Santa Ana and the Orange County Coast, 3 Nights

A representative meets you at the airport and takes you to your accommodation in Santa Ana, the county seat of Orange County and one of the most strongly Latino cities in California. The rest of the day is free. Head to the downtown streets around Fourth Street in the evening for tacos, aguas frescas and the murals and galleries of the Artists Village. It is a good first taste of the city before tomorrow's coast.

Breakfast, then the coast. Laguna Beach is about half an hour away, and the best way to see its cove-cut shoreline is from the water: a guided morning sea-kayak tour, with a transfer to the start, can be arranged. The route crosses a protected marine area over kelp forests and rocky reefs; dolphins, harbour seals and sea lions are often seen, though never promised. Stay on for lunch and the galleries of Laguna.

Breakfast, then downtown Santa Ana, a historic district of banks, courthouses, churches and commercial blocks from the county's early decades. A guided architecture walk, which we can arrange, explains the styles, the people who built them and the preservation debates still alive today; the blocks are also easy to explore on your own. In the afternoon, the Bowers Museum has strong collections of art and world cultures.

Breakfast and check-out, then a representative meets you outside for the transfer to the airport. John Wayne Airport is only a few minutes away; if you are flying from Los Angeles instead, allow much longer for the drive. With time to spare, the beaches at Newport and Huntington are close, as are the theme parks of Anaheim.