lovely shade of purple

I love walking at Mission San Juan Capistrano in the springtime. Colors explode giving me a visual treat. Even though I love to look and photograph the flowers and trees I’m terrible at plant identification. When I do learn their names I usually forget, but I’m working on it. Reference guides help and so does google. I even bought a plant guide pamphlet for a few bucks on my last visit, but when I reference it for this post none of these flowers are listed. Of course.

In the Garden

Spring is a wonderful time to visit the mission and walk through the gardens.  On a recent visit the roses were flourishing and showing everywhere between the gate house, bell tower, and the old stone church. Below are a few flowers that caught my eye and lens.

love the texture of and color gradient

Whenever my schedule does not allow for me to walk at sunrise or sunset and I find myself taking photos mid-day with the worst light and shadows I tend to move in real close and take macros or shots from creative angles.

The lily pad flowers are probably my favorite flowers in the gardens. Some are blooming now and in a month or two they will be everywhere in the two koi ponds.

lily pad flower in the front koi pond

If you haven’t visited the Mission in San Juan in a while you’ll notice the new Gate House that opened in April. The “new” Gate House also includes the rehabilitated preservation of the “old” original Gate House from 1916. Learn more here.

Do you regularly walk through gardens?

Additional posts of Mission San Juan Capistrano:

• Spring at Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Spring Peek: A Walk at Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Mission San Juan Capistrano: San Pedro Cactus Flower
• Walk at the Mission: Spiders

In the Garden at Mission San Juan Capistrano is a post from: Walk Simply

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Notice the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.” – Bruce Lee

San Elijo Lagoon

We recently camped at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California and visited the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve nearby. The lagoon is one of San Diego’s largest coastal wetlands and includes (and protects) almost 1,000 acres of wetlands where you can view hundreds of plant and animal species (source).

The nature center packs in a ton of information of the area sharing animal and plant facts plus leave no trace ethics. They have a cool display showing how trash affects the lagoon and ocean. The lagoon plays an important environmental role in this area and has done so for many years.

The half mile loop starts outside the modern nature center.

what is an estuary? Learn while walking the nature loop trail

Much of the first part of the trail is exposed and can be hot or windy so bring a hat.

Scattered benches line the trail for you to stop, sit, and view wildlife and the landscape. Several years ago during a visit we sat for some time to watch divers and scientists survey the bottom of the lagoon.

nature loop trail

I do love wide-open spaces and walking pretty much any trail, but there’s something about trails in trees that I especially adore. One section of the trail instantly became our favorite part to spend our time exploring. As the trail turns away from the lagoon and back towards the nature center the landscape took on a jungle theme.

looking for wildlife in the trees

In this short section we spent most of our time. The girls searched for signs of wildlife between the dense foliage and we took turns taking photos. Birds sang as butterflies floated around. In the thicket one tree in particular caught my eye. I tried to capture the sun hitting the “cotton” on the branches.

willow tree

Little lizards sunned themselves on the open walkway.

Lizards are entertaining creatures. They do push-ups in the sun. Sometimes you just need to find a seat and take in the show.

one-lizard-show

Children have the best imaginations and you should embrace and take part in their visionary play.

Don’t squelch it. Go with it. Be flexible.

Be like the willows and bend with the wind.

Play along.

We confined ourselves to this short walkway. The girls and I discussed “this secret garden” (we pretty much call all tiny, enclosed, beautiful spaces our secret gardens) and how whimsical it feels. It was an “anything-can-happen-sort-of-place” and we collectively decided that it would make a nice leprechaun home.

Lucky for us we were graced with only one other human during our stay, an elderly gentleman with beard and binoculars.

A wizard, perhaps.

When you hang out in secret gardens with leprechauns and lizards you imagine wizards fit the bill as well.

exploring in the jungle

Have you learned, yet, that I can have fun anywhere? Even on a short, half mile nature loop.

A jungle atmosphere helps and so do the clever little people.

Do you have any jungle-type hikes nearby?

Resources:

The San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy website is detailed. You can find trail maps to hike the 7 miles of trails. Many people will be happy to know that dogs are welcome. One thing I really love is all the plant and wildlife documentation for easy identification by need-to-know-types like me.

Directions to the nature center can be found here. This is where we parked and began our hike.

Additional Reading:

The Last Adventurer has a nice write-up of the La Orilla Trail at the reserve.

Weather for Cardiff

Today	05/19/2013	05/20/2013	05/21/2013	05/22/2013	05/23/2013
Partly Cloudy 66°/59°	Partly Cloudy 68°/61°	Partly Cloudy 72°/61°	Mostly Cloudy 72°/61°	Partly Cloudy 70°/59°	Partly Cloudy 68°/59°

San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve: Nature Loop Trail is a post from: Walk Simply

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Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone. – Anonymous

San Elijo Campground

San Elijo State Beach campground is in the adorable beach town of Cardiff-by-the-Sea in Encinitas, California. San Elijo is not a vacation in a wilderness setting. This is an urban, easy, car camping experience with fantastic ocean views.

squirrel checking the surf

Each spring we camp at least once at the beach in Southern California and my favorite campground in San Diego County is San Elijo State Beach. All beach camping spots in Southern California are popular and often visited. San Elijo is no exception. Reservations are made 7 months in advance, which is a good idea if you are looking for a specific spot. Otherwise you may get lucky checking cancellations or doing a walk-up early in the morning.

Nature

lone pelican

We always book bluff tops sites on the west loops of the campground. We want the ocean view. And with this view comes pelicans. Lots of pelicans. All day squadrons head in and out from sea and fly by your site along the bluff. It’s one of my favorite reasons to visit this campground.

pelicans in flight

Bring friends and play at the beach.

San Elijo State Beach

friends having fun in the Pacific.

