Winter Fest OC wasn't on my radar until I found out one of my readers bought season passes this year offered to write about how she saves money at Winter Fest OC and still has fun when she goes with her family. Unfortunately, this event only started on December 20th and ends on January 6th -- so you'll have to squeeze it into your schedule very soon. Here are her money … [Read more...]
Central Orange County Playgrounds
Central OC playgrounds are in the cities of: Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar, Orange, Santa Ana, and Tustin.
Newport Dunes Christmas Lights in Newport Beach
The Newport Dunes Christmas lights in Newport Beach might be the most under-appreciated holiday light display around. My husband and I were in the area and wanted to check it out to see if it was worth bringing our kids back and/or recommending to you. We drove around all angles from outside the grounds of Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. We could see the lights, but … [Read more...]
Beach Christmas Tree at Crystal Cove
The beach Christmas tree at Crystal Cove State Park does not disappoint. I'd seen photos from photographer friends and heard about this Christmas tree at the beach, but never visited until 2017. Now I think we're going to go every year! I hope you can see how magical it was from my UNEDITED photos! I did not change the colors or even crop these photos taken last year - it … [Read more...]
Pioneer Road Park: Log Cabin Picnicking and Uncovered Wagons
Pioneer Road Park is probably best-known for its summer water play. Thanks so much to Mary for recommending this one! It's not even on the map. My kids "oooh-ed" and "aaaah-ed" upon arrival at the brick-paved parking lot. Planners thought of every detail to make it feel like you've traveled back to pioneer days. From the many depictions of cowboys and the West to the … [Read more...]
Irvine Regional Park=4 Playgrounds + 1 Zoo + 1 Railroad + 1 Lake + Lots of Ponies
Irvine Regional Park is located in Orange, but you'll pass through Tustin, Irvine, and Orange as you climb Jamboree to reach this massive regional park. I even filed it under all three cities since it's close to them all and worth a little extra drive. You can get in with your OC Parks annual pass or pay $3 at the gate on weekdays ($5 on weekends). You'll find the scoop on the … [Read more...]