Mr. Play Parks spends long hours at his office and yearns to get outdoors on the weekends. Our day trips aren’t really enough for a guy who spent a childhood camping for family vacations.  I’m always up for an adventure, so we decided to test out Caspers Wilderness Park campground for camping local.  If you are new to camping or haven’t done it in a looonnnngggg time, I have two nuggets of advice for you to make it a successful trip:

• Start local.  If you forget something, you’ll know where to go to either buy it or grab it from home.  If the weather changes, a kids gets sick,  you get too cold, or you have an allergy attack — you can just check in at the ranger station and leave the tent to head home. You can go back and gather your things in the morning.  We’ve never had to do this, but I’m always comforted by this idea.
• Go with friends who are experienced in camping. There are tricks and tools that campers learn over time to make for a comfortable night outside.  Just watching how they do it will help you figure out how to do it on your own. Plus, it’s fun to be around the campfire with friends.

The beauty of Caspers Wilderness Park and the Live Oak Campground is that there are so many great campsites in one place.  You can pick one with a view of the creek, inside an oak grove, or out under the sycamores near the meadow.  Each site would make for a different camping experience.

Our Trip

We arrived very late in the day and wanted the most sunlight possible to set up our tent before the sun went down on us so we picked a site by the meadow and under a sycamore.

We were able to attend the 7pm Saturday Campfire Program up at the nature center where Ranger Zach took us on a guided night hike to test our five senses and point out some native (and non-native) vegetation.  It was almost a full moon, so it was the perfect opportunity for a hike.

It was a cold January night at 38 degrees, but we were snug in our tent and sleeping bags. It was clear and still when we went to bed with a view of the moon over the meadow. Around 2am, the fog must have rolled in and we were getting either a heavy dew or light rain dripping on the tent interspersed with gusts of wind.  The wind picked up around 5am and that time was the coldest part of our stay — right before dawn.  But we woke to no wind and had a lovely campfire breakfast.

The kids played behind the campsite and we rolled out around 10am because of a high wind warning and yearning for a hot shower. The temperature was almost up to 80 by then!  We missed it, but there was a ranger-led hike scheduled for 9am which would have been fun.

What would I do differently?

After a trip, I always try to evaluate how we could have done it better.

• We should have arrived earlier in the day to set up camp and get settled well before sunset.
• I would have brought snow clothes (hats, mittens, long underwear, heavy jackets) and blankets. We did dress for the cold in multiple layers. I had my wool socks on for sleeping. Still, we would have been even more comfortable with additional layers.

Read more about Caspers:

• The OFFICIAL OCParks.com website has all the accurate info about visiting this amazing park. (At the time of this writing, they are only able to accept cash or check as payment for camping or annual passes. So bring something other than your credit card.  The cost for one night was only $20.)
• Caspers Playground
• Caspers Nature Center
• My friend, Traci, at WalkSimply.com writes about an Easy and Diverse Family Nature Hike at Casper’s

Thanks to reader, Aimee, who requested a new list from me: “I’d love a list of fun things to do for 3-5 year olds within walking distance of train stations (that are reasonably priced, of course). Destinations could be LA, OC or San Diego.”  So for Orange County train trips, I will be looking at:

• 3-5 year old age range (let’s call them preschoolers)
• walking distance (which has a different definition for 3-5 year olds, than it does for adults)
• reasonably priced (ooooooh! That’s always a toughy.)
• not limited on location: LA, OC, or San Diego (I’ll focus on OC for this post.)

I’m going to provide a list, but I’m also going to provide links at the end so you can plan something yourself!  You just have to promise to share with the rest of us after you return! I want some guest blogs from readers on this topic.

Train Trips

TRAIN TRIP #1 – San Juan Capistrano and the Los Rios neighborhood
This was the first spot that popped into my head.   I’ve spent lots of time wandering around downtown SJC – and I’ve read other blog posts about this trip. For instance, Jen at Tiny Oranges just featured a guest post about an “Un-Birthday Party” train trip celebration. Jen also wrote about her own train trip to SJC with her sister way back in 2009.  There’s so much more to see here than just petting zoo!

