Del Obispo Park in Dana Point has a very small playground on the grounds of a bustling Dana Point Community Center.

Directions:  Exit Interstate 5 at the “Beach Cities” exit and head towards Dana Point Harbor. Turn right (inland) onto Del Obispo after you go under the pedestrian bridge.   The Rec Center is ahead on your right.  Quail Run is at the head of the Sycamore Creek Trail.  MAP TO DEL OBISPO PARK IN DANA POINT

Highlights:

• The playground is almost an afterthought at the community center. It’s hidden behind the main building and useful for parents of young children who have older siblings playing on the sports fields or inside at the basketball courts.  However, it’s a nice touch to an otherwise sporty venue.
• The best part about this place is that it’s right on the San Juan Creek Bike Trail and it’s the trailhead for the more walker-friendly Sycamore Creek Trail.  After a quick play at the playground, you can  head north and stroll along the Trail all the way to the much more impressive (on a “playable” scale) Creekside Park.
• Sycamore Creek Trail is a fitness course, as well as a nice walking path off the bike path
• You can also walk or ride bikes on the path all the way to Doheny State Beach and the Dana Point Harbor

Be Aware:

• Definitely not a destination playground, but very convenient if you have an older child playing sports. Or nice if you want to walk the trail.

Checklist:

• Parking in Dana Point Community Center Lot
• Restrooms inside the building
• Play surface: Bark
• Community Center is set with baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts
• City of Dana Point parks gallery
• City of Dana Point Recreation Guide
• Nearest public library branch: Dana Point Public Library
• Note: Sorry there aren’t more photos, but there’s not much to the playground.

Nearby parks:

• Creekside Park
• Lantern Bay Park
• Dana Point Headlands Nature Interpretive Center
• Doheny State Beach (by Bus)
• Shipwreck Park

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

Baby Beach in Dana Point Harbor is near The Ocean Institute. I’ve never been to the beach because I’ve heard negative info about water quality in this part of the harbor.  However, I also haven’t done any research to debunk that hearsay.   The best thing to do is consult OCBeachInfo.com where they post closures and warnings. There’s even a phone number to call for recorded information (714-433-6400).  (Google Maps calls this area “Dana Cove Park.”)

Location:  I get to Dana Point Harbor from all sorts of directions (Moulton to Golden Lantern, Crown Valley Parkway to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), I-5 to PCH).  Look at the map to see what makes the most sense for you.  Taking the “Beach Cities” exit off Interstate 5 takes you right to the pedestrian bridge over PCH.  Turn left onto Dana Point Harbor Drive and wind past Doheny Beach and the main shops at the Harbor.  Keep driving past Golden Lantern and turn into the parking area right before Cove Road. (If you get to The Ocean Institute, you’ve gone too far.)  MAP TO BABY BEACH IN DANA POINT HARBOR

Recommended by: Cory (her comments in italics)

Highlights:

• CALM water (very little movement, no waves)
• Lifeguard on duty during the summer
• Beach and grass areas are within a few yards of the two parking lots (not a long or steep haul with the kids and all your beach “goodies”)
• Free parking
• Right next to The Ocean Institute that has a cool “pirate ship” right there for all to see (The Ocean Institute is open to the public on the weekends.)
• The crowd was all moms, babies, families, and young kids.
• I love walking around this harbor!

Be Aware:

• It’s in a harbor, so don’t expect a beautiful white sand beach and clear blue waters.
• Also, no food/drink or sundry options nearby, so BYO-everything.
• I think this rarely happens, but I know a family who visited this beach only to have the lifeguards close it around 11:30am due to water quality.  (Lantern Bay Park might be a good Plan B if this happens.)
• This place gets busier as the day goes on, so arrive earlier for less hassle. (Picnic areas, especially, fill up early!
• Remember, the weather at the beach can be very different than inland.  Don’t be surprised to find fog or a chilly ocean breeze (although it’s a more protected area inside the harbor than on outside beaches).
• As you stand facing the water, you’ll see cones on the beach to your far left.  This is where kayaks and paddle boards launch into the Harbor, so don’t put your beach blanket inside the cones.

