Home » Brea, What’s There to Do in Brea?

Brea, What’s There to Do in Brea?

Welcome to our conference in Brea, California. Brea is a city in Orange County with a population of approximately of 39,282 people (as of the 2010 census.) It’s fairly small even for Orange County, and if population statistics is your thing, here’s a link that gives general estimated populations for the County by City for 2005. http://www.ocalmanac.com/Population/po24a.htm

So, what can you do in Brea? Hello, we’re right next door to a mall. The mall is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Let’s see what the mall has to offer.

Well, this is a personal favorite, and I may not make it over there, but Lush. I love this store. The scents are all natural and they have everything from lotions to shampoos to shaving cream to bath bombs. You are staying at a hotel. Take a bath. You don’t have to clean the tub and you don’t have to pay for the water. Plus, you’ll probably have a new book to read while you take the bath. “Yes, honey, I am going to conference to learn.” And to take a bath, read a book, and not be bothered. What could be better?

You get to the hotel and you try on your “conference pitch outfit” and horrors, it’s too big (or in my case, too small or not ironed). Guess it’s time for a new outfit! There’s everything from Anne Taylor, Coach and Nordstrom to the Gap and JCPenney. You forgot your bathing suit? Yep, Everything but Water will have a suit for you.

You want some food? There’s Chipotle, Panda Express, Red Robin, Red Lobster, Sbarro and many more because, “it’s a mall,” and they’ve got a food court. There’s the ubiquitous Starbucks. Plus, there’s a Godiva Chocolatier which is a good place to hit up before you get into the tub to read the book you just got. There are two Vitamin stores in case you forgot your vitamins at home.

There’s a spa, but there’s also a masseuse you can book through the conference.

For the complete list of stores at the mall click here.

Let’s say you’re here and just a little under the weather? Well, there’s a Target right across Birch Street where you can get some Pepto Bismol after the Godiva chocolate binge (this may just be me). There’s a MedPost Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic located at 2415 East Imperial Hwy which is a drive from the hotel, and let’s be honest, you’re going to want to check with your personal insurance company to make sure which Urgent Care Clinic is in their network. No one wants to pay those out of pocket expenses if they can help it.

Finally, a very important store… BevMo! It’s right across Birch Street. Pick up your ibuprofen and gator aid at Target and then your favorite Tequila, wine and… or beer, and you’ll be set for the evening and the morning after.

Remember, the hotel staff can answer any questions you may have. They can direct you to the nearest movie theaters, local Italian eatery or “how to get Disneyland.”

Of course, if you are anything like me, you’ll look all of these places up and not make it out of the hotel until Sunday afternoon. I’ve been going to Brea for years, and I rarely get beyond the hotel. Hey, it’s a writers’ conference and I mainly go to these to be surrounded by my tribe, “The lovers, the dreamers, and me.” ~ Kermit the Frog


Maria Powers

Maria Powers grew up in Southern California. She graduated with a degree in English and promptly entered the Business world. By day she works in Real Estate wrangling contracts and agreements, and by night she writes kick ass heroines and tough heroes with sensitive hearts ready to be tamed by the girl next door or beaten into submission by the witch on the corner, whatever works. Maria’s current work in progress is a Paranormal Romance series set in the San Gabriel Valley. The first book in the series, Coyote Walks, was a finalist in the Golden Heart® contest in 2015. She also writes under a nom de plume in erotica. Her first novella in this genre was self-published in July 2015. She’s currently working on a series of novellas set in the same world.

She is the blog master for the California Dreamin’ Writers Conference, and the 2017 President of the Los Angeles Romance Authors.