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
Places to Go During Summer
5 Best Toddler Beaches with No Waves
Here are 5 of the best toddler beaches with no waves in OC — because sometimes you want it to be extra mellow for your toddler!
Top 10+ OC Playgrounds with Shade Covers
OC playgrounds with shade covers – mostly in central and south Orange County. With recommendations on how to keep cool on hot days.
Orange County Free Summer Movies 2022
Orange County free summer movies list for families looking for some free outdoor entertainment at local parks. Updated for Summer 2022.
Splash Parks and Water Play in Orange County
Splash parks and water play locations for Orange County, CA updated every summer! Splash pads open for Summer 2022.
OC Summer Camps with Outdoor Themes
2022 OC summer camps list with outdoor themes for kids to play & learn outside. Summer nature camps for kids (science, animals, engineering).
Best State Parks in Orange County for Kids & Families
List of all the best California State Parks in Orange County for kids and families with activity ideas for what to do when you visit.
17+ Kid Friendly Things to Do Near Dana Point Harbor
List of kid friendly things to do in Dana Point crafted from family exploring with kids during the past decade!
Laguna Beach Day Trip Ideas for Families
Laguna Beach day trip ideas for families wondering about where to take their kids for outdoor fun & places to eat. Includes beaches & parks.
Kid Friendly Things to Do Near San Clemente
Kid friendly things to do outdoors in San Clemente, California. Playgrounds, beaches, walks, outings, & restaurants.
Balboa Peninsula Summer Trolley to Balboa Pier
Take the Balboa Peninsula Summer Trolley to Balboa Pier during the summer months to save money and avoid parking hassles.
Things to Do Outdoors in Orange County
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.
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.
7+ Beach Playgrounds Right in the Sand
Beach playgrounds in Orange County list on our coast from Seal Beach in the north to San Clemente in the south. 7 places for kids beach play.
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.
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.
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.
25+ Sand Free Parks in Orange County
It’s easy to find parks without sand or “Sand Free Parks in Orange County” with this list. Thanks to the reader who wrote in requesting the information. “I am looking for …
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 …
7+ Kid-Friendly Farm and Garden Outings
Kid-friendly garden and farm outings for families. Nature preserves, botanic gardens, farms, and more in OC, LA, and San Diego counties.
5 Family Walks in Orange County
Make a day out of these 5 family walks all over Orange County, CA.
Destination Playgrounds
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.
Central Park in Huntington Beach for Kids and Families
Huntington Beach Central Park boasts an amazing new 2022 playground and is an awesome 350-acre park for kids and families to explore.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Parks with Zip Tracks
Ronald Reagan Park in Anaheim Hills
Ronald Reagan Park in Anaheim Hills (formerly known as Toyon Park). Kids will love the zip track, swings, climbing and spinning opportunities.
Veterans Sports Park at Tustin Legacy
Veterans Sports Park at Tustin Legacy is a huge central park with a playground & splash pad near The District and former El Toro MCAS.
Cherry Park in Lake Forest: Accessible Playground in the Neighborhood
Cherry Park in Lake Forest features fun and universally accessible playgrounds for 2-5 year olds and 5-12 year olds as of February 2021.
O’Neill Regional Park: Go Wild Outside
O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon is the perfect spot for hiking & camping. It doubles as campground + nature-rich playground area.
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.