Beach camping really is more fun with friends.

game tent

Where to Walk While Camping at San Elijo

1. The Beach – The best place to walk when camping here is on the beach. Miles of sandy oceanfront land makes the perfect place to explore. Walking through sand is a fantastic workout and you cannot beat the views. For an added bonus climb the stairs to the campground. Your calves will thank you. Or not.
2. San Elijo Lagoon - Close by is the San Elijo Lagoon. We visited the nature center, watched Franklin the turtle be fed, and walked the Nature Center Loop.
3. Torrey Pines State Reserve – Less than 7 miles away is Torrey Pines where you can see the “rarest native pines in the United States” and hike!

What to do at San Elijo State Beach

• watch the sunset
• surf  - this is an excellent surfing beach and if you need lessons there is a year round surf school and camp located right in the campground. 
• ride your bikes
• relax on the beach
• practice your nature and landscape/ocean photography
• camp
• have a bonfire
• bond with your kids
• walk and run
• play frisbee on the beach
• fly a kite
• draw in the sand
• play in the waves
• play card games
• explore the beach for shells
• look for pelicans, whales, and dolphin
• fall asleep to the sound of the waves at night (louder than you think and oh so relaxing)
• On a clear night view the stars over the ocean (it’s dark out there)

writing with stick in sand

Need to Know about San Elijo State Beach Camping

Ambiance: This campground is in town. It is always busy so you will see people everywhere. Also, the east sites of the campground are close to highway 101 and the train tracks. The trains go by all day except for the middle of night. You will hear the train! The trains don’t really bother me since this is normal along the beach in South Orange and San Diego Counties. Get ocean side sites.

Convenience:

• San Elijo is a campground of convenience. If you do not feel like cooking at all, no problem. There are plenty of restaurants and markets across hwy 101.
• There’s a camp store in the campground where you can rent boogie boards, buy firewood and anything else you need or forgot. They even have coffee for you in the morning if you would rather just chill, not cook, and stare at the waves.
• Bull Taco is located next to the camp store. Go get a breakfast burrito or delicious street tacos.

Tips:

• The sites are sandy and there is minimal shade so be ready.
• Bluff top (ocean/west side) sites are the way to go. The ocean side sites are quieter and have the ocean views. Plus, you can hear the waves at night. Are you tenting it? Stay in the north loop for less traffic and larger sites and no RV hookups, which usually means less generator noise.
• Give your kids a buck and go to the camp store for an ice cream in the afternoon.

Additional Resources:

• San Elijo State Beach (links to official California website)
• Sunset at San Elijo State Beach

 Where is your favorite place to beach camp in Southern California?

San Elijo State Beach Camping for Urban Nature Fun is a post from: Walk Simply

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surfers enjoy the waves

Last week we camped at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. High on the bluff was our site overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Usually, in spring we have decent weather at the beach and our first day there was no exception. As we prepped dinner the sky treated us to a visual feast.

Sunset Evolution

I probably shot close to fifty photos from different angles and with altered settings. Our planet appears to rotate quicker at this time of day when the focal point disappears from sight. I didn’t want to miss a thing.

the colors of a California sunset

sundown over the Pacific

the fall of the sun brings vivid colors

And finally, after what seemed to be a few short minutes, we relished in the amazing colors that nightfall brings.

as the sunlight fades

At dusk the sound of the waves grew and embraced us as we settled around our glowing campfire.

One of the greatest joys in life is watching a sunset over the Pacific.

Have you camped along the coast? Where is your favorite spot?

Sunset at San Elijo State Beach is a post from: Walk Simply

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my sis hiking Santiago Creek Trail

Santiago Oaks Regional Park

It’s been a while since hiked I’ve sans children. My sister and I left on a mission: to hike while seeking wildflowers. The first time I visited Santiago Oaks was last fall with my kids when we hiked the Windes Nature Trail and a few others, but stayed down in the canyon. This time I was looking forward to hiking further into the park and hitting a ridge or two.

Our plan was to hike as long as we felt good. We had no agenda and just winged it along the way. This is a popular place and Saturdays can be busy so when we saw groups of people hiking a trail we would pick another. This is a large park and it is possible to ditch the horses, mountain bikers, and other hikers if you so choose. With connections to Irvine Regional and Weir Canyon Regional parks you can hike all day if you wish.

Spring Wildflowers

poppies seen in a patch at the bottom of Mountain Goat trail

The wildflowers were few and far between this day of spring, but if you slow down and look real hard they are there. California poppies were scattered around. The largest patch I found was on the Santiago Creek trail below the Mountain Goat trail.

Mariposa lily

I only saw a few Mariposa lilies on the Cactus Canyon trail. 

Mariposa lily

cacti with soon to bloom flowers

I saw cacti on the same trail nearing Barham Ridge.

black sage

 Wildlife

Anaheim Fire working hard

Hawks and other birds flew by, a few butterflies fluttered around, bees buzzed, people on horses passed us, dogs sniffed us, and firefighters did push ups while we watched. How’s that for diversity?

Anaheim fire hiking and training with their axes

Somehow I only managed photos of the firefighters. Go figure.

Trails

We hiked for three hours (we stopped often and observed nature) on many of the trails. I didn’t bother to track the data this day. So not quite sure of our mileage. The Santiago Oaks trail map on the OC Parks website lists the mileage of each trail, which is helpful, but on some of the trails we only partially hiked them. Oh well. Here is a the list of trails we took:

• Santiago Creek trail to Pony
• Pony to Santiago Creek
• Santiago Creek to Hawk
• Hawk to Grasshopper
• Grasshopper to Bumblebee
• Bumblebee to Cactus Canyon
• Cactus Canyon to Barham Ridge
• Barham to Mountain Goat
• Mountain Goat to Santiago Creek
• Santiago Creek to Bobcat Meadow
• Bobcat Meadow to Oak
• Oak to Rinker Grove to Tohee
• Tohee to Arizona Crossing
• Arizona Crossing to Ladybug
• Ladybug to Santiago Creek
• Santiago Creek to Historic Dam
• 

I really enjoyed Hawk Trail. It goes straight up, it’s for hikers only, and no one else was on it. Woot. Santiago Creek trail is probably the most crowded, but I’m a sucker for shade and trees so I like this one too. It’s flat.

