Fun Orange County Parks https://funorangecountyparks.com/ OC kids playgrounds and nature play trips Wed, 27 May 2026 23:32:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://funorangecountyparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-Final-FOCP-Site-Icon-512px-32x32.png Fun Orange County Parks https://funorangecountyparks.com/ 32 32 21 Kid Friendly Things to Do Near Newport Beach https://funorangecountyparks.com/kid-friendly-newport-beach.html Wed, 27 May 2026 13:11:00 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=23466 Kid friendly things to do outdoors in Newport Beach, California. Playgrounds, beaches, nature centers, outings, & restaurants.

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There are so many kid friendly things to do near Newport Beach that it's hard to pick for a list! From playgrounds to nature centers to beaches, Newport Beach is the epitome of California tourism. It's the perfect place to be outdoors with your family.

Newport Beach feels like multiple cities because it is spread over a large section of the coast. In fact, Corona del Mar is a neighborhood of the city, even though it sounds like its own city, as are Balboa Island, Balboa Peninsula, and Newport Coast.

Let me run down a few of my favorite spots to take the kids. I've grouped these places to go in Newport Beach by proximity to each other and, in some cases, with a short description of how to visit.

21 Kid-Friendly Things to Do Near Newport Beach

Let's start with an exploration of Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve because it is one of the most biodiverse spots on the planet and we'll finish with Coastal Peak Park which is high above the ocean giving a view of it all.

I've already thought of more parks and places to cover and add to the list of kid friendly things to do near Newport Beach, but that should get you started whether you are visiting or living local!

If you are traveling to other Orange County beach cities, you can check out my posts on:

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]]> Castaways Park in Newport Beach https://funorangecountyparks.com/castaways-park-newport-beach.html Wed, 27 May 2026 12:37:00 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=7449 Castaways Park in Newport Beach is an awesome place for taking in ocean views with a paved trail on the bluff overlooking the bay and harbor.

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]]> Castaways Park in Newport Beach

Castaways Park in Newport Beach is one of the best spots in Orange County to take in views of the Newport Back Bay and Newport Harbor.

Directions to Castaways Park in Newport Beach: There are a lot of ways to get here! You can take Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the 73, and even the 55.  It’s at the corner of Dover and 16th Street near Newport High School. You can set the map to a satellite view so you can see the parking lot in relationship to the paths. (Park Address: 700 Dover Drive, Newport Beach) MAP TO CASTAWAYS PARK IN NEWPORT BEACH

Highlights:

  • Unbeatable views
  • Flat, paved path perfect for little feet and walks after the rain
  • It's big!  The path winds along the bluff top and heads in towards the bay.
  • Very stroller-friendly and relatively flat
  • Points of interest: benches overlooking the harbor, a veteran's memorial statue, a native plant demonstration garden
  • Walk the loop: Walk from the parking lot out to the point overlooking the harbor, then loop back around and continue in front of the row of houses to a lookout point, then either head back the way you came -- or turn down the eucalyptus-lined path that will lead you back to Dover and a wide sidewalk leading back to your car by way of Bob Henry Park (restrooms).
  • I also like to visit Juliette's Cafe and Coffee Culture when I'm around here!
  • Great for birdwatching -- especially pelicans and other waterfowl

Be Aware:

  • NO playground
  • NO restrooms
  • Path is shared with bikes and scooters, so keep your eyes out

Checklist:

Nearby Nature Centers & Park:

Originally published in March 2012.

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]]> Riding Irvine CONNECT with Kids https://funorangecountyparks.com/riding-irvine-connect-with-kids.html Thu, 21 May 2026 16:39:00 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=24872 Riding Irvine CONNECT with kids is a free shuttle option families can use to get around the City of Irvine.

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]]> Riding Irvine CONNECT with Kids

Riding Irvine CONNECT with kids may be my new favorite way to get around Irvine for free!

The City of Irvine describes this free service as:

"Irvine CONNECT provides free shuttle service for community members – making it easier than ever to get around the City of Irvine. Ride on the Irvine CONNECT shuttle service to travel between the northern end of Irvine to Irvine Station, with stops at parks, schools, hospitals, and shopping centers."

Here is the official Irvine CONNECT website and real-time shuttle information. It all feels similar to trolley rides in other parts of the county. You can download the PassioGo! app to get real-time trolley info.

Here is the route map from OCTA.

An OC dad (@frugaltechdad on Instagram) originally created this post in 2024 as he explored the routes and locations on a special park challenge with his kids -- and wrote up all the info for us. Unfortunately that challenge is no longer in action, but the good news is that Irvine CONNECT still is fully in action with expanded routes!

So now for Summer 2026, I've updated this post based on riding the entire route and taking notes about kid-friendly spots where you can stop.

17 Family-Friendly Spots on Irvine CONNECT

Park and Restaurant Stops

Here's a quick list of where you can go with kids:

  1. Irvine Metrolink Station
  2. Irvine Spectrum Restaurants, Play, and Shopping
  3. Oak Creek Community Park & Valley Oak Park
  4. Manassero Farms U-Pick
  5. Woodbridge Village Play Area & Lake Walk
  6. Mike Ward Lighted Pickleball Courts
  7. Stonecreek Plaza Restaurants
  8. Deerfield Community Park
  9. Irvine Heritage Community Park + Library + Fine Arts Center
  10. Orchard Park
  11. Trabuco & Yale Restaurants
  12. Northwood Community Park (Castle Park) & Community Center
  13. Northwood Town Center Restaurants & Zion Market
  14. Jeffrey Open Space Trail between Irvine Blvd & Portola Pkwy
  15. Settlers Park and Orchard Hills Shopping Center at Culver & Portola
  16. Hicks Canyon Community Park & Tiny Hike
  17. Northpark Plaza (H Mart) at Culver & Irvine Blvd

Visiting City of Irvine Community parks has made me more aware of little things available to the public. For one, many of them offer free wifi, a Little Library, and the bathrooms are usually very clean. Clean bathrooms may not seem like a biggie, but cleanliness is pretty important when you’re potty training and the kids are touching everything.

