From the category archives:

Restrooms

Meadowood Park: Ride the Incredible Spinning Umbrella and Learn Your ABCs

March 8, 2010

Meadowood Park in Irvine was a Plan B park for me. We’ve been stalking Citrus Ranch Park to get photos for you. So we headed out there the Friday before it opened – just to find it blocked off and guarded by security. So off we headed down Portola Parkway to find a different place [...]

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Campfire Tales: Changing My Mind

March 6, 2010

My mom always says “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.” And I do, often. Just ask my husband.
What if changing your mind is more than just a fleeting thought? More than just choosing spaghetti over a hamburger for dinner. What if you actually change the way you think about the world? Change the [...]

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Yorba Regional Park: Yorba Linda by Location, But In Anaheim By Address

March 2, 2010

I can’t cover Yorba Regional Park in Anaheim in just one post, so look for more to come. In the meantime, consult the official OCParks.com page for Yorba Park. I was completely surprised to learn this park is in Anaheim. It felt like I was in Yorba Linda.
PLAY AREAS NEAR PARKING LOT 3
Location: Turns out [...]

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Newport Ridge Community Park: Fun for Residents Only

February 6, 2010

Newport Ridge Community Park is an open space dedicated solely to Newport Ridge Community Association homeowners. It’s not gated, but it’s very clear the public is not welcome with signs sprouting from the top of the playground, the picnic area and the entrance to the parking lot.
I include it here because there are probably some [...]

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Ridgecrest Park: Saddleback Valley Views and Shady Swings

February 1, 2010

Ridgecrest Park provided us our first sunny play outdoors day after all that rain a few weeks ago. I don’t know if it’s because we were playground-deprived, but we had an especially good play here. I can see how it would be great in the summer with its shade over the playground.
Location: Right off Aliso [...]

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Crystal Cove State Park: Tidepooling at a Natural Playground

January 24, 2010

Crystal Cove State Park’s waters are a designated underwater park–which may be why the tidepooling was so amazing on our visit. December and January are notorious for the highest of high and lowest of low tides. I’m sure you’ll find something different on every visit throughout the year.
Location: We’ve been to other parts of [...]

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Woodbury Community Park: A Training Ground for Mountaineers and Hamsters

January 7, 2010

Woodbury Community Park in Irvine is just what you’d imagine: a beautiful oasis centering a planned community. The park is at the center, spreading to apartments and housing, then big block retail on the outskirts. If you enter from Sand Canyon you’ll start with the retail. I prefer driving in from Jeffrey where you skirt [...]

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Eisenhower Park in Orange: Where a Little River Runs to a Lake

December 30, 2009

Eisenhower Park first came on my radar last year in conversation at the OC Blogger Ball. We finally visited this expansive oasis off the 55 freeway this past weekend. I always know it’s going to be good when we get the last spot in the parking lot and it’s hard for me to grab photos [...]

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Aliso Viejo Community Park

December 26, 2009

Aliso Viejo Community Park is centrally located along the border of Aliso Viejo/Laguna Hills next to Aliso Viejo Middle School. However, it’s at the end of a dead end street so it can feel quite isolated and quiet. This is one of the few playgrounds I can think of with a fenced-in toddler area.
Location: Laguna [...]