2025 Wildflowers and Best Kid-Friendly Spots to See Them in Orange County
Where to find wildflowers (2025) from Orange County + kid-friendly spots. California wildflower guide for identification + safety tips.
Hiking
Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo for Family Nature Walks
Oso Creek Trail in Mission Viejo is outside the Norman P. Murray Community Center. It’s perfect for family walks near an awesome playground.
Oak Glen Preserve Children’s Nature Trail – The Wildlands Conservancy
Oak Glen Preserve hiking trail is called the Children’s Nature Trail inside The Wildlands Conservancy. It gets better every year!
Cedar Grove Park in Tustin: Under the Troll Bridge and Through the Woods
Cedar Grove Park in Tustin has a nature-themed playground and adult fitness equipment, plus it’s fun for pretend play or sports activities.
O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon
O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon is the perfect spot for hiking & camping. It doubles as campground + nature-rich playground area.
Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks for Families
Understanding the vastness of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks is key. It’s hard to believe that it’s 50,000 acres! The area was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 2006 …
SJC Flag Hill and Patriot Trail – or Flagpole Hike – for Families
The Flag Hill & Patriot Trail hike in San Juan Capistrano is sometimes called the Flagpole Hike. San Clemente + Dana Point views.
Guided Night Hike in Silverado Canyon
The light faded as we headed toward the hills and our rendezvous point for our special guided night hike in Silverado Canyon. We’ve walked around our neighborhood in the dark …
Nature Scene Investigators (NSI): On A Not-So-Secret Mission to Get Families Outdoors
Nature Scene Investigators (NSI) are a rare breed. The unit’s top investigators can uncover evidence of a coyote on a trail and spy a woodpecker’s acorn stash with one glance. …
Ojai Hike on Shelf Road: June Gloom Getaway in Ventura County
Looking for an Ojai hike along Shelf Road? A good friend and I recently escaped for a weekend away. My favorite mini-outing was hiking in Ojai. We found the hike …