Irvine Metrolink Station

We started our route riding at the Irvine Metrolink Station. Shuttles arrive every 20 minutes. Restrooms available.

I'm running down our journey from the perspective of Irvine Metrolink Station being our starting point, but other spots that have a lot of free parking and would be convenient for travel would be:

Irvine Spectrum Restaurants, Play, and Shopping

There is a stop for Irvine Spectrum only about 5-6 minutes away from the station. It will drop you near the movie theater end of the center with a street to cross! So if you'd prefer to avoid the parking hassle at Spectrum and get a fun little shuttle ride, then you can JUST do that!

I have posts about Water Play at Irvine Spectrum near the carousel and "potato chip" play structure and also Holey Moley (miniature golf) & Hijinx Hotel (challenge rooms). Restrooms available.

Oak Creek Community Park + Valley Oak Park

This stop is about 10 minutes past Irvine Spectrum. You would just get off right past Sand Canyon on Barranca. Oak Creek Community Park is on the same side of the street as the drop-off, but not really visible from the sidewalk. You'll need to cross Barranca to get to Oak Valley Park. Restrooms available at both playgrounds.

U-Pick Strawberries Manaserro Farms

It's basically the stop for Irvine Valley College along Barranca, but you can get off and walk down to the farm. This Manassero Farms location is their flagship space in between Barranca and Irvine Center Drive.

Woodbridge Village Play Area & Lake Walk

This is a great stop that's got a lot going for it with restaurants and this massive play area. It's only about 5 minutes from the "oak parks" stop. I have a whole post on the Woodbridge Village Play Area that has all the info you need to know, including a fun route for walking around the lake. I wish there was still a bookstore here, but there is a movie theater. Restrooms available.

Woodbridge Village Center Irvine Play Area

Mike Ward Pickleball Courts

8 new pickleball courts opened in February 2026. Info from the City of Irvine. Restrooms available.

Stonecreek Plaza Restaurants

This parking lot is busy at meal times, so it's a good one to visit without a car. There are Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Hot Pot, Ramen, Breakfast, and Pizza spots. It's at the corner of West Yale Loop & Barranca.

Deerfield Community Park

Once you finish up riding through the residential area around Woodbridge with tree-lined streets and views of the lakes, you can get dropped at the corner of Yale and Irvine Center Drive which is close to Deerfield Community Park. This one is a bit of walk along a busy street since you'll have about a 10 minute walk along Irvine Center Drive towards Culver Drive to the access point into the park. Restroom available.

Irvine Heritage Community Park + Library + Fine Arts Center

Heritage Community Park has a fun playground and also a splash pad. That means this is the 2nd splash pad on this Irvine CONNECT route (along with Irvine Spectrum)! Irvine Heritage Park Library is also here where you get dropped at the corner of Walnut & Yale. At this point, you are about 40 minutes away from the Metrolink Station. Maybe you want to hold this as an option with a nice big parking area to make your journey up or down the route from here? There is also a lake and Irvine Fine Arts Center at this location. Restrooms available.

Orchard Park

This is actually one of my favorite little parks for the train and the shaded-by-trees play area. Orchard Park is just one stop past Heritage Community Park, but parking is more challenging here so it would even be fun to hop on the ride for one stop if the timing works out. Or you can walk over the freeway bridge. Restrooms available.

Trabuco & Yale Restaurants

This small retail area has a few restaurants and a small parking lot. Febe Coffee is a matcha cafe. Then there was also Seoul Haus which is a Korean comfort food spot. And then Round Table Pizza.

Northwood Community Park (Castle Park) & Community Center

I believe Northwood Community Park (fondly nicknamed Castle Park) is going to be in for some renovations this year. Hopefully it doesn't interrupt summer plans, but from a June 2025 article about the planning the landscape planning analyst said: “The castle is so incredibly iconic to this park. Our dream is really to build upon that theme. Right now, you just have a castle and you have a few play structures, but what if it becomes an actual medieval town?” Can't wait!

Northwood Town Center Restaurants & Zion Market

This center is a hub of restaurants and family spots around a Zion Market. Hako is known for its tonkatsu. There is also Dada Shabu Shabu, Gui BBQ Restaurant & Bar, Its Tofu, Tasty Spot Cafe, Delicious Food Corner, CM Chicken, Fresh Roll House, K Pop Sushi, Pelicana Chicken, and Northwood Pizza. For coffee & boba, you have The Mugs and Boba Square. Plus, Paris Baguette bakery and Remicone for ice cream. San Soo Dang for desserts. Fast food is Carls Jr. and Del Taco. Also, don't miss Bricks & Minifigs if you love LEGO.

Jeffrey Open Space Trail on Jeffrey between Irvine Blvd & Portola Pkwy

This off-street trail with bridges over the main street crossings runs from Cypress Community Park (not on the Irvine CONNECT route) up to Portola Parkway which is 2.5 miles away (5 miles roundtrip if you walk it end-to-end). If you get dropped off at one of the 3 spots along here you can walk either way to enjoy the trail, but you will have to come back to Irvine & Jeffrey, Encore & Jeffrey, or Portola & Jeffrey to get picked up again.

Settlers Park and Orchard Hills Shopping Center at Culver & Portola

Orchard Hills Center is at the furthest corner of the route that's about 12-15 minutes away from Castle Park. This center has a Pavilions, Peet's Coffee, Nara Thai Kitchen, Zov's Bistro, Jinbei (sushi), Nékter Juice Bar, Pizza Hut & McDonalds. You can walk about a half mile (10 minutes) up Culver Drive from the shopping center to explore Settlers Park.

