Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Alresford Spy Toilet
This Public Bathroom in a Sleepy English Village Was an Epicenter for Cold War Espionage
1 day ago
Manhattan Well
The Manhattan Well: How Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton United to Solve a Murder Mystery
2 days ago
Beneath downtown Minneapolis, Schieks Cave has surprisingly warm groundwater, evidence of a subterranean heat island.
Schieks Cave Below Minneapolis Contains a Lake of Warm Sewage
3 days ago
Athenaeus described various kinds of Greek drinking vessels, like the deep, rounded skyphos and wide, flat kylix.
The Ancient Greek Guide to Succeeding at Dinner Parties
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All the United States California Irvine

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Irvine

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

Updated March 7, 2023

Email
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Hotel Deals

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.
Are we missing something unusual?
Add it!
Permanently Closed
Tustin Blimp Hangar.

Tustin, California

Tustin Blimp Hangar #2

This enormous World War II relic is one of the largest wooden structures in the world.
1 mile 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 KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Irvine, California

A

Irvine Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. alebrun
    2
  2. rosalbre
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Irvine.

Places Edited

  1. joeypesto
    2
  2. ventriloquist
    2
  3. SEANETTA
    1
  4. raymondwinn1941
    1
  5. MissInformation
    1
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. ianrpate
    3
  2. kevbot
    3
  3. pkmoose732
    3
  4. alebrun
    3
  5. DBlock1001
    3
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Irvine.

Recent Irvine Activity

  • annacooke95

    wants to go to The Original Taco Bell Building

    4 days ago
  • snapklimek

    wants to go to The Original Taco Bell Building

    3 days ago
  • Sfotografer

    has been to The Original Taco Bell Building

    3 days ago
  • kledwards88

    has been to Orange Balloon

    2 days ago
  • sarahltait

    wants to go to The Original Taco Bell Building

    1 day ago

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.