Pioneer Park - Des Moines, IA

Home to more than 120 outlets and stores, the Block, now known as The Outlets at Orange, sits only minutes south of popular area attractions, including the Disneyland Resort, Angels Stadium and the Anaheim Convention Center. Originally the location of the enclosed the City Shopping Center, the area was eventually developed into an outdoor mall located at the junction of I-5 and I-22.

The city of nearby Orange began as a farming community that first grew grains. It then grew grapes in the search for the perfect crop for the Southern California climate before eventually settling on the oranges the area is known for. Home to many businesses, the neighborhood grew to its present size through annexation of new areas, including that where the Block now sits.

The selection of food at The Block includes the Saddle Ranch Chop House and the Market Broiler. You can also find a number of sit-down and fast-food establishments to suit any taste. Dine amidst the rustic country decor at the Saddle Ranch Chop House while enjoying one of its many appetizers. When it comes to entrees, try one of its signature specialties, such as tender slow-smoked BBQ baby back ribs, seasoned and grilled rainbow trout or blackened chicken and sundried tomato pasta. Also in the Block, you can find the Market Broiler, which serves a wide selection of chef-inspired specialty seafood dishes. The food choices change with each day and include a selection of fresh fish. Some of its classic dinners include an assortment of shrimp, scallop or crab dishes. You can also opt for a lobster tail dipped in butter sauce. If you want to grab a few drinks, head to Cafe Tu Tu Tango. In addition to a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, including draft beer and mixed drinks, food choices include tasty appetizers, hearty soups, pizzas and seafood. You can also travel to nearby Anaheim for Bravo Night Club, where you can dance the night away. This two-level dance club features a Latino atmosphere with different themes every night of the week, including goth, salsa and alternative.

While most errands require a vehicle in Orange you can easily get around the Block by walking. Bicycles also provide a good method of traveling around the area. When it comes to public transportation, the Block sees service from a variety of OCTA buses. In addition, a shuttle from the Anaheim Resort Transportation service stops at the Block every hour.

To summon a taxi at the Block, you need to either call a cab company or look for a cab stand in the area and get one from there. Uber also services the area, and you can contact it using the smartphone app. When driving your own vehicle, you can find adequate parking in the lot surrounding it. Once you have left the confines of the parking lot, you can easily access I-5 or I-22.

The neighborhood surrounding the Block contains many parks, ranging from the sports-focused Pioneer Park, which is great for the kids; and Haster Basin Recreational Park, which has a lot of open space for recreational fun. These park allow pets as long as they remain on a leash.

Pioneer Park, in addition to having plenty of open space, also holds playground equipment for the kids, a place to play football and soccer, and picnic areas. Nearby Ponderosa Park also has a variety of lighted and unlighted baseball and softball fields, as well as a children’s play area, barbecue facilities, and various other sport-related courts and fields.

The Haster Basin Recreational Park is a newly redesigned public area that serves the dual function as a pump station to help prevent area flooding. The renovations include jogging trails and exercise stations, picnic shelters overlooking the lake, and soccer fields. Like many California public parks, the Haster Basin Recreational Park allows you to bring along your pets to take part in the fun.

The cost of living in the area around The Block is higher than the rest of California. The median rent for a one-bedroom residence runs around $1,584 per month. Other typical costs at the Block include a beer costing around $4.50 and a gallon of gas costing close to 13 percent more than the national average.

The Block in West Orange has become a shopping mecca for many in the Southern Orange County area. You can find more than your typical mall store at this location. Look for a variety of specialty shops while walking the paved outdoor pathways. It's very easy to spend an entire day shopping in the variety of stores offered here.

One such boutique, the Windsor, sells a wide variety of fashionable clothing, including an assortment of tops, jackets and dresses. Some of the more popular clothing items include black V-neck bandage dresses, cowl neck tops and white skinny leg jeans.

Shop for one-of-a-kind artistic pieces and vintage treasures at Tea Leaf Cottage on North Glassell. Locals rave about the unique options available at this shop that features a constantly changing inventory. Tea Leaf Cottage is open every day but only by appointment on Tuesdays.

Area grocery stores include Vons, which has a great deal of choices when it comes to foodstuffs and other items. Visit the local Food 4 Less, where you can find a large variety of groceries at reduced prices. For homegrown produce, check out the Orange Home Grown Farmers and Artisans Market.