The Best Alternative Museums In Orange County California

While LA may be better known for its culture and niche interests, don’t discount the more interesting museums of the OC. Here’s a list of the top five unique museums that stretch beyond your general science and art.

1. International Surfing Museum

Museum

Huntington Beach is known as one of the biggest surfing capitals of the world, so it seems more than fitting that such a city would house a surfing museum. Dedicated to preserving the history of surfing, it is a must-see spot for any surfing fanatic. Some of the highlights include George Freeth’s 1919 surfboard – he was the first person to surf Huntington Beach – to the recent addition of the World’s Largest Surf Board, which arrived at the collection on January 22, 2016. And with only a $2 cost of admission, it’s an inexpensive way to enjoy a traditionally expensive area.

2. Pretend City Children’s Museum

Museum, Post Office, Store

Located in the suburban utopia of Irvine, the Pretend City Children’s Museum offers a unique approach to educating children about real-world tasks. The inside of the museum consists of nearly 20 exhibits meant to replicate a city on a miniature scale. These include typical city components such as a post office, grocery store and emergency services to the more remarkable such as an amphitheater, marina, and farm. Offering exhibits where children are encouraged to learn through imagination and interactive activities provide education that is crucial to their development while providing an environment that is fun and safe, since everything is tailored to their size. One thing’s for sure: children will love it for the fun while parents admire the education.

3. Marconi Automotive Museum

Museum

Serving as a home to historic pieces such as the 1929 Ford Model A, 1956 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, and the 1973 Porsche Interscope Indy Car to the multiple Ferraris and Lamborghinis, this museum is sure to attract any car or racing enthusiast, as well as history lovers. The walls of the Marconi Automotive Museum house street and race cars and even some motorcycles, with every vehicle kept in a lustrous and shining condition – evidence into preserving these pieces of history. Best of all, the museum donates profits to help at-risk children. What better way to enjoy the community than to know you’re giving back as well.

5. Institute and Museum of California Art

Museum

For those interested in both Impressionist art and the beauty of Southern California, the Institute and Museum of California Art presents a unique niche of paintings to fit this mold. Through the showcasing of these paintings, the museum hopes to inspire a love of nature as well as raise environmental awareness. One such example is their exhibit featuring California paintings that emphasize water in order to bring attention to the drought and how devastating it is to lose such a beautiful natural resource. These beautiful landscapes provide a look into times past and hope that it inspires us to preserve what is left for times in the future.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.