(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...
Start your summer off right with some of our favorite options for family fun in Orange County. Take a Family Hike Crystal Cove Trails (Photo Courtesy of Crystal Cove State Park) Crystal Cove State Park has 18 miles of hiking trails with stunning views of mountains and the ocean. The...
(Photo courtesy of FarmHouse Rescue) Danielle Judd during storytime at the chicken coop on the farm. Children can tune in to live cameras through the farm's Smile Club program. A local mom founds a nonprofit that saves animals and brings healing to others after her own near-death experience. Danielle Judd...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) A pediatric and sports medicine expert offers tips on getting the most out of summer camp for your child. Going to summer camp for a child can be an amazing experience with memories that can last for a lifetime. However, a bad experience at camp may...
Check Out the Live Footage of Eagles Jackie and Shadow Friends of Big Bear Valley planned, raised funds, obtained permits and installed a Bald Eagle Nest camera on the first ever active bald eagle nest in Big Bear Valley, California. The camera and sound system is solar powered and runs...
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...
Students ready to board the Crystal Cove Conservancy Science Cruise out of Davey’s Locker. (Photo courtesy of Davey’s Locker Sportfishing) The Marine Protected Area Science Cruise offers underserved students hands-on science field trips. For some, it’s a chance to get out of class and do something different. For others, it’s...
The Queen Bees from left to right: Lynntram Nguyen, Ashley Nguyen, Katie Nguyen, Lilian Doan A group of Westminster High School teens have developed an innovative product to help save the bees. The buzz about honey bees is not good. Declining bee populations are costing the U.S. economy billions, and...
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...
(Photo Courtesy of Wild Rivers) Wild Rivers is back in Irvine to create new lasting memories for families. It’s been 11 years since Orange County waterpark Wild Rivers made a splash in Irvine. This summer, locals and visitors can make their way back for a new wave of memories as...
(Photo Courtesy of Discovery Cube) Discovery Cube OC offers science, fun and bubbles this spring for all ages and abilities. Discovery Cube Orange County’s staff is always ready to help meet the needs of all abilities. One year, during Bubblefest, a family with a child with special needs needed a...
Sunset at Grand Solmar Land's End Resort At the tip of Baja, going chic to chic for a week, and learning the wahoo Watusi “You see, Sweetheart, you can always tell where the fish are by looking at the birds. You find fish where they are diving into the water....
(Photo Courtesy of Leo Rivas/Unsplash) With spring in full bloom, here’s what families should know about this year’s OC allergy season. Watery eyes, itchy skin, sniffly nose … sounds like allergy season is here. But in a time when a scratchy throat and the sniffles can mean something more than...
(Photo Courtesy of YMCA OC Camp) Matchmaking your child with the right camp may lead to a more rewarding summer experience. Let’s face it — living in the 21st century, our lives can feel jam-packed with the never-ending list of meetings, play dates, homework, snacks, snacks and more snacks —...
Quality time at One of California’s Top Dude Ranches, Alisal Guest Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley As the world opens up and normalcy creeps back one cautious step at a time, the annual summer getaway takes on a special significance this year. It must be good, a vacation so memorable...
Oct. 21-22 is the height of the Orionid meteor shower — an opportunity for an educational trip for the whole family. It’s nearly impossible to know what the school scene will look like through this month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some school campuses might be open for in-person lessons,...
Spending more time outdoors on bikes, scooters and skateboards? Don’t forget to wear a helmet. One of the really positive things to come out of this COVID-19 era is a surge in the number of children and families who are regularly active — riding bikes, scooters and skateboards. Even roller...
(Kid's Soccer/Courtesy of YMCA) After-school sports and activities are changing, but kids can still reap their many benefits. In a typical week, an Orange County family can spend a significant amount of time participating in after-school sports — going to soccer practice, attending a basketball game, Little League tryouts or...
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...
(Photo Courtesy of Vitolda Klein/Unsplash) Take this unusual summer and turn it into a fun and enlightening family adventure into the outdoors. We’re entering a summer like no other. Orange County businesses and venues have started re-opening, but things are still in a state of flux. Kids are done with...
A weekend of culture, kisses and kayaks proves it: couples that paddle together stay together. By Randall Tierney An aerial view of La Jolla, with the breakwater in the foreground. This gem of a seaside village called La Jolla is endlessly scenic, with hilly ocean bluffs and sandy beaches, and...
Planting a native garden can benefit the family as well as local wildlife. Have you ever seen the cedar waxwing bird, with its crest, black mask, clear shades of yellow and rust, and feathers so smooth they don’t look like feathers? If not, you probably haven’t been hanging around toyon...
OC is home to some of the greatest science, tech and robotics teams in the country. Troy High School in Fullerton has created a monster. A bunch of whip-smart students has carefully and methodically built up a towering behemoth so fierce, it has dominated a nation for more than two...
PICK OF THE MONTH: California Adventure’s Lunar New Year CelebrationFriday, January 17 - Sunday, February 9At California Adventure, Lunar New Year is all about the mouse — the Year of the Mouse to be exact. You can celebrate Year of the Mouse with multicultural activities that salute Chinese, Vietnamese and...
Keep the environment in mind with these plastic-alternative products and tips. Most of us have nailed the reusable-bag habit for the supermarket, greatly reducing the number of flimsy plastic bags that find their way to the coastline and into the ocean. And at least some of us have stopped or...
