15 Best Things to Do in Laguna Hills, CA
While it shares a name with famous neighbor Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills is an equally exciting place to visit in Orange County, California.
Laguna Hills has a rich history, beginning with the land grants distributed during the rancho era in the 1700s.
Much of that history lives on to the present, from the city's street names, landmarks, and preserved architecture.
Laguna Hills' location also makes it ideal for nature lovers, with its beautiful trails, greenery, and proximity to the Pacific Coast.
Are you ready to begin your adventure?
Here are the best things to do in Laguna Hills, CA:
Learn about Orange County History at the Moulton Museum
Stemming from its history in the rancho era from the 19th century, the Moulton Museum aims to preserve Laguna Hills' rich history and present it to future generations.
The Moulton family owns and operates the museum, deeply rooted in Orange County since 1874.
Their patriarch Lewis F. Moulton moved to the area at 20 years old.
Lewis kept a ranch in the area, which eventually evolved into the family's present-day business, the Moulton Company.
Visitors can see the vast collection of city artifacts and memorabilia, as well as some personal items from generations of the Moulton family.
These include memorabilia dedicated to Lewis' ranching legacy and his wife Nellie Moulton's artwork.
Visiting the Moulton Museum shows you life in Laguna Hills in the 19th and 20th centuries and how it has eventually shaped the modern-day city.
Enrich yourself with a little bit of history and visit the Moulton Museum.
Sample Argentina and Italy at Villa Roma Market & Restaurant
Inside a little strip mall along La Paz Road sits the Villa Roma Market & Restaurant, a local deli market and restaurant serving Argentine and Italian favorites.
Start your meal with some of their appetizers, from the empanada Argentina to a classic Italian antipasto platter.
Don't miss out on Villa Roma's mouthwatering pizzas.
Try out a classic Margherita, or order the Chimi Pizza, a fusion mix topped with skirt steak and chimichurri sauce.
The menu also features a great selection of hot sandwiches, salads, and pasta.
Likewise, they have an Argentinian grill section with different favorite meat cuts like skirt steak, flap, filet mignon, and short ribs.
After your meal, drop by the deli next door to buy some Italian and Argentine ingredients to recreate some of the delectable dishes you just savored.
Villa Roma also features live entertainment on the weekends.
You can enjoy your warm meal with a glass of wine and electrifying live music.
Have a good meal and a great time when you come to Villa Roma Market & Restaurant.
Bring Your Kids to Sheep Hills Park
Sheep Hills Park is a great place to bring the little ones to have fun outdoors in Laguna Hills.
The park has an abundance of play areas perfect for kids to run free and play with one another.
For families, take advantage of the flat grasslands to set up a little mat to have a nice picnic with friends and family.
The park is also perfect for those who want to be more active, with its proximity to hiking trails.
It's an excellent course for those looking to take a quick walk or run.
You can also bring your furry friends along to spend the day in the park.
Sheep Hills Park is the perfect little place to spend an afternoon in Laguna Hills, either with friends or family or just by yourself.
Stay at the Beautiful Mythea Castle
The Mythea Castle is a beautiful mansion in Laguna Hills' suburbs.
The mansion spans over three acres, with a beautiful panoramic view of the city during the day and a sparkling night sky.
Mythea Castle is a popular event venue that you can also book for a stay, which is perfect for big groups and families visiting Laguna Hills.
The mansion has seven bedrooms and ten bathrooms sprawled out in the spacious 12,300-square-foot space.
It also has an in-house theater, a beautiful library, an underground wine cellar, and a full-scale piano bar.
You can host your elegant events in the gorgeous interiors of Mythea Castle, making you feel like you've gone back in time.
The lawn and landscaping are equally delightful, with the exterior decked out in paved trails and vineyards.
It also has an outdoor pool with an adjacent barbeque area, two Jacuzzis, and a giant putting green chessboard.
Staying at Mythea Castle puts the best of Laguna Hills living to the forefront.
Enjoy an Elevated All-American Meal from Ironwood
Ironwood is a local haunt in Laguna Hills, noted for serving elevated American favorites with a modern twist.