Rinker Grove trail is for hikers only

Looking towards Barham Ridge from the top of Hawk trail

Hiking weather was in full force. Clouds kept the sun at bay and we felt comfortable on the ridges. Like magic the clouds parted just as we headed back into the canyon.

One thing that I don’t like about this park is the planes flying overhead as it sits directly under the flight path into John Wayne airport. I never noticed the planes the first visit, but this day I did.

Post Hike Meal

post hike meal at the Silverado Cafe in Silverado Canyon

After hiking for hours my sister and I were ready for lunch. We decided to take the scenic drive home, through Santiago Canyon past Irvine Lake, and detour off into Silverado Canyon for a nice post hike drive. We stopped to eat at the Silverado Cafe. I get sappy for rustic, off-the-beaten-path cafes with rustic decor and down-home cookin’. I had breakfast for lunch (breakfast is served until 2pm) and my sis had a burger. Good food. Good price. Good vibes.

What’s your favorite trail at Santiago Oaks Regional Park and why?

Resources:

• Santiago Oaks Regional Park (links to OC Parks website)
• Santiago Oaks Trail Map (links to OC Parks website and is a good one. Very detailed.)
• Silverado Cafe

Weather for Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Today	05/19/2013	05/20/2013	05/21/2013	05/22/2013	05/23/2013
Chance of Rain 62°/55°	Thunderstorm 60°/55°	Overcast 62°/51°	Overcast 69°/53°	Overcast 66°/53°	Clear 66°/48°

Santiago Oaks Regional Park: Spring Hike is a post from: Walk Simply

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“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…” – John Muir

graphic courtesy of Josh McNair

In case you haven’t noticed, Southern California is a hiking mecca. Really. Southern California is also a LARGE place. We have beaches, deserts, and mountains with many open spaces, parks, canyons, and forests filling the gaps. A variety of hiking experiences exist here.

Besides a diverse landscape there is an eclectic mix of people who spend their time hiking and exploring these trails for a mixture of reasons, but mostly because they love to hike.

And then they write about it, sharing photos and stories, GPS data, and how-tos. You may know some of them. Or not.  Do you want to learn about hiking in Southern California? This is a fantastic place to start!

Josh McNair of OP Adventure Team and California Through My Lens interviewed a group of Southern California outdoor bloggers about all things hiking and then compiled a super post on the OP Adventure Team website.

The Outdoor Community

The Bloggers

The list of people interviewed is a good one and even if you already read their sites I bet you don’t know:

• when and why they began hiking
• their favorite outdoor place visited
• the most and least essential piece of gear they carry
• and more!

You, our readers!

I can probably speak for everyone and say that we blog for you as much as for ourselves. We like to inspire, help, and provide information to our readers. I thank YOU for tuning in and sharing our work, commenting, and getting outdoors to hike, of course.

To learn more go read the entire interview here: The Big Southern California Bloggers Interview

Below is a graphic Josh created from our answers to one of his many questions.

infographic created and courtesy of Josh McNair

Us twelve are surely not the only hiking/outdoor bloggers in Southern California so feel free to share a link to your blog in the comments below so we can check it out.

Happy trails!

Southern California Hiking Bloggers: An Interview is a post from: Walk Simply

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a walk towards the fog

Cabrillo National Monument is a special place to take a walk in San Diego. The girls and I drove out to Point Loma to breathe in fresh sea air, indulge in California history, and take in the views.

The past few weeks have been foggy off and on along the Pacific coast in Southern California and this day was no exception. When we first arrived high on the point the sun was out. Slowly this changed as the gloom moved in and up from below.

in the winter you can see gray whales migrating to Baja Mexico

Pacific Gray Whales migrate each winter from the Arctic to Baja, Mexico past the monument so you can often see them in the ocean below. March is the tail end of the season, but even if a whale swam nearby we wouldn’t see it through the heavy mist.

visitors looking out to sea, but what could they really see?

In fact, the fog became thicker and thicker. Even so, people kept staring out to sea. Maybe they were mesmerized. Or in a trance.

Their minds were in a fog. Ha.

she tried, but couldn’t see a thing

Before walking back to the visitor center to get our history lessons on we toured the old Point Loma Lighthouse.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

The old Point Loma lighthouse was only used for 36 years in the 1800′s and sits 422 feet above sea level. The light was almost impossible to see from the ocean below when covered in fog and a new lighthouse was built below closer to the shore. The old lighthouse is restored inside to its historic 1880′s period and is a fun place to tour.

old Point Loma Lighthouse spiral staircase

When inside you must climb the old spiral staircase and go up the ladder to get a peek at the old light.

It was by no means an easy life for the Israel family that lived there for 18 years, but what an amazing place for their children to grow up. In the sitting room of the house are art frames made from sea shells the children collected at the tide pools below and “glued” to the outside of the frames. Beautiful folk art.  As we toured the house I pointed out the chamber pots in the bedrooms and explained how they are used. The reactions I received from my girls were hilarious. They were disgusted and this cracks me up since “going” outdoors in nature is okay when we camp or hike, but using a pot is repulsive. Kids.

Learn

If you love history (early California, Spanish exploration, WWI and WWII and more), culture, nature, and science this is an excellent place to be entertained. I won’t go into detail here, but you can learn so much during your visit or click on the resources below. There is a junior ranger program for the kids and you can also have your National Park passport stamped.

Did I mention the cost to enter the monument is $5 per car. A steal.

Have you visited Cabrillo National Monument?

