10 Best Orange County Playgrounds (by Feature)
My 10 best Orange County playgrounds list by feature + choices for best slides, best bank of swings, best spiderwebs. Printable checklist!
Finding Orange County Parks
Fall Outdoors in Orange County
14+ Thanksgiving Buffet and Restaurant Dinners in Orange County for 2024
A simple list of Orange County 2024 Thanksgiving dinner restaurant buffets, dine-in, and Thanksgiving meals to go or takeout!
Apple Pie and Fall Colors in Oak Glen
Blog readers, like you, turned me on to apple picking in Oak Glen in 2010 (see post from back then). Since then, everyone has posts on apple picking! The thing …
100+ Ideas for Kids Indoor Play in Orange County
Kids indoor play areas in Orange County with almost 150 ideas, including places to go like indoor playgrounds, libraries, and nature centers.
Montane Botanic Garden and Children’s Outdoor Discovery Center
Visit the Southern California Montane Botanic Garden and Children’s Outdoor Discovery Center for a short hike near apple picking in Oak Glen.
Things to Do Outdoors in Orange County
23+ Best Fishing Spots for Kids in Orange County
Best fishing spots for kids in Orange County including ALL the places to fish in OC plus resources to get you started!
Best Places to See Airplanes in Orange County
Best places to see airplanes in Orange County! Including aviation museums, restaurants with views of runways, and parks with planes or views.
15+ Parks with Mommy and Me Baby Swings
List of parks with “Mommy and Me” baby swings or what I call “Swing with Me” swings for Orange County, CA. Swing face-to-face with your baby.
37+ Sand Free Parks in Orange County
Sand free parks in Orange County for families who prefer parks without sand in OC.
Fenced Parks in Orange County
List of fenced parks in Orange County for families planning easier play dates for multiples or those with a tendency to wander.
7 Best State Parks in Orange County for Kids & Families
List of all the best California State Parks in Orange County for families with kids plus activity ideas for what to do when you visit.
15+ Pirate Parks in Orange County
A list of 15 Pirate Parks in Orange County ranging from playgrounds with pirate ships to overall pirate themes.
20+ Parks with Big Slides in Orange County
Parks with big slides in Orange County, California. Long list includes tunnel, tube, corkscrew, and spiral slides for lots of playground fun.
20+ Parks with Workout Equipment in Orange County for Outdoor Fitness
List of 20+ parks with workout equipment in Orange County featuring outdoor fitness areas for when you want exercise outdoors.
Spiderweb Parks in Orange County
Spiderweb parks in Orange County! This is the master list you’ve always wanted! These rope or rubber-coated climbers are especially popular with older kids. Remember playing on those playground domes when …
Destination Playgrounds
Pavion Park in Mission Viejo
Pavion Park in Mission Viejo is a colorful universally accessible playground with flat play surfaces, spinners, and ramps for wheelchairs.
Courtney’s SandCastle Universal Playground & Sensory Garden in San Clemente
Courtney’s SandCastle Universal Playground & Sensory Garden in San Clemente provides inclusive play features in a contained setting.
Marina Park in Newport Beach on the Balboa Peninsula
Marina Park in Newport Beach on the Balboa Peninsula is bayside with harbor views and a nautical lighthouse theme. Near the Balboa Fun Zone.
Central Park in Huntington Beach for Kids and Families
Huntington Beach Central Park boasts an amazing playground on the west side and is an awesome 350-acre park for kids and families to explore.
Box Canyon Park in Yorba Linda: Accessible Playground for All Pirates and Knights
Box Canyon Park in Yorba Linda provides all sorts of play possibilities with fully accessible equipment. Ramps and wide pathways.
Irvine Adventure Playground at University Park
The Adventure Playground in Irvine at University Park allows children unstructured free play opportunities. Perfect for creativity & pretend!
Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach
Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach is a playground entirely fenced with a big blue rocketship, a gem-studded turtle sculpture, and trike track.
Laguna Main Beach Park Playground: Learn Your Ocean Lessons at the Lifeguard Tower
Main Beach Park in Laguna Beach offers a playground that helps kids learn ocean lessons at the playful lifeguard tower.
Castle Park (Northwood Community Park) in Irvine
Northwood Community Park in Irvine is also known as Castle Park. I think of it as a fortress fit for knights and princesses.
OC Great Park Playgrounds
Find out what OC Great Park playgrounds have to offer families with fun play features and also links to the public Bosque playground.
Catalina Island
How to Visit Catalina Island: A Brief Tutorial on the Basics
We go to Catalina Island every summer. We’ve been visiting Catalina ever since I was in high school – so that’s 20+ years. I’m surprised how many of my friends …
The Best Way to Cure Seasickness is Prevention: Tips for Whale Watching and Catalina Ferry Trips
If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I’m a self-described “boat kid.” With over 30 years of boating experience with people who each have a different …
Two Harbors – Top 25 Things to Do on Catalina Island’s Quiet Side
Two Harbors is the other ferry drop-off I described in Friday’s post about how to get to Catalina Island. The photo above shows Isthmus Cove which makes up half of Two …
Avalon – Top 25 Things to Do in Catalina Island’s Popular Destination
Avalon is the more bustling tourist destination of Catalina Island.