That’s an exact quote from my 10 year old about our day on Saturday: “Our little moment away from the world.” It was brought to us by Earthroots Field School.  We joined Jodi, Jeannie, Ren and Evan for an afternoon learning to make fire and fire tools.  We were waaaayyyyy back in Silverado Canyon with no cell phone service.  The only evidence of electronics was the occasional snapping of cameras. Mostly, it was a group of families who enjoyed meeting new people and kids who came with all their wonder and curiosity for the world.

Our day with Earthroots Field School was billed as: “Making Fire and Exploring Nature.”  We began by gathering different size kindling for the fire to ease us into our day. When we started we had this:

As someone commented, “lots of hands made small work” and soon we had this:

We watched Evan — who on a scale of 1 to 5 — held up 6 fingers for knowing a bit about fire making with a bow.  Together we all breathed on the smoking embers to make the straw burst into flame.

We enjoyed a leisurely picnic lunch and spent time exploring nature from the meadow:

To the orchard:

To a nature walk under the oaks:

Ethan helped us identify the winter version of poison oak and the plant we used to create our own family fire making kit (mule fat) .  There were kids from infants to 2 year olds to my 10 year old and they all had a grand time in the breezy canyon. Ren got to cooking whole apples in the coals of our fire.

And we ended our day munching on warm apples and listening to an original story by Jeannie inspired by our adventures. My six year old was so enchanted she even answered one of the questions from “Grandfather” as if she were one of the children in the story.

I didn’t want to leave. It was so peaceful.  It truly renewed my weary spirit.  In all, we were there for FIVE hours.  But to my son, it was just a “moment.”

Visit EarthrootsFieldSchool.org to find out more about their Forest Kindergarten, Homeschool Programs, Botany Walks, Family Programs and Camp Outs.

Earthroots waived our registration fee so we could experience their program. They did not ask any particular opinion be shared.

A nice Aliso Viejo walk takes you along the Aliso Creek bike/hiking trail paralleling Alicia Parkway from Foxborough Park to Hillview Park.  These two parks weren’t on my radar because there are no playgrounds at either (and no bathrooms!).  However, they are perfect for a brisk walk outdoors with kids in a jogging stroller.

Location: Foxborough Park is off Deerhurst near Pacific Park. Hillview Park is reachable by walking behind Aliso Niguel High School.  MAP OVERVIEW OF FOXBOROUGH TO HILLVIEW WALK

Highlights:

• Tons of bird watching to do along the creek (check my OCFamily post with tips for wildlife spotting)
• Beautiful views from Hillview Park
• Great to exercise outdoors

Tips:

• Strollers will be fine on the bike trail; the hill up to Hillview is bumpy dirt (which could be muddy after a rain); then there’s sidewalk and a loop at the top.
• There is no exit from Hillview other than the way you came!
• If you are walking, it can take anywhere from an hour to two hours to do the round-trip back to Foxborough Park — depending on if you let the kids walk.
• You could ride your bikes along the Aliso Creek Trail and lock them up near the high school to walk up the hill for the views
• Warnings for rattlesnakes on the dirt hill
• NO restrooms on the entire walk – so plan ahead (or use the route for a “mommy walk” or “daddy walk” or “date walk” instead of bringing the kids)

Foxborough to Hillview at EveryTrail

See a video of the walk — complete with a mockingbird serenade.

We like to walk and take slow nature hikes, but I’m not an expert. Check out these five SoCal walkers/hikers/explorers for even better hiking tips with more details:

• Walk Simply
• Greene Adventures
• Brian and Ashley’s Hiking Blog
• California Through My Lens
• Naturalist-For-You (guided nature walks)

If you want to commit to a New Year’s workout routine, you buy a gym membership.  How about committing to explore more of Orange County’s finest parks, beaches, and wilderness?  Buy an annual parking pass.

To get the most value out of your pass, buy it early and go often.  It’s only $80/year for a combo pass which includes parks and beaches.  That comes out to less than $7 a month!!  I bet you spend more on Netflix and you probably spend at least TEN TIMES that on your cell phone or monthly cable TV tier.  Invest in outdoor time, too!

