I wanted to put together a little list of places to go in OC with green hills for family hikes. Having lived in places where the winter season is marked by the color brown, I just love California's green winters. But pretty soon the rain will be gone and the weather will be heating up for spring. We'll be losing our green hills to the brown of summer. The … [Read more...]
Nature Hikes
Find the best nature hikes to take with families in Orange County. Many are more like nature walks and designed more for connecting your family to the outdoors. Families can relax together!
Seaview Park and Aliso Summit Trail in Laguna Niguel
Seaview Park in Laguna Niguel and the nearby Aliso Summit Trail saved us from one of those days when we were feeling the need to get into the great wide open outdoors. This trail was quiet and beautiful. We found it full of rocks to climb and views to take in. I would love to see a sunset from up here. Aliso Summit Trail was the original home of a Fairy Trail which … [Read more...]
Sidewalk Hiking
I could just as easily title this Sidewalk Hiking post: "Sidewalk Skipping" or "Urban Walks." The point is that walking around your neighborhood counts as a hike. No matter what anyone else says! It counts. This is part of my Hummingbird Parenting blog series. When I introduced Hummingbird Parenting, I talked about a playground parenting style that might remind … [Read more...]
Cheat Sheet to Park and Beach Passes for OC Families
Which park passes should you buy if you are a family living in Orange County, CA? It's a question that plagues parents who wants to play outside more, but don't have the time to research every possible outing or admission price. I will try to make it easy for you. Your choices range from: Spend $0 - see FREE PLAY. Spend $55/year - OCParks.com County Regional and … [Read more...]
Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange
Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange feels very accessible to those who might be hesitant to explore the greater wilds of Orange County with kids. I would feel comfortable taking a toddler here, because the hikes are short and the pay-offs are big. [NOTE: There are quite a few trail closures due to the October 2017 Canyon Fire 2 which heavily impacted this park. So make sure … [Read more...]