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...]
Beaches in OC
Find the best beaches for nature walks, whale viewing, sunsets, and family outings. I also give lessons on how to spot dolphins from shore and share tidepooling tips. Playgrounds near the beach are also included in this category. Just keep clicking the "Next Page" link at the bottom of the page. You'll even find out how to pack a bag for the beach and where to see trains while you play by the shore.
Aliso Beach Park in Laguna Beach
Aliso Beach Park is a bit of a secret over the Laguna Main Beach Playground. On a winter evening when I first posted this beach, there were only a few couples on the beach. It felt like our own private playground. The berm (steep slope of sand) to the ocean made for some really fun sand-sledding and sliding. San Clemente and Catalina Islands were visible in silhouette to the … [Read more...]
West Newport Park in Newport Beach
West Newport Park in Newport Beach is the long park you can see when you're driving between Huntington Beach and Newport Beach on Coast Highway. Restaurants and shops are on one side and there's a long and skinny park on the other side, just a block away from the beach. There are 3 playgrounds along this long stretch of park. Seashore Drive is the street where you can grab … [Read more...]
Balboa Pier and Peninsula Park in Newport Beach
Balboa Pier and Peninsula Park in Newport Beach make me think of the good 'ole days at the beach. There are always families wandering around the shops and restaurants, kids riding bikes, and tourists visiting from out of town. On the summer day we visited, Junior Lifeguards were there, in force. Location: There are two piers on the Newport Peninsula: the Newport Pier … [Read more...]
Huntington Beach Playground Near Pier (All Inclusive)
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 in the Sand" page on Facebook. Yay, mom! It's real. It's … [Read more...]