Santa Ana Travel Guide, California

Santa Ana is possibly most famous for the strong winds that carry the same name. The city is not located on the Pacific Coast, but about 10 miles east, in what once were prime orange groves. Santa Ana has approximately 337,977 residents, many of whom are crammed into small houses - the population density here is nearly double the US city average, with many Hispanic families (75% of the population) living in overcrowded houses and converted garages and barns. The population figure is deflated since a large number of Santa Ana’s residents are illegal immigrants who work in the citrus and grape groves, but are not officially represented in the demographics. Santa Ana residents represent the workforce of posh Orange County.

The current city of Santa Ana began in 1886 and it later was designated the County seat of Orange County.  It was the heart of the citrus growing community, but it is also the home of the Rickenbacker musical instrument company, which continues to provide fine electric and bass guitars favored by musicians. Other industries include the First American Corporation,  Ingram Micro, and the Lockheed Corporation which provided a significant amount of  the aircraft and weapons used during WWII and continues to make aircraft today.

Amtrak, provides passenger rail service to US destinations and Crucero travels into Mexico. There is also Greyhound Bus transport within the US and Canada. Santa Ana is connected to the rest of Orange County by Metrolink's Orange County Line, and the John Wayne Airport provides flights within the continental US.

 Despite being more modest that its Orange County neighbors, Santa Ana boasts a fine climate that is hotter that the rest of the county being inland from the ocean, which also has the positive effect of limiting the amount of fog, a bonus for the airport.

 The downtown has a modern Civic Center, and an Artists Village that showcases all forms of art produced locally, and surrounds the more formal CSUF Grand Central Art Center.  There is also a history museum, the Bowers Museum that displays a collection of Central American artifacts. The Discovery Science Center provides hands-on exhibits that explain the intricacies of many scientific principles and the OC Pavilion performing arts center has entertainment venues of all sorts.

Santa Ana Zoo is a favorite of both young and old and attractions include the Orange County American Indian Center, which represents the Native American community and Greenville, recreating the spirit of the agricultural community that existed here, with century-old buildings.

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• Old Orange County Courthouse
  travel tip by Ivan posted more then 30 days ago
  Touring one of Souther California's oldest courthouses is not only and interesting but an educational pastime too. Especially that the tours, both self-guided and docent led, are free of charge, except for the parking ticket. The Old...
• Episcopal Church of the Messiah
  travel tip by welt-raiser posted more then 30 days ago
  Though Santa Ana is not one of the biggest cities of the Orange County district, there are quite a few beautiful and architecturally imposing buildings to be seen. One of these wonderful structures is the Episcopal Church of the Messiah....
• Lyon Air Museum
  travel tip by tibi posted more then 30 days ago
  One of the highlight and maybe the most interesting museum in Santa Ana would be the Lyon Air Museum on Ike Jones Road just beside the John Wayne Airport. The museum might look small but that shouldn't deter you, because once you...

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