I go to a A LOT of parks and I can honestly say that OCParks amaze me on every visit. I’m entering the 4th year of working on this website and I still haven’t explored them all. I’ve been to Irvine Regional Park countless times, but still there are more trails to hike and activities to try.

The OCParks.com monthly calendar is brimming with events and activities. Some special events to take notice of include:

• Limestone Canyon Wilderness Access Day on January 7,
• Nature’s Adventures with Ranger Lynn January 13 and 27 at Upper Newport Bay,
• a Morning Stroll to Barbara’s Lake at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park,
  
• and an Introduction to Mountain Bike Riding on January 29 also at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Regional Park locations:

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea
• Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano (plus Nature Center)
• Clark Regional Park, Buena Park (plus Interpretive Center)
• Craig Regional Park, Fullerton
• Irvine Regional Park, Irvine
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Laguna Niguel
• Mason Regional Park, Irvine
• Mile Square Regional Park, Fountain Valley
• O’Neill Regional Park, Trabuco Canyon
• Santiago Oaks Regional Park, Orange
• Yorba Regional Park, Anaheim

Wilderness Park locations:

• Aliso & Wood Canyons, Laguna Niguel
• Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• Peters Canyon Regional Park, Orange
• Riley Wilderness Park, Coto de Caza
• Limestone-Whiting Wilderness Park, Trabuco Canyon

Beach locations:

• Aliso Beach Park, South Laguna Beach
• Capistrano Beach, Capistrano Beach
• Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point
• Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point

The possibilities are endless!  OCParks.com has a comprehensive list of amenities where you can search for parks that meet your criteria. Visit OCParks.com and buy an annual parking pass now.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary 2011 and 2012 annual passes from OCParks. In years past, I’ve gladly bought my own and would have again this year.  I like to support my local parks! Read my full disclosure policy.

Thanks to Josh McNair from CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com for accepting my invitation to guest post about his adventures!

When Michele invited me to write a guest post, I tried to figure out a good fit for this great resource she has created on the parks available in the OC. Since I have a limited knowledge of good parks as I am not yet a parent, I figured I could still write a post on family friendly hikes in Southern California for those families that are looking for an outdoor adventure with their children.

So here is my list of three great hikes you can do with younger children that are both exciting and not physically tolling:

Mt. Rubidoux in Riverside
Mt. Rubidoux is the quintessential hike for families. It is difficult enough that everyone will get a little work out but easy enough that everyone can still enjoy their time on the hike. It is about a mile and a half to the top, if you take the long way, but can be shorter if you opt for one of the steeper paths. Note that all of the paths do have an incline the entire time. This hike is located in Riverside, CA in the Inland Empire and features a huge cross at the top a well as a beautiful historical bridge on the way up.

This hike is well-traveled and always busy so you can feel safe when you are there, as there are many other families usually hiking it at any given time of the day. Check out Mt. Rubidoux if you are in the area and looking for a great family adventure. It should only take about 45 minutes to drive here from Orange County. Plan for around 2 hours to get up, hang out at the top and come back down.

Sunset Cliffs in San Diego
The Sunset Cliffs in San Diego are another perfect hike for families. This hike is more of a walk then it is a hike and you can make it as short or as long as you would like. The actual Sunset Cliffs area stretches for about 2 to 3 miles but you can simply park near Sunset Cliffs Natural Park sign and walk right down the steps to the beautiful area of beach and rocks below. There are small caves to explore, beaches to hang out on and even small tide pools, all in a beautiful setting that is perfect for a picnic or just hanging out, getting wet and watching the sunset.

This is an ideal hike for families who only want to do a little walking and not have to put any too any miles. The only downside is it will probably take you about an hour and a half to drive from Orange County. Once you are there it will only take you about 10 to 15 minutes to walk if you park near the stairs but you will want to plan on having a lot more time to explore and check out all it has to offer.

