Attractions

Beyond the sights listed below, one of the most popular Orange Coast attractions is Balboa Island (www.balboaisland.com). The charm of this pretty little neighborhood isn't diminished by knowing that the island was man-made -- and it certainly hasn't affected the price of real estate (it's hard to believe that the original property lots sold for $250). Tiny clapboard cottages in the island's center and modern houses with two-story windows and private docks along the perimeter make a colorful and romantic picture. You can drive onto the island on Jamboree Road to the north or take the three-car ferry from Balboa Peninsula (www.balboaislandferry.com). It's generally more fun to park and take the 30-minute ferry ride as a pedestrian, since the island is crowded and lacks parking, and the tiny alleys they call streets are more suitable for strolling. Marine Avenue, the main commercial street, is lined with small shops and cafes that evoke a New England fishing village. Shaved ices sold by sidewalk vendors will relieve the heat of summer.

Biplane, Air Combat & Warbird Adventures: The Thrill of a Lifetime

For anyone with a thirst for adrenaline-pumping excitement, boy have I got a recommendation for you. At a small airport in the coastal town of Carlsbad, about 30 miles north of San Diego, is a company called Biplane, Air Combat & Warbird Adventures, run by husband-and-wife team Kate and Tom. Turning a passion for old planes into a thriving business, this cheerful duo offers a knockout package of nostalgia, romance, fun, and -- for the truly adventurous -- a mind-blowing chance to fly a World War II fighter plane, an open-cockpit biplane, or a modern combat aircraft (or all three!).

For the mild-mannered, the 1920s-era biplane ride is pure romance: Couples wearing soft leather headgear and goggles (think Snoopy vs. the Red Baron) sit side-by-side at the front of the open cockpit while the pilot -- seated in the back -- flies a leisurely route along the sunny coast. At your request, the pilot will perform a few dips and lazy eights to add a touch of excitement, but nothing compares to the loops and rolls you'll perform (yes, you who's never flown a plane in your life) in their big blue AT-6 Texan, a 600-horsepower fighter aircraft equipped with machine-gun barrels that looks like a killer and flies like a pussycat. "Okay, it's your plane," are four words you'll remember forever as the pilot, seated in front, calmly talks you through the aerobatic procedures, which are surprisingly easy to perform (it's one of the most incredible things I've ever done).

Other toys on the tarmac include a pair of modern prop-driven dogfighters. Real fighter pilots from the nearby marine base will give you a preflight lesson on aerial combat maneuvers, then get you airborne, and let you fly the plane as you try to blast your partner -- flying the "enemy" plane -- out of the sky (figuratively, of course). For more information about Biplane, Air Combat & Warbird Adventures, call tel. 800/SKY-LOOP or 760/930-0903. Be sure to visit their website, www.barnstorming.com, for special Internet rates and package deals.