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)

Westridge Park in Aliso Viejo is one of those parks where I could hang out all day.  Unfortunately, the lack of restrooms makes that an impossibility — but you know what I mean.  The kids seem happy to dig in the sand and explore the corners of this hidden park.

Directions to Westridge Park: From I-5, exit at Oso Parkway which turns into Pacific Park as it crosses La Paz.  Keep driving up the hill past Alicia Parkway and into Aliso Viejo.  Turn left onto Wood Canyon and make an immediate right onto Westridge. The park is directly ahead at the T-intersection. You will need to turn left and park on the street. (Check out how the park is at the edge of Aliso & Wood Canyons. It’s striking on the map!) MAP TO WESTRIDGE PARK IN ALISO VIEJO

Highlights:

• The park is at the edge of Aliso & Wood Canyon (no access) which makes the views from the fence intriguing
• SHADE!  Yay for shade covers and big sycamores which make most of the playground shady all afternoon
• There’s also a really nice gazebo shade cover over 3 large picnic tables.
• Benches all around the playground and a stone wall that’s just the right height for sitting.
• Nice grassy area where moms were laying out blankets and playing with their kids.
• The equipment has separate monkey bars that were a bit too high for the youngest kids.
• Both “big kid” and “little kid” equipment. The little one had some fun little slides and the big one has some climbing opportunities and a bridge.
• There’s a sidewalk encircling the playground equipment that kids were using as a trike track to make loops back to mom.
• 2 bench swings and one baby swing

Be Aware:

• Because of the tall and grassy landscaping, it’s hard to see the kids on the playground when you are sitting under the picnic cover.
• Many spots on the “big kid” equipment where little kids can fall through, but there’s enough to do in other areas of the park.
• Kids will naturally gravitate away from Oak View Drive, but traffic is somewhat busy. Make sure they wander into – and not out of – the park.

Checklist:

• Parking on the street
• Sand and grassy play surfaces
• NO restroom
• Drinking fountain right near the playground
• Nice shade for picnic areas and play equipment
• City of Aliso Viejo website
• Nearby public library: Aliso Viejo Public Library

Nearby Parks:

• Grand Park
• Oak Park
• Canyon View Park
• Acorn Park

Acorn Park in Aliso Viejo is nestled between a quiet neighborhood and Oak Grove Elementary School. Large trees surround play areas and provide some of the best shade around. Grassy picnic areas and gorgeous flora on the adjacent nature trail gives it a unique nature feel.

Directions to Acorn Park in Aliso Viejo: If you are headed up Pacific Park turn right onto Wood Canyon and left on Sanborn. It sits right next to Oak Grove Elementary School. During the summer you can park in the visitor spots in the school parking lot. During the school year make sure you park on Sanborn. If you have a stroller, park closer to the school parking lot so you can access the playground without using the stairs on the trail. MAP TO ACORN PARK IN ALISO VIEJO

Recommended by: Our friends at OC Mommies

Highlights:

• Brand new equipment from Summer 2011
• Separate toddler play area and big kid play area
• A gorgeous nature trail leads you from the street down to the playground.  It’s fun to explore the stairway out of the park and the artificial streambed towards the back of the park.
• It’s sunken below street level.
• Shade, shade, and more shade!
• Large grassy areas with plenty of tables for picnics that are great for birthday parties.
• 4 bench swings (and the baby swings are back!!!!)

Be Aware:

• There is bathroom that looks permanent, but it is more like a structured port-a-potty.
• Slides seem extra fast – so be prepared!  And some scary drop points for small kids on the tall equipment.
• Extra traffic at school pick-up and drop-off

Checklist:

• Parking on the street
• Sand and grassy play surfaces
• Portable toilet
• Drinking fountain
• Nice shade for picnic areas and play equipment
• City of Aliso Viejo website
• Nearby public library: Aliso Viejo Public Library

Nearby Parks:

• Grand Park
• Oak Park
• Canyon View Park

You’d miss Argonaut Park in Aliso Viejo if you were driving by on Cedarbrook. It’s set very far back from the road which makes for an unusual set up and a secluded feeling.  I think this is a great picnic park and a nice spot to bring a basketball and shoot some hoops.

