Finding the BLOOM! + splashy springtime in OC
Also, spotting a rare white hummingbird and learning about egrets from an expert
The reason why I don’t pre-schedule or prep my newsletters more than a few days ahead-of-time is because something else more important or relevant than what I had planned always comes up!
Springtime Splash Pads in OC
This week it was OCParentGuide (Heather) inviting me to jump aboard her already planned Instagram post with ideas for springtime water play in Orange County. She’s been following my blog for a LONG time and always tries to include me when she’s covering something I might already have on my blog. I appreciate it so much!
I think she knows my blog posts better than me at this point! And she thought to pull the springtime options:
Yorba Linda Adventure Playground splash pad
Marina Park in Newport Beach
Irvine Spectrum splash pad
Irvine Adventure Playground
Irvine Heritage Park playground
So here’s the blog post which has that info and more with ALL the splash and water play opportunities in Orange County.
SAVE the blog post for summer! It has links and info on everything from free splash pads and play fountains to:
Free places to go for water play
Water theme parks
YMCAs
Local recreation centers
Info on community pools and public swim programs
Plus hotels all over SoCal with water play or waterslides
City Recreation Programs
Just this week, I added the links to community pools and public swim programs because one of you asked about it. You used to have to dive deeper into the links, but I brought out aquatics/swim pages of city websites to make it easier for you!
Did you know you can sign up for classes and programs in cities other than your own? It’s usually just a resident vs. non-resident fee. Or a difference in timing for registration that favors residents, but doesn’t exclude non-residents. Also, check these city websites for city summer camp programs! Bookmark it as a resource!
BLOOM! South Coast Botanic Garden
This garden in Palos Verdes has long been a favorite for our family. Since it’s not too far from OC, we’ve held a membership here on/off over the years. [They hosted this recent visit, but I love and would talk about it anyways! We just happen to be members at a different SoCal garden this year.]
I am always pushing becoming a member because I think it’s the best deal AND it supports the garden!
You will get excited about how the membership is also RECIPROCAL and can work in gardens nationwide! One year, we used it for our garden visits in Maine and Massachusetts because we happened to be traveling the summer we were members!
MEMBER BENEFITS: “All Members get discounts to special exhibits, events and programs year-round at the Garden, a subscription to our digital Member newsletter, plus a reciprocal Membership to more than 300 Gardens nationwide, including dozens of Gardens right here in California (please note, our sister Gardens, the LA Arboretum and Descanso Gardens are not included in your Garden Membership). Members also receive discounts at local nurseries.”
For instance, the Basic Plus membership is $85/year and you get: Unlimited FREE admission for TWO adults and your children and grandchildren under 18 (up to 4 children per visit). Such a deal for what comes out to, like, $7/month!
BIG TIP for Visiting from OC: We tend to go on Saturdays or Sundays. The garden opens at 8am! When we leave central OC around 7:45am, we get there around 8:30am and the parking lot is EMPTY. If you live in North OC, you could get there even faster. It’s worth the drive and there tends to be very little traffic at that time. Can’t guarantee it, but try it!
I’ll be sharing my Wildflower Report over in the Tiny Hikes newsletter which will probably go out on Friday this week!
Egret Tours Perfect for Kids
Our daughter was traveling on her first solo international trip these past couple weeks, so my husband and I were out exploring a lot while she was gone. One thing on my list was the Egret Tours at Shipley Nature Center. Look what we saw!
And we had a really fun & engaging talk with volunteer naturalist, Kevin! The groups were small and the program is only 15 minutes, so it’s worthwhile and manageable for most kids. Kevin makes it fun for them. (Free, but with $3/person suggested donation). No need to even register! Just show up.
Shipley Nature Center has also re-done their gift shop and they have expanded hours on the first Friday of the month. Get more info on their website.
Tiny Hikes Teaser: In scouting out this week’s trail guide, we happened upon this rare white hummingbird! It was a such a thrill for us — made even sweeter by a family running up with a little boy pointing out the “hummin’ bird!” Our excitement matched up! (It’s also a trail filled with dolphin sightings, a beach waterfall, a hunting hawk, and LOTS of wildflowers.)
Hope you upgrade to become a Tiny Hiker to get your weekly mini trail guides which take you beyond the playgrounds and out into nature.
OC is so lucky to have you sharing these stories that will create unforgettable memories for so many families!!!