Orange County

Although Orange County might be best known as the original home of Mickey Mouse, the area anchored by Disneyland offers plenty of other entertainment options for travelers, including scores of diverse golf courses, both on the coast and inland.

Anaheim, of course, is where Walt Disney opened his first theme park, Disneyland, way back in 1955, and the park still thrills millions of kids and adults alike. Beyond Disney, though, there's also Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels, (who actually play in Anaheim) fine restaurants, the cultural arts of Costa Mesa and plenty of beach towns that thrive under the southern California sun.

The golf scene has venues to appeal to every budget and every level of player. There's the soothing scenery of Strawberry Farms Golf Course in Irvine, or Fullerton's Coyote Hills Country Club, designed by Cal Olson and the late Payne Stewart. You can wind through groves of sycamore, oak and chaparral on the Ted Robinson-designed Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita, or play golf in the ocean breezes of Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point.

Speaking of beaches, Orange County has some good ones, whether it's Newport Beach, Huntington Beach of Laguna Beach. And at Newport Beach, there's Pelican Hill Golf Club, which features two Tom Fazio designs, complete with Pacific Ocean views.

Orange County is also an easy travel destination, served by many airports in the Southern California area, including convenient John Wayne Airport, which is owned and operated by the county.