Hicks Canyon Community Park & Tiny Hike

Hicks Canyon Community Park got a recent re-do with a baseball / sports theme and a bit of shade. It can be super busy on weekends for sports and also empty at other times during the week. It's all about the timing! I also wrote up a mini trail guide for a short & sweet nature walk from this park that would fit perfectly in with an Irvine CONNECT ride.

Northpark Plaza (H Mart) at Culver & Irvine Blvd

You can honestly just walk to this plaza from Hicks Canyon Park. It would be a good pairing. You'll find Brueggers Bagels, Blueberry Social, Starbucks, It's Boba Time, Subway, and Donut Star here. And also: Cho Dang Tofu House, CHD Korean Dumplings, Paik's Noodle, Gooyi92, Chai Lan, Kiyo Sushi & Sake, bb.q Chicken, MooMoo Hot Pot, and Chipotle.

Since you've just ridden in a rectangle from Northwood Town Center at Yale & Irvine Blvd -- around on Irvine Blvd up Jeffrey Road and back along Portola Pkwy to catch up with Culver which hits the bottom of the rectangle . . .

Your next family-friendly stop from H Mart and Northpark Plaza is . . . back to Zion Market and Northwood Town Center.

Know Before You Go

You can start or stop your journey at any of these stops and travel in either direction. It took us about 2 hours to ride the ENTIRE route without any on/off. So it's basically an hour out to the furthest point and then a little less than that back.

  • Don't necessarily ride the route. I wouldn't recommend riding the entire route. I did it so you don't have to! It's LONG. Even I was getting antsy by the end. However, if it makes you less anxious to know where it goes and how it works before you attempt with kids, then do it!
  • Get familiar with map and route before you go. Ask the driver when you need help.
  • Parking is free at the Metrolink Station and many points along the route.
  • Be aware of directions! Remember that you might need to cross the street and pick up the shuttle if you want to go somewhere in the opposite direction of where you got dropped off.
  • Plan ahead a little & be aware of your surroundings. When you want to get off, remember to pull the yellow cord along the window (it didn't "ding" when we were on it, so it wasn't always obvious if the driver got the message).
  • It was a LOUD ride which I wouldn't have noticed as much if our ride was short, but since we were on their for an extended period of time it was very obvious.
  • No seatbelts. And you definitely need to stay seated while it's in motion because it's jerky at times.
  • A/C was nice. And open windows part of the time allowed for some fresh air, too. It didn't feel stuffy at any point over the 2 hours.
  • Check the official site for hours. Closed on some holidays including Memorial Day. Also, rides can be impacted by students using the shuttle. So think about school hours.
  • A little under 25 seats per shuttle? About 10 seats on the lower level mostly reserved for seniors and disabled passengers. About 13 seats on the upper level with 2 rows of 2 + 2 seats (8 seats total) and then one wide row of 5 in the back. One adult per kid would be ideal since you can pair up.

Special Park Fun for Kids

In July 2024, the City celebrated July with a Collectible Card Challenge involving Irvine CONNECT. [One OC dad and his kids took on the Collectible Card Challenge for the 2024 National Park & Recreation Month offered by the City of Irvine. He was so eager to share so I asked him if he would be willing to write up his experience for you! He was AMAZING and wrote a really extensive post about it (which is mostly obsolete now since the Collectible Card Challenge isn't happening anymore). You can follow his Instagram account at FrugalTechDad!]

Collectible cards from back in 2024 (now switched the citywide activity to a printable park passport)

In July 2025, it shifted to a Printable Passport to City of Irvine parks which is still available today and some of the parks are reachable via Irvine CONNECT. You can make it to these 3 community parks on the route.

  • Deerfield Community Park
  • Heritage Community Park
  • Northwood Community Park

Other Irvine Community Parks on the Passport

Here are a few more play ideas inspired by visiting Irvine community parks for the previous 2024 Collectible Card Challenge. These parks are NOT on the route, but they ARE on the Printable Passport to City of Irvine Parks. Thought I'd leave them in here because Charles and his kids went on some pretty fun adventures that are definitely worth repeating!

University Community Park

Try visiting University Community Park. It is conveniently located next to the amazing Irvine Adventure Playground and the Irvine University Park Library. 

On this day we:

  • Played at Adventure Playground.
  • Attended a library event.

The facilities here were immaculate, so if you had a long play day at the playground, Adventure Playground, or the library take your kids here for a “tactical wee” at the Community Center restrooms before your car ride home.

Turtle Rock Community Park

The next day we spent a beautiful morning watching caterpillars and butterflies at the butterfly garden at Mason Regional Park. Can you spot the monarch caterpillar?

We made our way to Turtle Rock Community Park & Nature Center after our park play and I had no idea how beautiful this grounds are here! The nature trail felt like you just disappeared into the wilderness. There were streams, mini waterfalls, and canopies galore. 

One of the things unique to the playground here is a shorter basketball hoop for younger children. The only other playground I know of with this is Irvine Heritage Park.

Los Olivos Community Park

This is one of our favorite playgrounds! We have nicknamed Los Olivos Community Park as “Musical Park” because of the plethora of percussion instruments available. The musical instruments are similar to the instruments at Portola Park in Lake Forest but there are a little more variety and availability here.

los olivos community park near irvine spectrum featured photo of playground

Bike Options

Ride Jeffrey Open Space Trail

This bike ride is 10 minutes each way, using safe, Class 1 trails (away from cars) and only crossing one major street. It’s mostly flat biking, with the most uphill portions being the two bridges to cross.

Start at Cypress Community Park and follow the trail on the north end heading north on Jeffrey Rd. After passing two bridges, hang a right on Long Meadow and you’ll make your way south towards Woodbury Community Park at the very end. Please use caution and keep an eye on your little ones at the intersection of Vintage and Long Meadow as you may need to cross with traffic or use the crosswalk to walk your bike across.

If you’ve never biked on Jeffrey Open Space Trail, you are in for a treat! The trails are smooth and slightly curvy with many native plant species to pass along your path. If you have little children, I would avoid it during school drop off and pick up hours because of the massive amount of students commuting to and from school on their e-bikes. During the summer, get here early before it gets to hot.