Heart Rock Falls in the San Bernadino Mountains
Located near Crestline in the San Bernadino Mountains, Heart Rock Falls is a beautiful and simple hike for the whole family. This hike is only about a mile each way and is mostly flat the entire time. However, its mile of hiking takes you on an adventure through the forest with lots of trees and plants, before bringing you to a 25 foot waterfall that has a perfect heart cut out right next to it. The heart itself could hold one person in each of its halves, just to give you an idea of its size. Make sure you are careful when you get there though as the view from where the below photo was taken is a small neighboring cliff that has a sharp drop on it of about 35 feet. The drive from Orange County will probably take at least an hour and the hike itself shouldn’t take more then another hour either, but plan on more time if you want to do more exploring.

So there it is, my top three hikes for families in Southern California. I will make sure to post again with more hikes for families to explore as I find them. If you have a great one I missed, make sure to leave it in the comments.

Josh McNair spends his time hiking, photographing and traveling around California for his blog CaliforniaThroughMyLens.com. He is an avid fan of the outdoors and loves to experience as much as he can of the beauty that California has to offer. Follow along with his blog to get examples of places that you may have never known existed right around your home.  (All photos courtesy of Josh McNair.)

I love Yosemite in the fall!  We left at 1pm on Friday and got back at 8pm on Sunday.  We felt like we really “got away from it all” and experienced a good portion of what Yosemite has to offer.  Of course, it would have been ideal leave early a.m. on Friday and enjoy more time in the park.  You can see Yosemite in 55 hours!

I did not get to experience Yosemite National Park as a child. I grew up in Southern California, but not in a family of campers.

My first trip to Yosemite was with my husband and 11 month old son in November 2002.  We went again in October 2003. We moved out of state and didn’t return again until October 2007. Now we made our 4th trip in October 2011.  Each trip was only 3-5 days.  Each trip was in October/November which is great for limited crowds, but not so great for waterfalls (unless you’re lucky). So don’t wait!!  You don’t need to plan a big grand trip, just plan a bunch of short trips.

My family went swimming here!

If you go this time of year, pay special attention to:

• road conditions and closures.
• weather (essential — because it can snow).
• read the Yosemite Guide — they hand it out at the entrance, but I always wish I remembered to download it before I go.  It quite literally has EVERYTHING you need to know.

Especially for families (be aware):

• It is at altitude so the kiddos need to stay hydrated. I remember our first trip, my son’s ears were bugging him.
• The roads into the park are curvy, so beware of car sickness.
• Areas without cell service and limited gas within the park (have a full tank before entering).
• Food and groceries are available, but more expensive and restaurants have limited hours during the fall. Bring what you need and know where you are going to grab dinner before you make your trip.

Overview:

• There are many sections to the park and you won’t be able to hit them all in one short trip. In fact, it would take a lifetime to see everything and it all changes with the seasons. Just pick one place and explore your general area.  “The Valley” is the place where you’ve seen most photos.  You’ll want to spend time there just looking up and “oohing and aaaahing” at the sights.
• Again, read the Yosemite Guide to find out EVERYTHING you need to know.
• I would also highly recommend watching the sunset at Glacier Point (see photo of Half Dome, top right).  We’ve done it 2 out of our 4 visits and I just love it.
• My friend, Debi, at GoExploreNature.com posted an Insider’s Guide to Exploring Yosemite with Kids.

From my first trip. I'm in awe in the Mariposa Grove.

Entrances:

• South Entrance through Wawona/Mariposa Grove (easiest from SoCal)
• West Entrance through Merced/El Portal (about an hour longer, but scenic)
• Tioga Road entrance near Bishop (beautiful in summer and fall, closed in the winter)

Where We’ve Stayed:

• Curry Village Tent Cabins
• Yosemite Lodge at the Falls (my favorite)
• Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal (outside of West Entrance)

Other Lodging Options at South Entrance:

• Wawona Hotel
• Tenaya Lodge

Fees:

• $20 per car for 7 days

Resources:

• Road conditions and weather
• Directions to the park
• General National Park Service website for Yosemite