Resources:

• Cabrillo National Monument (National Park Service website – everything you need to know is here. Hours, directions, etc.)
• Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (located nearby on the same point)

Read about the time I walked the Bayside trail and ate fish tacos:

• Cabrillo National Monument and Fish Tacos

Cabrillo National Monument: A Foggy Walk is a post from: Walk Simply

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western redbud

If you have never visited and explored the canyons of Orange County add it to your to-do list. Some of the canyons sit in or on the border of the Cleveland National Forest and below the Santa Ana Mountain range. Oak trees line the tiny, curved roads and you will feel like you hit country nirvana, which is a welcomed change from cookie-cutter suburbia.

Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary, at the end of Modjeska Canyon, is a small nature preserve owned and operated by Cal State Fullerton. It is only 12-acres in size, but a special place nonetheless. As a non-profit the preserve relies on its volunteers and monetary donations, so be a good steward when you visit and give a couple of bucks. It is clear many people love this place since each visit I see more improvements. As you walk the grounds you will notice the many Boy/Girl Scout projects done to enhance the sanctuary.

sit and enjoy the wildlife on the bird porch

Observe

Tucker is a wonderful place to appreciate and view nature. Across the creek, over the bridge, and attached to the caretaker’s cabin is the bird porch. Go have a seat and watch for birds to land on the feeders. To help you name them signs line the wall of the porch. If you are a photographer of nature this is a nice place to sit quietly and shoot away. Seventy species of birds visit Tucker throughout the year.

Benches are placed about the sanctuary for easy resting.

Spring is in the air. The hills are green and bits of color were showing on the trees and bushes.

The spring-fed Santiago Creek divides the property and we felt compelled to hang out at the waters edge. The kids dug in the dirt and threw rocks in the creek for quite some time.

Learn

Tucker is the perfect size for kids with easy trails to hike. Squirrels scamper the grounds, hummingbirds visit the feeders, and turtles and koi fill the ponds. Do note, though, the sanctuary does border a national forest and we have seen a rattlesnake on the trail before. Don’t let your kids run ahead. But do take them to visit the excellent, hands-on, natural history museum and learn about the local wildlife and flora. There are a few live rescued animals on display as well.

Hike

Within the sanctuary itself there are three small trails to take: the Oakwood Trail, Sensory Garden Trail, and the Chaparral Trail. You can hike each one easily in one visit.

at the top of the chaparral trail with beautiful views of the canyon and Flores Peak on the left.

More Hiking

Tucker sits at the base of the Cleveland National Forest and next to the entrance of the Harding Truck Trail, which is a gateway to some uphill (not so easy) hiking. Weekends are busy with trail runners and hikers heading up the trail towards Laurel Springs, the Main Divide, Bedford Peak, Santiago Peak and Harding Falls for the hardcore adventurers. You can definitely get your hike-on here.

Have you explored our Orange County canyons?

Resources:

• Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary (hours, directions, and all the information you are looking for is on this site)
• Nearby is the historic Modjeska House (you need to make reservations ahead of time to visit, though)

Click to view slideshow.

Weather for Modjeska Canyon

Today	05/19/2013	05/20/2013	05/21/2013	05/22/2013	05/23/2013
Partly Cloudy 75°/55°	Partly Cloudy 77°/59°	Partly Cloudy 86°/64°	Partly Cloudy 84°/59°	Clear 79°/55°	Partly Cloudy 72°/55°

Spring Peek: Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary is a post from: Walk Simply

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my friend ids the plants

A few weekends ago my girls and I shared one of our beloved local parks with some good friends. Casper’s Regional Park in Orange County, CA is one of our go-to hiking places and we frequent it often.

We had a fun time with our friends at the park and I started to think about all the times we’ve visited and none of the ventures have been alike. Why is that? What makes our experiences different even when we travel to the same places and hike the same trails?

Explore

I am guest posting at Sierra SocialHub about what impacts an experience and how the usual doesn’t need to be typical.

Go read my post Exploring the Usual for more photos and tips how to keep your frequented outdoor places and experiences fresh.

Happy Trails!

I’m Guest Posting Over at Sierra SociaHub: Exploring the Usual is a post from: Walk Simply

The post I’m Guest Posting Over at Sierra SociaHub: Exploring the Usual appeared first on Walk Simply.

copyright Andy Hawbaker

*This is a guest post by Andy Hawbaker of Sierra SocialHub.*

When I think back to my childhood, all of my fondest memories revolve around being in the outdoors with my family. I remember camping trips to the lake where we slept in a giant tent and ate burnt marshmallows. I recall going for bike rides, hikes, jumping in piles of leaves, and making up my own adventures in open spaces.

I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise when I moved from the flat lands of Iowa to the Colorado high-country at the age of 19. Initially, the draw was snowboarding, which I loved at the time but over the years, I’ve discovered more places, made great friends and found out more about myself on the hiking trails.

For me, hiking started out as simply a fun way to spend some time outside but over time my easy walks in the wilderness led to a strong desire to get higher, further and move faster on my quest for an amazing adventure. Like many Colorado residents and visitors, I discovered the 50+ Colorado peaks that reach points over 14,000 feet in elevation, known as the 14ers.

The 14ers allowed me to obsess over guide books and maps for hours to search for the best routes that carefully blended the right mix of safety, risk and adventure. The heavy traffic and crowds on these popular peaks eventually shifted my sights to the lesser climbed 13,000 and 12,000 foot peaks and even those interesting hills located near my home.

copyright Andy Hawbaker

Since becoming a father, my schedule has left very little availability for full day hikes. Instead of taking off on a weekend-long trek to an isolated mountain peak, I found myself strolling local open spaces with my family. We keep our eyes peeled for wild animals, play nature games and we enjoy the time we spend together. Amazingly, these hikes are just as incredible as any adventure I’ve experienced.

When my daughters were babies, we stayed close to home and hiked very short distances. Over time, the number of miles we cover has slowly increased and so has our sense of adventure. Our simple strolls in the city park have gradually given way to climbing small mountains, preferably with a giant rock at the top for the girls to climb on.

copyright Andy Hawbaker

Recently, I mentioned to someone that I enjoyed hiking. He asked if I liked short hikes or long day hikes. I answered “Yes”.

