Mission Viejo is a commuter city located within Orange County, California, United States in the Saddleback Valley. Developed by the urban planner, Donald Bren, who later went on to become the president of Irvine Company, is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States. The city is mostly made up of residential property, although there are a number of offices and businesses within the limits of the city. This city is known for its tree-lined neighborhoods, receiving recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation and for Lake Mission Viejo a popular recreational area that is enjoyed by residents of this city. The Shops at Mission Viejo is a shopping mall located in Mission Viejo, California. It’s the southernmost mall in Orange County and is anchored by Nordstrom’s and Macy’s, along with 150 other stores and a food court.
One of the premier amenities to living in Mission Viejo is access to Lake Mission Viejo. Lake Mission Viejo is a reservoir created for recreation in Mission Viejo, Orange County, California. The Lake facilities which include approximately 124 surface acres of water and 50 acres of land, including Playa del Norte and Marina, Playa del Este, parking facilities, Market on the Lake Dock and dam. Recreational facilities available for Lake Association members include the Lake, two large beaches and picnic areas, clubhouse rental, boat launching facility and shoreline fishing area. The Lake Mission Viejo Association, holds a regular concert schedule for performances at the lake year-round, along with movie nights and other various family activities. The association is a California Non-Profit corporation consisting of those residential property owners within the ultimate boundaries of the Mission Viejo planned community. Association members have access to the Lake through the guard gates at both Lake Mission Viejo North Beach and Lake Mission Viejo East Beach.
In addition to Lake Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo offers many other outdoor recreational opportunities like Oso creek Trail and O’Neil Regional Park. O’Neill Regional Park’s 4,500 acres are situated in beautiful Trabuco and Live Oak Canyons. The park is heavily wooded with coast live oak and sycamore trees. The park serves both as an overnight camping, with 79 camping spots and day-use/picnic facility. Picnic areas vary in size and are available on a first-come, first-served basis or by reservation. Barbeques and picnic tables are available throughout the park. Ther are more than 23 miles of scenic trails that can be explored by foot, bicycle or horseback. Other day use activities include horseshoe pits, two large community turf areas and a children’s playground.
