Weekend on the ocean in Orange County
Aug 20, 2014, 9:20 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 2,976
Nice photos as usual! Brings back memories as I used to regularly travel to south Orange County for work and often head over to Laguna Beach for dinner. Can't say that I ever did any beach time there - just too cold in the water even in summer. Great town for walking around and some nice places to dine.
Aug 21, 2014, 2:50 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Iver
Programs: BA GOLD/OWE BA Amex Prem Plus Tesco Airmiles Qantas Bronze IHG SPG Eithad
Posts: 2,902
Again another great TR from SFO777, always know when you start something it is going to be great, hope now Mrs SFO777s back is alright and giving her no trouble, bet she enjoyed the ocean visits and just relaxing.
^
^
Aug 21, 2014, 8:12 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,646
Monday morning and most of the weekend crowd had checked out. We had a great breakfast at The Loft.
Mrs. SFO had a healthy breakfast.
Me? Not so much.
The Rotiserrie Chicken Chilaquiles was amazing!
We checked out and headed south down PCH to explore Dana Point and San Clemente, before heading back north to Newport Beach and lunch at Rick Bayless' amazing Mexican restaurant Red O, adjacent to Fashion Island.
After lunch, we headed up McArthur Blvd. for the short drive to SNA, a very convenient airport if your are departing on AA or UA and your gates are in the single digits. Unfortunately, Frontier operates from Gate 21, the last gate in the airport, seemingly located in LA County. The Admirals Club is near Gate 8.
Meh, one of the weaker clubs in the system. But better than nothing.
Looking back to Gates 1-7...
And the long walk to Gate 21.
OMG, how much longer?
Orange County-Denver
Frontier 264
3:50P-7:05P
August 18, 2014
Economy Stretch Seating
Seats 3CD
Unfortunately a completely full flight as we both got middle seat mates. Mrs. SFO lucked our with a reasonably sized person while I got Billy Bob in a Razorback cap. Yo, F9, how about selling a blocked middle seat like Vueling?
An on time arrival back in Denver and we were home by 8PM.
Mrs. SFO had a healthy breakfast.
Me? Not so much.
The Rotiserrie Chicken Chilaquiles was amazing!
We checked out and headed south down PCH to explore Dana Point and San Clemente, before heading back north to Newport Beach and lunch at Rick Bayless' amazing Mexican restaurant Red O, adjacent to Fashion Island.
After lunch, we headed up McArthur Blvd. for the short drive to SNA, a very convenient airport if your are departing on AA or UA and your gates are in the single digits. Unfortunately, Frontier operates from Gate 21, the last gate in the airport, seemingly located in LA County. The Admirals Club is near Gate 8.
Meh, one of the weaker clubs in the system. But better than nothing.
Looking back to Gates 1-7...
And the long walk to Gate 21.
OMG, how much longer?
Orange County-Denver
Frontier 264
3:50P-7:05P
August 18, 2014
Economy Stretch Seating
Seats 3CD
Unfortunately a completely full flight as we both got middle seat mates. Mrs. SFO lucked our with a reasonably sized person while I got Billy Bob in a Razorback cap. Yo, F9, how about selling a blocked middle seat like Vueling?
An on time arrival back in Denver and we were home by 8PM.
Last edited by SFO777; Aug 25, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Aug 21, 2014, 8:18 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,646
Nice photos as usual! Brings back memories as I used to regularly travel to south Orange County for work and often head over to Laguna Beach for dinner. Can't say that I ever did any beach time there - just too cold in the water even in summer. Great town for walking around and some nice places to dine.
Thank you BA5E. Mrs. SFO's back is much better. Thanks for asking.
Aug 21, 2014, 8:53 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,825
Bloody Mary for breakfast, Margarita for lunch... On a Monday...
You are living the life!
Watch your salt intake - we want you around to keep creating trip reports!
Amazing food photos, again.
