Photo courtesy of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Anaheim, located in the heart of Orange County, was once the wine capital of California. In the late 1880s, plant diseases wiped out the vineyards. The county, centered 30 miles south of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego, soon became known for its citrus groves. Agriculture remained the mainstay of the region until 1955, when Walt Disney brought his unique brand of magic to the area. Today, approximately 40 million tourists travel to Orange County every year to visit Disneyland and a host of other family attractions.

In addition to the Magic Kingdom, Orange County is home to 34 cities, 42 miles of California coastline, and more than 2.9 million residents. Predominantly sunny skies reign over Santa Ana, the county seat, and The City of Orange, which, along with Anaheim, are the county’s largest cities.

On Duty

When it comes to healthcare, the pick of the county’s crop is the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Medical Center. Located in the City of Orange, UCI Medical Center was listed among the nation’s top hospitals in the most recent U.S. News & World Report ratings, ranking 35th in the nation for gynecology.

In 2003, UCI Medical Center also received the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence, a distinction awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which is part of the American Nurses Association. UCI Medical Center became the 78th hospital in the nation to receive this distinction (there are 88 Magnet facilities as of this writing) and is one of only three hospitals in California to be so honored.

Other healthcare facilities in Orange County include: Anaheim General Hospital; Chapman Medical Center, which is in Orange; Children’s Hospital of Orange County, also in Orange; Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center; Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center; Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, which is in Mission Viejo; Newport Beach’s Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian; and St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton.

Although the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau (AOCVCB) insists that Anaheim is not a suburb of Los Angeles, there are those who would disagree. Whatever your perspective, there is no question that some of the healthcare facilities located across the county line might make the prospect of commuting a tempting one.

Los Angeles boasts several hospitals that appear on the U.S. News & World Report rankings. There are five hospitals in the City of Angels on the list of the nation’s best: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, and USC University Hospital. You will find four more facilities from the U.S. News & World Report list in communities located throughout Los Angeles County, including City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles County-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

As of January, all one of these facilities — and all hospitals across the state — are subject to nurse-to-patient ratios. California is the first and, so far, the only state in the nation to legislate minimum staffing ratios. The California Department of Health Services initially projected that California will need an additional 5,000 RNs to meet the staffing requirements established by the new ratios.

The ratios, which vary from 1:1 in trauma units and the operating room to 1:6 in med/surg and psychiatry units, are part of the Nursing Workforce Initiative launched by former Governor Gray Davis in 2002 in response to California’s growing nursing shortage. Before the initiative went into effect, the state ranked 49th out of 50 in the number of RNs per capita, according to the California Healthcare Association. The state plan also includes funding for the training and recruitment of additional nurses.

Walt Disney brought his magic to Orange County in 1955. Photo property of Disney, courtesy of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Off Duty

With an average temperature of 70 degrees and an average of only 13 inches of rain a year, chances are good that the sun will shine on you as you get out and explore Orange County.

Major attractions. In 1955, Walt Disney forever changed the landscape of Orange County on his way to changing the way Americans spend their vacation time. Located in the heart of the county in Anaheim, Disneyland was the original family theme park. Today, The Disneyland Resort includes Disneyland; Disneyland’s California Adventure theme park; and Downtown Disney, a dining, shopping and entertainment venue.

You’ll also find a number of other family-oriented attractions in the area. Especially worth noting are Knott’s Theme Park and the Movieland Wax Museum, both rated “Gems” by AAA. Orange County also offers major league attractions for professional sports fans: Major League Baseball’s Anaheim Angels, who won the 2002 World Series, play at Edison International Field, and the National Hockey League’s Mighty Ducks, who played in the 2003 Stanley Cup, take to the ice at Arrowhead Pond, also in Anaheim.

The Anaheim Angels, 2002 World Series champions, play in Edison International Field, an entertainment destination in itself. Photo courtesy of The Lovero Group and the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Long before Walt and Mickey came to town, however, the Mission San Juan Capistrano had earned its reputation as the jewel of the California missions. To this day, it remains one of the county’s biggest draws. Built in 1776, the mission’s adobe walls shelter the oldest building still in use in the state, as well as 10 acres of beautifully peaceful gardens and refreshing fountains. You can walk down timeworn paths, listen to the tolling of century-old bells, and breathe in the serenity of the Great Stone Church. Once a month, authentic music and costumes bring historical events to life as the mission presents Living History Day.

