Mini Trail Guide #54: A tiny hike with a short distance to big nature
A beautiful spot to experience the natural beauty of Orange County
This marks the end of WEEKLY mini trail guides. I have to say, it’s been quite the project scouting and writing these all up over the past 15 months from October 2023 through December 2024 (minus 2 months for the summer break) and so rewarding from the messages you send me with stories of your explorations.
How many tiny hikes have you tried?
Did you know there is a national-led effort called First Day Hikes that happen on January 1st each year to “encourages individuals and families to experience, with a seasoned guide, the beautiful natural and cultural resources found in the outdoors and in doing so may inspire them to take advantage of these treasures throughout the year and an individual’s lifetime. Nature has been proven to boost our moods and make us feel healthy and exploring the outdoors is the perfect way to start the new year.” If you want an actual in-person guide vs. using my mini trail guides, look for options at California State Parks.
In case you missed the multiple announcements over the past month, this subscription is changing for 2025! Monthly subscribers still get continuous access to the Tiny Hikes archive of over 50 mini trail guides which is much easier to access now, plus exclusive play-filled extras in each regular newsletter (hidden from free subscribers behind the paywall) for as long as your subscription is active.
When you invest or renew at the annual subscription level, then you’ll also get seasonal 2025 printable OC guidebooks for families (Winter, Spring/Summer, Fall). And you know I will probably come through with other surprises and extras for subscribers.
Why the change? Mostly because YOU asked for a book rather than the weekly delivery! I can absolutely make that happen for you. Beyond that one reason, the pace of producing weekly trail guides with a weekly deadline is challenging for me to hit as the only one scouting and writing them up. I’m looking forward to packaging them into a printable guidebook as you requested. It will be easier for you to save and re-visit over the years!
So that means next week on January 3rd, you’ll start getting only ONE newsletter each week — occasionally two if I have new trail guides or the seasonal books to share. Every week in that one newsletter, you’ll get some play-filled extras that you’ll have exclusive access to as a paid subscriber because it will be behind a paywall. Please email me if you have questions, there is only a small group of us Tiny Hikers so it’s not a bother at all!
Thank you for the support and sticking around for 2025!
Michele
Trail Guide #54 brings you to a spot of natural beauty in Orange County with sycamores, oaks, and even a couple of caves! It’s all waiting beyond the paywall below!