Adventure playgrounds + animal fables
Plus, summer is coming and here's what to expect
Wanted to do a quick check-in to give you some grounding and a reminder of why we meet here each week! And answer other questions like:
Why is this called OC Tiny Hikes?
What’s different about this newsletter subscription?
OC Tiny Hikes . . .
. . . was born in October 2023 when I suddenly switched from my MailChimp email provider that I’d been using for over a decade to Substack. I invented Tiny Hikes around Orange County to put a name to my kind of playful nature outings. “Short & sweet family nature walks.” Routes that aren’t “hikes” enough for All Trails or distance enough for fitness seekers. No, these are outings that most of you can do, even if you are a little hesitant or a beginner going outdoors — beyond the parks — with your kids. Tiny hikes give you permission to call yourself a hiker (you are!) and the tools you need to find your parental comfort zone. I promise that after you start, you’ll want more.
And I’m your guide! I’m not a seasoned hiker who has put in the miles and is dumbing down these short trails for you. Not at all. I’m actually a proud Tiny Hiker and will be forever. The awe & wonder I get from short and fulfilling bursts exploring in nature is a lifestyle choice. I don’t need to go further or work at accomplishing more. I’m just fine sticking to something where I spend zero time building up my fitness level, zero $ investing in expensive gear, and zero effort stressing about getting lost or being unprepared. Instead, I’m sharing easy park your car & go outings where you don’t need much of anything beyond a backpack of diaper bag basics.
For 15 months - with a short summer break for hot weather - I sent a weekly Mini Trail Guide to paid subscribers with the last guide going out in the last week of December 2024. The culmination is a library/archive of 54 full trail guides that I scouted, wrote up, and sent out each week as they happened. Paid subscribers funded that effort and I’m so grateful to now have that library of trail guides in the Archive that current subscribers can still always access. You can, too, if you become a paid subscriber.
What does that mean for paid subscribers not getting the same weekly tiny hikes guides in 2025? This year, I’m taking those original Mini Trail Guides and putting them into 3 seasonal printable guides. The 2025 Winter Guide is already out (Paved Tiny Hikes: Stroller-Friendly with After Rain Routes). Paid subscribers get it included in their annual subscription — or you can buy it as a stand alone guidebook. The Spring/Summer guidebook is coming out soon. It’s going to be more of a Summer Tiny Hikes + Play Guide since I had to deal with that whole surprise website re-design in April/May. In addition, I do send weekly exclusives and play-filled extras at the bottom of each weekly email for paid subscribers.
Why is this newsletter different?
It’s local. It’s not about events or schedules. It’s about finding play and your own family pace that suits you in the stage you’re in. I’m not trying to gamify or challenge you. We get to know each other as we meet up here each week. You won’t grow out of this one — or at least you might still follow along even though your kids are grown because we would miss each other if we didn’t have this. You are welcome here as you are. Bring your kindness and be open to learning. We are all just figuring it out. It’s always free and comes with the paid option for those who want a little more (or if you just want to support). I’m a writer mom. A nature guide. And probably your biggest cheerleader. So you’ll always get encouragement, too.
In play,
Michele
As a friendly reminder, make sure you ALWAYS check official sources when you are heading out to any of the locations I share. These are merely suggestions. Only you know what works for your family. Plus, your experience may not be the same as mine — and there can be changes to the hours or unforeseen circumstances or conditions at the suggested locations.
Fun Question of the Week
Summer is coming. What do you want/need from me when it comes to summer play?
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: Developmentally, at what age do children need a curriculum and more structured activities?:
Your options for answers were:
3 (14%)
4 (11%)
5 (19%)
6 (36%)
Never (19%)
So that makes the majority of 55% saying 6 to never. Or if we include the 5 year olds it would be 74% saying 5 to never. I have friends who have unschooled and friends who have homeschooled (including us for a little while) and friends who have children in childcare from a young age.
I have to say that I don’t have a definitive answer for you. Now, the way I asked the question was kind of specific. I was talking about “developmentally” and “need” and “curriculum” and “structured activities” but there are nuanced definitions for each and each child is also different.
So let me present these readings which might fill in the blanks . . . starting with this quote from the end of some of the most recent research listed first in this list: “We might actually get better results, she says, from simply letting little children play.”
A top researcher says it's time to rethink our entire approach to preschool (2022)
Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School (2009)
The Power of Playful Learning in an Early Childhood Setting (2022) - this one is specifically about a childcare setting and it also includes a section at the end about teaching play skills.
Of course, it’s all slanted towards play because that’s the lens I choose. So make sure you look up and research your own answers. Regardless, let me know what you think! Like I said: nuanced. So I’d love to get your take on it.
Parks and Play Trip Ideas: Adventure Playgrounds
We have 3 adventure playgrounds in Orange County and they are all so different and provide different experiences for families — not your usual playground experience. I have 2 out of the 3 on my blog. And thought I’d give you a rundown on busy summers and include a Plan B in case the location is too busy!
