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Huntington Beach Playground Near Pier (All Inclusive)

Huntington Beach Playground Near Pier (All Inclusive)

by Michele Whiteaker

How about an all-inclusive Huntington Beach playground in the sand north of the Huntington Beach Pier? Yes, please. In the works for a LONG time, this beach playground is partially the result of "a local mom who saw a need, asked a question and went with the flow" according to her "Huntington Beach Playground … Continue Reading

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Fairy Trail Hike at Oso Creek in Mission Viejo

Fairy Trail Hike at Oso Creek in Mission Viejo

by Michele Whiteaker

The Fairy Trail hike at Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo is an artistic and miniature fantasyland brought to you by the same Fairyologist who … Continue reading

17+ Family-Friendly Nature and Interpretive Centers in OC

17+ Family-Friendly Nature and Interpretive Centers in OC

by Michele Whiteaker

Family-friendly nature centers are home to my favorite rangers and resource specialists. Our family loves our visits to these hubs of wilderness … Continue reading

Play Trips and Park Tips

Clark Regional Park in Buena Park

Clark Regional Park in Buena Park

Clark Regional Park in Buena Park might just be my favorite OC regional park. It’s squeezed in between La Mirada and Fullerton. The grounds are expansive, but manageable for a 4 year old. There are no less than 3 separate playgrounds and an interpretive center. We walked almost the whole park during our visit.  It was […]

Woodbridge Village Center Play Area in Irvine

Woodbridge Village Center Play Area in Irvine

The Woodbridge Village Center Play Area in Irvine which has always been a fun destination for local families just got a $30 million renovation which includes a climbing structure, expanded seating areas, and an astroturf “lawn” have been added to the center. My husband and I have been coming here for ages! Ever since our college […]

Florence Joyner Olympiad Park in Mission Viejo

Florence Joyner Olympiad Park in Mission Viejo

Olympiad Park in Mission Viejo is named for Florence Joyner features a statue of her and artistic details in tribute to Olympic athletes. See if your child can find the rainbow Olympic torch “burning” in a rainbow of color. I love this park. It’s always a challenge to post because it’s always too busy to shoot […]

Heritage Park in Tustin

Heritage Park in Tustin

Heritage Park in Tustin is easy to miss because its quiet shaded playground is nestled back away from the street. It’s so pretty with its wide expanse of green lawn and sycamore trees. Location of Heritage Park in Tustin: Located on Tustin Ranch Road between Bryan Ave and Irvine Blvd.  From the 5 freeway exit at Tustin […]

Spiderweb Parks in Orange County

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 we were kids?  I think these provide our kids with a similar experience. In all my park visits, I’ve found all different shapes and sizes […]

Over 15 Playgrounds with Nearby Walking Trails in Orange County

Over 15 Playgrounds with Nearby Walking Trails in Orange County

There are over 15 playgrounds nearby walking trails in Orange County to inspire you to get outdoors and go exploring. Whenever we go to playgrounds, I’m always looking for somewhere to stroll. The playgrounds I picked for this post have walking trails RIGHT off the playground. You only have to park once and then walk into nature […]

7+ Kid-Friendly Farm and Garden Outings

7+ Kid-Friendly Farm and Garden Outings

Are you looking for kid-friendly farm and garden outings around Southern California? I remember being allowed to wander through botanic gardens on my own. I guess my mom was probably watching, but my eyes were facing forward and I was an explorer in a new world!  What was around the next bend? What exotic plants […]

Fullerton Arboretum: Nature Walks through the Trees

Fullerton Arboretum: Nature Walks through the Trees

The Fullerton Arboretum was on my list of places to visit with the kids ever since I heard about it from a blogger friend.  She said, “Oh, you’ll love it!” and “Get on their email list!” We made it a family trip on the weekend and it was perfect! It wasn’t crowded at all and […]

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Writer mom and nature guide celebrating 10 years of promoting play and encouraging families to prioritize nature time. UNOFFICIAL information provided as a FREE community resource to over 300,000 OC families each year. Subscribe to my FREE weekly email inspiring you with park tips & new play trip ideas for #3ParksPerWeek.

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