Irvine Terrace Park in Newport Beach is tucked into a neighborhood along a busy section of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) near MacArthur Boulevard. This park is surprisingly serene. Views of Newport Harbor and the Pacific peek from beyond the Japanese pines and statuary in the Rotary Club garden - a little quiet corner just blocks from Fashion Island. Visit in the … [Read more...]
Arroyo Park in Newport Beach: Lush Surroundings in a Sunken Canyon
Arroyo Park in Newport Beach is the second "Arroyo" Park on this blog. The other one is in Yorba Linda. San Juan Capistrano has one by the same name, but it's just a "pocket park" with no playground. The location of this one is kind of cool because it's below street level and near the toll road. We made our first visit on Father's Day after strolling around some … [Read more...]
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...]
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...]