Get out of town

A bit of last minute decision, but I just booked tickets to visit my little sis in California in a few weeks. Yay! I'm going for seven days and I can't wait. She lives an hour from LA in Irvine, but we're looking forward to doing some exploring and checking out some new (and car-accessible!) areas nearby. 

At the very least, we definitely have plans to soak up some sunshine at Newport and Laguna Beaches, both about a 10-15 minute drive from her place. :)

So, now I need your help: What are your favorite things to do in and around LA? 

PS: What we did on my visit last year; and on another visit before that (here and here). 

(Image 1, 2, 3)