Santa Ana buzzes with energy all year
Palm-peppered and looking like a fusion of a Wild West cinema backdrop and a Spanish hacienda, Santa Ana sits entirely encompassed by the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. The place beats with the same Latin-cum-American energy you'd expect of the City of Angels, too. Saloons and old courthouses dot the Downtown, while dusty ridges of chaparral host elegant villas and panoramic Santa Ana vacation rentals on the outskirts. There are also pretty parks, science centers, fashionista strips, and all the joys of greater Orange County to get stuck into.
Activities and attractions in Santa Ana
Are you looking for top things to see and do in the area? Although it can be tempting to stay in your comfortable vacation rental, you'll want to check out everything that makes Santa Ana a one-of-a-kind vacation spot. These are some of the most popular attractions to see, all within 30 miles (48.2 km) of the city center:
- Disney California Adventure® Park (5.1 mi / 8.3 km)
- Disneyland® (5.3 mi / 8.5 km)
- Disneyland® Park (5.3 mi / 8.6 km)
- Knott's Berry Farm (10.2 mi / 16.4 km)
- Aquarium of the Pacific (18.9 mi / 30.4 km)
- Santa Ana Zoo (1.5 mi / 2.4 km)
Santa Ana balances culture and character
You'll want to delve into the cultural museums of Santa Ana, where the exhibits range from American greats to curious Chinese relics. After that, be sure to take the pulse of local life with a jaunt through the Mexican food courts, barista-led coffee joints, craft beer companies, and chichi cocktail clubs of much-loved 4th Street. Add a medley of elegant, palm-topped parks, spirit distilleries, and even monkey-spotted zoos to the mix, and you'll see that there's plenty to do just a stone's throw from those Santa Ana vacation rentals.
Inner-city Santa Ana is best done in spring and fall
There's a reason why most Los Angeles locals flock to the beachfronts of Huntingdon, Malibu, and Santa Monica in the high summer, and it's the same reason Santa Ana is best visited when the scorching heat of July and August has subsided. For the best sightseeing weather and top conditions for strolling down 4th Street, consider getting Santa Ana vacation rentals in the spring or fall, when temperatures hover between the 70s and 80s, and the days are typically dry and mild.
Rolling surf and scorched mountains in Santa Ana
It's just a short jaunt on the LA transport system from the heart of Santa Ana to the rolling waves of Huntington Beach, where consistent surf and lively sand stretches draw crowds during the height of the summer. Go in the other direction and it's a totally different story. Rising softly against the cityscape in patches of Coulter pine and scrubland, the Santa Ana Mountains offer the reserves of the Limestone Canyon and the Whiting Ranch Wilderness. That's where rock climbers, wildlife lovers, hikers, and mountain bikers will find trails amid cliffs and forests.
Traveling to and around Santa Ana
Fly into John Wayne Airport (SNA), the closest airport, located 4.6 mi (7.4 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you could also fly into Los Angeles Intl. (LAX), which is 33.6 mi (54.1 km) away.
If you'd rather travel by train, the main station is Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center.
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