• Zoomar’s Petting Zoo Adults $6 and Kids $5 (open 10am-5pm)
• Did you know there’s a GREAT playground in walking distance from the station?  It’s called Los Rios Park. (Just bring a change of clothes because there’s a small water play feature.) There are also public restrooms near this park.
• Take a walk around the historic neighborhood. Visit the Ito Nursery.
• Farmer’s Market downtown on Wednesdays from 3pm to 6pm or 7pm, depending on the time of year.
• If you are up for a bigger walk, you can take the bike path along San Juan Creek towards the ocean and hit Descanso Park.
• Ruby’s is also a favorite with my kids and it’s a little different because it’s upstairs.
• If you wanted to do this for a “date night” or an outing with older kids, I’d suggest hitting the Cedar Creek Inn (looks fancy, but the food is really good and the price is worth what you get). Then stroll around Mission San Juan Capistrano (Adults $9, Kids 4-11 $5, Under 3 are free).

TRIP #2 – San Clemente Pier and Beach

• There are TWO San Clemente train stations. The main one is way north of the pier at North Beach. Make sure you check the train schedules for San Clemente Pier!  Metrolink will only stop here on weekends.
• Ahhhh, the beach!  What more can I say?  It’s free and it’s fun.
• I’ve already written up quite a bit of the outdoor happenings in San Clemente. Check out: San Clemente Pier and San Clemente North Beach Walk. The beauty is that you can walk on the beach trail and end up at a playground (Linda Lane) not too far away. If the kids get tired, just turn around and play at the beach. In the meantime, you get to watch the waves, walk a nice path and see the trains go by!!!
• Bring a picnic or eat at one of the restaurants on the pier or nearby.
• You can hike up the hill to Casa Romantica to tour the gardens. Or you can head further into downtown San Clemente – but it’s uphill.

TRIP #3 – Fullerton Station for The Old Spaghetti Factory

• The Old Spaghetti Factory was voted in Parents Magazine as one of the Top 10 best family restaurant chains (Kids Menu). They even have gluten free pasta. They offer “complete meals” so there’s no extra charges for drinks or dessert.
• The Fullerton Museum is straight up the street from the train station on Pomona. They have a Wednesday “Stroller Brigade” program designed for families with kids under 5.
• The Fullerton Market is Thursday evenings during the summer from 4pm-8:30pm. It’s a real family-friendly event.

Honorable Mentions

• I know there’s lots to see in Old Towne Orange, but I couldn’t think of anything special for the 3-5 year old crowd. Please leave a comment below if you have any ideas!
• Take Metrolink to an Angel’s Game.

Planning Resources:

• Use the Amtrak website where children ages 2-15 ride half price every day and kids under 2 are free. Click here to find a station and then consult the schedule.
• Metrolink is another great option! I’d definitely recommend consulting their website to learn more about traveling by train.  It seems much more user-friendly to me than Amtrak AND the trains share the same tracks and stations. I’d recommend reading their “How to Ride Guide.”  If I were planning a trip, I’d go Metrolink.
• If all that sounds like too much, just head to a “train park.”  I have a list of them at Train Parks: Play Places for Train Lovers.

FYI – Unlike most of my posts, I’ve never made any of these trips myself!  So I make no guarantees for how it will work out and if the attractions are worth it.  However, we will be trying them – now that I’ve done all the research.

I first hiked San Juan Capistrano’s Flag Hill and Patriot Trail in 2010 with my sis on a rare day without the kids. She called it the Flagpole Hike.  It was muddy after a rain and we got up the hill, to the flagpole, and back down in about an hour and half.  I just hiked it again in January with the kids and my husband under drier conditions. This was the end of our adventure when we went with the kids:

Location: We took Interstate 5 to San Juan Capistrano. Take the Camino Capistrano exit. If you are traveling from the south, the offramp leads almost straight up the hill on San Juan Creek Road. Turn right on La Novia and right again on Via Capri. (You’ll pass lots of trailheads on the way, but the one on Via Capri is the one my sis showed me).  Park on the street and head up the fire road. MAP TO SJC FLAG HILL – FLAGPOLE HIKE (PARKING)

Highlights:

• The VIEWS are amazing!  Pick a clear day and you can see for miles up to the mountains and out to the sea.
• We loved watching the birds and looking for animal tracks. We heard and saw plenty of hawks and turkey vultures, plus coyote and deer tracks and scat.
• If you’re an experienced hiker with older kids, there are a number of trails that lead off this one. There’s a pretty detailed trail map at the head of the Cerro Rebal Trail which turns into the Las Ramblas Trail.  CLICK HERE for the City of San Juan Capistrano Trail Map.

