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Attractions, Entertainment, and Points of Interests
HISTORY Throughout the 1800's, this area consisted mostly of a few farms, some apple orchards, and a trio of tiny hamlets---Fairview, Paularino, and Harper--which never quite coalesced into a single community. Costa Mesa was officially named a city in 1920--its name meaning "coast tableland" in Spanish. During World War II, Costa Mesa was the site of the Santa Ana Army Air Base, a military installation that existed only form 1942 to 1946. Today this is where the Orange County Fairgrounds are.
COSTA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM
1870 Anaheim Ave
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 631-5918
Hours: Thursday 10 am to 3pm (by appointment only)
Admission: Donation
This former bank building has been converted into the local repository of Costa Mesa
history, including collections of memorabilia and photographs dating in particular from
the Santa Ana Army Air Base during World War II. The local historical society has
thousands of documents and artifacts on hand, a one room showroom for a repository of
historical documents, genealogy and photographs about life in Costa Mesa from the turn of
the century.
DIEGO SEPULVEDA ADOBE
1900 Adams Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 754-5302
Hours: Saturday 1 to 5pm
Directions: Take the Harbor Blvd exit south from the San Diego Freeway (I-405), and turn
right and proceed to Estancia Park. Look for the "State Historic Landmark" sign.
Built in the early 1800's, this adobe building was used by the cowboys as a way station.
They later herded cattle for Mission San Juan Capistrano and later for Ranchero Diego
Sepulveda. The Adobe is now a functioning museum with items depicting the early life of
Orange County.
ORANGE COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 556-ARTS
This theater offers the Opera Pacific and Orange County Philharmonic Society
performances, as well as guest orchestras, classical soloists and touring
dance companies. Pop and jazz performances are also booked here. There
are great acoustics, but the third balcony will give you vertigo. If you
can't afford your orchestra seats, bring your opera glasses. On Monday
and Wednesday you can tour the facility from 10 to 11 am. The half hour
tour is free, but you will have to pay for parking.
ORANGE COUNTY SPEEDWAY
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 492-9933
Hours: Friday 8pm May through October
Admission: $8
Motorcycles race here during the late spring and summer months.
ROBERT MONDAVI WINE AND FOOD CENTER
1570 Scenic Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 979-4510
A noted Napa Valley winery, Robert Mondavi, opened this site in 1989 to sponsor programs
in wine appreciation. This 10,000 square foot building has dining areas both indoor and
out. The facility presents wine tasting, cooking demonstrations, concerts and other
special programs for groups as large as 175 or as small as eight. The center may be booked
for private events ranging casual receptions to fancy, black tie gatherings. The wines and
cuisine are specifically matched to complement the occasion. For information about the
center's regular schedule of public events, call the number listed.
GOAT HILL JUNCTION
Fairview Park
Placentia Ave and Swan Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
(949) 54 - train
Directions: Use Harbor Blvd. Turn west on Wilson Street and then right on Placentia Ave.
If you approach from Brookhurst Street, go east on Hamilton/Victoria and turn left on
Placentia. Goat Hill Junction is on the right about one half mile, boarding the Mesa Verde
Golf Course. Fairview park is the home of Goat Hill Junction, a club run operation that
pays homage to the iron horse, run by the Orange County Model Engineers. Club members
offer free train rides every third Saturday and Sunday of the month from 10 am to 3:30 pm.
Children ride on a one eight scale railroad, pulled around three miles of 7.5 inch gauge
tracks, by diesel, steam, electric and gasoline powered locomotives.
ORANGE COUNTIES FAIR & EXPOSITION CENTER
July 11th to July 28th 1996
88 Fair Dr
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 708-3247
Free Concerts and arena events with admission. Carnival, motorized events,
headline musical artist, livestock shows, traditional competions. Hours
Mon-Wed 12pm to Midnight and Thurs thru Sun 10 am to Midnight.
ORANGE COUNTY MARKETPLACE
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 723-6660
Hours: Weekends 7am to 4 pm
Admission: 50 cents; parking free
Located in the fair grounds, this is Orange County's largest regular schedule swap
meet, with over 1,500 booths. You can find get deals on new items and crafts.
SOUTH COAST PLAZA AND SOUTH COAST VILLAGE
Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 435-2000
This mall has three district shopping centers. The main one is South Coast Plaza, with 7
major department stores and over 200 shops and restaurants. In the center is a large
carousel in use year around.
Directly west of South Coast Plaza on Bear St is the new extension of South Coast Plaza (formerly Crystal Court). This is a three story mall with two department stores and many more small shops and restaurants. One of the most unique shops here is the Gallery of History, where you can buy or admire rare autographs, from presidents to baseball players, mounted in handsome plaques with photographs and other memorabilia. In the center court they often stage exhibits and shows.
Across Sunflower Street (north of the main mall) is South Coast Plaza Village, an outdoor mall with an assortment of boutiques, gift and antique shops, as well as restaurants.
SOUTH COAST REPERTORY THEATER
655 Town Center Dr
Costa Mesa, Ca
(714) 957-2602--Tickets--(714) 957-4033
Orange Counties Tony Award winning professional resident theater. Acclaimed
staging of classic master pieces. Dynamic productions of outstanding contemporary
plays conveniently located across from Orange Counties Performing Arts.
All shows start at 8pm.
KONA LANES BOWLING CENTER
2699 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 545-1112
Bowling Alley
SHARK CLUB
841 W Baker
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 751-0206
Billiards Hall
KEY CLUB
1525 Mesa Verde Dr East
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 662-2262
Billiards Hall
SHOOTERS TEQUILA BAR & CAFE
725 W Baker
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 540-5061
Local Night Club
GOATHILL TAVERN
1830 Newport Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 548-8428
Local Night Club and pub with over 127 different beers on tap from around the world.
THE BLUE MARBLE COFFEE HOUSE
1907 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 646-5776
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 6:30 am to 11pm; Friday and Saturday open to midnight. This
shop features a reading library and board games for the customers. Every Tuesday night is
comedy night, and there's a talent show on the last Monday of the month. You can enjoy
live music on Friday and Saturday.
THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF
3333 Bristol St
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 549-1766
Hours: Monday through Friday 10 am to 9 pm; Saturday 9:30 am to 6 pm; Sunday 10:30 am to 6
pm.
A popular coffee house in South Coast Plaza
DIEDRICH'S COFFEEHOUSE
474 E 17th Street
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 646-0323
Hours: Sunday through Thursday 6 am to 11pm; Friday and Saturday nights open till
midnight. Diedrich's has several outlets in Orange County, and the blends are rare. Carl
Diedrich, the founder, was raised on a coffee plantation in Guatemala. He was the first
Orange County merchant to roast beans on a large-scale, commercial basis. At this location
there is large patio, a reading library, and gift items for sale.
CLUB SHIKI
891 W Baker
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 432-0133
Local Night Club
BILBO BAGGINS
2701 Harbor Blvd
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 545-1718
Local Night Club
MESA VERDE COUNTRY CLUB GOLF COURSE
3000 Club House Rd
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 549-0522
A private club with a limited reciprocal program, this course has been
the site of several PGA/LPGA and Senior tournaments. Weekdays are at $70,
weekends $90. There are four par 5 holes here.
COSTA MESA TENNIS CLUB
880 Junipero Dr
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 557-0211
Public Tennis Club
updated 3/15/01