The cultural scene. Orange County is nothing if not creative, and you’ll find evidence of that creativity expressed in a variety of different ways throughout the area. In Santa Ana, imagination is at work in the Discovery Science Center, which is dubbed the amusement park for your mind. Santa Ana also boasts the vibrant, 20-block Artists Village that is awash in art galleries and studios. For more breathtaking views, head to Laguna Beach and stroll along Gallery Row or tour the Heritage Homes and Cottages.

The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana is Orange County’s largest museum. Dedicated to the art of indigenous peoples, the museum features a variety of art from the Americas, the Pacific Rim, and Africa. Just two blocks away is the Bowers KIDSEUM, which has plenty of hands-on activities for younger ones. You can also take the kids to the Children’s Museum in La Habra.

But what if you thirst for entertainment that is a little more mature? When it comes to world-class symphony, ballet, and opera, there’s only one place you need to go — the 3,000-seat Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

Laguna Beach is one of several beautiful beaches in Orange County where you can take in plenty of sand and surf. Photo courtesy of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

A masterpiece of nature. From the legendary beaches that line the coast to the rambling foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and the cool shade of the Cleveland National Forest, nature’s art surrounds the residents of Orange County. World-class surfing, sailing, and sunbathing are among the favorite pastimes at such notable beaches as Newport, Laguna, Huntington, San Clemente, and Balboa. Scenic boardwalks, piers, and Victorian pavilions dot the coast. Tidal pools wait to be explored and grassy bluffs overlook the blue Pacific.

Inland, numerous nature trails lead you away from the hustle and bustle of urban life into lush groves of willows, across running creeks, and up hills that provide panoramic views of canyons and cottonwoods. In addition to trails, Santiago Oaks Regional Park features a nature center that offers exhibits and programs about a range of topics. Irvine Regional Park, a sprawling 477-acre park nestled among rolling foothills and stately groves of heritage oak and sycamore trees, has miles of equestrian, pedestrian, and bike trails.

The park is also home to the Orange County Zoo, a unique facility that specializes in the animals and plants of the southwestern US. Water-lovers will want to explore the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Southern California’s largest estuary, by kayak. Want to stay dry? Watch for whales from the deck of one the area’s charter boats. And although Mark Twain said golf is a good walk spoiled, you’ll love teeing it up in the ocean breeze at one of the county’s award-winning oceanfront golf courses.

While not known for the dramatic landscapes that characterize the Monterey Peninsula or Big Sur to the north, Orange County offers plenty of natural beauty — and plenty of ways to appreciate it.

Spread your wings. For many in Orange County, the proliferation of bike paths provides an ideal way to get out and explore the area. You can follow the broad white line of the coast on a path that leads from Bolsa Chica State Beach all the way to Newport. If you want to take in the sunset, the AOCVCB says you can find some of the most picturesque spots along the bike path that winds from Newport to Balboa. Another path will take you from Backbay Drive through the 700 acres of the Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, where you’re likely to find great blue herons, shore birds, and a variety of ducks that will watch your progress. If you’d rather watch the birds than have them watch you, head to Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in Modjeska Canyon, which is located in the Santa Ana Mountains. The sanctuary is known for bird watching, especially hummingbirds.

Built in 1776, Mission San Juan Capistrano remains one of Orange County’s biggest tourist attractions. Photo courtesy of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Of course every year in March, you can welcome back the swallows to the Mission of San Juan Capistrano. No one really knows why the birds return like clockwork every year, but a story is told around the mission of a padre who noticed a storekeeper in the town angrily removing the swallows’ nests and chasing the birds away. As the story goes, the kindly padre invited the little birds to the mission where there was room for all, and they’ve been returning there every year.

Get your fill. When the Southern California Restaurant Writers presented 2003’s awards for meritorious achievement in dining, nearly 40% of the 593 awards went to restaurants in Orange County. The local restaurant scene has also won acclaim on the national level for the number of new restaurants that have embraced a bold and eclectic approach to dining.

Whether you’re in the mood for contemporary cuisine, classic French flavor, or faultlessly fresh seafood, you’ll find something to suit your tastes — and your budget. As a major tourist destination, Orange County offers a plentitude of good restaurants in every price range. In fact, according to the AOCVCB, there are approximately 5,000 restaurants in the area. The influence of the tourist industry also means that casual dress is acceptable at most restaurants. There are a few restaurants that require men to wear jackets, but by and large, you can make yourself comfortable and prepare to enjoy some great food.