Location: Aliso Viejo is a bit of a “Bermuda Triangle” for those not familiar.  The easiest way to reach this park is to exit I-5 at El Toro Road and get to Paseo De Valencia (if you are coming from the north, El Toro turns into Paseo de Valencia / if you are coming from the south you’ll have to turn towards the mall).  Then head past the mall towards Laguna Hills High School.  Turn right onto Laguna Hills Drive and then right onto Cedarbrook (past Moulton).  The park is about a block in on your left.  The park is not on Google Maps, so pay attention to where I placed the marker on my map.  MAP TO ARGONAUT PARK IN ALISO VIEJO

Highlights:

• It’s far off the street and away from traffic. I picture myself singing “The Hills Are Alive . . .” and spinning on the wide green lawn to reach the playground.
• Picnic tables in the shade near the playground and basketball court.
• It’s a nice basketball court, but no shade.
• Great hills for rolling down
• We walked across the lawn to get to the playground, but there is a sidewalk/path where you can bring your stroller to the playground.
• 2 baby swings, 2 bench swings right near the playground

Nature Connection:

• We saw lots of little birds – sparrows and black phoebes – flitting around the grass and feeding.
• This would be a great spot for a nature scavenger hunt since there are lots of edges and hillsides to explore.

Be Aware:

• NO restrooms
• Located far away from the car if you need to run back for snacks or diapers
• Could feel isolated if you are here alone
• No shade on the playground
• Towers and electric lines overhead (didn’t bother me, but some people get freaky about it)
• Windy ladders and drops near climbers for toddlers (might be hard for them to navigate this big kid equipment)

Checklist:

• Parking on the street at Cedarbrook
• Looks like you can also park off Aliso Creek Road in a dedicated lot and walk down a hill into the playground, but then you have to walk UP on the way out
• Sand and recycled rubber play surface
• Drinking fountain
• Basketball court
• City of Aliso Viejo website
• Nearby public library: Aliso Viejo Public Library

*Added to KaBOOM.org as part of the 2011 Park-A-Day Challenge

Aliso Viejo and Laguna Beach lead the count for most fenced parks in Orange County.  Some moms call these playgrounds “baby jail” and others call them “a lifesaver.”  I had some great comments on our page on Facebook for this one:

Catherine said: “If you have more than one little one (such as 2 two yr olds in my case) I’ll take a “jail” over constant heart attacks when one makes a run for the street and the other for the free fall off the 2nd floor playground. I love fenced in parks and can actually enjoy my kids knowing everyone is safe!”

Courtney added: “As a mom of 4-year-old twins, the fenced-in park was a god-send when my girls were about 18 months to almost 3 years old. There’s nothing about a jail there at all. It’s called peace of mind!”

So here are the parks I know about and will add to the list if as people send me suggestions . . .

Grand Park in Aliso Viejo – very small, near Aliso Town Center, no restrooms, great views

Grand Park in Aliso Viejo

Aliso Viejo Community Park - a much bigger park with a fenced in toddler area, has restrooms, can be busy with sports and school pickups

Aliso Viejo Community Park

Bluebird Park in Laguna Beach – one of favorite parks of all time, has restrooms, it’s bigger but manageable

Bluebird Park

Village Green Park in Laguna Beach – small park but fenced right off PCH near Crown Valley, no restrooms, not a lot of parking

Village Green Park

Lang Park in Laguna Beach – across from Montage, beautiful ocean views, has restrooms

Lang Park

Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove – small fee, large park but it is fenced, whimsical play equipment

Atlantis Play Center

More fenced parks:

• Ocean Breeze Park in Laguna Niguel (mostly fenced)
• Eisenhower Park at Seal Beach Pier
• Henry Dotson Park in Stanton (mostly fenced)

Happy playing!