Irvine [1] is a city (pop 150,000) of Orange County, California, located in the greater Los Angeles area. It is known for being one of the largest planned communities in the United States of America.

Understand

Established in 1971, this city is ranked among the safest cities in the nation. Its low crime rates, highly ranked school system, and convenient location that provides quick access to the beaches resulted in steep housing prices. Along with the rest of Orange County, this city is considered to be a bastion of conservative thinking.

Get in

By air

• Fly via John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA) and Irvine is across the street. Alternatively, you could try Los Angeles International (LAX) is about an hour's drive away without traffic, or Long Beach Airport.

By train

• Amtrak provides light rail service via Metrolink, with a stop right in Irvine. http://www.metrolinktrains.com/lines/line_orange_county/stations/station_irvine.php

By car

By bus

Get around

By car

• As in all suburbs, it is extremely difficult to get around without a car. Rental cars are available near John Wayne Airpot.

By bus

• The Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) provides bus transport. http://www.octa.net/

See

• University of California, Irvine (UCI) The largest (1500 acres) and highest ranked university in Orange County.
• Irvine Regional Park. One of the larger parks in Irvine. It even has a mini zoo. http://www.ocparks.com/irvinepark/

Do

• Verizon Wireless Irvine Amphitheater - hosts various concerts ranging from rock to classical. http://www.casenet.com/concert/irvine.htm

• The Irvine Barclay Theatre features concerts, plays, and performances that range from student groups to world-renowed international artists. http://www.thebarclay.org/

• The Bren Events Center offer concerts for many independent and lesser known groups. Along with various dance groups and shows, they feature UC Irvine's Anteater Athletics events, most notably their well regarded basketball games, in which there men's team has had two NCAA Division II tournament bids, four NIT bids, and has been the champions of the Big West two times, and possibly three at the end of this season, in which they are 13-9 (9-1) as of 09 February 2006. http://www.bren.uci.edu/

• Park Place. A Regal Cinema movie theater (closed down 2006), Fat Burgers, California Pizza Kitchen, Ruth's Criss steakhouse, Wahoo's Fish Taco, and a sushi restaurant. Located on Jamboree and Michelson. There's a Boomers! further down on Michelson near Harvard where they have mini-golf, batting cage, laser-tag, and arcades.

Learn

The fourth largest campus of the University of California, UC Irvine (24,000 students), is located in the city's southern suburbs. http://www.uci.edu/

Work

Irvine is home to many high tech companies such as BroadCom and Western Digital as well as a handful of computer game companies (most notably Blizzard Entertainment).

Buy

• The Irvine Spectrum has shops, boutiques, department stores, and plenty of merchant carts. http://www.shopirvinespectrum.com/

Eat

• Culver Plaza. One of the two shopping plaza featuring a multitude of Asian stores and restaurants, including 99 Ranch, Sam Woo's, JJ Bakery, Morning Glory, etc. Located at the intersection of Culver and Irvine Center drive.

• Walnut Plaza. The other Asian shopping plaza located at the intersection of Walnut and Jeffrey, also built around a 99 Ranch, along with Pho 99, House of Shabu Shabu, Taiko Restaurant, Lollicup, A&J's Restaurant, etc.

• The Market Place. Also known as the Tustin Market Place. It features a lot of restaurants. Located on the border of Irvine and Tustin, on Jamboree. [2]

• Irvine Spectrum. The Irvine Spectrum [3] has several restaurants in additon to its food court which includes: The Cheesecake Factory, Johnny Rocket's, PF Chang and Wolfgang Puck.

• Chakra Creative Indian Cuisine. University Plaza, 4143 Campus Drive, Irvine, CA 92612, 949-854-0009. http://www.chakracuisine.com/

Drink

• Irvine Spectrum. Crazy Horse (closed down since 2005) and Dave & Buster's.

Sleep

• Candlewood Suites, 16150 Sand Canyon Avenue, (949) 788-0500, [4].
• Courtyard Irvine John Wayne Airport/Orange County, 2701 Main Street, (949) 757-1200, Fax: (949) 757-1596, [5].
• Crowne Plaza Irvine Hotel, 17941 Von Karman Ave., (949) 863-1999, [6]. Close to Orange County Airport (SNA).
• Doubletree Hotel at Irvine Spectrum. Barranca Road.
• Hyatt Hotel, Jamboree Road at Interstate 405.
• Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Avenue, (949) 553-0100, Fax: (949) 261-7059, [7].
• Residence Inn Irvine John Wayne Airport/Orange County, 2855 Main Street, (949) 261-2020, Fax: (949) 261-2011, [8].
• Residence Inn Irvine Spectrum, 10 Morgan Street, (949) 380-3000, Fax: (949) 588-7743, [9].

Stay Safe

Irvine is considered America's safest city. Feel free to walk around alone at 3:00 AM.

Get out

• Corona del Mar. Nice small beach with tidepools and natural reserve on one side, and firepits on the other. Free parking on the side of the road, or $6 parking at lot on the beach. Southern end of Irvine. Keep going south on Jamboree until you hit the Pacific Coast highway.

• Fashion Island. Another shopping mall similar to South Coast Plaza. Based in Newport Beach. Take Jamboree south.

• Laguana Beach. One of the nicer beaches around here with plenty of restaurants and shops. Take the 405 or 5 south until they merge, then take the 133 south all the way until you hit the Pacific Coast Highway.

• South Coast Plaza. The largest shopping mall around here in Costa Mesa. Just as luxurious as Fashion Island, but much larger.