Ironwood uses fresh and seasonal ingredients prepared daily from scratch.
They also offer a diverse selection of wine and craft beers that pair perfectly with their dishes.
Try their signature cispy Meyer lemon & honey duck wings or fresh shucked oysters on the half shell.
Ironwood has a beautiful selection of entrees, from the best quality meats to the freshest fish.
Try the wild caught Alaskan halibut, zinfandel braised Napa lamb shank, or the Double R Ranch bone-in ribeye steak.
Don't forget to pair off the delectable dishes with their beer and wine selection.
Their cocktail selection is also good, with creative mixes like the Great Scott, Ginbo Slice, and Nutmeg Rion.
For one of the best food experiences in Orange County, put Ironwood on your bucket list of restaurants in Laguna Hills.
Spend the Day at the Big Air Trampoline Park
Bring your friends and family to the Big Air Trampoline Park, a fun jump and play park in the city.
Put on your comfy clothes and try all the different courses offered there.
Jump for joy on the bouncy floors.
Otherwise, amp up the adrenaline and play dodgeball.
Then, enjoy a balanced battle with your friends to see who reigns supreme.
They also have a slamball court to level up your usual basketball game and an obstacle course where you can unleash your inner athlete.
The Big Air Trampoline Park is a great place to visit with friends and family.
Combine Beer and Games at GameCraft Brewing
The local brewery GameCraft Brewing combines craft beers with their love for playing all sorts of games and recreation.
You can find them in the Laguna Hills Commerce Center, a haven for gamers looking for delicious food and drink.
The restaurant has won a few awards, such as the American Beer Festival and California Craft Brewers Cup.
The restaurant feels like a gamer's den, with the interiors decked out like a spaceship on an Apollo mission.
They also have a mosaic wall of live-streams that complete the ambiance.
Indulge in their perfect beer chow, such as their hot chicken sando, GameCraft's version of the famous hot chicken sandwich.
Otherwise, try the Hawaiian smash burger, topped with grilled pineapple and served with a side of tater tots.
Their beer selection also features different flavor profiles, from crisp brews to hoppier flavors, to the more unique blends.
Try out their house brews like the Doom Juice, a dry hopped hazy double IPA.
You can also try the GameCraft Leit, an American light lager, or the Whole Hog, a smoked lager.
True to their name and passion, GameCraft also hosts various game nights during the week.
Join board game Tuesdays, trivia nights, and the classic Dragons and Dungeons night.
Check Out the Fossils at Dinosaur Park
The Dinosaur Park is a little pocket of green in the middle of the Laguna Hills Community Center.
It's a small but fun area for little kids to come and play around, with the playground decked out in a prehistoric dinosaur theme.
The displays also double as interactive sculptures for kids, as they can discover the "fossils" on the rock walls.
They can touch and interact with the whalebone sculpture as well.
There are also close green areas to roam around and run or play soccer on.
It's a humble little area but is still worth a visit when you're looking for a peaceful place to play and relax in Laguna Hills.
Dig into Italian Favorites at Romano Cucina
Romano Cucina is a homey local restaurant serving freshly cooked Italian fare.
Romano Cucina has a wide range of options of Italian favorites on its menu.
Start your meal off with the classic bruschetta or calamari fritti.
For the mains, dig into some pasta favorites like their lasagna, which comes in three options: cheese, sausage, and Bolognese.
They also have the classic pesto and Aglio olio pasta to add to the table.
Don't forget to get a slice or two of their pizzas.
Grab their signature Margherita or white pizza, topped with olive oil, garlic, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
Cap the night off with some of their wine or martini drink selections.
They have over a dozen flavors and combinations of yummy martini drinks.
Come to Romano Cucina for homey and delicious Italian flavors when in Laguna Hills.
Stop by El Conejo Park
Translated to "Rabbit Park," El Conejo Park is a small park tucked into the Laguna Hills suburbs.
It's small but lush, with a wide-loop trail perfect for walks and jogs.