I now realize that hiking is just something I enjoy so much that I’m up for anything. I’ve gone through phases of thinking I had to do something totally extreme and phases where my responsibilities didn’t allow for much time for anything. No matter what my schedule allows, I’m a hiker and I’ll take what I can get.

copyright Andy Hawbaker

Every outdoor experience is different. The people you are with, the trail you choose and the things you see can all change the experience and that is why I love hiking. It is always something new and with each hike I learn something different and create memories that may last a lifetime.

-Andy Hawbaker is a hiking, backpacking and car camping fanatic. He enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains with his wife and two daughters. When he isn’t on the trail he shares outdoor tips, reviews and stories on the Sierra SocialHub.

Do you hike for the experience?

Hiking for the Experience is a post from: Walk Simply

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I have taken many sunrise hikes lately and look forward to them. I also feel fantastic when I’m done and the best part is the day has just begun!

Instead of a long post and photos this time I thought I would create a video to help inspire you to go outdoors and do the same. If you have no trails nearby or you are not a hiker, no problem. Get up and go walk through your neighborhood or city trails.

 What are you waiting for?

Take a sunrise hike!

Feel free to share with your friends. Maybe they’ll join you on the trail.

Additional Reading:

• Find Peace on a Sunrise Hike
• Sunrise Hike: San Juan Capistrano

Take a Sunrise Hike: A Video is a post from: Walk Simply

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I have zero skills when it comes to gardening and plant care. To be honest, I don’t wish to garden at all. But, I do appreciate trees, flowers, and plants so walking in gardens give me the visual stimulation I want.

I took a quick walk at Mission San Juan Capistrano to check out what is in bloom today. Winter isn’t the best for garden viewing, but there are always a few flowers that bloom this time of year, camellias being one of them.

There are some camellia trees in the central garden on the east side. Three or four sit near Serra Chapel and one is near the “colorful” yellow wall. It’s mid-February and many of the camellias are open.

There are many buds preparing to blossom. I almost like these buds more than the open flowers.

I find my eyes wandering to the unopened camellias more than the opened ones.

The color combo goes well together. I mentioned this in my post last year as well. Very shabby chic.

A weird sighting  today was when I looked at the white camellia tree (I have no idea if called another name) and not one camellia has bloomed. Interesting, and if you can explain why I would love to hear it.

Lastly, all the rose bushes are pruned which means there are only good things to come.

If you are local and you become a Mission San Juan Capistrano Preservation Society member then you can visit all year-long and watch the garden grow.

Additional Posts of Mission San Juan Capistrano:

• A Walk at Mission San Juan Capistrano: Koi Feeding
• Spring Peak: A Walk at Mission San Juan Capistrano
• Mission San Juan Capistrano: San Pedro Cactus Flower
• Spring Flowers: Mission San Juan Capistrano

Blooming at Mission San Juan Capistrano: Camellias is a post from: Walk Simply

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The best thing to hold onto in life is each other. – Audrey Hepburn

If you are anything like me then you love spending time outdoors. Also, if you are like me then you love to spend time with your friends and loved ones. Doesn’t it make sense to spend time outdoors together?

Plan an Outdoor Date

Outdoor activities are many and date ideas are only limited by your imagination. You can play outdoors in all sorts of weather and plan dates doing activities in water, on snow, or even the dirt.

Go outdoors and spend time together.

Here are some fabulous articles written by outdoor bloggers to get you started:

1. Surprise Your Sweetie With a Romantic Camping Trip (A Little Campy)
2. How to Plan a Nature Date with Kids (Go Explore Nature)
3. Take a walk or hike and then go eat fish tacos
4. Plan a Family Hike
5. The 5th Date: Getting Outside with Your Spouse (OutsideMom.com)
6. Ideas for Outdoor Dates with Little Kids (OutsideMom.com)
7. Grab a coffee and a friend and go walk and talk
8. Love, Life, and a Good Burger: A Made for Adventure Marriage (Kid Project)
9. Plan a Mother-Daughter Hike
10. Outdoor Dates to Spice Things Up! (Tales of a Mountain Mama)
11. Outdoor Date Ideas to Keep the Adventure Going Strong (Bring the Kids)
12. Go out for Breakfast then Take a Walk
13. 3 Ideas for Dating Your Alaskan Spouse (KTDontheGo!)
14. Romantic Outings in Georgia (The Campy Mom)

Personalize, personalize, personalize

Now that you have a date idea in mind, personalize it.

• Pick a place that has sentimental meaning to you and your spouse? Did you become engaged or have your first date there?
• Bring a small, personal gift to give during your outing.
• Plan your date as a surprise.
• Bring a special snack to share.
• Cook your special snack over a campfire or backpacking stove.
• Have you seen those nature interpretive hikes (usually a short trail) and as you hike you come upon numbered posts and at each post you read a local fact about nature? Well, I think it would be fun to take your child on one of those hikes and after you read the fact also state a fact why you love them. Cute, right?
• Insert your idea here.

Remember:  Don’t wait until the one time of year the calendar tells you to do something special with or for your loved ones. These ideas are for year-round adventures.

What outdoor dates do you have planned? Any good ideas I missed, please tell us about them in the comments.

Outdoor Date Ideas from Outdoor Bloggers is a post from: Walk Simply

The post Outdoor Date Ideas from Outdoor Bloggers appeared first on Walk Simply.

When there is a rainy day you have two choices: stay inside or go outside.

Rainy Day Hike

Go outside on a rainy day and play. Splash in puddles and listen to the noise. It’s okay to get a little wet.

Adults you have permission to play, too!

Climbing up muddy hills can be tricky. Persistence pays, though.

Who goes up must come down. Sometimes that means you need to slide.

Many trails are too muddy to hike when they are wet, but if you are lucky you will find an open trail.

A trail that surprisingly is not too muddy.

Take it.

Hike it.

