Costa Mesa, once a rural agricultural town, is now a cultural oasis in the center of Orange County. Closely situated to many other towns like Irvine and Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa is ideally located for an immersive SoCal experience. You’re just a quick drive away from the beach, great shopping and Disneyland. The town is also super close to the John Wayne Airport – about a 10-minute drive!
In addition to being a perfect hub for nearby explorations, Costa Mesa itself has a rich culture of entertainment, with plenty of fine dining, shopping and cultural experiences of many kinds available for the choosing. Known as the “City of the Arts,” Costa Mesa is home to a number of different artistic experiences, including dance, music, and even Broadway shows! Chicago and Les Misérables are just two of the excellent shows coming to Costa Mesa in 2020.
With so many things to do in and around Costa Mesa, we knew we’d need somewhere to stay that gave us easy access to all of them, and Westin South Coast Plaza certainly fit the bill! The hotel is walking distance from several amazing spots and offers shuttles directly to and from the airport and Disneyland.
Once you’ve arrived, everything is basically at your front door from the Westin. The hotel is smack dab in the center of the arts and theater district, so you can walk out the door and turn left to go shopping at the South Coast Plaza or turn right and be seated at the Segerstrom Center within five minutes.
Originally opened in 1986, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts is Costa Mesa’s claim to fame and rightfully stands out as one of the central features of the arts and theater district. One of the nation’s most respected multi-disciplinary cultural institutions, the center believes in the power of performing arts to transform lives and connect communities. In addition to the numerous ticketed shows and performances available, the Segerstrom Center also regularly offers free performances in the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza and free tours of the building itself.
Throughout the arts and theater district, you’ll likely see lots of sculptures and public art installations. These are all part of the Costa Mesa Art Walk, which Henry Segerstrom commissioned to be placed around Costa Mesa landmarks. This public gallery demonstrates a range of techniques and styles, and if you want more in-depth knowledge, guided art walk tours are available.
You can follow the Art Walk from the hotel to the Segerstrom and back to the South Coast Plaza, where you could surely spend another couple of hours shopping at any of the impressive number of stores. Just a 14-minute walk from the Westin, South Coast Plaza has over 250 storefronts, making it the largest mall in Southern California. The variety and quality of stores there make it a rival to such famous shopping meccas like Fifth Avenue in New York and Bond Street in London, but the South Coast Plaza stores are all conveniently located in one building for optimal access. There are also many critically acclaimed restaurants in the mall if you need a break from your browsing.
With all the activities Costa Mesa has to offer, it was so great having a place like the Westin South Coast Plaza to use as a home base. No matter what we needed or what was going on, we had legit the best customer service EVER. We knew we were well taken care of on this trip, which definitely made the experience stand out. A hotel can be more than just a place to lay your head at night, and the Westin was that and more!
Our suite had two bedrooms with three beds that opened up to a central hang area and three bathrooms. It was perfect for our girls’ trip! Everyone had enough space and it was nice to be able to get together all in one area. The windows looked over a gorgeous view of the mountains, and we could even see the Disneyland fireworks on a clear night!
Plus, the Westin® Heavenly Beds were incredible, as always. A luxurious queen bed all to myself was a lovely complement to the kid- and pet-free trip – so relaxing! I loved the wonderful thoughtful details like a vial of lavender oil to help me sleep better, the perfect choice of pillows, and a magnified make-up mirror. Those details helped make the stay even more luxurious and rejuvenating.
Even with all the culinary choices Costa Mesa has, sometimes you just feel like staying in, and you can definitely do that at the Westin. The hotel restaurant is amazing, and there’s a bar, too! If you’re feeling up to a little jaunt, just take a peek outside of the windows at some of the excellent restaurants just across the street: Water Grill, Mastro’s Steakhouse, and Vaca Spanish Tapas, by Bravo TV’s Top Chef alum, Amar Santana. You’ve got surf, turf and tapas all within walking distance!
From sleeping to eating and even working out, Westin South Coast Plaza has it all. Check out the outdoor tennis courts or venture to the WestinWORKOUT® fitness center. Didn’t pack your gym clothes? Don’t worry about it! Westin provides exercise clothing and running shoes for a small fee, so if you forget or just don’t want to deal with all those extra items taking up space in your luggage, you’re all set.
If a quick (or long) dip in the pool is more your style, definitely check out the rooftop pool, which is heated to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can enjoy the water even in the winter! In the warmer months, you can lay out on the rooftop and soak up the amazing California sun. The outdoor spaces are beautifully decorated, with palm trees and terracotta accents on the terraced waterfall blending into the Costa Mesa architecture for a truly spectacular view.
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