Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

Creekside Park in Dana Point is # 3 on the OC Family’s list of the Top 10 Playgrounds in the OC.  It is a beautiful park, with lots of great equipment.   Actually, I think this park has some of the nicest equipment I have seen recently at a local park.   There is plenty of parking, a clean restroom, and several different play areas.  For those little ones that are newly “pulling up” or barely walking there is a little sand box with multi-leveled little sand structures.   For me, the crawling / not yet walking phase, was a hard age to have at a park.   So, at least with this cute little area the pre-walkers can have fun in the sand too! Adjacent to the park is a beautiful greenbelt, perfect to take a walk and have a picnic at one of the shady picnic tables. 

Even with directions and an address, I drove right past it when first visiting.  Coming from the freeway,  when you pass over the river bed (canal), it is on the right hand side.  

25743 Stonehill Drive, Dana Point, CA

We love the playground at the Balboa Pier, where you truly appreciate just how lucky we are to live close to playgrounds that are smack on the sand!   To get there, go to the end of the Peninsula and pass the Balboa Pier parking lot signs.   Turn right at the next street past the pier, A Street.  Metered parking is available, so bring your quarters.  I have gone on non-summer weekdays and there is usually plenty of parking.  There are restrooms right adjacent to the playground.  You can also plan your outing around lunch or dinner and then grab a bite to eat at Ruby’s on the Pier.  Even better, plan your outing for late afternoon on a Tuesday, and your kids will eat for free!  (Did you know kids eat free at Ruby’s on Tuesdays after 4pm?) 
 
(Images from Beach California.)

Dinosaur Park in Laguna Hills is # 4 on the list of Top 10 Playgrounds in the OC and I know why, because it is a super fun park!  Off Alicia Parkway,  turn into the Community Center Parking lot (it’s a light.)  It is a tad hard to recognize from the street, so just look for the Community Center light, and know you are turning into the right place.    You can then park in the immediate parking lot on your left and  walk up the walkway to get to the playground or you can follow the driveway up to the parking lot above and walk down.   

They have dinosaur structures to climb on, a bridge and tunnel that had “fossils” in the walls and “animal footprints” in the concrete, turtles that shoot water out of their mouths, and a nice covered area with swings.   The surrounding grassy areas are beautiful.    Oh yes, and they have an adjacent bathroom.   Bathrooms are a must for me at parks, especially after 3 cups of coffee in the AM!   Definitely worth checking out…

25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills, 92653  

We recently discovered a wonderful park, Irvine Terrace Park, in Corona del Mar. It is an amazing playground  with a beautiful harbor view. There are public bathrooms adjacent, tons of running space, climbing walls, teeter totters, swings (baby and big kid) and two picnic tables under covered lattices.  To get there, plug this into Mapquest “Seadrift Dr at Evita Dr Corona del Mar, CA 92625.” This park is # 8 on the OC’s 10 best playgrounds.

We love Bill Barber Park in Irvine!    The park has a huge tot lot with equipment for all ages.   There are bridges so kids can get onto the equipment from the upper level and vice versa.  It also has a great climbing area, and distinct separate play equipment for toddlers and big kids.  My daughter also loves the “froggie fountain,” which is a beautiful fountain in the center of a trellis lined courtyard area.   The first time we went there we were a little confused on where to park.  Off of Harvard, you will turn into the parking lot at the light “San Juan.”  There is usually plenty of parking. Click this  link for directions.  There are 4 nice covered picnic areas, the restroom is close-by, and as luck would have it for me this weekend,  a concession was open for the soccer games when I was in dire need of a Diet Coke fix!  Only downfall is that other than the covered picnic areas, there is not a lot of shade, so wear your hats and SPF in the summer months as it can get a bit toasty.   

Thanks to everyone who entered the Wee Gallery giveaway last week!  Check in tomorrow for a fabulous new giveaway!  Have a great Labor Day!