This is the real foothills—great rolling sunburned berms of midget mountains—but we're passing lightly over it because it's not a city. Yet. Foothill Ranch is serviced by Lake Forest and so lacks its own agencies like a cop shop or a city hall, a sad mall (Westminster), a haunted ship (Long Beach), an evil sheriff. Actually, it has an evil sheriff. We all have an evil sheriff. But what Foothill Ranch in its youth may lack in character—and, one assumes, characters—it amply makes up for in geography and architecture. To wit:
Best Biking Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Fifteen hundred acres, which is bigger than Foothill Ranch next door. Miles of trails, over ridgelines, past creeks, through the oaks. Hikers are typically held to the front side of the park, and the back two-thirds go to the mountain bikers—but there's also a stable off Santiago Road, so the potential for collision is, well, interesting. They recommend riding clockwise around the park to avoid taking a header. Between Portola Parkway and Santiago Canyon Road, north of Foothill Ranch.
Best Office Building The Oakley headquarters. Which in its podlike, turreted, domed, Lexan/PVC splendor resembles the capital of Tattooine or else something too well-lit/parked-around-by-Buicks to make the cut for Blade Runner. An amazing, sprawling complex—oddly well-landscaped by verdant hedges, like Philip K. Dick transplanted to the English countryside. Truly a county marvel. 1 Icon, Foothill Ranch.
Best Hiking Limestone Canyon Regional Park. A not-so-hidden treasure—basically, just northwest of Whiting Ranch—with restricted public access. It's owned by the Irvine Co. (you too, huh?) but is slated to eventually become public land in the year 2123. Seriously, biking, hiking or equestrian tours are available by calling the Conservancy—fairly strenuous 10-15 mile jaunts. Good stretches of the legs. 3142 Irvine Blvd., Irvine, (714) 832-7478.
