SoCal Nature Kids’ Guide to Orange County, California

Looking for a nature area to explore with your family in Orange County? Check out these family-friendly places, recommended by me or other Southern California parents. It’s always a good idea to check each location’s web site for updated information before you go, and use your judgment regarding safety for your family at these locations.

2 Awesome Resources for Orange County Families:

If you’re a parent, grandparent, or other caregiver looking to get explore Orange County with your children, you don’t want to miss these two resources:

  • The Fun Orange County Parks website has a write-up on nearly every playground, hiking trail, museum, and more in Orange County, with an emphasis on simple, inexpensive outdoor play by a mom who has devoted years to sharing about these locations. You can also find info on Instagram at OCPlayParks, but be sure to check out the web site as well, which has so much info on what to expect at fun spots in Orange County.

  • If you have little ones and are looking for info on story times, play groups, special events, and more, consider subscribing to the OC Parent Guide event calendar. For a small monthly fee, the creator curates local events happening seven days a week year round, saving you the time of keeping track of all the goings-on around Orange County.

Places to Go with Your Kids in Orange County, California

ORANGE COUNTY PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

  • Marina Park 1600 W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663

  • All-Inclusive Playground at the Beach 913 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach 92648

  • Atlantis Play Center 13630 Atlantis Way Garden Grove, CA 92844 (small cash fee)

  • Courtney’s Sandcastle 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa San Clemente, CA 92673

  • Serrano Creek Park (25101 Serrano Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630

  • Gum Grove Nature Park (Crescent View and Avalon Drive, Seal Beach)

  • Salt Creek Beach Park (33333 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, CA 92629)

  • Bluebird Park (798 Blue Bird Canyon Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 9265)

  • Rise Park Playgound (249 Sawbuck Irvine, CA 92618)

  • Oeste Park (2300 W Lambert Rd, La Habra, CA 90631)

  • Garden Grove Park (9301 Westminster Blvd, Garden Grove, CA)

  • Huntington Beach Central Park (17492 Duello Ln, Huntington Beach, CA 92647)

  • Lions Park (570 W 18th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627)

  • Victory Park (3300 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92606)

ORANGE COUNTY GARDENS AND FARMS

  • Tanaka Farms (5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612)

  • OC Great Park Farm + Food Lab (8000 Great Park Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618)

  • The Ecology Center (32701 Alipaz Street San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675)

  • Centennial Farm (88 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626)

  • Sherman Gardens (2647 East Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625)

  • Niguel Botanical Preserve (29751 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677)

  • Casa Romantica Gardens (415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA 92672)

  • Fullerton Arboretum (1900 Associated Rd, Fullerton, CA 92831)

ORANGE COUNTY WATER PLAY

  • Adventure Playground - splash pad, limited hours/reservations required, water slide - 4601 Casa Loma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92886

  • Wild Rivers 10000 Great Park Blvd, Irvine, CA 92618

  • Knott’s Soak City 8200 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620

  • Great Wolf Lodge 12681 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840

  • Montanoso Recreation Center 25800 Montanoso Dr, Mission Viejo, CA 92691

  • Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort 1131 Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660

  • Huntington Beach City Pool 1600 Palm Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

ORANGE COUNTY CAMPING SPOTS

  • Crystal Cove Moro Campground (8471 N Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651) very popular state park with tide pools, ocean, hiking - cabins available too!

