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Irvine

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Irvine

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Irvine, California

Updated March 7, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Irvine

The Orange Balloon at the Orange County Great Park at night.

Irvine, California

Orange Balloon

One of the largest helium balloons in the U.S. is a 112-foot ginormous orange.

The place where it all started.

Irvine, California

The Original Taco Bell Building

Someone really, really wanted to save this fast-food icon from demolition.

Peter the Anteater

Irvine, California

Peter the Anteater Statue

This bronze statue commemorates the strange and beloved mascot of UC Irvine—the only university to be represented by a giant anteater.

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Santa Ana, California

‘We Too Were Once Strangers’

A giant stalk of celery honors the Japanese farmers who once cultivated the area.

2 miles from Irvine

Water Use, a “creek” that runs through the park

Costa Mesa, California

California Scenario

A small sculpture garden that provides a microcosmic representation of California.

3 miles from Irvine

Little Tree Church

Tustin, California

Little Tree Church

A very tiny church, bisected by a now-dead oak tree and marooned in the middle of a shopping center parking lot.

3 miles from Irvine

Newport Beach, California

Fashion Island Wind Chimes

These were the largest wind chimes in the world when artist Tom Van Sant created them for a California mall in 1967.

5 miles from Irvine

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Irvine

The place where it all started.

Irvine, California

The Original Taco Bell Building

Someone really, really wanted to save this fast-food icon from demolition.

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

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Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.

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