The fast and furry-ous rise of San Juan Capistrano–based ZOOMARS is a story within a story. It’s a place for horses, rabbits, goats, and of course, guinea pigs. It’s a place for kids to play and learn. It’s a place with a long and unique history. It’s ZOOMARS Petting Zoo...
Start a new tradition with an old classic and let the serenity of fishing bring you together. The most restful adult day I ever spent was on a sport fishing boat out of Dana Point Harbor. (The second most restful day was rock climbing out at Lake Perris.) In both...
Roger’s Gardens’ Christmas Boutique Friday November 1-Wednesday December 25 Roger’s Gardens can help make your 12 days of Christmas last almost two months with the return of its Christmas Boutique. “Enchanted Christmas” is this year’s theme, and you will undoubtedly have an enchanting time wandering around all the wondrous decorative...
Dinner time is important—but there are other ways to create special family moments with the kids. There are times when listening to the experts can drive parents a little crazy with all the responsibilities and impossibilities of doing everything just right. Do you talk enough to your baby while breastfeeding...
The ruddy duck is a diving bird. Its plump, cinnamon-colored body bobs on the surface of a pond at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, supposedly catching its breath. Audubon naturalist Jay Miller points out the duck’s baby-blue beak, a beak so bright people have asked him if it was painted...
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...
PICK OF THE MONTH Knott’s Boysenberry Festival April 1 - April 28 Knott’s goes boysenberry wild during this sweet annual springtime festival. You’re sure to find something tasty from the 75+ boysenberry-inspired delicacies at the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival. The park will also present a variety of special fun attractions—from Snoopy’s...
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...
Find out how your family can do its part to help save and care for the lovely monarch butterfly. Saving a species was never so much fun or so beautiful—or, in the case of the monarch butterfly—so needed. The North American population of the eye-catching orange-and-black butterflies have been declining...
Kijaro Kubie Streamline your next outdoor adventure with the Kijaro Kubie. The Kubie can be used as an insulated blanket or sleeping bag, folded into a pillow, used as a ground cover, turned into a shade canopy, be strung up as a hammock then folded into its compact carrying case...
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...
PICK OF THE MONTH The Mom-Made Market Saturday, November 17 - Sunday, 18th This market is truly the mother of all invention. More than 150 local mompreneurs make this holiday market a very unique shopping experience. Come out for a weekend of gift-buying, food, and fun. This event is too...
PICK OF THE MONTH Pageant of the Monsters October 26-28, 31 The legendary Pageant of the Masters transforms into the spookier Pageant of the Monsters this month. But this masterfully creepy event doesn’t come around every Halloween, so you don’t want to miss it. Located on the grounds of Laguna...
Summer’s over, right? Time to delve into school and extracurriculars. It’s back to the workplace, back to “normal life.” Sure. Sort of. But why should we let our school and work calendars run our lives to the point where we don’t feel there’s room for spontaneity, fun breaks and glimmers...
It’s easy to let go of summer too soon. Here are some ways to continue to soak up summer family bonding. Grab onto summer and keep it here for a while by making it a period of relaxed social fun. You can do this by holding casual, low-cost gatherings during...
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...
Get the most out of this summer for the least amount of cost at these family-friendly places and events. For a couple of heavenly months, there will be no need to rouse the kids for school, no evening arguments about homework. Ensure that summer is a richer time for the...
This summer, grab your family, spouse, or neighbors, and trade your small screens for the best big screens under the stars. For these fantastic flick-watching locations the night sky is a requirement but the popcorn is optional. Showtime: Dusk-8:00 1. OC Parks Sunset Cinema Carbon Canyon Regional Park 4442 Carbon...
Parenting OC’s new monthly column will offer obscure places, easy crafts and low-stress, low-cost ways to flow. Parents are a group of hard-working and often tired people. They earn money to provide a well-furbished home for their families and to surround their children with enriching activities and lessons. They oversee...
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,...
Web Riderz Swing This 39” platform swing is safety-rated to carry up to 600 pounds, for outdoor fun with sibs or friends. Hang from two points for traditional back-and-forth or from a single point to spin merry-go-round style. M&M’s tire swing line is made from repurposed tires, making them not...
Nutcracker Luncheon & Sugar Plum Tea Sunday December 3 Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort | 2110 PCH, Huntington Beach 714-962-5440 | www.festivalballet.org Ballet Etudes’ The Nutcracker December 2–3, 9–10 Huntington Beach High School Auditorium | 1905 Main Street, Huntington Beach 855-222-2849 | balletetudes.com/performances Laguna Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker Thursday December 15–Sunday...
Queen B(each) You’ll feel like royalty with this beach gear that ups your “cool factor” on even the hottest summer day. Sandusa Bean Bag Blue Boss We’ve long loved Sandusa’s nonstick sand and water-resistant towels, now they’ve gone next level and created a beach mattress which will have the kids...
Can your children survive a week without their favorite TV shows, computer games, and videogames? More importantly, can you? According to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, children who spend less time with the TV, computer, and videogames do better in school and have more time for creative play and...
The Ultimate Family Ski Getaway There’s a wonderful indefinable energy about Colorado’s Beaver Creek Ski Resort, something akin to getting a family hug by a destination. Swoosh your way into this easy peasy one-stop spot that has everything you need to build memories and some serious quads from the world...