Does summer strike fear in your heart? It's like looking at an empty page for a writer; an empty canvas for an artist. Summer seems like a blank slate to fill. The thing to remember is that summer is fleeting, just like childhood. So here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Relish (Rather Than Dread) Summer With Your Kids: Reason #1 - Slowing Down for Long Lazy Days More … [Read more...]
6 Summer Activities for Your Family Play Calendar
I put together 6 summer activities for your family play calendar. (If you aren't able to be home with our kids over summer, click over to my post on OC Summer Camps with Outdoor Themes or just plan your summer activities on the weekends.) I'm a big proponent of free play and just hanging out. I don't want you to overschedule your kids over the summer - but routines and … [Read more...]
7 Beach Playgrounds Right in the Sand
I never realized how many OC beach playgrounds we actually have for playing right in the sand! But, then again, why am I surprised with so many Orange County beaches suited for families? Years ago, I wrote up a similar list for the family travel website Trekaroo.com. You should check them out if you're planning family trips this summer. I know many of the prolific travelers and … [Read more...]
Top 5 Family Friendly Hikes in Orange County
Brian & Ashley ran a local hiking blog until 2016. They recorded their adventures on the trails -- in much the same style as I record our visits to parks and playgrounds. The young married couple share detailed directions to trailheads, photos, and maps of their hikes on their blog. In 2011, they put together this list of Top 5 Family Friendly Hikes in Orange … [Read more...]
3 Best Toddler Beaches with No Waves
You want to know the best toddler beaches with no waves in OC? And I'm going to provide you with my Top 3 plus two bonus beaches, but they come with a note of precaution. Still water beaches, meaning no waves or surf, have a general propensity for water quality issues and they can also be good stingray habitat - at least along the warm sandy edges. Check Heal the Bay Beach … [Read more...]