Orange County doesn’t exactly have a reputation as the most laid-back area in SoCal, but it’s also home to a thriving legal cannabis market and a diverse collection of cities, hangouts, nature spots, and entertainment for a pretty lit stoner’s day out. Whether you’re looking to chill at the beach, enjoy the “trippier” side of an OC theme park, or take an entire canna-centric tour of the area (consumption included), there’s plenty out there to fill the hours of a 420-friendly outing. So without further adieu, here’s your helpful stoner’s guide to chillin’ in Orange County.Â
Note: Many of the activities and locations in this guide may still be closed or operating under different hours due to COVID-19 restrictions. Before you plan a visit to any of those locations, practice due diligence and look ahead to see if COVID regulations still apply.
Consumption Laws in Orange County
When planning out and executing your 420 activities in Orange County, always bear in mind that public consumption of cannabis is prohibited in the state of California. Consumption is only allowed in private residences or privately-owned spaces that are permitted to host cannabis consumption. Possession and use of cannabis are also prohibited on federal lands in California.
As of January 1 2018, California residents 21 and over may legally carry up to 1 oz or 28.5 g of marijuana for personal use. 8 g of hashish or concentrated cannabis are also allowed for personal carry and use.
Laws and regulations for cannabis possession and consumption vary between local jurisdictions in Orange County. When planning out your 420-centric activities, research and make sure you’re fully aware of what’s legal and what isn’t in localized areas.
Where to Buy Weed in Orange County
Your best bet for acquiring quality cannabis products in Orange County is through a viable weed delivery service. Grassdoor delivers to select zip codes in Los Angeles and Orange County with an ever-expanding region of delivery. All you have to do is enter your address at grassdoor.com to see if you’re in the zone.
Grassdoor carefully selects flower from an elite network of growers in California. The Grassdoor menu also includes Pax, Select, and Stiiizy vape products, as well as a quality stock of edibles and concentrates. However you need to stock up for a successful 420 experience in Orange County, the Grassdoor menu will always cover you.
Grassdoor accepts orders from 9:30 am – 10 pm, 365 days a year, so plan your orders accordingly. In addition to ordering from the handy ASAP menu, you can order from the Grassdoor schedule delivery menu for same-day delivery as long as you place your order before 2:00 pm in the available time slots. Any order placed after 2:00 pm will be placed as a next-day delivery.
Where to Consume
As previously suggested, be aware of local regulations and your surroundings when planning your cannabis consumption. Orange County is home to a surprising variety of nature spots, ocean-side views, and other popular locations to vibe at between private sessions.
Cannabis Tours OC
If you’re newer to cannabis and looking for a safe, easy, all-inclusive canna-centric Orange County experience, Cannabis Tours OC is a great resource. Feel free to blaze with your friends without having to worry about transportation, and enjoy your time between destinations on a spacious party bus. Cannabis Tours OC offers three distinct tour experiences: the Budz & Brews, Weed and Wine, and Growhouse & Dispensary tours running at $79, $89, and $99 per person, respectively.
Find a Secret Sesh
If you know, you know. A secret sesh is a private cannabis event where prominent or local brands showcase and sell products. These events are usually very exclusive and often require knowing someone who can bring you in. That said, there’s always a chance of finding a secret sesh or similar private industry events with a bit of sleuthing online and through canna-centric social media circles.
After Hours Private Events
Are you and some friends or colleagues looking for a fun place to hold a 420-friendly gathering or special event? Inquire with some bars and restaurants in Santa Ana. Some of them are open to holding private events after hours where cannabis consumption is permitted.
Hit the Beaches
Both Huntington and Newport Beach are arguably the most accessible beaches in Orange County, but not necessarily the most 420-friendly. While cannabis consumption is prohibited at all public beaches in the state of California, there are several great smaller beaches in the Orange County area where you can find a chiller, quieter, and more intimate atmosphere.
Seal Beach
If you happen to be in North Orange County, Seal Beach is a great ocean-side option, offering Huntington’s more traditional pier vibe but smaller and usually less crowded.Â
Calafia
One of the best beaches in South Orange County, Calafia is adjacent to San Clemente State Beach, has an easily accessible parking lot nearby, and offers a more intimate scenic experience as it’s nestled under a beautiful cliffside.
Pirate’s Cove
If you’re in the Newport area and looking for a good beach hangout, Pirate’s Cove is a small, calm beach west of Corona Del Mar, tucked below Lookout Point Park. It’s a great place to hang out, explore, and enjoy great ocean-side views.Â
San Onofre
If you’re spending a lot of time in South Orange County, it may be worth your while to dip down to San Onofre, a large beach where you can watch the surfers and enjoy plenty of space to chill.
