Established in 1871, Orange is one of the most historic cities in Orange County. Its Old Towne may be the county's best walking district. In one square mile, you'll find more than 100 antiques dealers, along with restaurants, tearooms, art galleries, boutiques, and a central plaza created in the late 1800s. Replete with tiled fountain and rose garden, it's the perfect place to park yourself, sip coffee from a nearby caf?, and watch the world circle by. The Old Towne district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with various architectural styles, including Victorian, craftsman, Mediterranean revival, and Spanish colonial. The surrounding residential neighborhoods possess one of the largest concentrations of pre-1940s homes in Southern California. Old Towne Orange could easily be the setting for the movie It's a Wonderful Life. All that's missing is the snow.
Lunch at Rutabegorz, situated in a 1915 building that was once the home of citrus farmers. Its salads and sandwiches are deluxe, and the kids' menu is varied and tasty. 264 N. Glassell Street; (714) 633-3260; rutabegorz.com.
