Introduction to Mission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in Orange County, California, approximately 23 miles southeast of Anaheim and 43 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Suburban in tone and primarily residential in scope, Mission Viejo was incorporated as a city in 1988. Largely undeveloped until the 1970s due to its hilly contour, the area now comprising Mission Viejo was used in the early part of the 20th century mostly for sheep and cattle grazing. In the 1970s and 1980s, development was extensive, as road and housing construction was widespread and just about managed to keep pace with the large demand for homes.
Homes and other structures in Mission Viejo are almost universally designed in Spanish mission-style motif, as is also the case for most of the cities and towns comprising the surrounding portion of Orange County. Nearby cities include San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach, Tustin and Santa Ana. Universities located within Orange County include University of California Irvine and Cal State Fullerton.
Mission Viejo and Orange County Attractions
Lake Mission Viejo is a private recreational facility built around a large man-made lake with extensive facilities for swimming, boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The site is also host to several summer concerts each year. Mission San Juan Capistrano, also known as the "Birthplace of Orange County," is a historical site celebrating the Spanish, European, Mexican and Native American heritages of California. Other attractions in Orange County include:
- Wild Rivers Waterpark (Irvine).
- Richard M. Nixon Library (Yorba Linda).
- Orange County Zoo (Orange).
- Marconi Automotive Museum (Tustin).
- International Surfing Museum (Huntington Beach).
- Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure Park (Anaheim).
- Knott's Berry Farm/Knott's Soak City (Buena Park).
Sports fans don't need to travel far to enjoy watching professional sporting events. The following teams are located in Orange County:
- Major League Baseball (MLB):
- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
- National Hockey League (NHL):
- Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Also located in Orange County is the Surfing Hall of Fame (Huntington Beach).
The following pro teams reside within an hour's drive north (Los Angeles area):
- Major League Baseball (MLB):
- Los Angeles Dodgers.
- National Basketball Association (NBA):
- Los Angeles Lakers.
- Los Angeles Clippers.
- Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA):
- Los Angeles Sparks.
- National Hockey League (NHL):
- Los Angeles Kings.
- Major League Lacrosse (MLL):
- Los Angeles Riptide.
- Arena Football (AFL):
- Los Angeles Avengers.