Be a good neighbor: Take the bus or train to the beach or the ballgame this summer
By Irvine City News staff
The attractions of living in Irvine are many, and among them are the city’s adjacencies: what’s next or near to us. While easy access to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, John Wayne Airport, Disneyland and South Coast Plaza come immediately to mind, it’s easy to forget the natural wonders within or near the city limits. These include the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary that flows into the Back Bay, the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains, the rugged San Joaquin Hills, and the beauty of Laguna Canyon.
It’s important that Irvine continue as a good steward of our own city, as well as the natural and human communities we impact. One such place is Laguna Beach. We share the canyon that connects our cities, and when Irvine locals visit the beaches, art festivals and shops of Laguna, we impact traffic and parking, too.
One way to lessen the impact on our neighbors, and on ourselves, while eliminating the stress of driving Laguna Canyon and finding parking in the summer is to take the bus. It’s the Summer Breeze, the free weekend bus service from Irvine to Laguna Beach.
For a second summer, the Orange County Transportation Authority, in partnership with the city of Laguna Beach, will offer the buses from the Cavalia parking lot to Laguna Beach. The parking lot is between Laguna Canyon Road, the 133 and the 405. The buses run every 20 minutes or so from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from July 1 to Sept. 3.
Laguna Beach stops include the bus station, Sawdust Festival and Festival of Arts/Pageant of Masters attractions. Riders can catch the free Laguna Beach Trolley from the stops, which runs up and down the coast.
And for the even more adventurous (and those adept at transit maps, apps and timetables), the Laguna trolley connects to the Dana Point trolley at the Ritz-Carlton, and the Dana Point trolley connects with the summer trolley in San Juan Capistrano.
An alternative way to hit the beach without driving in summer weekend traffic is to catch a Metrolink train from the Irvine station to San Clemente or Oceanside. It’s only $10 roundtrip, and kids under 5 are free. Trains on the Orange County and Inland Empire line depart Irvine starting at 8:42 a.m. each morning. The last train back leaves San Clemente Pier at 5:55 p.m.
And if you’re a baseball fan, don’t forget the Angels Express Metrolink trains for weekday home games that begin at 7:07 p.m. The trains depart Irvine station at 4:15, 5:17 and 6:05 p.m., arriving in Irvine for boarding a few minutes later. The train leaves the Anaheim station 30 minutes after the game ends.
octa.net/Bus/Routes-and-Schedules/Special-Bus-Service/Laguna-Beach-Summer-Breeze
visitlagunabeach.com/trolley
san-clemente.org/i-am-a-/visitor/san-clemente-trolley
visitsjc.com/summertrolley
octa.net/Metrolink/Promotions/Angels-Express-2017
It’s important that Irvine continue as a good steward of our own city, as well as the natural and human communities we impact. One such place is Laguna Beach. We share the canyon that connects our cities, and when Irvine locals visit the beaches, art festivals and shops of Laguna, we impact traffic and parking, too.
One way to lessen the impact on our neighbors, and on ourselves, while eliminating the stress of driving Laguna Canyon and finding parking in the summer is to take the bus. It’s the Summer Breeze, the free weekend bus service from Irvine to Laguna Beach.
For a second summer, the Orange County Transportation Authority, in partnership with the city of Laguna Beach, will offer the buses from the Cavalia parking lot to Laguna Beach. The parking lot is between Laguna Canyon Road, the 133 and the 405. The buses run every 20 minutes or so from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from July 1 to Sept. 3.
Laguna Beach stops include the bus station, Sawdust Festival and Festival of Arts/Pageant of Masters attractions. Riders can catch the free Laguna Beach Trolley from the stops, which runs up and down the coast.
And for the even more adventurous (and those adept at transit maps, apps and timetables), the Laguna trolley connects to the Dana Point trolley at the Ritz-Carlton, and the Dana Point trolley connects with the summer trolley in San Juan Capistrano.
An alternative way to hit the beach without driving in summer weekend traffic is to catch a Metrolink train from the Irvine station to San Clemente or Oceanside. It’s only $10 roundtrip, and kids under 5 are free. Trains on the Orange County and Inland Empire line depart Irvine starting at 8:42 a.m. each morning. The last train back leaves San Clemente Pier at 5:55 p.m.
And if you’re a baseball fan, don’t forget the Angels Express Metrolink trains for weekday home games that begin at 7:07 p.m. The trains depart Irvine station at 4:15, 5:17 and 6:05 p.m., arriving in Irvine for boarding a few minutes later. The train leaves the Anaheim station 30 minutes after the game ends.
octa.net/Bus/Routes-and-Schedules/Special-Bus-Service/Laguna-Beach-Summer-Breeze
visitlagunabeach.com/trolley
san-clemente.org/i-am-a-/visitor/san-clemente-trolley
visitsjc.com/summertrolley
octa.net/Metrolink/Promotions/Angels-Express-2017
