Nature Centers are favorite outings for many OC kids and especially our family. We stepped into the Irvine Regional Park Nature Center on Saturday and I was reminded how much our family loves these places. We can’t wait to put our hands on the interactive displays and Eagle Scout projects. It’s truly an indoor play experience where we can learn more about the flora and fauna of the parks we visit. We can stamp out animal tracks in the sand, pan for gold, see historical and archaelogical artifacts, learn about native peoples, and touch the world around us. We applaud the enthusiastic volunteers, employees, and rangers who staff these special interpretive centers around Orange County. Below are links to the nature centers we’ve visited. There’s a more complete list over on OC Explorer.
- Bolsa Chica Wetlands Interpretive Centers, Huntington Beach
- Muth Interpretive Center, Newport Beach
- Nix Nature Center, Laguna Canyon
- O’Neill Nature Center, Trabuco Canyon
- Riley Wilderness Interpretive Center, Coto de Caza
- Shipley Nature Center, Huntington Beach
- Turtle Rock Nature Center, Irvine
Next up?
- Clark Regional Park in Buena Park (recommended by a Fun OC Parks reader)
Note: Make sure you always call ahead for hours because many are open only on weekends and depend on volunteers for staffing.
