Orange County Staycation

[[{"fid":"4864382","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine ","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine ","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine ","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine ","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"AC Hotel Irvine ","title":"AC Hotel Irvine ","class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-center","data-delta":"1"}}]]Orange County is such a fun place to visit. A staycation or visit to the OC is always a pleasure. They have some of the best food and shopping in Southern California. Disneyland, South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, oh my! Plus, with UC Irvine so close by, the area is an epicenter for what's hip and cool these days. But as a millennial and frequent traveler, it's hard to find a place to stay in Irvine that fits the price range and just "gets" me. AC Hotels are completely changing the hotel space and creating no frills/Instagrammable experiences aimed for millennials that love to travel, but don't want to open up deep purse strings. I want new, modern looking designs central to the where all the action is in town without having to pay an arm and a leg, but I also want quality. For those looking for a hotel to stay at made with millennials in mind, check out AC Hotel Irvine, a brand new boutique hotel that just opened in April of 2017.

STAY[[{"fid":"4864383","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"AC Hotel Irvine","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"AC Hotel Irvine","title":"AC Hotel Irvine","class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-center","data-delta":"2"}}]]AC Hotels, which is part of the Marriott family, is a line of hotels that is geared towards the millennial traveler. The hotels were born from the vision of Spanish hotelier Antonio Catalan, who places focus on the entrepreneurial and modern global traveler that prefers a no-frills stay that checks off all the right boxes. The design at each of the AC Hotels is modern European with locally curated art from each location. 

Their expert mixologist Luis Delpozo is constantly creating secret off-the-menu items. AC Hotel Irvine is all about doing things local. Even their alcohol comes from a local distillery to support local businesses. The lounge's signature cocktail, The Swedish Fish, was developed with Orange County's first craft distillery, Blinking Owl, and is a unique infusion of the Scandinavian spirit, Aquavit and garnished with Swedish Fish candy.

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Millennials love good food. AC Hotel Irvine has done away with room service and replaced it with an array of Spanish tapas. Breakfast isn't your typical eggs and bacon either. Instead of traditional eggs, AC Hotel serves sweet and savory Spanish egg tarts, imported, freshly sliced Iberico ham and French croissants, fresh fruits, cheeses, muesli, yogurt, Nespresso coffee and more. Croissants are flown in from France, paper-thin prosciutto freshly cut from an Italian Berkel hand-cranked slicer. The Berkel slicer, an AC Hotels staple, offers visitors hand-cut meats including artisanal La Quercia Prosciutto for a taste of Spain.

AC Hotel by Marriott Irvine

3309 Michelson Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

EAT

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Puesto, a contemporary Mexican restaurant famous for their in organic, non-GMO, blue American corn masa tortillas sourced from local purveyor, Kernel of Truth. Their house made blue corn tortillas topped with crispy melted cheese is a must visit when in Irvine. All of Puesto's salsas are made from scratch using local produce.

Popular dishes include: Filet Mignon Taco with crispy melted cheese, avocado, and spicy pistachio serrano salsa; Zucchini & Cactus Taco with crispy melted cheese, zucchini, corn, tomato, cactus, avocado, and cilantro-tomatillo salsa; Puesto Perfect Guacamole with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Crab Guacamole with lump crab, Tres Leches de Café, sponge cake soaked in evaporated, condensed, and whole milks, Cabernet, coffee, and topped with mascarpone whipped cream, shaved chocolate, mocha sauce, and fresh strawberry, and more. The family-owned concept is already a staple in Irvine, but they will soon be opening a second location that will be adjoined to the AC Hotel Irvine.

Puesto Tacos

8577 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618

DRINK

[[{"fid":"4864387","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"The Blinking Owl ","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"The Blinking Owl ","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"5":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"The Blinking Owl ","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"The Blinking Owl ","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"The Blinking Owl ","title":"The Blinking Owl ","style":"width: 375px; height: 500px;","class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-center","data-delta":"5"}}]]The Blinking Owl is the very first craft distillery in Orange County. They make Vodka, Gin, several types of Whiskey, and the Scandinavian spirit, Aquavit. Customers can sit at the bar setting and ordering their farm-to-table cocktails and also take part of a distillery tour and educational tasting. The Blinking Owl's beautifully designed tasting room offers incredible views of their production facility. They use certified organic grains, fruits and botanicals and work with local purveyors who use sustainable farming practices. They believe in sourcing locally and organically for their ingredients. Aside from being on the path to creating a 100% California product by working with the local grain community, they are also the official alcohol providers for AC Hotel Irvine.

The Blinking Owl

802 E. Washington Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 542-5928

EXPLORE

[[{"fid":"4864388","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"Pedego","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"Pedego","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"6":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"Pedego","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"Pedego","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"Pedego","title":"Pedego","style":"height: 424px; width: 532px;","class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-center","data-delta":"6"}}]]Explore Irvine like no other on electric bikes! The city has 54 miles of paved off-street bike trails that weave through the city with protected open space complete with beautiful mountain bike trails that extend all the way to the beach. Pedego's electric bikes give riders the ability to pedal as much or as little as you want. There's even a throttle for those who want a more thrilling and fast ride. Riders can join a tour or rent a bike and go on their own. Be sure to check our website. Even as a frequent visitor of Irvine, the tour was so much fun and a side of Irvine I had never seen before!

Pedego Irvine

4632 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92604

PLAY[[{"fid":"4864393","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"The Great Park Balloon ","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"The Great Park Balloon ","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"7":{"format":"default","alignment":"center","field_image_alt[und][0][value]":"The Great Park Balloon ","field_image_title[und][0][value]":"The Great Park Balloon ","field_image_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_has_syndication_rights[und]":"1","field_licensor[und]":"","field_license_id[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"alt":"The Great Park Balloon ","title":"The Great Park Balloon ","style":"width: 500px; height: 333px;","class":"media-element file-default media-wysiwyg-align-center","data-delta":"7"}}]] The Great Park Balloon is an iconic attraction in Orange County. It is one of the largest tethered helium balloons and the first of its kind in the United States. The balloon is environmentally safe, non-polluting, and pretty much silent. It stands at 118 feet tall and can hold up to 30 passengers. It flies up to an altitude of 400 feet and is always tethered to the ground by a steel cable. The Great Park Balloon also functions as a public observation deck offering an unobstructed 360° view that spans 40 miles on a clear day. Tickets are currently $10. The actual ride itself is about 10 minutes long.

The Great Park Balloon

Marine Way And Sand Canyon
Irvine, CA 92618