If you're staying local to Santa Ana, we HIGHLY recommend visiting Dough Exchange for a quick breakfast bagel. They really put a lot of thought into making different but YUMMY bagel sandwiches. They also have tasty canned cocktails that you can take to-go (shhh, we won't tell anyone if you want to sip while walking in downtown).
Old Towne Orange, or what us locals call "The Circle" is Jacob's & I's favorite date night spot. You have so many options for food, drinks, and window shopping here. Plus, they've shut down one of the side streets, so now there's more freedom to walk around and dine outside. Here are some of our recommendations: The Wall or Provisions for a quick drink before dinner. Gabby's, Boss Cat, or Citrus City Grille for dinner. We've also heard amazing things about Felix's but haven't tried it ourselves yet.
If you can fit it in, Disneyland is only a 15-30 minute drive depending on where you're staying. Why not visit the O.G. Happiest Place on Earth!
Easy and costs nothing! Whether you want to take a stroll on the beach or boardwalk, Southern California beaches are hard to beat. Newport Beach is the closest beach to us, but Laguna Beach is another great beach spot.
If you're into morning hikes, I HIGHLY recommend this one. Awesome ocean views, and isn't too challenging. Another great way to admire our Southern California beaches.