(Photo Courtesy of Knott's Berry Farm) Cool down, chill out and zip along while staying close to home this summer vacation. The itch to get out and go do something — anything — only gets worse on a summer day for the average kid. Trying to find something the whole...
Fran Howard (far left) leading a family hike.(Photo courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy) An Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer works to keep kids engaged with nature through local family hikes. The wild mysteries are everywhere. The young nature detectives are on the case. Armed with a magnifying glass and photos, they’re...
The boardwalk on the bluff at Moonstone Beach is the best reason to stay at one of the inns on this stretch of coast in Cambria. Memories mix with new discoveries when the writer visits his old stomping ground on the Central Coast. I’ve been a little reluctant to recommend...
(Photo Courtesy of Irvine Ranch Conservancy) How you and your kids can take outdoor adventures through OC’s wild, open spaces. With so much wild, open space in Orange County, residents have access to one of the most biologically diverse landscapes in the world, so why not experience it with your...
Get some fresh air and exercise with the family this summer at these local scenic hikes. Planning for school is always nerve-wracking, for sure. And by now, many parents feel as though they have pulled out all the stops on finding creative activities in the home and backyard. Maybe there...
A trail on the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve near Murrieta offers families a nearby hike full of natural wonders. People often ask me what my favorite local hike is. That’s a tough question. How can I compare a wildflower hike with a walk in the woods or a scramble...
The wonders of hiking can be enjoyed by the whole family with just a bit of planning. This is shaping up to be a spectacular hiking season. The early, drenching rains set the creeks flowing with water again. The warm sunshine interspersed among the storms provided just the right conditions...
Check out some of these family-friendly docent-led hikes in time for the Orange County hiking season. In most areas of the country, this is the dead of winter. In Orange County, it’s prime hiking season. Depending on when and how much rain arrives, this is often the time when the...
Local chef Thomas Curran plans to walk across the country in the name of pediatric cancer research. Thomas Curran would never describe himself as an outdoorsy guy. “I love being in nature but I’m not an avid camper or hiker,” he says. Which is why it might be surprising that...
Escape to the enchanted garden of mystical fairies with your children by creating one in your own backyard, or visit one together at this obscure gem of a trail in Mission Viejo. What child can resist the book, “The Secret Garden”? It’s always been an enchanting notion: A special, hidden...
Where Moonstones, kayak paddles, otters and elephant seals compete with Hearst Castle for attention. The time was when families traveled to the San Simeon area solely to tour Hearst Castle and take in views of the dramatic Central Coast shoreline. Don’t get me wrong, those are still around and as...
A room becomes more romantic when paired with wine, art, or a coastal hike. The Carmel Highlands & Point Lobos. The storms of one year ago destroyed a large swath of the iconic Big Sur Highway, making Carmel inaccessible from the south (reopening is slated for summer of 2018). But...
Touching down in Kona, you might be confused as you exit the plane. But yes, that is the whole airport and yes, you would be correct in observing that most of it is outdoors. This is just the start of the charming quirks of the largest of the Hawaiian islands,...