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 … Continue Reading
Popular Posts
Top 10+ OC Playgrounds with Shade Covers
Are you looking for OC playgrounds with shade covers? It's still hot and not ideal, but at least these are playgrounds you can visit in a … Continue reading
Splash Parks and Water Play in Orange County
Orange County Splash Parks and Water Play Updated for Summer 2019 One of Fun Orange County Parks' regular readers asked about local "spray … Continue reading
Play Trips and Park Tips
Adventure Playground in Huntington Beach Central Park
Adventure Playground (AP) inside Huntington Beach Central Park is one of 3 true adventure playgrounds in California. The others are in Berkeley and Irvine. How lucky are we? Directions to Adventure Playground in Huntington Beach Central Park: The easiest way to find the playground is to find the Central Library and park there. From Interstate […]
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 […]
Seabridge Park and Beach in Huntington Harbour
Seabridge Park in Huntington Harbour / Huntington Beach was like a “oh, finally!” moment for me. After asking around, some HB locals call this Mother’s Beach whereas the City of Huntington Beach saves that name for nearby Davenport Beach Park. You’ve told me about this area before, but I never realized the exact location until […]
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 […]
Balboa Peninsula Summer Trolley to Balboa Pier
Take the FREE Balboa Peninsula Summer Trolley to Balboa Pier to enjoy your day at the beach rather than hassle with traffic and parking. I know there are trolleys in many Orange County beach cities: Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. We haven’t taken advantage of them as we should, but I’m […]
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 […]