• The trail is pretty self-explanatory. You’ll hike up a pretty steep fire road with loose gravel.  Your cue to look for the Patriot Trail is when the trail levels out and you are heading toward the back side of the hill – go to your RIGHT begin the Patriot Trail.  If you don’t see the Patriot Trail sign pretty soon after taking your right, you may have made a wrong turn.  Then just stay on the trail until you reach the flag and see the views of Dana Point and the ocean.

Tips for Families:

• Give yourself plenty of time (at least 2-3 hours) so you can walk slow and take it all in. It’s no fun to rush when you are on a hike.
• There’s a steep hill and loose footing at the start.  Once you get up on the hill, it flattens out. So you just need to encourage the kids up that first hill. The beautiful views help — and pointing out wildlife and the San Juan Capistrano Mission.
• Bring lots of water and snacks for the kids. They’ll want it.
• Also, bring a jacket. It gets windy up there!  Here’s what I pack in our ADVENTURE BACKPACK.
• Do-able with a jogger stroller, but I wouldn’t really recommend because of that steep hill and loose footing at the start.
• There are tons of trails leading up to the flagpole. I’ve only tried one other – on the way down. I’d suggest sticking to the same way up and down until you’ve done the hike a couple times and get your bearings.

Be Aware:

• Animal control told us they’ve been called to the area for mountain lion sightings
• Snakes in the summertime (a good strategy is to “sandwich” the kids – one adult walks in front and one in back to watch for hazards)
• Lots of trail damage and sink holes from the December 2010 rains. This actually made it fun hiking on the crevasses and peering into the big holes, but definitely mind your footing. It seems like an easy hike on a fire road, but make sure you stay aware of your surroundings.

More Family Hikes:

• Read Brian and Ashley’s Hiking Blog – they started their blog a bit before I did and it’s grown into a great local resource. Here’s their directions to Flag Hill.
• Check out Quail Hill Loop Trail in Irvine for another family-friendly nature hike.

 

San Juan Capistrano

The Caspers Wilderness Park Nature Center is a great bonus trip after you visit the playground (which we posted back in March 2010). The Nature Center sits atop a hill overlooking the park and features a lookout tower to take in the beautiful views. Caspers is part of Orange County’s regional park system. Look for more information on the OFFICIAL OCParks.com website.

Location: From Interstate 5, take Ortega Highway toward the foothills (east). Your drive will wind around and then a sign will warn you of the  park entrance coming up on your left. Be ready for it.  Once you stop at the gate, you will drive into the park past the campground on your right, across the road over the creek, to park to the stop sign past the day use area. Turn left up the hill and park at the Nature Center. Or better yet, park at the playground and walk up the road to the Nature Center – just watch for cars.  MAP to Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

Highlights:

• “Open on weekends” is what you’ll see on the signs and hear from the rangers. However, the best nature centers don’t need to be open to be worth a visit.
• Caspers is no exception with its lookout platform, bird and squirrel feeder, plus the short nature trail outside the center.
• The lookout platform above the nature center is certainly its best feature. The nature center volunteers told me it’s accessible even when the center is closed. Climb the white staircase to the second floor office level, then climb another staircase to get the best views. There’s a sign at the top telling you about the view.
• I sat outside at the bird feeder for quite a while watching all the action. I got to see a California quail share a snack with squirrel. Plus I saw lots of jays and finches, as well.
• We did get a chance to go inside (on our weekend visit) and talk with the very knowledgeable volunteers inside.  There are buttons to press for animal sounds, tracks to make with stamps in a sand pit, and a hut to climb in. It’s small, but educational. I learned what to call broken off sycamore trees: snags. And what they are good for: animal houses.
• Outside, plants are marked. We saw wildflowers, a hummingbird, a lizard, a grasshopper and listened to the breeze as we walked the short interpretive trail loop that starts near the ore cart in the parking lot.

Be Aware:

• The Nature Center is only open on weekends.
• Ortega Highway is under construction. Some portions are closed to two-way traffic with flagmen to let the traffic through. It only added a small delay to our arrival.
• This is a wilderness area. Be aware of your surroundings.

