Things To Do

How Locals Spend Free Time in Irvine

Curious about what you'll do when you live in Irvine? If you like the idea of hiking through canyon trails, getting artsy at gallery openings, and are daring enough to try surfing at nearby beaches, Irvine is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from sunrise hikes to sunset dining and give you a full taste of Irvine's active outdoor and cultural scene.

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Jessica Montes

Irvine Local Expert

Jessica, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move

Jessica is a born and raised Angeleno who has spent 30 years bouncing between East LA, the Westside, and the Valley, usually with a trunk full of boxes and a strong opinion about neighborhoods. She moved eight times between 2013 and 2023 and genuinely loves it, especially the decluttering part and the chance to reinvent herself with each new move. A former teacher of eight years, she has taught everyone from pre K kids learning their ABCs to high schoolers stressing over college essays. She loves California for the beaches, sunshine, hidden lakes, and hikes that feel like they belong in another state entirely. Her guilty pleasure is the Custard Front Drive donut from Donut Friend, she road trips whenever possible, and she is slowly working through a bucket list of every national park. She lives with two bonded cats, Marty the black cat and Jelly the tabby. At Snappy Scout, Jessica edits California guides with deep local instincts built over decades of real CA living.

Written with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts

What Will You Do in Irvine?

From weekend adventures to iconic road trips, here's how locals spend their time off.

Local's Q&AReal answers from someone who lives here

My Favorite Local Spot in Irvine

The Great Greek is a local favorite for a reason! They serve some of the best spanakopita and dolmades I’ve ever had. Highly recommend starting with an appetizer (like the four dip combo that comes with warm, fluffy pita) before getting the feta-topped gyro.