Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea is home to some of the best playgrounds in Orange County and, surprisingly, a redwood grove. This is the only grove of redwoods in Orange County. A 4-acre lake sits at the center of this expansive park. With one of the biggest and best playgrounds around. You'll spot birds like coots with their black bodies and white … [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!
Sea Summit Trail with Stairs Near San Clemente Outlets
Sea Summit Trail is the one with stairs near the San Clemente Outlets off Avenida Pico. You know? Those stairs that you drive by on Pacific Coast Highway between Capo Beach and the 7-Eleven near the Ole Hanson Beach Club and Pool. Highlights: The blufftop view will knock your socks off! It's a panoramic view from all the way south past the San Clemente Pier to the … [Read more...]
Trestles: Beach Walking for Families in a Surfer’s Paradise
Trestles or Trestle Beach is a bit of a mystery, unless you're a surfer. I'm betting the surfers like to keep it that way! We enjoyed a great off-season family outing here without tromping on anyone's saltwater turf. It's a hike down to the sand, but manageable even for little ones. Trestles is actually part of San Onofre State Beach. Huell Howser from California's … [Read more...]
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 playgrounds open to the public inside the Orange County Great … [Read more...]
San Clemente Pier for a Family Stroll
Playtime need not be limited to the playground. The day we took a leisurely family stroll on the San Clemente Pier was a perfect reminder. Location: Head towards San Clemente and exit I-5 at Avenida Palizada. Turn south onto El Camino Real (the main street that parallels the freeway). Turn right onto Avenida del Mar and follow it all the way down to just before the … [Read more...]