Outing Ideas

The OC Parks 2013 Summer Concert Series was just announced and the lineup looks amazing!

I can’t think of a better way to kick off the summer season than by attending a FREE outdoor summer concert.

Thirteen free concerts take place outdoors every Thursday night from June 13 through August 29th. All shows are from 6 – 8pm, and include free parking.

Food trucks will be serving on-site at all locations, or if you’re feeling overly ambitious you can always pack your own picnic.

One of my favorite things about summer has to be the extra time you gain in the evening to actually get out of the house and do something fun and memorable.

Being able to stop by a local park with friends and family and enjoy live music sounds like the perfect way to enjoy these upcoming summer evenings.

OC Parks 2013 Summer Concert Series Lineup

Craig Regional Park in Fullerton

Date: Thursday, June 13

Artist:  ‘80s sensation Flashback Heart Attack with DJ Velvet Touch.

Date: Thursday, June 20

Artist: The O.C. Supertones performing with Mike Vitale 

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free    Parking: Free

Location:
Craig Regional Park, 3300 State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA 92835

Mason Regional Park

Date: Thursday, June 27

Artist: Indie Rock sensation The Devious Means with Cherokee Fade

Date: Thursday, July 4

Artist: Breach the Summit with A+ Dropouts

Date: Thursday, July 11

Artist: Micah Brown with Nicole Vaughn

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free     Parking: Free

Location:
Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

Mile Square Regional Park

Date: Thursday, July 18

Artist: Hindu Pirates with Cali Conscious

Date: Thursday, July 25

Artist: Hunter Hunted with DJ Velvet Touch

Date: Thursday, August 1

Artist: Boogaloo Assassins and With Strangers

Time: All concerts 6 – 8 p.m.

Cost: Free     Parking: Free

Location:
Mile Square Park, 16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Irvine Regional Park

Date: Thursday, August 8

Artist: Moonsville Collective with D.T. Robbins

Date: Thursday, August 15

Artist: Jeramiah Red with Mia and the Moonlight

Date: Thursday, August 22

Artist: The Orquesta Cortez with DJ Hector Waluyo

Time: All concerts from 6 – 8pm
Cost: Free   Parking: Free

Location:
Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA, 92869

Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach

Date: August 29

Artist: Matt Costa with The Blank Tapes

Time: 6-8pm

Cost: Free   Parking: Free

Location:
Bluff Park Salt Creek Beach, 33333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, CA 92629

Now, bring on summer!

[Disclosure: OC Parks is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor and we are so very happy to spread the word about their fabulous free concerts.]

A couple months back we experienced amazing Orange County tide pools down at Crystal Cove. It is a fabulous place to take your kids tidepooling (is that a word?!) in OC.

During our tidepooling adventure we spotted THIRTEEN starfish! My 6-year-old daughter was so fired up she exclaimed, “The is the best day of my life!” No joke.

Gotta love the enthusiasm something as simple as a visit to tide pools can evoke.

I highly recommend taking your kids down to visit the Crystal Cove tide pools and here are some tidepooling tips if you go!

Getting There

Crystal Cove State Park can be reached by parking in the public lot off Los Trancos and Pacific Coast Highway.  Be prepared, it is pricey, like $15 to park for the day when attendants are present.  If you happen to eat at the Beachcomber restaurant while visiting, they will validate your parking with a purchase of $15 or more.

Here are great directions on how to get to Crystal Cove Beach.

Check the Tides Before You Go

Most important thing to do when taking your kids to Orange County tide pools is to check the time of low tide.

This is a great Orange County tide chart I searched for Crystal Cove high and low tides.

Remember Your Shoes

The best places we found to spot starfish were out towards the water where there were large rocks, which entailed walking over bumpy surfaces to get there.  They were mostly tucked on the underside of  large rocks. Not good for barefeet!  I suggest a good shoe that can get wet. Flip flops are OK for adults, just be careful, but for kids, shoes like a Crocs would be ideal.

Check Out What You Can See First

When we were there volunteers were passing out brochures on the type of sealife we could spot in the tide pools.  It might be fun to check out this gallery on what you can see at the Crystal Cove tide pools before you go so you know what to keep your eye out for.

Have fun and happy tide pooling! Do you have any tips to share?

This guest post on a Temecula U-Pick Blueberry Farm is definitely on my list of places to take my kids! Here is what local OC mom, Susan, shares about taking her family blueberry picking in Southern California:

Every week I try to make it to the local farmers market.

I love seeing what’s in season and tasting what’s been grown locally.  I enjoy picking my own fruit and vegetables if that option is available, so when I discovered I could go to a U-Pick blueberry farm for blueberry picking, a family tradition began.

From around mid-May to early July, Temecula Berry Co. is open for U-Pick blueberries. The blueberry picking just opened last week for the season. It’s a fun family day outing that will appeal to grandparents as well as to kids.

When you first arrive, grab a colorful plastic bucket and start picking.  There are rows and rows of blueberry bushes to pick from.