Bountiful oak trees cover the trail. Walking within we are happy to be there. The low clouds and fog set an eerie tone.

Up we go and nearing the end kids happily put one foot in front of the other.

Hiking with friends is all the rage you know.

Got rain? Grab a friend and take a hike!

Tips for hiking in the rain:

• Lighter rain may be more fun than heavy rain. Many parks close the trails when the rain starts. Look for a trail near your house or in a national forest. Light rain may not soak the trails right away.
• Afraid of the mud or heavy rain in the forecast? Walk in your neighborhood and stay on the pavement.
• Kids, rain or shine, like snacks on the trail.
• Dress appropriately. Being wet and cold does not make for a fun time.
• Go for a hot coffee or cocoa after your hike.

How do you feel about hiking in the rain?

Rainy Day Hike is a post from: Walk Simply

The post Rainy Day Hike appeared first on Walk Simply.

playing outdoors on a recent adventure before we became housebound

Besides a few neighborhood walks I am confined to my home this week due to sickness; my family’s and my own. It’s not fun being in the house all day long, but being a doer I am never bored.

Here are some ideas to keep you busy when stuck inside.

Enjoy the Outdoors even when indoors.

Read/Learn/Get Inspired

• Thanks to the In Ice Axe We Trust podcast and to the @peakseeker and The Last Adventurer I am now reading Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. Subscribe to this new podcast while you’re at it.
• Go through your blog reader and catch up on your favorite outdoor websites and the recent posts you have not had time to read. I prefer well-written trip reports instead of gear reviews. How about you?
• Teach yourself some new outdoor skills. Try to start a fire with a water bottle. That’s fun, right?
• Work on your 2013 resolutions. What can you do at home to get ahead? Take an online class? Read a book? Work out?
• Connect and talk to other outdoorsy minded people on twitter. They’re a good bunch. You can find me @walksimply
• If you haven’t been following the Yosemite Nature Series now is the time to start. Beautiful. One Day in Yosemite is the most recent video.
• Watch Murmuration. I love this video.
• Okay, not exactly outdoor related, but anyone here a Nelson Demille fan and specifically a fan of the protagonist John Corey? I’m finally catching up and reading the Lion. This series will make you forget your are at home and not playing outdoors. It’s always a good Adventure!
• Explore nature in your own backyard. When’s the last time you sat on your patio in your backyard and watched the birds come and go? Get out your binoculars.

even the pup likes to get in on the action

Create

• Make some trail mix for your next outdoor adventure.
  
• Popular this week are reverse bucket lists. Create a Reverse Bucket List like Meghan Ward did. Take a break from your 2013 resolutions and reflect on your accomplishments.
• Get ahead and write your next few blog posts.

• Need ideas for those blog posts? Here are 53 writing prompts to get you started.

• Edit those outdoor photos you’ve meant to do. Looking through those photos will inspire you to get back outdoors. All the photos on this post were from a recent time playing outdoors. I can’t wait to get back out there.
• Print out your favorite outdoor photos and display them in your home.
• Look through old vacation/trip photos with your family and relive the fun and not so fun outdoor adventures you had.
• Clean and organize your gear and prepare for your next trip.
• Research and plan your next trip.
• Create an indoor garden or water those neglected indoor plants.
• Do you like to write? Draw? Paint? Now is the perfect time to do it.

Work Out

If you are not as sick as a dog then you can do this! Do a few sets here and a few sets there. Work them into your day.

• Do the one hundred push ups challenge
• There are plenty of no equipment workouts. Find one. Do it. Think jumping jacks, squats, leg lifts, planks, and push ups.
• Pull out those old workout DVDs and get to it.
• How can you improve your stamina or strength for your favorite outdoor activity? Do it.

not exactly climbing attire

Relax

Yes, I can think of many ways to spend my time indoors. This list doesn’t even scratch the surface, but sometimes you need to rest your body and mind.

Just sit back.

Get well.

Eat healthy

Relax.

And daydream. Dream of your next adventure to be had.

How do you enjoy the outdoors when stuck indoors? Share in the comments.

How to Enjoy the Outdoors When You’re Stuck Indoors is a post from: Walk Simply

The post How to Enjoy the Outdoors When You’re Stuck Indoors appeared first on Walk Simply.

You’ve heard winter is the best time to visit the tide pools, right? It is. Trust me. And we did just that a few weeks ago. I checked the tide charts and determined a day with a minus tide and headed down to Strands and Salt Creek Beaches in Dana Point, California.

Climb Rocks

Some people walk the easy route to the tide pools.

And others like a good rock scramble. A challenge, I say.

We have scrambled over the rocks in bare feet (not that much fun), flip-flops (no traction),  but hiking/water shoes help. At least one of us falls or slips each time. Watch your step.

Don’t be fooled by her sundress. It was a cool day and the water was freezing.

The Views

From afar Catalina Island, 26 miles away, was visible.

Up close we spied the usual anemone, which are commonly seen.

barnacles

It you look close at the rocks themselves you will see sea life as well. This day we saw many barnacles on the rocks.

On Shore During Low Tide

Low tide can be a fun time to walk on the beach and explore. Many things are left when the water recedes.

Several types of kelp and sea weed were on shore to explore.

And when the tide reclaims what it rightfully owns, beautiful patterns are left.

When’s the last time you walked at the beach in winter? Next time go when the tides are low.

Resources:

Important: These beaches are protected as a State Marine Conservation Area and there are rules/laws that must be followed to protect the wildlife. Visit the Department of Fish and Wildlife Website here to learn all about the Marine Life Protection Act. 

Tide Table for Dana Point, California (check here for the next minus tides)

A Low Tide Adventure is a post from: Walk Simply

The post A Low Tide Adventure appeared first on Walk Simply.

a peek at two peaks: Santiago and Modjeska

My second favorite Orange County Park, behind Caspers Wilderness Park, is Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park. Riley is considerably smaller compared to some of the other OC Parks, but beautiful nonetheless. I had some free time to hike sans children this past weekend so my sister and I hit the trails.