The park also has an open green space that's great for laying down a mat and chatting with friends.
There is also a playground in the park for kids to come and play in.
It's an excellent place for people to relax and take in the beauty of the rural community in Laguna Hills.
Other Things To Do Nearby
Bask in the Sun at Laguna Beach
Best known as the location of its namesake TV show, Laguna Beach offers more than just the drama reflected on early 2000s TV screens.
Put on your swimsuit and enjoy the abundance of beautiful sunny beaches along the Pacific Coast.
Laguna Beach also offers excellent hiking trails that provide magnificent perspectives of Orange County's beautiful vistas and waters.
The city also has a great food scene, with many restaurants to choose from, such as luxury eateries to mom-and-pop joints.
Laguna Beach also has multiple museums featuring art and marine conservation areas.
It's worth the 15-minute drive from Laguna Hills.
Explore Nature at the Niguel Botanical Preserve
The Niguel Botanical Preserve is a tranquil preserve of green in Orange County.
You can find it in Laguna Niguel, California, ten minutes from Laguna Hills.
The preserve spans over eight acres, housing over 2,000 plant species sprawled in a beautiful landscape.
The preserve is also a gorgeous place to take a walk or hike, with an abundance of greens and flowers.
It's the perfect background for a relaxing exercise.
There are also different themed gardens on the property for visitors to explore, from gazebos and fields to a full-on labyrinth.
The Niguel Botanical Preserve is an excellent display of the beautiful greenery of Orange County.
Hike the Path at Oso Creek Trail
Near Mission Viejo is the Oso Creek Trail, a steady hiking trail located within the Oso Viejo Community Park.
It's an over 5 km loop that goes through Oso Viejo, which includes a volunteer-run community garden.
These volunteers also plant and maintain the garden.
The trail is popular with locals as an excellent place for birding, hiking, and mountain biking.
You can also bring dogs, but you need to keep them on a leash.
Along the main areas of Oso Creek are vast parklands perfect for relaxing and picnics.
The trail also has baseball fields and a nearby community center with indoor facilities.
The Oso Creek Trail is a lovely location if you're looking for quality time with the great outdoors near Laguna Hills.
Get Active at the Ladera Sports Center
The Ladera Sports Center is an excellent place for active recreation for locals and visitors.
You can find it in Ladera Ranch, California, 12 minutes from Laguna Hills.
The facility is a state-of-the-art sports center dedicated to bringing world-class indoor sports and recreation programs.
The center spans almost 50,000 square feet, containing over eight basketball and volleyball courts and a fitness center with the latest gym equipment.
It also features digital technology, with events simulcast across the location and live-streamed online for viewers at home.
For refreshments, the All-Star Café inside serves healthy snacks and drinks for patrons.
You'll have everything you need to spend an active day at Ladera Sports Center.
Get Jumpin' at DEFY Orange County
Are you looking for an exciting experience in Laguna Hills?
DEFY Orange County is the perfect place for you to visit.
This place is an indoor active sports park that features multiple activities to get your blood pumping and adrenaline going.
Try out their different activities and obstacle courses.
Become an American Ninja Warrior as you try out the Battle Beams, Wall Tramp, Zip Line, and Stunt Fall.
They also have a Ninja Course, perfect for unleashing the inner competitor in you.
DEFY also features Trapeze and Air Silks, where you can feel like you're flying through the sky.
You don't need to worry about falling; the area has soft landing sponges to ensure your safety.
If you want hardcore activities, they also have parkour courts, a high-end air track for intermediate gymnasts, and extreme dodgeball.
There is no shortage of activities to do at DEFY Orange County.
You can find DEFY at Mission Viejo, California, seven minutes from Laguna Hills.
Don't forget to put this on your list and book a holiday today.
Final Thoughts
Laguna Hills is an idyllic destination in Orange County.
It offers abundant nature activities, delicious local food, and rural, suburban life.
Likewise, you'll stay in one of the most beautiful locations in Southern California.
So what are you waiting for?
Discover the best things to do in Laguna Beach today!
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