Other bike trails which hit the Irvine CONNECT route

You can see the bike trails marked in yellow on the Route Map.

  • San Diego Creek Trail is nearer to the Metrolink Station and the beginning of the route.
  • Walnut Trail
  • As mentioned: Cypress Village Trail to Jeffrey Open Space Trail
  • Venta Spur Trail which hooks up with Peters Canyon Trail
  • Hicks Canyon Trail

Embrace the adventure, enjoy the journey, and cherish the moments spent together. The true reward is the joy shared along the way. Happy exploring!

Originally published in August 2024.

Volunteer Park Reporter Bio: Charles Aquino is a fellow UCI alum who shares amazing tech hacks and tips for budget-conscious parents. He's a married stay-at-home dad to two lucky boys who spends his family time hiking, biking, and going on playground adventures. You can follow his Instagram account at FrugalTechDad!

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]]> Settlers Park in Irvine https://funorangecountyparks.com/settlers-park-irvine-portola.html https://funorangecountyparks.com/settlers-park-irvine-portola.html#comments Thu, 21 May 2026 15:06:00 +0000 http://www.ocplayparks.com/2009/07/settlers-park-in-irvine.html Settlers Park in Irvine off Portola Parkway is a heavenly spot near the orchards and foothills with a little trike track.

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Ssshhhh . . . Settler's Park in Irvine is a secret! Back in 2009, Kelly from an old blog called Just Spotted recommended this park at great risk of personal sacrifice (she might have to share her little piece of paradise). Now everyone knows about it!

settlers park irvine playground

We played at Settlers Park in Irvine at sunset enjoying every minute. It's a quiet setting among the citrus orchards and pepper trees. We saw turkey vultures and even spotted a baby tarantula.

Love it when we catch wildlife in action. Oh, and we met two very nice families playing at the park tonight. "Hi!" (that's me waving).

settlers park irvine mesh crawling tunnel

Recommended by: Kelly from Just Spotted

Directions to Settlers Park in Irvine: From Interstate 5, exit at Culver and drive east toward the foothills. Cross Portola Parkway and turn left at the second light where the signs point to Settler's Park. The parking lot is on your right. [Address: 35 Settler's Way, Irvine]  MAP to Settlers Park in Irvine

settlers park irvine climbing wall and play structure

Highlights:

  • Shaded play area with lots of fun interactive gym equipment: regular climbing walls - plus wavy metal climbing apparatus, hand/foot pedal gizmo, spinning "shower head," rope climbers and the most amazing ladder which twists from horizontal rungs to vertical!
  • An amazing mini-trike track around the play area, complete with traffic signs and a cute little parking lot.
  • Covered picnic area with grills
  • Huge grassy area
  • Kelly says "I LOVE that I can see the entire play area without having to move if my kids move."
settlers park irvine picnic area

Be Aware:

  • Some prickly rose bushes surrounding the play area
  • We arrived when a soccer practice was breaking up - don't know if that would make it busy. It's busy when there are events or sports practices.
  • Not a lot of shade.
swingset


Checklist:

  • Dedicated parking lot
  • Sand and recycled rubber play surface
  • VERY nice restrooms - as park restrooms go
  • Not much shade
  • 2 covered picnic tables, 3 uncovered tables, and 2 grills with hot coal receptacles
  • Easy to view kids
  • 2 full lighted basketball courts
  • Soccer field
  • Round sand volleyball court
  • City of Irvine info about Settlers Park
basketball court

Parks nearby Settlers Park in Irvine:

Originally published in July 2009.

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]]> https://funorangecountyparks.com/settlers-park-irvine-portola.html/feed 4 Castle Park (Northwood Community Park) in Irvine https://funorangecountyparks.com/northwood-community-park-irvine.html https://funorangecountyparks.com/northwood-community-park-irvine.html#comments Thu, 21 May 2026 14:20:00 +0000 http://www.ocplayparks.com/2009/04/northwood-community-park-castle-park-in-irvine.html Northwood Community Park in Irvine is also known as Castle Park. I think of it as a fortress fit for knights and princesses.

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]]> Castle Park (Northwood Community Park) in Irvine

Northwood Community Park or Castle Park Irvine has an ACTUAL cinder block castle.

It's just an amazing park, not ordinary in any way.

Here, kids can get lost in their imagination as they use the castle to play knights, dragons, kings, and more!

The huge play area incorporates a creative variety of play areas with equipment unique to this location.

northwood community park irvine - playground

Directions to Castle Park in Irvine: On Bryan Avenue between Culver and Yale east of Interstate 5 in Irvine. (Address: 4531 Bryan Ave, Irvine) MAP to Northwood Community Park (Castle Park) in Irvine

Highlights:

The castle structure surrounds the park like a fortress which the kids absolutely love. Clamber over a bridge, duck your head in the tunnel, and scale walls and rocks to conquer the castle.

A tremendous variety of play areas with rarities like a tire swing and sand stations where kids scoop and transfer sand from sink to sink or sift it through chutes. Also plentiful ride-on horses and a little turtle.

Very clean. Lots of picnic areas in excellent condition. Has a huge soccer field, as well as baseball field in the back.

My favorite is the spiral slide on the structure nearest the castle.

