Things to Do in Orange

Ships in the harbor rock in the breeze, their masts gesturing into the sunny sky as patrons slip across the water from Wayward Captain Paddleboards, located at the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach. The wave-top transports, which originated on tropical islands, measure up to 12-feet long and sport a special hull that boosts stability and speed. From 10 a.m. until dusk, riders mount the floatables and learn basics in lessons or rent paddleboards to cruise out onto the harbor to see the piles of water that form during low tide. As the sky’s palette fades into pinks and oranges on sunset tours, paddles splash gently against the water’s surface and races launch fleets of riders out onto the waves.

Patrons of Pelican Joe's Bay Boat Rentals don the captain’s hat and man the wood-paneled dash of 18-foot and 21-foot Duffy boats. Professional mariners show renters how to steer and remind them not to pick up hitchhiking penguins before vessels set sail on the waters of Alamitos Bay or waltz along the canals of Naples. Waterproof speakers blast music from iPods plugged into docking stations, and insulated coolers keep beverages cold as passengers fold back awnings to bask in the sun or relax in the shade of the 18-foot boat's canvas surrey top. Pelican Joe's Bay Boat Rentals outfits its floating lounges with complimentary ice and picnic linens and can also provide platters of gourmet snacks for guests to nibble while gathering the courage to toss diamond-heavy necklaces into the waves.

Marina Boat Rentals’ diverse fleet of runabouts, deck boats, and day sailers enables hydrophiles of all stripes to sail the placid waters of Newport Bay. Before embarking from Balboa Peninsula's amusement-lined promenade, captains-for-a-day are briefed on rules for safe operation of their vessel and given a detailed map of the area. Twenty-seven square miles of open water provide plenty of safe space to navigate along the shores and islets lined with celebrity homes and enclaves of celebrity seals.

With boat speeds peaking at 5 mph, crews can expect a leisurely ride, ideal for lounging onboard or winning staring contests against passing tugboat captains. Additionally, the staff outfits all the boats with an AM/FM stereo, and invites guests to bring food and drinks aboard.

The fighter plane's 300-horsepower engine lets out a roar, lifting the plane from the runway. Guiding the plane into the sky, the pilot pursues an enemy aircraft, following its maneuvers and attempting to lock on while the g-force exerted at a 600-mile-per-hour closure rate pushes each pilot back into their seat.

At Fighter Combat Inc, experienced pilots— most trained in military air combat—let guests feel what it's like to fly a plane and engage in aerial warfare. After supplying students with authentic flight suits, instructors teach tactical basics through a blend of classroom training, safety briefings, and lectures. An instructor then leads student pilots through one-on-one, in-air simulated combat that resembles sequences from Top Gun and The Adventures of Milo and Otis, coaching them to out-maneuver their opponent. Every facet of the experience upholds military protocol, and a camera mounted in the cockpit takes photos and records videos of clients operating the controls.

With pristine Newport Bay as the backdrop, more than 250 luxurious vessels and yachts from an array of exhibitors will be on display at the Lido Yacht Expo. Here you’ll see boats ranging from sport fishers and sailboats to cruisers and catamarans, and all of the boats are available for purchase. Yacht purveyors and sailing-based companies from all over the west will converge at the picturesque bay, ranging from San Diego’s South Coast Yachts to Marina del Rey’s Blue Pacific Boating. The 33-year-old expo also has booths with boating gear and complimentary shuttles to and from offsite parking lots.