SANTA ANA – HIDDEN CITY JEWEL AMONG WORLD-FAMOUS COMRADES-IN-ARMS
Admittedly, because of extremely strong competition, it is not necessarily in the top tier of tourist highlights in the USA. Still, Santa Ana is an utterly amazing city in California that, if you’ve read about it before, should actually be visited when you get the chance.
According to Campingship, anyone traveling on the south west coast of the United States has a good chance of being nearby anyway. Santa Ana is part of the metropolitan region around Los Angeles, but with its 350,000 residents it is a separate entity. LA, Hollywood and Anaheim with its Disney Park; these are the big, world-famous visitor magnets with which Santa Ana competes. But it is not a question of either or, but of both and. In any case, Santa Ana, with its very well-kept, quiet, green and culturally influenced atmosphere, offers a wonderful relaxation program for the louder and more overt neighbors of the region.
An artist village as a real tourist attraction
You don’t really have much to do with art? Then the “Artist’s Village” in Santa Ana is still worth a recommendation. This artist village is the liveliest part of Santa Ana and offers, as the name suggests, many small studios, galleries and workshops. Those who are interested in art will be able to look and be amazed for hours here. And all the others? They don’t miss out either, because in this pretty part of the city, which only emerged in the 1980s, there are also many independent shops that offer a great mix. Needless to say, there is of course not a lack of a gastronomic scene that should leave nothing to be desired. After all, Santa Ana is in the middle of California, a state of enjoyment !
The special charm of this artists’ village lies not least in the fact that there are also many historical buildings there. In the mid-1980s, many of these houses were still abandoned and rather shabby. At that time, the city decided to revitalize the whole area and give the city back a real center that should not only attract visitors but also the residents themselves. This plan worked one hundred percent. Today you can stroll through interesting neighborhoods and come across top-class public institutions. This is what this is about Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (117 North Sycamore Street) and that California State Fullerton Grand Central Art Center (125 North Broadway). This is a pearl for art lovers Bowers Museum(2002 North Main Street). It offers art from all continents and from many eras, including prehistoric ones. Tourists will also find the historic courthouse in the quarter. In addition, a legal library, a theater and the town hall have their natural place here. By the way, in travel guides and leaflets the whole district is called the “Historic Downtown District”. It is really a must for anyone visiting the city.
Visiting Santa Ana with children
Santa Ana is a must for anyone who travels to California with all their kids. From the Discovery Science Center (2500 North Main Street) you will hardly get the little ones out again. The center is extremely family-friendly and not only presents topics such as the environment and natural history in an easy and comprehensible way. The subject of “earthquakes”, which is always feared in California, can also be experienced very impressively there. Another highlight is space travel, where you can lose the ground under your feet in the Discovery Science Center. Overall, it is very happy, exciting and educational here.
Incidentally, you can rightly do that from Santa Anna Zoo at Prentice Park (1801 East Chestnut Avenue) which is definitely another recommendation for those traveling with children. On over eight hectares of land, he is dedicated to the fauna of Central and South America. Most of the property on which the zoo is located was owned by Joseph Prentice. He has decreed that the zoo must give at least 50 monkeys a home at any time. Is it any wonder that the Santa Ana Zoo is home to a huge number of primates from all over the world – much to the delight of children, of course.
What’s the best way to get there and which excursions are available?
If you want to visit Santa Ana directly, you can fly in with various airlines and land at John Wayne Airport. Already in California, visitors can choose between Amtrak buses and trains. Of course, you can also go to the city by car, as it is right on the Santa Ana Freeway. By the way, by American standards it is really a stone’s throw to and from Los Angeles, and Pasadena and Santa Monica are not that far either.
Santa Ana is blessed with an almost Mediterranean climate, so the summers are hot and dry. The desire to go to the sea can arise. No problem from Santa Ana, the Pacific is as good as on your doorstep. Newport Beach and Huntingdon Beach are, so to speak, the house beaches, but you won’t regret a detour to Long Beach, a little further away.
Santa Ana is the birthplace of an extraordinary number of athletes and other sports enthusiasts. This makes it clear that you can do a lot for your own fitness and wellness in the city. There is no shortage of sports facilities and spas. One of the most famous children in town, however, comes from another area. The actress Michelle Pfeiffer saw the light of day in Santa Ana. After Hollywood she didn’t have to go very far…
Santa Ana in a nutshell
- The city is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area
- In the “Artist’s Village” there is art, culture, great shops and restaurants
- Also popular with children: the Discovery Science Center
- The Santa Ana Zoo specializes in the wildlife of Central and South America
- Various museums offer art lovers first-class collections; Particularly noteworthy is the Bowers Museum
- The Pacific Ocean with resorts and beaches like Newport Beach and Long Beach is close