Easy to see kids as they play on all the equipment - you'd only have to follow them if they get on the street or tennis court side of the castle (which is also fun!).

northwood community park irvine twisty slide and toddler slide

Be Aware:

  • Only way to get down from the castle once you get up there is down a fire pole or back down the stairs the way you came.
  • We once visited on a holiday and it was SWARMED with people. If you don't like crowds, don't come on busy weekends. Have a Plan B in mind and prep the kids.
  • Sometimes day camps and after school programs are held here since there is a community center. Weekend sports happen here on the fields, too.
northwood community park irvine playground overview with monkey bars

Checklist:

  • Parking with two lots and on-street parking available.
  • Play surface is recycled rubber and sand
  • Very clean bathrooms
  • Shade over the picnic areas and shade covers over some equipment
  • Picnic areas equipped with grills - so make an evening of it
  • Drinking fountains and vending machines
  • Soccer field, basketball court, handball court, and half mile track
  • 2 lighted tennis courts
  • Community Center "modernized and expanded to 9500 sq. ft." in 2013 with new renovations to the playground coming in 2026
  • Official City of Irvine website for info on Northwood Community Park party reservations
  • Nearest public library: Irvine Heritage Park Library
northwood community park irvine - tunnels at playground

Nearby parks:

northwood community park irvine - castle wall for pretend play

Originally posted in April 2009.

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]]> https://funorangecountyparks.com/northwood-community-park-irvine.html/feed 8 Orchard Park in Irvine https://funorangecountyparks.com/orchard-park-irvine.html https://funorangecountyparks.com/orchard-park-irvine.html#comments Thu, 21 May 2026 13:05:00 +0000 http://www.ocplayparks.com/2009/05/orchard-park-in-irvine.html Orchard Park in Irvine is in the Northwood neighborhood, halfway between Castle Park and Heritage Park. Kids will love the playground train.

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]]> Orchard Park in Irvine

We discovered Orchard Park in Irvine when we were playing around Castle Park and Heritage Community Park. It's halfway in between those parks in Irvine's Northwood neighborhood. The park is tucked away along a busy street, so you can almost miss it when you drive by. There are plenty of shade trees and a big lawn area.

Location of Orchard Park in Irvine: Orchard Park is at the corner of Yale and Roosevelt near Interstate 5. You will need to exit at either Jeffrey or Culver depending on which direction you are coming from. Cut across on Walnut to reach Yale. I parked on the less busy Van Buren. (Park Address: 1 Van Buren, Irvine) MAP to Orchard Park in Irvine

Highlights:

  • Train is a big highlight with sit-in sized cars - lots of pretend play can happen here
  • 2 play structures for all ages with shade covers on equipment
  • Swings, tire swing, ride-on spring toy
  • Shaded trellis walkways and nice picnic area with monster charcoal grills
  • Full-size basketball court and half court basketball

Be Aware:

  • Busy street corner nearby

Checklist:

  • Parking on the street (Van Buren)
  • Recycled rubber and sand play surface
  • Restrooms adjacent to playground and picnic area
  • Lots of picnic tables with grills
  • Vending machine with sodas
  • Basketball court and lush grassy areas
  • Shade from trees and trellis
  • Easy to view kids
  • Official City of Irvine website
  • Nearest public library: Orange County Public Library – Irvine Heritage Park branch

Nearby parks:

Originally published in May 2009.

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]]> https://funorangecountyparks.com/orchard-park-irvine.html/feed 1 Linda Lane Park in San Clemente is Ocean Blue with Views https://funorangecountyparks.com/linda-lane-park-san-clemente.html https://funorangecountyparks.com/linda-lane-park-san-clemente.html#comments Tue, 12 May 2026 12:18:00 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=5802 Linda Lane Park in San Clemente feels ocean-themed and has views of the ocean and trains going by along the San Clemente Beach Trail.

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]]> Linda Lane Park in San Clemente is Ocean Blue with Views

Linda Lane Park in San Clemente holds the distinction of being one of the few playgrounds with beach access, as well as ocean views. I also loved watching the trains go by on the tracks below us.

Directions to Linda Lane Park in San Clemente: You can walk to it off the San Clemente Beach Trail at an access point north of the pier on Linda Lane. To reach it by car from I-5, exit at Avenida Palizada and follow it towards the beach until you reach Encino Lane. Turn right on Encino which turns into Linda Lane.  MAP TO LINDA LANE PARK IN SAN CLEMENTE

Highlights:

  • It's biggest selling point is that it's near the beach - so you'll enjoy beach weather and beach views
  • Kids will like the whimsical colors and fish-shaped ladder on the smaller equipment
  • Swings are in between the big kid/small kid equipment. Here: 2 bench swings, 2 baby swings.
  • Watch the trains go by on the tracks below the park. (Note: In 2026, there is a lot of track work being done here due to land movement and ocean impacts. On my May 2026 visit it was an active construction site at the dead end of Linda Lane and up the beach trail which is closed to the north while work is being done.)
  • Take a walk on the San Clemente Beach Trail.

Be Aware:

  • We went on an especially blustery day so be prepared with windbreakers or jackets.
  • To get to the slide on the 5-12 year old equipment, kids have to climb through a "hoop ladder" which can be pretty wide for the little ones. (Thanks to my son's orthodontist for that tip!)
  • The fire pole was a little high for my non-risk taking 5 year old.  There were also some of those funky loop ladders on the small equipment, which sometimes requires some extra supervision.
  • Pay parking at the meters (park in a spot, make note of the spot number, then go to the machine and pay $1.50 an hour). The city website says the meters at Linda Lane are for 9am-10pm.
  • You'll be competing for beach parking during busy summer months.
  • The park is located on a corner and, although the traffic isn't super busy, there's definitely opportunities for kids darting out in the street towards the parking lot and beach.
  • The equipment is from April/May 2011 and it does take a beating from being near the beach and salt air.

Checklist

Parks nearby Linda Lane Park

Originally published in May 2011.

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]]> https://funorangecountyparks.com/linda-lane-park-san-clemente.html/feed 6 Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest: Long Slides and Big Climbs https://funorangecountyparks.com/baker-ranch-community-park-lake-forest.html https://funorangecountyparks.com/baker-ranch-community-park-lake-forest.html#comments Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:10:00 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=11771 Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest features a long tunnel slide, and very big playground area with a climbing rock.

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]]> Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest: Long Slides and Big Climbs

Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest can make adults feel like kids going down a tunnel slide and provides new play opportunities for little ones. It opened in the community of Baker Ranch in May 2014 when it was all brand new!

