Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor is near The Ocean Institute. Google Maps calls this area "Dana Cove Park." How to Get to Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor I get to Dana Point Harbor from all sorts of directions (Moulton to Golden Lantern, Crown Valley Parkway to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), I-5 to PCH). Look at the map to see what makes the most sense … [Read more...]
Beaches in OC
Find the best Orange County 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.
Best Tidepooling and Beaches for Minus Tides (with Tide Table Tools)
There's a whole science to figuring out the best times to tidepool. What is the tidal range (difference between high and low tides)? Is it a minus tide (super-duper low in comparison to the rest of the year)? Is it happening during daylight hours? December and January tend to be the best times to tidepool with the highest range of tidal difference. You … [Read more...]
How to Visit Catalina Island: A Brief Tutorial on the Basics
We go to Catalina Island every summer. We've been visiting Catalina ever since I was in high school - so that's 20+ years. I'm surprised how many of my friends have never taken the trip over to the island. It's a whole other world out there! You feel like you've traveled back in time to wide open California spaces. Where is Catalina? Catalina Island sits offshore … [Read more...]
9 Things to Do When It’s Too Hot in OC
The big headline is the HEAT. I've lived in the hot, humid, and buggy South before. And I have also lived right near Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita where the high desert sure feels like the high desert. September and October are ALWAYS the hottest months in Southern California, but I ALWAYS feel the need to get cranky and complain anyways. Things to Do When It's Too Hot … [Read more...]
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 be good stingray habitat - at least along the warm sandy edges. Check Heal the … [Read more...]