Orange County Neighborhoods

Change neighborhood to:

Shops at Mission Viejo, California
1 of 6 next ››

Mission Viejo

Send to a friend
…Sim City? We think you mean Mission Viejo.


If Sim City was a real-life game, Mission Viejo might be the perfect play.

In thirty years this city’s population has grown from virtually nothing to 100,000, along with its reputation as a major suburban city (isn’t that an oxymoron?).

First came the construction of Spanish mission-styled houses and condos along the steep walls of the hills here. Then came the mall (offering major retailers like Macy’s and Nordstrom), followed by the largest hospital in southern OC, Saddleback Junior College, roughly two parks per square mile, three golf courses, and for a one hundred point Sim City bonus, the man-made Lake Mission Viejo.

A short drive from the Pacific, Mission Viejo sports colorful commercial buildings of bright blues and yellows, a surprising number of line-dancing festivals, a stunning mountain range topped by snow in the winter, reasonable home prices, and a reputation as one of the three safest cities in the US.

The good news? Mission Viejo is the real deal.

View neighborhood hotspots

Known for:

The Shops at Mission Viejo

Main drag:

Crown Valley Parkway

Mission Viejo blogs and events

Sushi and Shiatsu at the Mission Viejo Kaleidoscope

For an afternoon escape in south Orange County, the Mission Viejo Kaleidoscope is a favorite of kids and adults alike.

Earlier posts >

Apartments in Mission Viejo