Checklist:

• Pretty good parking availability (Dana Point Harbor has a parking map available in PDF for download. Baby Beach is marked on their map.)
• Nearby grassy area
• Picnic tables under a shade covering
• Restrooms were right next to the beach (between the picnic areas)
• Surfline tide and surf report for South Orange County
• An active reader, Elizabeth, pointed out that HEAL THE BAY Beach Report Card is the best website to learn about water quality over time.
• OCBeachInfo.com (714-433-6400) for closures and warnings due to water quality issues.
• Official City of Dana Point website with links to the beaches
• Nearest public library branch: Dana Point Public Library

Nearby parks:

• Lantern Bay Park
• Dana Point Headlands Nature Interpretive Center
• Doheny State Beach (by Bus)
• Shipwreck Park

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

Seaview Park and the Aliso Summit Trail in Laguna Niguel saved us from one of those days when we were feeling the need to get into the great wide open outdoors. This trail was quiet and beautiful. We found it full of rocks to climb and views to take in. I would love to see a sunset from up here.

Location: It’s not close to any freeways or interstates.  The most direct way to get here is to take Crown Valley Parkway from either Interstate 5 or Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Pacific Island hits Crown Valley in two spots. Option #1: If you approach from PCH, turn left onto Pacific Island (where it turns into Camino Del Avion) and head up the hill. Make another left onto Talaveras and park on the right side of the street before the guard gate. The trail leads around the houses and out to a scenic viewpoint. Option #2: If you are coming from Interstate 5 and Crown Valley Parkway, you’ll need to turn right onto Alicia Parkway before making a left on Pacific Island. Then drive up the hill and make a right onto Talaveras.  MAP TO SEAVIEW PARK AND ALISO SUMMIT TRAIL IN LAGUNA NIGUEL

Highlights:

• Easy walk with interpretive signs to identify local plants
• Views in all directions
• You WILL feel small. It’s one of those natural areas that takes my breath away.
• See that island out there? That’s Catalina.
• The walk took about 10 minutes in to the viewpoint and you can go further. We just stopped at the viewpoint (a picnic table with some blue metal fencing around).
• Picnic nooks all along the path, so it’s great for a weekend picnic.
• This would be a great place to bring out of town guests. On the day we visited, we could see snow on the mountains and the waves crashing below us.
• Definitely wide enough for a jogger stroller. Maybe a little bumpy for a traditional stroller?
• Want an amazing workout??? Park at the bottom of Pacific Island in the Albertsons shopping center and WALK up the incredibly steep and long hill. Unfortunately, there are no restrooms at the top.
• Grassy area leading up the park with benches for the enjoying the views. I saw lots of people with dogs here in the evening hours. And lots of folks taking family photos.
• Nature Connection: Be on the lookout for birds. Close your eyes and feel the ocean breeze. Have the kids tell you about the weather. Can you find tracks on the trail?

Be Aware:

• There are steep drop-offs, but as long as toddlers stay on the wide trail you’re okay
• It’s a wild area so watch for wildlife (“mountain lions, rattlesnakes, poison oak, rugged terrain”). We just don’t let the kids run ahead of us on the trail.
• NO playground – this is more of a nature walk park
• NO restrooms
• Dogs must be leashed

Checklist:

• Parking on the street
• A very slight elevation gain
• Drinking fountain at the head of the trail
• Serves as an entry point to Aliso Wood Canyon
• Grassy area is good for views, even if you don’t take the trail toward the ocean.
• Keep dogs on leash
• Open 7am-Sunset (Oct 1-Mar 31) and 7am-10pm (Apr 1-Sept 30)
• No alchoholic beverages

Dana Point

Doheny State Beach near Dana Point Harbor is one of my favorite spots in Orange County. We like to hang out at the harbor for breakfast, walks, and visits to the Ocean Institute. I always seem to be walking through Doheny State Beach or driving past it on my way to the harbor.  Lots of people have covered the surf history, special events and activities related to this beach/park/campground/picnic area.

Here are posts I’ve already written on the area:

• Dana Point Headlands Nature Interpretive Center
• I covered our trip to the fire pits back in March.
• Heritage Park doesn’t have a playground, but it’s nice for walks and views.
• Lantern Bay Park does have a small playground and restroom.

Here are the top online sources I visit when planning a visit:

• Huell Howser – California’s Golden Parks (see the video online!)
• Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association
• Doheny State Beach (Official California State Parks page)
• Dana Point Harbor
• City of Dana Point
• The Ocean Institute
  

TAKE A BUS TRIP

So instead of repeating all the information already covered by the resources above, I wanted to share a special trip we made to the area BY BUS!