The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination. ~Terri Guillemets

Many winter quotes like the one above don’t apply to the winters I experience in Orange County, California. Yes, we are having a fairly frigid winter season, but we never have a white winter. Snow is the norm in many parts of the country and even a few hours away in our local mountains, but not here.

It’s hiking weather and the hills are alive!

Rain has been plentiful for us this season and our reward is a visual one. We don’t need to imagine it. We see it. We live it.

Riley Wilderness Park

If you live here you know this greenery is short-lived. After spring, usually in June sometime, the hills begin to turn a muted shade of brown. And that’s okay, if you like brown.

I prefer green, though.

my sis taking it all in

I will hike Riley year round, but in the summer months I usually visit later in the day. This park is one of the least crowded outdoor places in the OC park system. Exactly how I like it. Rarely do we run into other people, but the weather was in the mid-50s and the locals were out to enjoy.

Perfect hiking weather, really.

oak tree on the Sycamore Loop trail

mule deer walking a well-worn trail

Riley Wilderness Park is a fantastic park to view wildlife. Mule deer sightings occur each time I visit. We saw two groups of four this day.

broken oak in between the Mule Deer and Pheasant Run trails

Oak trees are my all time favorite. This oak with its broken branch sits begging to be photographed.

cacti on the Mule Deer trail

Near the top of Mule Deer trail there is a surprise waiting. Seemingly out of nowhere a coastal sage scrub habitat grows. Cacti litter the trail and if you visit later in the year you will see colorful, blooming cactus flowers.

Have you hiked our green hills lately? What is the color of winter where you live?

We hiked almost every trail in the park making somewhat of a figure eight.

The trails we took this day:

• Mule Deer
• Skink Vista Point
• Vista Ridge
• Oak Canyon
• Sycamore Loop
• back to Mule Deer
• Pheasant Run
• Wagon Wheel Canyon

Today’s Stats:

• 4 miles
• Elevation: up 3147 total feet / 3985 total feet down
• Altitude: 474 feet

Riley Wilderness Park at EveryTrail

Resources:

• Riley Wilderness Park (links to the new OC Parks website)
• Riley Trail Map (from the OC Parks website)

Additional posts at Riley Wilderness Park:

• Fall Hike: Riley Wilderness Park
• Mule Deer Trail and Vista Ridge Trail: Riley Wilderness Park
• Riley Wilderness Park: Kid HIke

The Color of Winter at Riley Wilderness Park is a post from: Walk Simply

The post The Color of Winter at Riley Wilderness Park appeared first on Walk Simply.

The Dana Point sea cave is not a secret, but as a selling point to the young adventurers I told them, “We are hiking to a “secret” sea cave today.” Their eyes lit up and their minds began to work in overdrive.

“Where is the sea cave?”, inquired one adventurer. I told her, “It’s nearby in Dana Point.”

“Oh. Do we swim there?”

Silly kids. This is a hike.

Parking near the Ocean Institute we quickly used the restrooms (there are none on the trail) and set out on foot.

The Hike

Disclaimer: Only attempt this hike during a minus-tide. I checked the tide charts several days earlier and noticed the lowest tide was exactly one hour after school let out. Perfect.

The hike is on a rocky trail below the cliffs and is inaccessible when the tides are not low. Do not attempt this hike unless you have plenty of time on both sides of the lowest tide. With four kids it took me 25-30 minutes of walking time each way. Our total trip time was about 1.5 hours including the time we spent exploring the cave.

Mostly dirt with many rocks small and large (some boulders) makes the trail so flip-flops are not be the best hiking shoes.

Even though the day was cool we were warmer on the trail than expected since the sun was baking us along the cliffs. A hat will help.

The Sea Cave

The cave is at the base of the tall sandstone cliffs between the Dana Point Harbor to the south and Strands beach to the north.

The first entrance we reached is the smallest. The adventurers looked in.  A few were a bit scared to enter, but with encouragement their fear waned.

Hopping on rocks, avoiding the tide pools, we went in and the exploring began. The cave is large with a rocky/sandy/floor with shells and other ocean goodies scattered around. Part of the fun is closely inspecting the ground to see what “treasures” are found.

An unexpected feature of this hike was the considerable amount of trash left when the ocean recedes. I did my best to pick up pieces here and there and put them in my backpack. I did not have a trash bag with me this day.

Seemingly, out of nowhere two men walked through the cave carrying trash bags.

We greeted each other and I mentioned their bags. They told me they walk to this cave often when the tide is low, but they do an hour-long loop. And they pick up trash as they walk. I like these guys, getting their exercise on and making a difference all at the same time.

Good concept.

Good guys.

So good they even took the trash I had stashed in my backpack.

We continued to explore all areas of the cave and the adjoining smaller cave. We are on an adventure after all.

We examined the rocks and pools and saw many mollusks, snails, and anemone.

the view looking out the large entrance

friends on an adventure

Thirty minutes later it was time for us to say good-bye.

What to Bring:

• Water - there is none on the trail (no drinkable water that is)
• Hat
• Shoes: Non-slip
• Camera (optional)
• Sunscreen
• A trash bag any size to pack out litter seen on the trail and in the cave.

Reminder Disclaimer: Only attempt this hike during a minus tide. Study the tide charts

Please note: This is a Marine Protected Area and this means it is prohibited to take any living marine resources from inside the tidepools.

Parking: Dana Point Harbor Parking (click on the photo thumbnail to see the parking map and park near the Ocean Institute)

Additional Walks Nearby:

• Dana Point Headlands Nature Preserve
• Walk Dana Point Harbor
• Visit the Tidepools

Have you been in a sea cave before? 

One Sea Cave and Two Good Guys is a post from: Walk Simply

The post One Sea Cave and Two Good Guys appeared first on Walk Simply.

Winter camping 10 miles from the ocean most likely does not mean there will be snow, but temperatures have been frigid lately and so far we have received a decent amount of much needed rain.

