilize all stainless steel tools in a heat-sterilization unit. Plus, the nail technicians only use brand-new files […]

Best Family Restaurant Ruby’s Diner A 14th-year winner, this diner offers the best in breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable, fun atmosphere. It offers it so well, in fact, that you’ll find it a challenge to not leave there completely stuffed—in a very happy kind of way. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to leave […]

Best Weekend Getaway San Diego/La Jolla In a tie for local readers’ favorite quick getaway—La Jolla’s debut on the readers’ list was neighboring San Diego’s sixth year—visitors can kayak off La Jolla’s famous cove and sea caves, or spend the day at the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, or evening at a winery, on […]