October is my favorite month for families in Orange County! I made my picks of the best outdoor fall family traditions in OC based on the family outdoor experience and if it's low or no-cost. Wait! Almost forgot. Before you read any further, think about your fall. Think about how you want to spend … Continue Reading
Popular Posts
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 … Continue reading
How to Buy a California State Parks Annual Pass
The California State Parks celebrated their 150th year. Buying a pass is a great way to support our state park system or give someone the … Continue reading
Play Trips and Park Tips
10 Best Orange County Playgrounds (by Feature)
The 10 best playgrounds (by feature) in Orange County may not be the ones you’d expect. The idea for this post came to mind after I rode an awesome zip track at Ronald Reagan Park in Anaheim Hills. It was the BEST zip track I’ve been on in a while. “People need to know about this!” […]
5 Best Toddler Beaches with No Waves
You want to know the best toddler beaches with no waves in OC? 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 […]
Bosque Playground at Great Park Trails in Irvine
The Bosque playground at the Great Park Trails in Irvine is yet another example of the complicated naming FivePoints uses for this area. They actually call this section the Upper Bee and Bosque with a “kids play area” included. I’m sure your kids will come up with more simple terminology to describe the parks and […]
Beach Trips: What To Bring To The Beach and How One Parent Can Carry It All
Beach trips can be a snap if you have a system and know what to bring whether it’s for day at the beach or part of a full-on beach vacation. A big part of my What-to-Bring-to-the-Beach system is having all my beach things pre-packed so that when I decide to take the kids to the […]
Family Guide to Crystal Cove Historic District via Los Trancos
This is a family guide to the Crystal Cove Historic District via Los Trancos – the closest large parking lot to this location. The Crystal Cove Historic District & Cottages at Newport Coast are what most people associate with this state park. It’s popular for its cottages which are available for rental through ReserveCalifornia.com, the Beachcomber […]
How to Barbecue Near the Beach: Places and Tips for Grilling in OC
The first thing on my list every summer is to find places to barbecue near the beach. The list is shorter than I first expected, but there are still plenty of places to “grill out,” “cook out,” or “BBQ” and be near the beach. Just keep it really simple and it should be possible to […]
100+ Ideas for Kids Indoor Play in Orange County
Writing about kids indoor play areas in Orange County is a little hard for this mom/writer who MUCH prefers outdoor play experiences. But play is play no matter where you go and I’ve had a lot of moms ask me about where to play when it’s too hot outside or raining. Until I got into […]
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 […]