Many will not venture out in this weather to tent camp, but we did and my sister joined us for the adventure.

Our Campsite

We car camped in Caspers Wilderness Park at the Live Oak Campground. Earlier in the week I booked a site for $20 at Reserve America. At the time of the booking no rain was in the forecast. Later in the week we realized “perfect” winter weather was not going to happen. I had up until 2pm of reservation day to cancel, but neither my sis or I wanted to back out. A decision was made.

We want to camp.

We need to camp.

We love the outdoors no matter the weather.

The Live Oak Campground at Caspers Wilderness Park has sites with no trees and many sites with trees. I am glad I opted for a site with many oak and sycamore trees. The trees were a barrier between the rain and us so that helped and without the trees we would not have been able to hang our tarp.

My tarp hanging skills are limited, but we did a decent job hanging ours and it served the purpose intended. It’s easy to cook and eat with shelter.

Happy Kids = Happy Trip

hot cocoa for breakfast

Keep the kids warm, fed, and occupied for a successful trip.

Warmth

The air temperature was cool with most of the evening in the 40s and dipping down into the high 30s. Add rain into the mix and the potential for a miserable night and even the possibility for someone to get hypothermia if they are wet and chilled from the rain.

Knowing the weather before hand we were more than ready.

Clothing

The kids had several layers of clothing on and an outer layer of snow clothes. I put the kids in snow bibs and it worked wonderfully in the rain to keep them dry. We wore gloves and hats and anything else we needed to keep our skin covered.

While sleeping we wore two layers of clothing: long underwear and sweats on top. We were plenty warm.

Bedding

Our sleeping bags range in temp from 5-30 degrees. None of us were cold at night.

Food

Since we were out for only one night it would have been easier to buy prepared food on our drive out to the park, but where is the adventure?

Instead we opted for a warm soup dinner cooked on a camp stove. With warm bellies and bodies it is hard to feel cold.

During the downpour we cooked s’mores on the camp stove, as well.

Fun

After dinner, around 7 pm, the rain stopped and the kids went wild. Their aunt wore her headlamp, looked like an alien, and chased the girls around camp, in the dark, for an hour. That was fun.

the kids and their lanterns running from the “alien”

We were able to have a small fire after the rain stopped and took several walks around the campground before bed time.

With morning came sun and warmer temps. A visit to the nature center and playground were in order.

Trees are for climbing.

Conclusion:

25 hours is the time we spent at the park. Preparation and especially clean-up (at home) took many hours. Do my sis and I regret this short trip in the cold rain? Absolutely not. We LOVED it and would do it again in a heartbeat.

What to do at Caspers Wilderness Park:

• visit the nature center
• play on the see-saw at the playground
• swing on the tire swing at the playground
• hike 
• camp
• have a picnic
• barbecue
• have a bonfire
• relax and enjoy the scenery
• work on your nature photography
• bond with your kids
• roast s’mores
• climb a tree
• enjoy solitude
• view wildlife
• find and name Santa Ana Mountain peaks from the observation deck high above the park floor
• go to the Saturday night nature program

Reminder: this is a wilderness environment. Prepare so. Mountain lions do live and are seen in the park on occasion. Know how to respond near a lion and teach your children the same.

Have you done any winter camping, yet this year? Have you camped ad Caspers Wilderness Park?

Read about our camping experience at O’neill Regional Park (the only other OC Park to camp)

Winter Camping at Caspers Wilderness Park is a post from: Walk Simply

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This year has been so much fun and different compared to 2011. Schedule changes within my family has meant a shift in the adult to child hiking ratio. Basically, I have been less able to take off to enjoy adult only hiking and instead spent more time on child friendly adventures.

And its all good.

Top Posts Viewed in 2012

The top posts as determined by page views:

1. Winter the Best Time to Visit Southern California Tidepools
2. Weekend Getaway: Cabin Camping in William Heise County Park
3. Scenes from the Northwest Open Space in San Juan Capistrano
4. Fremont Canyon Wilderness Hike: An Orange County Hidden Gem
5. A Walk on the Beach: Crystal Cove State Park

My favorite posts of 2012

• I often need to remind myself to enjoy everyday life so occasionally I will re-read Finding Joy in the Little Things to push me and keep me in the right mindset.
• With my husband’s zany schedule we always seem to be out playing when he is working. A fun day hiking at Caspers Wilderness Park and a hike we took in Temescal Canyon are a few of the hiking days we were able to share this year.
• My girls and I really enjoyed our hike in Falls Canyon and those little newts sure are cute.
• During our week-long Central California Road trip Adventure we saw some amazing sights and those beautiful redwood trees blow me away every time.

Photography

My posts this year contain a mixture of photographic styles taken using three different cameras: my Canon Powershot SX110 IS, my iPhone 4, and my Canon dSLR. Last year I always used my point and shoot. This year I found it more convenient to use my iPhone. My love of Instagram helped fuel that fire. My dSLR I used the least on the trail. I love all three cameras for different reasons. Who knows what my choices will be in 2013, but until then here are some of my favorite shots from 2012.

It was VERY hard to choose three.

Taken with my iPhone (SoCal Hikers Tweetup at Schabarum Regional Park and Powder Canyon)

Taken with my dSLR (Up-Close and On Foot in Big Basin Redwoods State Park)

Taken with my point and shoot. (Spring Peek: A Walk at Mission San Juan Capistrano)

Thank you to my readers! Thank you to those who comment and leave feedback. I really appreciate you for doing so. Shoot me an email or comment if you have any questions.

Thank you to all my new online writing friends. You are a fantastic bunch and a wonderful support team. I love how you are eager to help and share. Hopefully one day I will meet you in the great outdoors!

Peace to you all in the New Year and go take a hike!

Top Posts of 2012 and My Favorites is a post from: Walk Simply

The post Top Posts of 2012 and My Favorites appeared first on Walk Simply.