Orange County's eternal sunshine encourages year-round recreation for those with a healthy, active lifestyle. As a bonus, ocean vistas and canyon views frame many free outdoor diversions. Although some open-air hot spots support multiple sports such as hiking, jogging and biking, a few are dedicated to specialized pursuits like rock climbing and skateboarding.
Enjoy Newport Bay
Upper Newport Bay is an estuary where fresh and salt water combine to create an environment in which over 200 bird species, mammals, fish and native plants can thrive. You can easily join the local wildlife by jogging, hiking and biking paved paths, dropping a kayak or canoe in the water, or fishing from a boat or the shore. The best time to come is during the winter, when up to 30,000 migrating birds use the estuary as a stopover on the Pacific Flyway.
Climb a Rock
Orange County's crags and rocks provide plenty of opportunity for even beginning rock climbers. In Laguna Beach, 5-Minute Crag has well-placed bolts on its rock-face, providing both canyon and ocean views as you climb. Ortega Falls in San Juan Capistrano requires a drive and a hike but rewards you with bouldering on smooth rock next to cascading water. The climbing area at the Beach--Pirates Cove sports a vertical face by a public beach in Corona del Mar.
Jog the Beach
Paved trails and paths are what most runners seek, but Orange County also offers miles of sandy beaches on which bare-footed joggers can improve both their endurance and their calf muscles. Kick off your shoes and hit the sand at Huntington Beach, a city that restricts development in order to provide unobstructed views of the beautiful Southern California coastline. As you run, check out surfers on gnarly waves, tourists on the pier and the boardwalk, and canines at Dog Beach.
Follow the River
You can walk, run, bike, skate, skateboard and ride a horse along the Santa Ana River Trail, which follows the concrete bed (dry most of the year) of the Santa Ana River. The trail runs inland from Huntington Beach to neighboring counties. Come during the winter or after a storm to view the native plants that sprout from the riverbed. You'll spot herons, storks, ducks and other water birds who stop by the temporary islands that are created.
Celebrate Skateboarding
Celebrate Southern California as the birthplace of skateboarding by shredding a few at a public skate park. Bring pads and a helmet to avoid being hassled by the police. Kids and adults can share time at Costa Mesa's Volcom Skatepark, which has vert, street and tranny sections sprawled across its 20,000 square feet. The smaller Brea Skatepark features fast concrete and a five-foot kidney bowl for performing tight tricks. Irvine's older Harvard SK8 Park keeps the advanced boarders away, allowing more time for beginners.
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