California: Orange County Great Park on a Monday afternoon

Just off Interstate 5 in Irvine, there is a beautiful, vast metropolitan park called Orange County Great Park. If you have been there before for an event, we think it is time you rediscovered this peaceful gem in the hustle and bustle of the OC.
Preferably when there’s not a thing on the park’s calendar.

We visited on Monday afternoon, and it would have been the ideal location to shoot a zombie apocalypse movie. Where IS everyone? Oh right, sitting in traffic.

The vast parking lots were completely empty, and acres of gorgeous park land was going completely unutilized. We even hit the park’s website to make sure it wasn’t closed. When an Irvine Police officer drove by, we wondered for a moment if we would be in trouble! But sure enough, the park is open from 10 a.m. to dusk on Mondays. (Check the site here for complete hours.)

Orange County Great Park is home to a list of fun events for the whole family, including free concerts in the park, a solar decathlon, farmer’s markets, and much more. Programming and events are great, but it’s the in-between time – the time when this is just a beautiful metropolitan park – that is where the action’s really at.

If you haven’t visited the Great Park during those in-between times, you’re missing out on a beautiful oasis in the city of Irvine. It has been called one of the great metropolitan parks in the country, and we see such potential to live up to that. Built by focus group and working hard at creating identity in this community, the idea for Orange County Great Park was born after Marine Corps Air Station El Toro closed in 1999. This is one of the things we loved most about this beautiful park – it is being reused and recycled! How cool is that?

This park is a beautiful space for reflection, and it is so much more. A trip to the park is one of the most budget-friendly, healthy activities you can do with your family. So…unplug the kids, get them in the car, and drive on over to the Orange County Great Park. Here are the directions.

Not sure what to do when you get there? Maybe one of these ideas will strike a chord.

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Chasing Lions – Following Our Passions

Our three-year-old has recently become absolutely obsessed (as only a three-year-old can) with the movie Lion King, and as a result, with lions.

“Mom, did you know lions can jump really high?”

“Dad, do you know what lions eat?”

And so on, and so on. You get the idea.

There is nothing better than the joy we see on her face when she sees something she loves. So we take her to see the lions. There are more around than I ever realized! There are real lions, statute lions, and stuffed lions. There are lions on TV, lions in movies, and lions guarding city buildings.

The web is full of lions, too. We enjoy curling up with the tablet and watching baby lions play on the Savannah, and learning more fun facts about lions, too. There are Lion King coloring pages here, which can be printed out for hours of entertainment.

When you are on a mission to find something, it is everywhere! It’s a bit like the old “slug bug” game when we are out – everyone is on the look for lions.

What does your child love, that you could “chase”?

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California: Getting around the San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is big. I mean, really big.

Check out this map to see just how big.

But have no fear! There are lots of transportation options available through the 99 acre park. The zoo is shaped like a bowl, which means there are many hills to climb. Take advantage of the guided tour to see more of the park at once, and the express bus and skyfari to take some of the load off.

Guided Bus Tour

The guided tour buses are double-decker, open-air buses that allow you to see 70 percent of the zoo. It takes about 35 minutes, and while it isn’t a great way to see most of the animals, and it is a good way to get acquainted with your surroundings and decide which places to visit and in what order. Included in the fare is unlimited use of the express bus throughout your visit. Once you know where you want to go, use the express buses to get yourself a little closer!

Our daughter loved riding the bus just for the experience of riding the bus – seeing the sights was a completely added bonus for her.

The fare is included in a one-day admission ticket, and is $8.50 for adult pass holders and $5 for pass holders 3-11.

Kangaroo Express Bus

Unlimited use of the express bus is included in your guided tour ticket. The buses travel continuously through the park – just find one of the green signs and one will pick you up (they run about 15 minutes apart). There are five stops available – a simple way to slice up the zoo into more manageable pieces.

Skyfari Aerial Tram

Included with your membership and most other pass types, this is a great way to get from one end of the park to the other. We used it to start from the far end and work our way back toward the gate. Really, we could do this on half a dozen visits, taking a different route back each time, very happily.

TIP: Double strollers are not allowed on the skyfari tram, but single strollers are!

Other Transportation

If you need a motorized cart, wheelchair, or stroller, visit Guest Services just inside the entrance to the zoo. There are multiple options available. There is also a shuttle available for guests with mobility issues – be sure to ask at the desk for details.

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California: Baby Beach in Dana Point

We had seen it several times as we visited the harbor for various events – Baby Beach. It is a beautiful spot at Dana Point Harbor with calm water for little ones to play in. Sometimes the waves of the ocean beaches is just too much for our three-year-old, so this harbor beach is just the trick.

Since it is such a great place for kids, you’ll find that most of the crowd is families, which is nice. The little ones are sure to find other children their age, and they won’t be bothering any serious beach-goers with their play.

Even cooler, you can see the “pirate ship” from the beach! The Ocean Institute is nearby, and makes a great outing if you need a place to move out of the sun or wind for a while. You will also find a lifeguard during the summer months.
Parking is free, and fairly plentiful. Check out this parking map to get the lay of the land.

Note, though, that calm waters come with a price. Because the ocean waves are not washing the muck away, this is one of the most polluted beaches in the area. Be sure to check warnings and do your homework before trekking out. (Six of the seven beaches at neighboring Doheny State Park are also repeat offenders when it comes to contamination. You can read more about that here.) You can also check out report cards here.

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