We just received our pass in the mail – ordered online through the California State Parks Foundation. I wanted to remind you about all the beautiful places where the annual pass will gain you entry.

A California State Parks Pass (Frequent Visitor $125) will get you into Bolsa Chica State Beach, Chino Hills State Park, Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach, Huntington State Beach, and San Clemente State Beach. San Onofre State Beach is officially in San Diego County. If you want to visit these treasures without a pass, it will cost you $15 for each day-use.

Purchase your pass through the California State Parks Foundation and get lots of extras, like discounts on camping reservations, the California Parklands newsletter, map, Day Hiker’s Guide, and an annual subscription to Sunset magazine. You can also purchase a gift membership or gift certificate.

And if you’re traveling beyond Orange County, look up California State Parks in the rest of the state.

Before you spend all your pennies on retail, consider sinking some bucks into annual passes which benefit non-profit organizations and gift your friends or family with a whole year of play!

OC Parks Annual Pass ($80 Combination Pass) For a mere $80 you get access to awe-inspiring county parks, wilderness areas, and beaches. The county’s regional parks are by far the most recommended for the multitude of activities and amenities available. It takes 5 minutes to purchase 2 decals and one entry card at most regional park facilities. The OC Parks website advises to: “Call first to confirm availability, or call 1-866-OCPARKS for locations.” $80 is an amazing deal and the annual pass my family uses most often. It would cost you $3-$10 for regular day-use entrance.

Regional Park locations: Carbon Canyon Regional Park (Brea), Caspers Wilderness Park (San Juan Capistrano), Clark Regional Park (Buena Park), 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), and Yorba Regional Park (Anaheim).

Wilderness Park locations: Aliso & Wood Canyons (Laguna Niguel), Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (Laguna Canyon), Peters Canyon Regional Park (Orange), Riley Wilderness Park (Coto de Caza), and Limestone-Whiting Wilderness Park (Trabuco Canyon).

Beach locations: Aliso Beach Park (South Laguna Beach), Capistrano Beach (Capistrano Beach), Dana Point Harbor (Dana Point), and Salt Creek Beach (Dana Point).

Insider Tip: The combination pass is the best deal and gives you access to all the OCParks.com lists of parks and beaches. You can buy the passes separately: just the annual pass for regional parks ($55) or just the beaches pass ($55). So it’s like getting a $30 discount for purchasing them together!

California State Parks Pass (Frequent Visitor $125) will gain you entry to Bolsa Chica State Beach, Chino Hills State Park, Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach, Huntington State Beach, and San Clemente State Beach. If you want to visit these treasures without a pass, it will cost you $15 for each day-use.

Purchase your pass through the California State Parks Foundation and get lots of extras, like discounts on camping reservations, the California Parklands newsletter, map, Day Hiker’s Guide, and an annual subscription to Sunset magazine. You can purchase a gift membership or gift certificate.

Insider Tip: If $125 is too steep, consider the Parks Sampler — which is $25 for new members or $40 for renewing members — and gives you 7 day-use passes. There’s also a Park Protector membership which requires a small monthly payment, so you can give to the parks in smaller chunks all year long.

Pretend City Children’s Museum (Play Partners for $140 or Lively Learner for $225) is near the Irvine Spectrum. Most visitors don’t realize their Good to Go From Head to Toe mission. It is a 10-year initiative promoting developmental screenings for young children. Are regular developmental screenings part of your child’s routine well-check appointments? The museum offers all sorts of free workshops in support of the initiative, like the Way to Play Days on the 2nd Friday of each month. It’s a wonderland for your child’s imagination and a life-sized setting for pretend play like restaurant, groceries, house, and farm.

Insider Tip: The best benefit of membership is the 9am-10am MEMBERS ONLY hour where crowds are significantly smaller.

*We received an annual OC Parks Annual pass for 2010 as part of a blogger event. However, we purchased one in 2009 and will be purchasing another for 2011. I love this pass! Read full disclosure policy.

A Huntington Beach annual beach parking pass is a great option for those who frequently visit the Huntington Beach Pier and beach area businesses. They went on sale December 1st and take Visa/Mastercard. Parking can be pretty steep on a day-use basis ($1.50 per hour and up to $12 for the day).

The annual beach parking pass is up $25 from last year’s price of $125  (to $150 for 2010). However, it looks as if the cost goes down each quarter as the year progresses. So if you’re only going to hit the beach in July, August, September — it might be a good idea to wait.

See the City of Huntington Beach website for official information.

The experts over at Stockteam have additional insider information. Check out their extensive Huntington Beach park listings while you’re there.

T Street Beach and San Clemente Beach Trail parking is metered by the city.  However, there is a permit available for use at any metered parking space in the city. Meters usually cost $1/hour. Annual permits cost $50 for San Clemente residents and $65 for non-residents.  Purchase at San Clemente City Hall. The city website instructs you to bring your vehicle registration and proof of residency for residents. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about beach parking.

San Clemente Coastal Trail
Runs from North Beach near the Ole Hansen Pool and Metrolink Station (exit I-5 at Avenida Pico and head toward the beach) where there is a swing set on the beach. The trail goes all the way south to Calafia State Beach with the pier at about the halfway point. Here’s a link to a little pocket guide about the beach trail.

T Street Beach
One of the most popular south county beaches. I know a lot families who stake out spots at this beach all summer long. Parking is where Esplanade dead ends into Paseo de Cristobal (forming a T) or even by the pier with a short walk to T Street. If you park up above the beach at the meters, you walk across a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks and down steps to the beach.

There’s no better playground than the beach — and San Clemente has some of the best.

OC Parks Pass-2010 Annual Pass. Have you purchased your Orange County Parks combination pass for 2010? For a mere $80 you get access to awe-inspiring county parks, wilderness areas, and beaches. The county’s regional parks are by far the most recommended by Fun Orange County Parks readers. Last year, it took me 5 minutes to purchase 2 decals and one entry card from the ranger station at the entrance to O’Neill Regional Park.

Link here for official OC Parks pass information for 2010.

Link here for a list of OCParks.com parks with playgrounds/tot lots.

Regional Park locations:

• Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea
• Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano
• Clark Regional Park, Buena Park
• 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

*We received a complimentary 2010 OC Parks annual pass, but I covered eleven OC Parks in 2009
at my own expense. It’s well worth the money and your local parks benefit. Link here to full disclosure policy.