The big slide has stuck around as a family favorite since then.

green astroturf hill topped with what looks like a treehouse playground and an enormous beige tunnel slide coming off the tower

Directions to Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest: From Interstate 405, take Bake Parkway towards the foothills and Lake Forest. You'll drive quite a few miles past Trabuco and turn left on Dimension Drive where the big Baker Ranch neighborhood sign sits.  You'll bear to the right at the roundabout and head towards the sign pointing to Catalina. The park is past "The Grove" on your right. (Address: 26380 Rancho Parkway, Lake Forest) MAP TO BAKER RANCH COMMUNITY PARK IN LAKE FOREST

Highlights:

It feels big. Adults look small standing around it. Also feels much "greener" than most playground areas - and the sycamores provide shade around the park now that they are grown.

Ah, the tunnel slide! It's pretty long and awesome.  Kids have to be brave enough to climb a ladder to the "tower" that leads to the slide entrance. The ladder has a fireman's pole behind it, which kind of sandwiches you in as you climb. (I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing).

Just a good thing to know because your child will want to go down that slide and be bummed if they aren't up to climbing that ladder. If you go up, watch your head on that ladder arch!

Climbing rock with arch that is even fun for older kids.

Bouncy green turf playground surfacing under the slide, rock, and on the hill (prevents kids slipping on the usual rubber play surface!).

A little interactive puppet show area on the small equipment.

Other unusual play features:

  • telephone pole climber with handholds,
  • lots of steering wheels for imaginative play,
  • interactive board with map of ranchos,
  • bring sand toys for smaller play equipment,
  • two chess/checker boards - bring pieces,
  • large abacus,
  • wheel-shaped monkey bars,
  • small ride-on pony,
  • chain climbers,
  • clear hamster tunnels,
  • and funky ladders.

Nice natural shade in the morning hours!

Slide count = 1 long tunnel slide, 1 tall twisty slide, 1 open tall slide -- and then a smaller open slide on the 2-5 year old equipment.

Amazing sunken basketball court surrounded by lawn and palm trees.

Two shaded picnic areas for small parties or easy to combine for a large party.

Best for ages 5+.

Potential views of the ocean on a clear day. The OC Great Park big orange balloon is visible.

toddler playground at Baker Ranch Community Park in Lake Forest with sand under a spring ride-on horse with other play equipment that looks like little houses
Another view from 2014.

Be Aware:

April 2025 - One of the slides (not the big one) was closed and under repair by the City of Lake Forest Public Works Department.

No swings.

All big slides like this have a potential to be really fast or for the drop to feel quite deep depending on the age and build of your child. The playground is rated for 5-12 year olds.

Not all sitting areas near the playground are shaded and it gets hot up here on the hill. So bring an umbrella -- or I spent my time standing underneath the play equipment which actually provided quite a bit of shade.

The climbing rock can get hot to the touch during the heat of the day - do a "feel test" to make sure it's manageable for your child.

The two smaller play areas are rated for 2-5 year olds while the big equipment is meant for 5-12 year olds.  The 2nd level of the big equipment feels VERY tall for little ones. You'll probably have to do some running around to keep up with the kids here. Smaller kid area is separated from big kid area, but I see the little ones would have a hard time resisting the draw from the big equipment.

Big play equipment is near the parking lot, but there's not a lot of traffic there.

Checklist:

basketball court surrounded by lawn and palm trees with foothills in the distance

Nearby parks:

Originally published in June 2014.

Photo Archive from 2014

From back in 2014! When the park first opened! All those trees have grown up now!

view of Baker Ranch Community Park from the top of the play structure near with the ocean visible in the distance and a large climbable rock on the playground
From 2014 before all the landscaping grew in!
Another view of the amazing tunnel slide to really get an idea of how long it is - showing the walkway on the play equipment and other parts of the park in the background
aerial view of picnic area at Baker Ranch Community Park with two shelters that have red tile roofs and a lawn area between them - a big climbing boulder sits below on the playground

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]]> https://funorangecountyparks.com/baker-ranch-community-park-lake-forest.html/feed 6 39+ Orange County Farmers Markets (Family Guide) https://funorangecountyparks.com/orange-county-farmers-markets-family-guide.html Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:15:04 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=27328 Orange County Farmers Markets family guide to playgrounds, parks, libraries, nature centers, and even beaches near the markets!

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]]> 39+ Orange County Farmers Markets (Family Guide)

Writing about Orange County Farmers Markets with playground and library pairings has been a goal of mine for so long! I thought it would be easy, because my original list was around 12 farmers markets. It has grown so much over the years.

This family guide or what I like to call the "play guide" is not as much a guide to the farmers markets themselves, because everyone has their favorites and they are all worth exploring at least once to see what you like or don't like! Instead, it is a pairing of parent-recommended playgrounds and libraries near the markets.

I also have a map of Farmer's Markets and you can put it together with parks and libraries for yourself, if you want. This post is an effort to do that for you!

The map has yellow markers for Farmers Markets. (At the bottom of the map you can click or unclick the categories you want to see: Parks, Splash Parks, Public Libraries, Theme Parks, Beaches, Farmers Markets, and Nature Centers.) Works best on desktop or laptop.

As always, this becomes so much better when you help! So, please, join in and send me your favorite pairings if I missed them! I can add to the list!

Always check official sources before you go! All events are subject to change!

Don't miss the FREE 4-page printable at the end of the post! I don't even ask you give me your email. It's completely free to download and use!