The secret to getting to the biggest, plumpest berries is to look underneath the branches with the heavier foliage.  These are the biggest and sweetest blueberries I have ever seen and tasted.

I usually purchase several pints to give them to neighbors and friends. Each pint is about $5. The blueberries can be frozen so that you can enjoy them several months later.

On certain days, the farm also offers fresh blueberry bread and farm fresh eggs and some local heavenly honey.

For entertaining the little ones, they have Farmer Ray’s Chicken Show daily at 3pm.  Friday nights are movie nights on the farm for the entire month of June and they are open until 8pm on Fridays for picking. Check their Farm Calendar for times of special events.

Note they accept cash or checks only.  Admission and parking is free.

Temecula U-Pick Blueberry Farm

8am – 6pm
7 days a week

Blueberry season runs for roughly  6-8 weeks; check website before you plan to go!

After a good day of blueberry picking, we like to head into Old Town Temecula and have some finger licking good old BBQ.  There are many antique stores, specialty shops, restaurants and historic sites to visit as well.

www.temeculaberryco.com

The calendar still says May, but we’ve had some beautiful, beach-worthy days here in Southern California. It’s got me thinking of restocking my beach day essentials and heading to the ocean with my kids. So, today I’m highlighting just a few of my favorite things to pack for a (stress free!) beach day with kids.

Beach Day Essentials for Moms

Brush on Block
I love this sunscreen for both my kids and myself. It’s easy to apply and not greasy and doesn’t get in anyone’s eyes. I usually do apply SPF before we leave the house and then take the brush on sunscreen for an easy, no hassle reapply when we’re out.

Melissa and Doug Sand Toys
We received this cupcake sand toy set a few years ago and it is such a hit with kids of all ages. The hardest thing is remembering to pick up all the pieces when I leave.

Baggu
Are you guys familiar with this great line of bags? They’re perfect to have in the car for running errands, and I always take some to the beach to wrap up our wet, sandy items. The bags are machine washable too so they’re easy to clean!

Turkish Towels
My dear friend was born and raised in Turkey and introduced me to these amazing, lightweight Turkish towels. They absorb water surprising fast and dry quickly, while taking up MUCH less space than traditional beach towels. I found these on Etsy, but Bed Bath and Beyond carry a similar style.

Cozy Kids’ Cover-up
J.Crew carries great beach cover-ups for kids and this one happens to be on sale right now. No matter how hot it seems when we leave the house I’m always disappointed if I forget to bring something cozy to wrap around my kids at the end of the day.

Folding Utility Wagon
My husband purchased this wagon two summers ago and we always get asked where we got it when we’re out on the beach. It’s very sturdy and we can put both kids and supplies in it for easy transportation on and off the beach. PS. Pulling it with two kids and supplies is also a great workout!

What are your favorite items for a day at the beach with your kids? Do you have any tips on how to make a beach outing stress free? I’d also love to hear your favorite local beach for kids, I’m always on the hunt for new places.

The Bungalows on Laguna Beach at Pacific Edge Hotel are five uniquely decorated indoor/outdoor beachfront living spaces that can be rented (are you ready for this?)… for the day!! 

Located on the ground floor of one of Laguna’s best located beachfront hotels, these cool retreats give Orange County locals or tourists the opportunity to experience your very own beach house for the day.

Are your wheels turning with how you could use this?

A moms’ day with girlfriends? Your child’s birthday party? An intimate baby shower? A family gathering? Endless opportunities for pull up and park, totally stress-free beachfront fun.

And I haven’t even told you the COOLEST part yet!

Each of the Bungalows on Laguna Beach is individually designed by five local companies who had the opportunity to make a bungalow uniquely “theirs.” They are totally different; but all completely awesome. Here are a few photos…

The Billabong Bungalow:  A Surfer’s Paradise 

The Fox Head, Inc. Bungalow: The Ultimate Man Cave 

The Sleepy Hollow Group Bungalow: Soothing as the Sea

The Hobie & Tuvalu Bungalow: Celebrating 60 Years of Hobie Beach Culture 

 The gorjana & griffin Bungalow: A Modern-Nautical Oasis 

Bungalow day rental includes:

~ Fully private bungalow with keyed access from 11am to 8pm for up to 10 guests
~ Lounge chairs and day beds
~ Beach towels
~ Air conditioning
~ Flat screen TV’s
~ Bottle and food service
~ Direct access to the beach
~ Beach attendant to set up lounge chairs and umbrellas
~ Access to Pacific Edge’s Edge Card, which gives guests discounts at local restaurants and shops
~ 10% discount on guest rooms at the Pacific Edge Hotel

For more information on The Bungalows on Laguna Beach at Pacific Edge Hotel and rental info visit, www.PacificEdgeHotel.com/Bungalows.

[Disclosure: I was invited to attend a media event to preview the Bungalows and received a goodie bag upon departure as a thank you.]