Checklist:

• Check the official OC Parks website for special events and programs.
• Dedicated day use parking lots, but you must pay the OCParks fee of $3 weekdays, $5 weekends, and $7-$10 on major holidays. Or I’d highly recommend getting an Annual Pass ($80 for the year).
• Nature center only open on weekends.
• Restrooms outside the nature center entrance, but not sure they are open on weekdays. You may have to use the restrooms in the day use loop by the playground.
• Drinking fountain by the bathrooms.
• Small concrete amphitheater outside the center.
• Campgrounds also available.  Reserve campsites through the OCParks reservation system.

Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano is absolutely beautiful. I hiked and camped here with my husband when we were college students. Spring is my favorite time to visit because of the greenery.  It’s an especially vibrant park in the official OC Parks system because of its representative native California plant species. We’ve seen hawks, turkey vultures, a woodpecker, deer, rabbits, and squirrels.

Location: From Interstate 5, take Ortega Highway toward the foothills (east). Your drive will wind around and then a sign will warn you of the  park entrance coming up on your left. Be ready for it.  Once you stop at the gate, you will drive into the park past the campground on your right, across the road near the creek, to park at the day use area on your right. The playground is nestled among the oaks and sycamores.  MAP to Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano

Highlights:

• It’s an incredibly scenic park, especially in the spring with the green foothills and water running through the creek.  Just breathtaking!
• There’s a fallen sycamore near the playground which is a favorite for the kids to climb and explore.
• The playground looks brand new and sits nestled near the creek with a great view of the surrounding wilderness.  It’s very similar to the playground structure at O’Neill Regional Park.
• The structure for 2-5 year olds is closest to the parking lot.
• The taller structure is for 5-12 year olds with a climbing wall, zip track, balance beam bridge, and ring-shaped monkey bars.
• My kids were fond of the tire swing, 2 bench swings, and teeter-totter.
• The big wooden beams lent a natural feel to the playground and blends it with the surroundings.
• It’s just a short walk on the road (watch for cars!) around the corner to the creekbed. We had fun walking along the creek and throwing rocks. Make sure it’s not raining upstream.

Be Aware:

• There is a HUGE drop at the top of the tallest playground equipment.  It’s the structure designed for 5-12 year olds and there has to be a gap, since it’s the top of the climbing wall. However, it made me really nervous to have it open to such a potentially bad fall.
• Ortega Highway is under construction. Some portions are closed to two-way traffic with flagmen to let the traffic through. It only added a small delay to our arrival.
• This is a wilderness area. Take precautions against rattlesnakes (during the summer) and mountain lions. Be aware of your surroundings.

Mountain Lions

There have been no mountain lion attacks at Casper’s Wilderness Park since 1986 (24 years ago).   Here’s a list of the 14 verified mountain lion attacks in the state of California since 1890.  That’s 2 attacks at Casper’s in the last 120 years. I imagine there have been more injuries and fatalities on Southern California freeways in the past 24 hours. I’m not trying to minimize the danger, just put it in perspective.

• The 4 Orange County attacks (2 at Caspers and 2 at Whiting Ranch) have taken place while people are hiking or biking on the trails — not in the picnic, playground, or camping areas.
• I lived in Colorado for a number years.  Knowing how to act in mountain lion country is drilled into you there. Appear large. Don’t run. Keep close to children.  Let the predator know you are not prey. Here is some great info from the California Department of Fish & Game: Mountain Lion Sightings Rarely Spell Trouble and links to all of their information on mountain lions.
• Keep your eyes open. Go in a large group. Have fun, but be aware.

Checklist:

• Check the official OC Parks website for special events and programs.
• Dedicated day use parking lots, but you must pay the OCParks fee of $3 weekdays, $5 weekends, and $7-$10 on major holidays. Or I’d highly recommend getting an Annual Pass ($80 for the year).
• Nature center only open on weekends.
• Recycled rubber play surface with dirt paths.
• Bathrooms is a short walk from the playground. The day use parking is on a meadow loop.  The playground is at the entrance of the loop. The bathrooms are at the far end of the loop.
• Drinking fountain near the playground and down by the bathrooms.
• Picnic tables dot the meadow area.  Some are covered and equipped with super-sized barbecues for large groups.
• Campgrounds also available.  Reserve campsites through the OCParks reservation system.