Tuesdays

Central OC

Irvine Certified Farmers Market - Irvine Regional Park

  • Hours: Tuesdays, 9am-1pm
  • Address: Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road in Orange
  • Library nearest to Irvine Regional Park: Katie Wheeler Library (Irvine Libraries). Open 10am-8pm on Tuesdays.
  • Nearby play (so much to do inside the park!):
    • Irvine Regional Park has 4 playgrounds + 1 lone swingset
    • OC Zoo, nature center, Habitat Nature Trail
    • Irvine Park Railroad, pony rides, Wheel Fun Rentals

Huntington Beach Surf City Nights Certified Farmers Market & Street Fair

Seal Beach Certified Farmers Market

North OC

Placentia Certified Farmers Market - Placentia Town Center

Wednesdays

South OC

Dana Point Harbor Certified Farmers Market

Lake Forest Certified Farmers Market

Central OC

Irvine Kaiser Permanente Certified Farmers Market

Tustin Certified Farmers Market - Old Town Tustin

North OC

Fullerton Certified Farmers Market - Independence Park

Thursdays

Central OC

Costa Mesa Certified Farmers Market

Fullerton Night Market

Tustin Sunset Certified Farmers Market

North OC

Anaheim - Downtown Anaheim Certified Farmers Market

Brea Certified Farmers Market - Brea Place

You made it to Fridays! Don't forget about the FREE 4-page printable. Keep scrolling to the end!

Fridays

South OC

Farmakis Farms Certified Farmers Market

Laguna Hills Certified Farmers Market

Central OC

Mile Square Park Certified Farmers Market

Local Harvest Certified Farmers Market - Seal Beach Pier

  • Hours: 9am-2pm
  • Address: Seal Beach Pier, 900 Ocean Avenue in Seal Beach
  • Nearby Library: Nearby libraries are closed on Fridays.
  • Nearby Playground and Park Areas:

North OC

Anaheim Kaiser Permanente Certified Farmers Market

Saturdays

South OC

Aliso Viejo Certified Farmers Market

New Dana Point Certified Farmers Market

Laguna Beach Certified Farmers Market

Mission Viejo Certified Farmers Market

Central OC

Corona del Mar Farmers Market

Costa Mesa SoCo Certified Farmers Market

Irvine Certified Farmers Market

Newport Harbor Farmers Market

Orange Homegrown Farmers & Artisans Market

Downtown Tustin Saturday Market - Old Town Tustin

big playground pirate ship area

North OC

Buena Park Certified Farmers Marketplace

Cypress Certified Farmers Market

Fullerton Free Certified Farmers Market

Yorba Linda Certified Farmers Market

Almost there! The 4-page printable is so close!

Sundays

South OC

Ladera Ranch Certified Farmers Market

  • Hours: Sundays, 9am-1pm
  • Address: Founders Park, 28275 Avendale Boulevard in Ladera Ranch
  • Nearby Library: Mission Viejo Library. Open 12pm-5pm on Sundays. (Ladera Ranch Library (OCPL) closed on Sundays).
  • Nearby Playgrounds:

Laguna Niguel Certified Farmers Market

Central OC

San Clemente Village Certified Farmers Market

Local Harvest Garden Grove Certified Farmers Market

Irvine - Stonegate Elementary Certified Farmers Market

Newport Beach Certified Farmers Market

Tustin District Certified Farmers Market

Local Farm Stands for Fresh Grown Produce

You made it! Here it is! Enjoy!

Always check official sources before you go! All events are subject to change!

FREE Printable: OC Farmers Markets Family Guide

I made a printable that has all this info and a QR Code that will take you back to this blog post when you need links to the parks!

2026 OC Farmers Markets Play Guide BESTDownload

Sources:

  • ocfarmbureau.org
  • myoccfm.com
  • hbdowntown.com
  • cityoffullerton.com
  • sfma.com
  • downtownanaheim.com
  • farmakisfarms.com
  • buenapark.com
  • danapointchamber.com/farmers-market
  • orangehomegrown.org
  • farmhabit.com
  • farmandcraftmarket.com
  • lagunaniguelfarmersmarket.com
  • ocerac.ocpublicworks.com

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]]> How to Visit Catalina Island: A Brief Tutorial on the Basics https://funorangecountyparks.com/visiting-catalina-island.html https://funorangecountyparks.com/visiting-catalina-island.html#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:21:00 +0000 https://funorangecountyparks.com/?p=4078 We go to Catalina Island every summer. We've been visiting Catalina ever since I was in high school - so that's 30+ years. I'm surprised how many of my friends have never taken the trip over to the island. Granted, it is expensive to get to the island. Even if you just want to take a […]

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]]> 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 30+ years.

I'm surprised how many of my friends have never taken the trip over to the island. Granted, it is expensive to get to the island. Even if you just want to take a day trip to Catalina!

It's a whole other world out there! You feel like you've traveled back in time to wide open California spaces.

Cat Harbor at the Isthmus at Catalina Harbor
"Cat" Harbor (Catalina Harbor)

Where is Catalina?

Catalina Island sits offshore from Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's visible from Orange County beaches on clear days.

Santa Catalina Island is one of the Channel Islands, but not part of Channel Islands National Park (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara islands).

There are two main destinations on the island: Avalon and Two Harbors. Just in case you are wondering, the island is located in Los Angeles County (not Orange County).

I just write about it here, because I know it so well and it's easy to reach even from Orange County.

Where to Go on a Day Trip to Catalina

Visiting Avalon

Avalon is a bustling tourist center with cruise ship visitors, hotels, restaurants, gift shops, and tours. If you want to read more about Avalon, I have a post about the Top 25 Things to Do in Avalon.

Descanso Beach Club is just around the corner from the Casino Building where you can rent out beach cabana and laze away the day -- or take part in ocean sports and adventure tours.

Avalon Harbor at Catalina Island aerial view
Avalon Harbor

Visiting Two Harbors

Two Harbors (a.k.a., The Isthmus or Isthmus Cove) is a sleepy harbor with a campground, only a few guest properties, one restaurant, one snack bar, and one general store.

If you are standing at the beach in Orange County watching the sun set over the island - Avalon is furthest to your left. Looking to your right, you can see a dip on the west end of the island where the Isthmus sits. The Isthmus and Cat Harbor are what give Two Harbors its name.

