This is one of our favorite strolls as a family. We are always amazed at the beauty of this place and have to pinch ourselves that it's real. This walking path above the cliffs of Laguna Beach has something for everyone. You can watch surfers from the gazebo, catch an artist painting on canvas or sit on a bench to enjoy the beauty. There are also charcoal grilling stations and picnic tables. We plan on trying to grill dinner next time we go. Parking is by meter only, so bring your quarters!

With so many parks in Southern California, we are spoiled. But, this one has so much to offer. The playground area is large with a creative ship/flag theme. There are digging stations, climbing areas and bridges. But, my kids' favorite was the rocking boat. Beyond the playground are large grassy areas, a duck pond and a splash pad area. And, being next to a community center and library, you have plenty of options. 4 stars are given because although the expansive park is a plus, it's also easy to lose track of your kids and the bathrooms are a bit of a hike away.

What do you do in So Cal when it's raining? Find something indoors to do as a family. Not the easiest task, considering even most of our malls are outside. We decided on bowling. Us, and a bigillion other moms and their rained out spring break kids. I assumed since we were going on a weekday morning, it wouldn't be THAT expensive. Wrong. Very wrong. We shelled out $3.75/game and $4.00 for shoe rental per person. If you have a large group, you can rent the lane by the hour as opposed to paying per game. The bowling itself was fun. I was happy we could set up the bumpers for the kids, but they came down on the adults' turns. And, it turns out our 2 year old might have a future in bowling. With that said, I did notice advertisements for specials throughout the week, including 'Quartermania'. Tues. and Thurs. nights from 9pm-1am, quarter games of bowling. Well, that sounds affordable. Next rainy day, we are all taking naps and going at night!

Driving up to this park, I felt like we were in another state! Such a change of pace from orange county, yet so close. This regional park is an easy hike for families with kids. The trails are expansive, but our boys were happy taking the trail to the dam and then spending a lot of time throwing rocks and looking for rolly pollies. We brought a picnic lunch and were happy that the picnic spot was also near a playground and (clean!) bathrooms. Because it's a regional park, it costs $3 to park, unless you come riding a horse. With that said, expect to see horses and evidence of horses on the trails.

This beach is a favorite for our family to go explore, especially around sunset. I agree with the other reviewers that you don't need to bring a lot of "beach stuff" to this one. Just come, sit and enjoy some natural beauty. We usually combine exploring this beach with a shake at the 'Shake Shack'. (see review here: www.trekaroo.com/restaurants/rubys-shake-shack-newport-coast-california)
because then we can park for free. The stairs down to the beach are steep and rustic, but so worth it. Once you are there, you have views of Catalina Island, lots of seagulls to chase, and a perfect sunset to enjoy.