Fun Orange County Parks — OC kids playgrounds and outdoor play ideas

SB Natural History Museum: Where The Rattlesnake Rattles On

February 21, 2010

The Santa Barbara Natural History Museum is more than a museum to me. It embodies my childhood. I was there when the museum acquired the blue whale that washed up on the shore. In the newspaper and on separate visits, I followed how they prepared the animal for exhibit outside the museum. My sister, cousin [...]

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Pretend I’m Schoolhouse Rock

February 18, 2010

California State Parks are in trouble. Again.
Sitting in my jammies watching Saturday morning cartoons. That’s the last time I remember enjoying an education on the political process. Remember “I’m Just a Bill”? How come they don’t have a Schoohouse Rock to explain the California state budget?
We Are Not Happy With Our State’s $20 BILLION Deficit

According [...]

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La Plata Park: Wanna Race Mama?

February 16, 2010

When I first discovered La Plata Park in Laguna Niguel, I thought this small neighborhood park would entertain my 2 year old for only 20 minutes. Wow, was I wrong! Yes, the play equipment is simple but there are side by side slides that inspired many excited screams of, “Wanna race, Mama?” Not only did [...]

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Woo-Hoo! Hurray for a Holiday

February 12, 2010

Don’t know about you, but my kids are out of school today and Monday. Are you trying to get creative and think of some things to do? Let’s run through the weekend and I’ll throw out some ideas.
Friday: Play with Chores
Make a menu and get stocked up for the weekend today. Run your errands today [...]

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Sour Grass Soup and the Boa Constrictor Song

February 10, 2010

Sour Grass Soup
Brilliant yellow flowers dot California roadsides and hillsides this time of year. I recognize it as sour grass from my childhood. In researching this post, I learned people call it clover and Oxalis. I didn’t grow up out in the country, but my “growing-up-house” sat atop a hill with our nearest neighbors either [...]

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Barbadanes Park: Ever Fantasize About Riding A Giant Honeybee? (Yeah, Me Neither)

February 7, 2010

Barbadanes Park will always be a memorable trip for me because of all the nearby residents who were hanging out or walking through when we visited. We went during after school hours and there were a group of 12 year old eating bags of Funyuns and drinking Kool-Aid just like the old days. The play [...]

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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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They’re Not From Here (and They Miss Their Mommy)

February 4, 2010

That’s me with Wilson and Ditch at the playground. Wilson’s wearing the patriotic red, white, and blue shirt. He’s a pretty smart gopher. Well, at least he quotes brochures a lot. He’s traveling around America with his comical little bro, Ditch. See that red van behind us? That’s their ride. The sign on the door [...]

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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 [...]