The front side of the island, facing the mainland, is where boaters moor at Isthmus Cove.

Two Harbors at Catalina Island - Isthmus Cove beach view
Isthmus Cove

Once on land, you can take a 10 minute walk and put your toes in Catalina Harbor where boaters must approach from the back side of the island. Cat Harbor has a reputation for being an all-weather harbor because of the wind protection from almost every side. It is usually pleasantly breezy here.

Fourth of July, Cherry Cove, and Emerald Bay are places to moor your boat very near The Isthmus. I also wrote about the Top 25 Things to Do on Catalina's Quiet Side, if you want to check it out.

View of the walking trail from Isthmus Cove to Cat Harbo
Walk to Cat Harbor

Best Time to Visit Catalina Island

If you were asking about time of day, you'll see I say - go early in the day for a calmer ocean and so you get the longest amount of time on a day trip to the island.

But if you are talking about time of year, summer is the busiest (obviously) but it's also a time when the most services are available - and the weather is generally good on the crossing. September and October can be a perfect shoulder season when water temps and air temps are still up, but the crowds have disappeared.

There is a chance you'll run into some bumpy crossings with Santa Ana winds or surge stirred up from hurricanes down in Mexico. When you are traveling via boat, you just have to be flexible and prepared to postpone or cancel based on a bad weather forecast.

Getting to Catalina Island By Ferry

Unless you have your own boat, visiting the Island isn't cheap. We used to be able to purchase gift cards from Costco for the Catalina Express ferry (available during the summer - but they haven't offered them recently).

The only other ferry is the Catalina Flyer which leaves from Newport Beach and ONLY goes to Avalon (plus, it's slightly higher in price than the Catalina Express). So I've written everything in this section from the perspective of taking the Catalina Express since that's the one we choose every time.

How much is the ferry to Catalina? Adult round-trip passage is roughly $89 and the kids 2-11 years old are a little over $68 round trip. So, for a family of 4 with 2 kids between 2-11 years old that's around $350 with taxes and fees! Just to get to the island. And that doesn't include parking charges at the ferry terminal while you are away.

Infants (ages 1 and under) cost $0, but must have ticket and be accompanied by an adult. Infants are still charged taxes and fees at check-out.

How to Reserve Your Catalina Island Ferry

The first thing you'll need to decide is: whether you are going to Avalon or Two Harbors.

Ferries go direct to both places, but some of the trips on the schedule for Two Harbors will have you stop at Avalon first. It makes the trip a little longer, but it's a beautiful ride where you are close up to the island.

If you are going to Avalon, you can leave from San Pedro, Long Beach, Dana Point, or Newport Beach.

If you are going to Two Harbors, you must leave from San Pedro and sometimes you may need to go via a quick stop in Avalon.

We like to leave from San Pedro because there are multiple sailings and it's the most direct route, but check out your OC options if you want to do that.

Get links and see schedules from the "How to Get to Catalina Island" page on The Catalina Island Conservancy and the "Getting to Catalina Island" page on The Santa Catalina Island Company.

Of course, you can always visit both Avalon and Two Harbors by taking the ferry to Avalon and then taking the Cyclone to Two Harbors (a high speed open air water shuttle that costs about $17 each way).

Or you can choose other options like the safari bus or bicycling to Two Harbors. Nowadays, people even hike the rugged and challenging Trans-Catalina Trail in great numbers. 

Where to Park When Going to Catalina on the Ferry

Each ferry terminal has its own parking area.

When we leave for Two Harbors from the San Pedro terminal, parking is outdoors in an open lot under the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Tip: Try not to park under a light fixture or the seagulls will dirty your car with bird droppings while you are away.

If you are headed to Avalon from the Long Beach terminal, there is a parking structure right outside the ferry terminal. Unless you are on the top level, your vehicle will be protected from the elements inside the parking structure.

Parking can exceed $20 per day (and that's a 24 hour day) - so if you have the option to get a ride to the terminal or take public transportation, you can save yourself some money.

Seasick much?

I never get seasick, but my kids have each had their bouts with it.

Sit outside and face forward (if possible) looking at the horizon in front of the boat. They will tell you that being up top isn't a good spot, but sometimes it's the only place to get fresh air so that's where I'd go.

Dress warmly if you are going to sit outside. Weather is cooler by the ocean and the boat is traveling fast - so there is a lot of wind and moisture to cool you down. I usually have a sweatshirt AND a windbreaker. And you can even wear a beanie to keep your head and ears warm.

DON'T go inside once the ferry is underway - not even to get ginger ale. Not even to use the restroom. Just a few minutes indoors can ruin you.

Try to leave early! This is my best tip - the ocean is generally calmer early in the day before the wind picks up. An early crossing usually means smooth seas. (Not such a big deal on the way back since the boat pretty much "surfs" back to the mainland with the waves behind it.)

Read my full post on the Best Way to Cure Seasickness.

Where to stay?

I can't vouch for any of the hotels. We are a boating family - which is pretty much the equivalent of camping on the water - so I have the advantage of getting to stay on a boat when we visit. 

Check the links on the visitor sites listed below for hotels. If you're going to spend all that money to get there, why not stay a while?

On our latest visit, I discovered Catalina Island Vacation Rentals for condo and house rental options in Avalon. They also rent condos in Hamilton Cove which is just around the corner from Avalon. 

If you want to stay in Two Harbors, you only have the options of staying on a friend's boat, campgrounds or camping cabins, Banning House Lodge Bed & Breakfast or your choice of vacation cottages (Villa Santa Rosa or Villa Santa Cruz).

Best Online Resources for Catalina Island

Search for the 1950's song about traveling "26 miles to Santa Catalina" by The Four Preps. Probably the most famous song about the place. Be careful! It will get stuck in your head.

NO compensation received from any of the companies or websites mentioned at the time of original publication.

My other posts about Catalina

Originally published in August 2010.

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