Other Nature Spots
Black Star Canyon
Orange County is home to many underrated hikes and nature trails. If nature is what you dig for your stoner’s outing, Black Star Canyon is one of the best places in the area to get your fix. The park has plenty of public trails for bikers and hikers, and still has remnants of the Black Star mining operation here and there.
Little Corona, Newport Beach
If you’re looking for a “trippier,” fractal-zoom type nature or ocean experience to go with your buzz, check out the tide pools at Little Corona in Newport Beach. You’ll find plenty of opportunities to get lost in some strange, beautiful ocean life and take in some dank ocean scenery.
Entertainment
Theme Parks Under the Influence – An OC Institution
When it comes to 420-centric experiences in Orange County, taking some edibles or hitting a quick vape or j before a trip to one of the area’s major theme parks is an institution and local right of passage all its own. If you’ve never been to Disneyland while high and feel like forking out the dough for a day park-hopper pass, now may be the time to bippity-boppity-blaze it.
Knott’s Berry Farm is a considerably more affordable and appropriately weirder option for those who like to experience a theme park with a stoney overlay. Parking and just getting into the park, in general, is much less of an ordeal than at Disneyland, which might make Knott’s a better option for a 420-friendly day filled with other activities.
Museums
If you’re the type who likes to take in some dank art and culture, under the influence, in a calm setting, Orange County is home to a variety of under-the-radar art museums. Check out the Noguchi Museum, which houses world-famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi’s minimalist sculpture garden that represents the state of California. If you’re hanging out in South County, stop by the gorgeous grounds of the San Juan Capistrano Mission. For a more traditional but low-key and rewarding art museum experience, take a trip through the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana Art Walk
Speaking of Santa Ana: if you just so happen to be in the area on the first Saturday of the month, head downtown for the Art Walk. This community event includes an incredible variety of local art at various galleries downtown, as well as live performances, interactive street pieces, food trucks, local vendors, and local restaurants. Santa Ana is the cultural epicenter of Orange County with a strong sense of community and welcoming atmosphere — a recipe for a perfect cap to an OC stoner’s day out.
Munchies
Orange County is home to several thriving food scenes in cities ranging from Santa Ana to Irvine. For the intents and purposes of this guide, we’ll narrow things down to a few select options that will appeal to the hungry 420-friendly crowd.
Food Truck Meetups
Food trucks are a staple of any stoner’s diet, and Orange County has plenty of great ones to satisfy all your hazy cravings. Wanna save yourself the time and hassle of getting lost on your phone yelping local food trucks? There are several excellent food truck meetups in Orange County virtually every day of the week. Here’s a list of some of the main ones:
- Home Depot Parking Lot – Cypress
- 5800 Lincoln Ave
- Tuesdays, 5pm – 9pm
- The MET – Costa Mesa
- 535 Anton Blvd
- Every Day, Lunch hour
- OC Great Parks – Irvine
- 6950 Marine Way
- Sundays, 9am – 1pm
- Friday Night Munchies – Santa Ana
- 420 W Central Ave
- Fridays, 7pm – 11pm
- Food Truck Thursday – Huntington Beach
- 16242 Beach Blvd
- Thursdays, 5:30pm – 9pm
Tacos
No SoCal destination is worth its salt if you don’t know where to get good tacos. Here are three of the absolute best taco joints in Orange County:
- Taqueria HOY! – Orange
- 291 N Tustin St
- Taco Mesa – Costa Mesa
- 647 W 19th St
- Taqueria El Zamorano – Santa Ana
- 925 W Warner Ave
4th Street Market, Santa Ana
Santa Ana has arguably become the foodie capital of Orange County in recent years. In addition to such fine institutions as Munchies Vegan Diner, Gus’s Fried Chicken, Lola Gaspar, and Wursthaus (all worth checking out any day), 4th Street Market is probably your best bet for satisfying everyone’s 420 palette. 4th Street Market is a mess-hall style showcase of an ever-evolving variety of local food, beverage, and dessert vendors and plenty of room for you to stand around in a stupor until you finally decide on what to indulge in.
Medieval Times
Another staple of the Anaheim stoned-theme-park enthusiast, Buena Park’s Medieval Times is an infamous dinner-and-a-show joint with jousting, horsemanship, and falconry shows to go with a four-course meal. Medieval Times is a stone’s throw away from Knott’s Berry Farm, making it an ideal atmospheric and hilarious end to any theme park-focused 420 outing.