  • Newport Dunes (1131 Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660) private campground by the beach - inflatables in the summer

  • O’Neill Regional Park (30892 Trabuco Canyon Rd, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679) hikes, playground, creek

  • Doheny State Beach (34381 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, CA 92629)

  • San Clemente State Beach (225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente, CA 92672) several people have recommended Holidays RV rental

  • Casper’s Wilderness Park (33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675)

ORANGE COUNTY BEACHES AND TIDE POOLS

  • Baby Beach 34451 Ensenada Pl, Dana Point, CA 92629 (calm/low waves)

  • Marina Park 1600 W. Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA 92663 (calm/low waves)

  • Pirates Cove at Corona Del Mar 3001 Ocean Blvd, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 (calm/low waves)

  • Newport Dunes 1131 Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (calm/low waves)

  • Bolsa Chica State Beach, Huntington Beach

  • Newport Pier, Newport Beach 2108 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663

  • Victoria Beach (Pirate’s Tower), Laguna Beach 2705-2711 Victoria Dr, Laguna Beach

  • Little Corona Del Mar 3100 Ocean Blvd Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 (tide pools)

  • Dana Point Tide Pools/Sea Caves 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629 (tide pools)

  • Crystal Cove State Park 8471 N. Coast Highway Laguna Beach, California 92651 (tide pools)

  • Treasure Island Laguna Beach (tide pools)

  • Diver’s Cove 631 Cliff Dr. Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (tide pools)

  • Shaw’s Cove 989 Cliff Dr, Laguna Beach, CA (tide pools)

ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUMS

  • Pretend City

  • The Bowers Museum (2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706 - near CHOC and the Discovery Cube)

  • Discovery Cube OC (2500 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92705)

ORANGE COUNTY HIKING TRAILS AND NATURE AREAS

  • Oak Canyon Nature Center (6700 E Walnut Canyon Rd, Anaheim, CA 92807)

  • Olinda Oil Museum and Trail (4025 Santa Fe Road Brea, CA 92823)

  • Santa Ana River Trail - various locations, I like walking behind the building at Grijalva Park in Orange (368 N Prospect Street, Orange 92869) - there is a bridge that goes over the river.

  • Dana Point Headlands

  • Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary (29322 Modjeska Canyon Rd, Silverado, CA 92676)

  • Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648)

  • San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (5 Riparian View, Irvine, California)

  • Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve (2301 University Drive Newport Beach, CA92660)

ORANGE COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS

  • Aliso + Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (28373 Alicia Parkway Laguna Niguel, CA 92677)

  • Carbon Canyon Regional Park (4442 Carbon Canyon Rd, Brea, CA 92823) - redwoods!

  • Caspers Wilderness Park (33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675)

  • Clark Regional Park (8800 Rosecrans Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621)

  • Craig Regional Park (3300 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92835)

  • Featherly Regional Park (24001 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd, Anaheim, CA 92808)

  • Irvine Lake (4621 E Santiago Canyon Rd, Silverado, CA 92676) - fishing

  • Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks - guides required to access areas, most classes/activities free! more info here: https://letsgooutside.org/activities/

  • Irvine Regional Park (1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, CA 92869)

  • Laguna Coast Wilderness Park (18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651)

  • Laguna Niguel Regional Park (28241 La Paz Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677)

  • Mason Regional Park (18712 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612)

  • Mile Square Regional Park (16801 Euclid St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708)

  • O’Neill Regional Park (30892 Trabuco Canyon Rd, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679)

  • Riley Wilderness Park (30952 Oso Pkwy, Coto De Caza, CA 92679)

  • Peters Canyon Regional Park (8548 Canyon View Ave, Orange, Ca)

  • Santiago Oaks Regional Park (2145 Windes Dr, Orange, CA 92869)

  • Talbert Regional Park (1298 Victoria St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627)

  • Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park (27901 Glenn Ranch Rd, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679)

  • Tri-City Regional Park (2301 N Kraemer Blvd, Placentia, CA 92870)

  • Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve (2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660)

  • Wieder Regional Park (19251 Seapoint Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648)

  • Yorba Regional Park (7600 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807)

ORANGE COUNTY ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS

  • OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park (1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, CA 92869)

  • Ocean Institute 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629

  • Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center (21900 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA 92646)

  • Pacific Marine Mammal Center (20612 Laguna Canyon Road Laguna Beach, CA 92651)

  • Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park (1801 E Chestnut Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92701)