Things to Do in Santa Ana

Trainer Bobby Howard brings more than 40 years of experience to Foxcroft Farm, including 14 he spent as a professional jockey competing in races such as the Kentucky Derby. He distributes this equine knowledge during private and group lessons, as well as hunter- and jumper-training programs.

Though Bobby and the other Foxcroft Farm instructors teach students of all ages, they specialize in teaching young riders. Unique opportunities for kids include seasonal camps, where they can learn everything from grooming to reasons why horses simply aren't a viable replacement for the family minivan.

Sunlight floods through the floor-to-ceiling windows of The Studio by Bridget, beaming across the sparkling canals of Long Beach to illuminate 1,900 square feet of space. Lined against the walls, Pilates equipment ranges from Reformers to more unusual gear used in private training, such as the ladder barrel and the stability chair, ideal for seated workouts that give students a more rigorous exercise than cranking a recliner footrest up and down. On this equipment—or on simple Pilates mats—the studio’s team hosts classes that lengthen and strengthen muscles, balancing physiques and enhancing flexibility through regimens involving stretching, breathing, resistance training, pulleys, and cables. The staff complements its Pilates offerings with spinning classes and TRX sessions, whose Reformer workouts were designed by a Navy SEAL.

The sun’s rays cascade onto the blue floors of YogaBody Powerflow’s studio, where the sounds of controlled breathing and stretch-induced groans pervade the air as instructors lead groups through 90-minute yoga classes. The studio specializes in power yoga, a version of Vinyasa flow that distills the style’s fast pace and energetic movements into a series of postures that bend, invert, and twist the body to increase flexibility and strengthen muscles. Legs rise high above flushed cheeks during graceful warrior poses designed to boost stamina and focus, and bare toes wiggle in the air during inverted positions or spontaneous levitations.

The aquatic experts at Fuze Sports send mariners of all stripes into the scenic waters of Sunset Harbor on electric boats, stand-up paddleboards, and surfboards. They rent out watercrafts for temporary jaunts, which allow beginners to experience the freedom of paddling while standing up and entire families to collectively swear off land while aboard a 21-foot electric boat. For those more committed to their water sport, Fuze Sports sells standup paddleboards and surfboards. The professionals also invite explorers to get a new perspective on bending and balance with Yoga on Water.

Skaters glide with style and grace across the sleek surfaces of two hockey rinks at KHS Ice Arena, which also serves as the training ground for the Wildcats Hockey Club. And while the club’s coaches help mold teams of elite hockey players through camps and 3 on 3 competitions, the arena also hosts unstructured stick time for burgeoning hockey stars to work on their dekes and slap shots. In addition, public-skate sessions let visitors enjoy some freestyle skating in a stick-free atmosphere.

Deanna and Renee's memories of childhood are bathed in the warm, nostalgic glow of bustling family celebrations nourished by Northern Italian dishes and homemade wine. So influential were these culinary family traditions that the sisters banded together in adulthood to share their love of fine dining and their hometown with visitors from across the globe. Thus Old Towne Orange Walking Food Tours was born, a venture that enables the pair to shepherd curious foodies and history buffs of all ages through Old Towne Orange during their meticulously planned culinary walking tours.

The leisurely paced tours introduce guests to the town’s diverse selection of bistros, bakeries, and farmers' markets via numerous stops to sample house specialties. The Orange Sampler Tour introduces palates to the panoply of cuisines in the county –from heirloom tomato salad to french baked potato soup. The ArtWalk Food Tour enables visitors to consume a variety of local art without the hassles of remembering which fork should be used on an oil painting. The guides also immerse participants in Orange’s rich history with a number of cultural stops at historic locales.