Summers Only in Huntington Beach
This one opens June 21st through August 16th. Doesn’t look like reservations are required this year, but I’d recommend it. It will save you the chore of calling before you go to see if they are full — and give you the opportunity to pay ahead. It’s $4 for the kids to get in to this one with accompanying adults not paying. It’s best for 5-12 year olds. (Pretty much everyone agrees on this! Not as good for younger kids.)
This location ran the same way for years and years. Lots of locals have memories of coming here as kids. Just like almost all playgrounds in OC, it remained closed in Summer 2020 and that carried into Summer 2021 as they worked to update the area a bit. It was scheduled to finally re-open in Summer 2022, but drought kept it closed. So this will only be the 3rd summer it’s been open since 2019. It’s not quite the same experience as in times past.
Plan B: Huntington Beach Central Park is near the beach and can have cooler temps than inland during summer. There’s lots to do there, including a library, nature center, and playgrounds. In fact, there’s even two tiny hikes here in Mini Trail Guide #11 and Mini Trail Guide #45.
An old favorite with a temporarily closed library
Irvine Adventure Playground is my idea of a classic adventure playground with lots of free play areas. It’s getting a little maintenance right now (closed through May 19th) to get ready for summer.
This is also a location with a long history. I worked to support Defenders of AP run by former camp counselors back in 2013 (?) in an effort to keep it here. The City has been gracious to provide me updates and access to keep my blog post updated — so it’s FULL of so much info!
One thing to note is a request from the City that I see getting ignored by groups ALL the time. According to City of Irvine: "Large groups, private reservations and birthday parties are not permitted. Reservations are welcomed in the adjacent buildings at University Community Park. Please contact Facility Reservations regarding availability." It’s a limited space since it’s fenced all around, so this rule is one strategy to help them manage the crowds.
Also note that the University Park Library is closed through a planned opening date of August 4th as it transitions from the OC Public Libraries system to an Irvine Public Libraries system.
Plan B: University Park is right outside the gates of the Adventure Playground and is a great spot for play all on its own.
Lots of rules and hard-to-come-by summer reservations
The Yorba Linda Adventure Playground has been around for decades. When I first started this blog it was open only for summer campers and not AT ALL to the public. It’s only since a $7 million renovation in 2023 that they opened it up to everyone.
So even though the reservations are a pain and non-residents can feel like reservations are tough to come by — it’s still a major improvement on how it used to be! At least you have a chance! It is free. Spring is the sweet spot for access because there are no reservations required for weekdays.
Once summer hits starting June 16th, it’s only open to the public on weekends with a reservation and weekday evenings from 5pm-7:30pm because of the day camp use of the space during the day. My biggest advice to avoid disappointment here is to: really dig into their website! Make sure you know about hours, parking, closures, reservations, rules, and everything they have to say there (including about height restrictions and requirements on the waterslide)! I think your visit will be a success when you really “get it.” Otherwise, I’ve seen a lot of frustration & disappointment.
Remember to always check that official website before you go, because there can be last minute closures or maintenance issues.
Plan B: Hurless Barton Park is the playground outside the gates of the Adventure Playground. And the Yorba Linda Library is awesome and nearby.
PLAY: Animal fables
This is the section of the newsletter where we muse about PLAY or connecting to nature each week. I might share a video, an article, a book, or something inspiring. Just trying to help keep you empowered to prioritize play to benefit development and preserve childhood!
Books are going to be a big part of summer fun! Here is an old favorite that I found while updating the blog.
It’s not sales-y at all! I don’t do the whole Amazon affiliate thing. Go to the library and check these out instead.
Parks and Play News
Good News
Remember that REI board vote that I told you about? REI Co-op members successfully voted out REI’s Corporate Board candidates. Read more here.
Still time for you to leave your public comment on the Endangered Species Act that is trying to take habitat destruction out of the definition of “harm.” Leave your comment here. Need help? A little tutorial. You have until May 19th.
Get the Parks You Want & Then Play There When They Open
City of Irvine is looking for public participation in the updates coming to Northwood Community Park (“Castle Park”). Get more info here about the meeting on May 19th and also how to submit your ideas via email.
Emery Park Playground in Fullerton is having its ribbon cutting to showcase its playground renovation on May 23rd.
Participate in the planning process for the Randall Preserve (Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach area) by attending their open houses or leaving a comment. Their next one is 5/21 and you can arrange for childcare, transportation or interpretation through the RSVP process.
A favor! Help me spread PLAY this summer!
Tell your friends about this free newsletter (octinyhikes.substack.com)
If you see someone in an online group looking for an Orange County playground resource, point them in the direction of the blog (FunOrangeCountyParks.com or shortcut to ocplayparks.com).
Spend some time on the blog and go play!
Outdoor Summer Camps
Play-Filled Extras are waiting below this paywall each week for all paid subscribers.
Extras for This Week: 2 tiny hike trail guides hand-picked from the archive + an inventive, but simple play idea to bring some magic to the ordinary. Or ordinary to the magic? Something like that.