Photos: Micro-itineraries for inland Orange County

The kid-focused Discovery Science Center stands beneath the big black cube at the edge of Interstate 5 (the cube conceals a facsimile rocket) and has hands-on exhibits that cover populist themes such as the science of hockey, plus there’s a modest climbing wall.

Pictured: The “Perception” area of the Discovery Science Center.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

About four blocks south of the cube at Main and 20th streets is the more grown-up Bowers Museum. The Bowers is a cultural museum, meaning it’s just as likely to tell you about Benjamin Franklin as it is to show you Chinese adornments or an amazing pair of red and gold African earrings (under glass in the lobby). It also has a children’s Kidseum space (1802 N. Main St.). If you want to see work by living homegrown artists, head to the nearby Artists Village area, park in the structure at North Broadway and West 3rd Street, and prowl gallery spaces such as the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (117 N. Sycamore St.), the Grand Central Art Center (run by Cal State Fullerton at 125 N. Broadway) and the quirky old Santora Arts Building (207 N. Broadway). The restaurants Gypsy Den and Memphis at the Santora are handy for a bite. And if you go on a Santa Ana Artwalk (first Saturday night of every month), a few dozen nearby galleries will be open as well.

Pictured: Boeing Rocket Lab exhibit at the Discovery Science Center.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

When night falls, downtown Fullerton hops. This is especially true along Harbor Boulevard near the railroad tracks, where more than two dozen bars and restaurants cater to the hunger and thirst of Cal State Fullerton students and others. Count on young demographics, designate a driver or take Amtrak or Metrolink to Fullerton’s handsome old station. Within an easy walk you’ll find the Pint House, the Envy Ultra Lounge, the Mulberry Street Ristorante, Café Hidalgo, Branagan’s Irish Pub, Ziing’s Bistro & Bar, Heroes Bar & Grill and the Continental Room (which claims to be Fullerton’s oldest drinking establishment, dating to 1925) and plenty more.  (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

If you’re not shopping, the recession wins, right? Now more than 40 years old, South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is still the biggest mall (by square feet) in California. Shoppers come from as far as Asia to roam the 280 stores and restaurants.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

You can spend $3,600 on a hand-etched, limited-edition silver Bentley writing pen (at Paradise Pen) or $5.75 on a cup of tangy gumbo at Seasons 52 restaurant, which opened in late 2010. If you want to spend many, many hours here, you can sleep a block away at the Westin (weekend rates as low as $109).  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

For a more intimate, semi-subversive shopping experience, head 11/2 miles south on Bristol Street to the Lab, a slacker haven with about a dozen retail and restaurant tenants arrayed around a courtyard with couches and a magazine rack. Then cross Bristol and creep into the Camp, where chic sustainability is the order of the day. Note the Patagonia shop, the bike shop, the soothing sayings stenciled on the parking lot blacktop.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

The Gypsy Den cafe at the Lab.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Sales represenatative Mark Gamo works on his computer outside the Abercrombie & Finch store at the Lab.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

The Lab in Costa Mesa was created with students, musicians and artists in mind and offers locals and visitors a unique outdoor shopping experience.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

A sign points visitors to the Lab.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Now, surely, you’ve had enough shopping, so double back toward South Coast Plaza. Head into the Segerstrom Center for the Arts next door, where you can see a play at the South Coast Repertory, hear music in four venues or just watch the limos pull up in front of the snazzy buildings.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Don’t forget to stick your head inside the tall, rusty steel sculpture by Richard Serra (“Connector,” 2006), mumble and listen for the eerie echo.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Cast members of “Hair” celebrate at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Plaza Square (a.k.a. the Orange Circle) is a roundabout that serves as the heart of the city of Orange. It’s also a fine place for time travel, with hundreds of well-tended homes in the surrounding Olde Town Historic District dating from 1888 to 1940.

Pictured: Local resident Phillip Heibebrecht outside Mesa restaurant.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Closer to the square, antiques shops huddle with a growing number of eateries. At Mr. C’s Rare Records, customers such as 22-year-old Nathan Chase hunt for old gold in the vinyl bins because, he says, “everything is overproduced now.” Watson Drugs & Soda Fountain (founded 1899, 116 E. Chapman Ave.) still serves banana splits up front and fills prescriptions in back. Chapman University is two blocks away, so Glassell Street is full of lively, youthful businesses and restaurants. At the Felix Continental Café (opened in the late ‘70s) on Plaza Square, you get Cuban cuisine and sidewalk dining. At the Filling Station Cafe (opened 2000) on North Glassell, you get sandwiches on a patio where gas pumps once stood.

Pictured: Mr. C’s Rare Records.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

At Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen (opened 2006) on South Glassell, upscale Mexican.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

At the Bruery Provisions on North Glassell (opened 2010), craft beers, wines and fancy cheese. At Haven Gastropub (opened in 2009), pub grub and more beer. And at Bruxië Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches on North Glassell (opened November) — well, Orange County, there’s your Belgian connection.

Pictured: Bruxië Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

In business for 20 years, the Tea Leaf Cottage in Old Towne Orange offers an array of antiques.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Paris in a Cup Tea Salon, Market & Boutique in Old Towne Orange.  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)