Good times are in the bag. From surf shops to chic boutiques, Orange County is a shopper’s dream. Some of the area’s shopping centers are a destination in themselves. Anaheim boasts Fashion Island, a Mediterranean-style outdoor center, where you’ll find high-fashion names and American originals, such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s among more than 200 specialty stores and restaurants. For a change of pace, head over to The Block at Orange, an innovative shopping, dining, and entertainment venue that specializes in SoCal cool. You’ll also find refreshing one-of-a-kind boutiques and galleries lining scenic roads along the coast.

Ready for some Southern California cool? Head to The Block at Orange, an innovative shopping, dining, and entertainment venue. Photo courtesy of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

Explore the area. Orange County’s location makes it easy to explore all that California has to offer. Take a short drive north to explore the sights and sounds of nearby Los Angeles, head south to San Diego, or east to the Santa Ana Mountains and the Cleveland National Forest.

You can even go west to Catalina Island. If you want to relax and savor the trip, take the ferry. You’ll cover the 22 miles that separate Catalina Island from the California coast in an hour or two. If you’re in a rush, a helicopter can get you there in 15 minutes. Avalon, the only city on the island, is a charming resort town with an intriguing array of shops and restaurants lining its bay-front pedestrian promenade. Take a tour of the city, visit the local museum, or explore the marine preserve. Snorkeling, glass-bottom boats, and submarine tours will let you experience a unique perspective on island life. Catalina Island is also a great place to enjoy the beach, horseback riding, hiking, camping, golfing, deep-sea fishing, and pier fishing.

The good life. German colonists originally purchased land in what is now Anaheim for $2 an acre. That was more than 100 years ago, however, and things have changed a bit since then. According to HomeFair.com’s City Reports, the average price of a three-bedroom home in Anaheim is now $237,459. Home prices tend to run slightly higher in Santa Ana and slightly lower in the City of Orange, according to the reports. Average reported rental prices for a two-bedroom apartment range from $825 to $999.

Those housing costs contribute to a cost-of-living index that runs higher than the national average, a trend that is typical of most communities in California. In a county with 34 cities that include quaint coastal communities and historic towns graced with tree-lined streets and Victorian architecture as well as tourist meccas, it’s hard to make many other generalizations. Even when it comes to education, differences among local school districts abound. For example, the official motto of the city of Santa Ana is “Education First,” a fact that is seemingly reflected in the city’s student-to-teacher ratio of 21:1 as reported by HomeFair. The City of Orange is listed with a ratio of 27:1; Anaheim reports in at 33:1.

What You Can See for a C-Note

With a day off and $100 in your pocket, your options in Orange County are almost limitless. We decided to step back in time and explore the rich history of Southern California with a visit to Old Towne Orange.

Honored with a listing in the National Register of Historic Places, this eight-square block area is the antique capital of Southern California. Century-old Plaza Park is the heart of a lively district known for its quaint restaurants, tearooms, tempting boutiques, a myriad of antique shops, and art galleries. If some of the sites look familiar, don’t be surprised. Hollywood has used some of the historic sites as movie locations.

Time will fly by as you search for collectibles and beautiful bargains. Before you know it, it’s time to enjoy a hamburger, fries, and a malt at Watson Drugs ($11), where the 1950s-era soda fountain has been wonderfully preserved.

After lunch, spend a leisurely afternoon touring the Victorian homes in the district. Maps for self-guided walking tours, with historical information about the homes, are available at the Orange Chamber of Commerce.

For dinner, the AOCVCB suggests P.J.’s Abbey, a former Victorian Baptist Church built in 1891. AAA recognizes P.J.’s as a “striking example of wooden Gothic architecture” and reports “jazz adds to the ambience on Friday and Saturday evenings.” We’ll spend $40 for a wonderful appetizer and entrée.

With almost $50 left, it’s time to leave history behind and head for the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, home to one of hockey’s best team, the Mighty Ducks. We can get a good ticket for $38.50, and with the $10 for parking, we’re about tapped out. That’s OK, though, because we’ve seen some of the best Orange County has to offer.

From the beaches to the mountains, Orange County offers a harvest of opportunities and a unique Southern California lifestyle.