We took the 91 OCTA bus from the Laguna Hills Transportation Center near Sears in the Laguna Hills Mall. It was a great adventure on public transportation. Mr. Play Parks is a transportation planner and commutes by car, train, and subway every day.  On our weekend trip, we saved gas and didn’t have to worry about parking.

The Plan

• OCTA has a mind-boggling amount of tools to plan your trip. Here’s the BUS SERVICE overview.
• Make sure you have exact change. My husband got to ride free with his Metrolink pass. Kids 5 and under ride free with a fare paying adult.  So my daughter rode free. Only my son and I paid the regular fare of $1.50. So the whole trip only cost us $6. Fares & Passes
• Make sure you are at your bus stop 10 minutes before it’s scheduled to leave. I think the OCTA Online Trip Planner is the easiest tool to use. Try it out from your location.
• Restrooms available at Lantern Bay Park, Doheny State Beach, and Dana Point Harbor.
• Of course, you can drive to the beach as well. You can park inside the state park for $15. You can park in an adjacent lot run by OCParks.com and pay at the machine. If you will be eating and/or shopping in the harbor, you can park there for free. MAP TO DOHENY STATE BEACH IN DANA POINT

The Fun Part

• The kids absolutely loved riding the bus. There was lots to see and talk about.
• We were dropped off on PCH near Doheny. You can walk to the beach and all around the harbor.
• We took a little bit different walking route on the way back by climbing the stairs up to the Laguna Cliffs Marriott and Lantern Bay Park. You come down the hill right at the entrance to Doheny — but it was a nice alternative to walking near the street.
• The buses were clean and comfortable. We went on a hot day and the air conditioning was wonderful.
• The 91 would also be a good option if you want to visit the Mission and downtown San Juan Capistrano (petting zoo and playgrounds near there).
• Once you get to PCH – the “1″ bus route goes from Long Beach to San Clemente via PCH. It will bring you all up and down the coast for beach stops.

The Whole Truth

• Yes, we did stick out in the crowd from those who were normal commuters.
• And, yes, there were a few colorful figures riding the bus . . . let’s just say there’s a reason they weren’t driving their own car.
• It takes a little over an hour to get to the beach this way. The drive from the mall to the harbor would normally be about half that time.  One shorter option would be to pick it up from the Shops at Mission Viejo instead.
• Taking the bus involves walking. The bus drops you off on PCH near the pedestrian bridge. You need to walk about 20+ minutes to get to the harbor.

Even though I mention OCTA a lot — this is NOT a sponsored post.

Shipwreck Park in Dana Point paints a ghostly scene with it’s tattered sails flapping in the wind and crow’s nest glowing at sunset. Bordered by authentic ship’s railings, the sandbox is this little park’s main attraction.

Location: On Golden Lantern near Dana Point Harbor. Take the Beach Cities exit from Interstate 5 and head up the hill from Dana Point Harbor on Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right on Golden Lantern and the park is ahead on the right past La Cresta. Again, this one is not on the map – so use our MAP TO SHIPWRECK PARK IN DANA POINT

Highlights:

• Close to the beach always gets high ratings from me! It was close to 100 degrees at our house and I felt like I needed a jacket with the cool breezes at this park.
• The sandbox is so cool with a crow’s nest rising from the mast.
• Drop down a level to the playground structures where caregivers can sit along the concrete wall to see the children playing.
• One bench swing, one baby swing.
• Seating for parents.

Be Aware:

• NO restrooms.
• Not really the greatest park for toddlers. All the equipment is rather high off the ground with lots of gaps. A two year old could play in the sand, swing, and climb around the curbs and rocks.
• Close to busy streets. You get the feeling you’re protected because of the ship’s railings, but the kids can definitely slip out of it.
• Skateboarders were at one end of the park during our visit – despite the NO skateboarding signs.  We thought they might take off when we came to play, but they stuck around. I don’t necessarily have problems with skateboarders – just some of the language was not appropriate for the children to hear.
• Watch for splinters on the ship railing.

Checklist:

• Limited parking on the street.
• Sandbox plus bark play surface under the play equipment.
• Drinking fountain near the gazebo with sails, but the drain was clogged on our visit.