United is upping their game (we'll see) with onboard food - with your skills I am sure your pictures will make it look like a gourmet dinner. Just need to get you back on UA to take those pictures.
You are living the life!
Watch your salt intake - we want you around to keep creating trip reports!
Amazing food photos, again.
United is upping their game (we'll see) with onboard food - with your skills I am sure your pictures will make it look like a gourmet dinner. Just need to get you back on UA to take those pictures.
Aug 21, 2014, 2:05 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,646
Bloody Mary for breakfast, Margarita for lunch... On a Monday...
You are living the life!
Watch your salt intake - we want you around to keep creating trip reports!
Amazing food photos, again.
United is upping their game (we'll see) with onboard food - with your skills I am sure your pictures will make it look like a gourmet dinner. Just need to get you back on UA to take those pictures.
You are living the life!
Watch your salt intake - we want you around to keep creating trip reports!
Amazing food photos, again.
United is upping their game (we'll see) with onboard food - with your skills I am sure your pictures will make it look like a gourmet dinner. Just need to get you back on UA to take those pictures.
Indeed. Thank you sriegert.
Which reminds me that I forgot to post this exchange with Mrs. SFO as we were waiting to board and the GA called priority boarding for Summit members.
Mrs. SFO: What is Summit?
Me: It's Frontier's elite status
Mrs. SFO (shaking head and laughing): Seriously? Elite status on an all coach airline?
Aug 25, 2014, 6:57 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Helvetia
Programs: AS; BA Silver; UA; HH Gold; Sprngli Connaisseur
Posts: 2,920
Again, a pretty cool TR. Laguna Beach looks pretty nice. Generally, I think of Spain or Italy for coastal trips as they're closer. Not that we actually escape out there from Switzerland very often. Still we're on the West Coast visiting my parents occasionally, so we might be tempted to head south at some point.
The new Westin at DIA looks interesting.
The new Westin at DIA looks interesting.
Aug 26, 2014, 11:21 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,610
Which reminds me that I forgot to post this exchange with Mrs. SFO as we were waiting to board and the GA called priority boarding for Summit members.
Mrs. SFO: What is Summit?
Me: It's Frontier's elite status
Mrs. SFO (shaking head and laughing): Seriously? Elite status on an all coach airline?
Looked like a nice weekend. ^
Aug 28, 2014, 6:42 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,646
Thanks avi8tir.Again, a pretty cool TR. Laguna Beach looks pretty nice. Generally, I think of Spain or Italy for coastal trips as they're closer. Not that we actually escape out there from Switzerland very often. Still we're on the West Coast visiting my parents occasionally, so we might be tempted to head south at some point.
The new Westin at DIA looks interesting.
The new Westin at DIA looks interesting.
Thanks worldtraveller73.
Aug 28, 2014, 6:07 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Cary, NC
Programs: AA 1MM; DL DM; Global Entry; MR Gold; HH Gold; Nat'l EC
Posts: 562
Weekend on the ocean in Orange County
Always appreciate photos from my former home! SNA Admiral's Club has not changed much over the years, but great AANgels make this one of my favorite clubs in the system.
Billy's at the Beach is a total tourist trap, but convenient if you arrive by boat. Next time, head north to The Alley on the corner of PCH and Balboa Blvd. Great neighborhood spot with excellent bartenders (Mike is one of the best in OC) and surprisingly good food. Only downside is no water view.
Billy's at the Beach is a total tourist trap, but convenient if you arrive by boat. Next time, head north to The Alley on the corner of PCH and Balboa Blvd. Great neighborhood spot with excellent bartenders (Mike is one of the best in OC) and surprisingly good food. Only downside is no water view.
Aug 31, 2014, 9:58 am
#30
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, SQ Gold, KQ Platinum, IHG Diamond Ambassador, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,369
Thanks for the report, SFO777. The Orange County coast is very picturesque, and the hotel you stayed at looks great!
I thought you weren't going back to Y after your HNL trip though?
I thought you weren't going back to Y after your HNL trip though?