Orange, California

Originally a farming community, present day Orange has come a long way from its rural roots. Today, thousands of businesses – from small, family-owned stores to Fortune 500 companies – call Orange home.

Oranges's 128,821 citizens take particular pride in historic Old Towne, the city's historic center. Walk through Old Towne, which is a perfect square mile, and you will uncover antique shops and dealers as well as fine restaurants and Victorian style "tea rooms."

If vintage isn't your thing, Orange has a number of modern-day shopping malls. The Block, The Village, and the Towne & Country malls offer the usual large retailers – including JC Penney, Sears, Barnes & Noble, Pier 1 Imports, and Wal-Mart – in addition to smaller specialty shops.

For those who want to get outdoors, Orange's location at the foot of the Santa Ana Mountains offers plenty of opportunity to explore California's natural beauty. The 477 acres (193 hectares) of nearby Irvine Park offers hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails; the park also has a lake where you can rent boats and go fishing. Then, of course, there's Peters Canyon Regional Park – the canyon reservoir draws birdwatchers from around the country. The same can be said for the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, which boasts up to 40 different species of birds on a typical winter's day.

But when it's time to emerge from the wilderness and get to know your neighbors, head to one of the city's annual festivals where you can experience Orange's small town ambience at it's best. The 3rd of July celebrations is a focal point in the summer, as are the regular Concerts in the Park at the Hart Park Bandshell. The Treats in the Street Autumn Festival offers residents a chance to sample the local harvest and December offers a tree-lighting and candlelight choir procession in Old Towne.

See our 8 Jobs in Orange, California