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Having grown up in Orange County my entire life, I know a thing or two about surfing and where to do it. Surfing is at the heart of Orange County Culture. This is evident, in the fact that Orange County is considered the Surfing Headquarters of the world. With just about every major Surf company headquartered along the beaches here, including the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. Surfing is a way of life here in Orange County. With our renowned sandy beaches, and excellent surf breaks, Orange County has a lot more to offer the avid surfer. In fact I’m going to share with you some of my favorite places to catch some waves.

My top two favorite places to surf are down south at San Onofre State Beach and Trestles down in San Clemente. These two breaks are the best at what they are known for. San Onofre is one of the best places to longboard in the country. With waves breaking out almost a quartermile, you can be sure to catch a nice long ride. Just watch out for all the other people there because I’ve never seen it not crowded on a good day. Also, you can be sure to see plenty of dolphions enjoying the surf as well!

Trestles is one of the best point breaks in the world, and is certainly the best in the U.S. Every year the top surfers from around the world come to compete and enjoy the perfect A frame barrels that Southern Orange County has to offer. The crowds are pretty rough there though so If you aren’t a seasoned veteran I wouldn’t mess around down there.

Northern Orange County has plenty of great surf breaks as well. The U.S. Open of surfing is held every summer in Hunting Beach which is also know as Surf City, USA. Again professional surfers from around the U.S. and World come and compete along the Huntington Pier in one of the most highly anticipated and watched surfing events of the year. Be sure to get there early, as spots on the pier and beach fill up quite quickly. When the U.S. Open is going on, there are plenty of breaks along the Huntington Beach stretch of coast.

A little farther south, in Newport Beach you can find plenty of places to surf. The World famous Wedge is at the very tip of the Balboa Peninsula and on the right swell can see waves in the 20 ft- 25 ft+ range. This break is extremely dangerous and should be left to the professionals on huge days like that. What makes this so dangerous is the fact that the waves crash right on the sand, leaving many people injured or dead if they are not a seasoned swimmer/surfer. All along the peninsula there are plenty of great surf breaks. For most the 52nd-56th street stretch is the most popular providing some of the best waves in the area. A little further south you can find some smaller, better shaped waves with less of crowd, usually from 36th st down to the Newport Pier.

These are just a few of my favorite places, obviously I wouldn’t give up my favorite ”Secret Spots” because then they wouldn’t be a secret anymore would they? If you have a favorite place that you like to catch a few waves at, don’t hesitate to share below in the comments!

Aloha!

-Jack

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Running can be one of the most rewarding, yet most boring exercises there is. One way to keep myself from getting bored is by changing up the scenery. I enjoy changing the places I run, instead of running the same routes all the time. Not only does it keep me interested, it allows me to escape from some of the monotonous tasks of daily life, and allows me to get some fresh air while checking out some wildlife. Below I have shared some of my favorite route to run in the Newport Beach Area.

One of my favorite places to go for a run, is the Back Bay in Newport Beach.  It has excellent scenery, a ton of wildlife and the ocean breeze makes the temperature cool enough to go for a long run without getting too hot.

My second favorite place to go running is on the Bonita Canyon trail in Newport Beach.  Again, tons of scenery and an excellent workout with the hills.  The trails are designed for running and it is very peaceful and quiet.  This is one of my favorite places to run when I want to clear the cobwebs out of my head and get away from everything – Awesome place to run!

My third favorite place to go running is on the Crystal Cove trail over in the Newport Coast.  There is no better view of the Pacific Ocean while running.  I love running along this trail late in the day when the sun is setting. It’s the most peaceful run.  Plus it is close to my home and is a great way to get in a workout without having to drive far away.

What are some of  your Favorite Places to run in Newport Beach? Post a comment below with your personal favorites!

Cheers

-Jack

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The following list is compiled of a few of my favorite Mexican joints in the Costa Mesa area. Being a trainer in the area, I often frequent these places for lunch and dinner. I recommend them not only for their amazing Mexican food, but also because of the healthy choices that they all offer. Eating out doesn’t have to be detrimental to your nutrition and diet. These places offer a variety of great tasting Mexican food that won’t impact the waistline too much. Remember, moderation is key to keeping off the lbs.

1. Chipotle – Great Mexican food that is pretty healthy and not expensive at all.  This place is habit forming and I get in a rut going here a lot because the food is so good – excellent burritos and tacos!
2. Chronic Tacos – A great little Mexican joint with rustic atmosphere and awesome tacos.  If tacos are your weakness, this is the place to go!
3. Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen – another great place with down to earth atmosphere, great authentic Mexican food at a great price.  This is a great place to go for lunch or a casual dinner with friends.
4. Taco Mesa – another great Mexican place with lots of choices on the menu and really tasty food.  This is another place that can be habit forming if you are not careful.
5. Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant – Good old fashion authentic Mexican food in a homey, down to earth setting.  This is an old standby place to go for great Mexican food with a huge menu.   They make fantastic fajitas!

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