Get away without going too far away: Orange County beckons

 

Need to get away? How about heading south? Today's Travel section has a getaway in our own backyard: The Orange County coastline.

We're talking 42 miles of beach and beach towns, give or take, from San Clemente to Seal Beach. Follow the advice from Times staff writer Christopher Reynolds "and this coastline might lull you with surfers on swells, startle you with circus tricks (look for the guy by the Huntington Beach Pier with the hammer, nail and much-abused nose), charm you with old shacks on priceless real estate, seduce or offend you with shiny new buildings on equally priceless real estate, tempt you with $2.69 corn dogs."

Corn dogs not your thing? Luckily for you, there's plenty more to eat.

ALSO:

--Chillin' and grillin': 38 Memorial Day recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

--Battle of the Burgers: Submit your favorite burger recipe

--Class is in session: Chef Nancy Silverton teaches you how to make focaccia bread

-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch