Orange County's nearly constant fair weather not only leads local children to engage in outside activity, but entices vacationers to bring their kids to enjoy the outdoor fun. Fortunately, the county provides a variety of activities to stimulate the minds and bodies of the younger set with both free and paid attractions.
Ride the River
A river that remains bone dry for most of the year is attraction enough for visitors from wetter regions. But the Santa Ana River also impresses with 120 miles of nearly paved trail that snakes through Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Kids can bike, skate, run, ride horses and explore without worrying about motorized vehicles, which are prohibited. Coming after an infrequent rain or winter storm reveals temporary ponds, lakes and streams that bloom with native plants and migratory birds like herons, storks and ducks.
Visit a Museum
Unlike more adult venues, museums geared toward children encourage physical exploration of exhibits with touching, sitting, pushing, pulling and more rambunctious actions. For example, at Discovery Science Center, youngsters can hang from pulley ropes or lie on a bed of nails. At Heritage Museum, they can play an antique piano or manipulate tools from a bygone era. At the Children's Museum of La Habra, the Carousel Room calls for kids to clamber aboard colorful animals and take a spin.
Explore Nature
The area's state parks offer a glimpse of what the county was like before urbanization. You can save money on admission by bringing a carload of tykes to be charged by the vehicle rather than by individual. All will share areas of scrub and desert landscapes inhabited by rabbits, snakes, raccoons and the occasional coyote. Facilities and function will vary by park. For example, Crystal Cove encloses 46 rustic coastal cottages built around the 1920s and 1930s, while Huntington State Beach is not only a nesting sanctuary but a beach with surfing, bicycling, skating and surf fishing.
Sail a Tall Ship
The Spirit of Dana Point, a 118-foot-long replica of a 1770s privateer, boasts high-seas adventure and swashbuckling tales with several programs for all members of the family. Mom and Dad might prefer the more sedentary ocean lectures of A Whale's Tale, while more active youngsters can help the crew raise sails, steer the ship or raise sails in Coastal Odyssey. All programs include a sailing cruise off Dana Point with a chance of observing sea lions, dolphins and gray whales.
Surf the Waves
Nothing brands an Orange County kids more than the ability to surf the coast's spectacular waves. Fortunately, several options exist to teach kids how to hang ten. My OC Surf is typical with private and group lessons for one to 50 students at the beaches of Dana Point. Wetsuits, rashguards and surboards are included with the fee. Those with more time on their hands can check out a five-day surf camp like Salty Grom at Huntington Beach. Lessons last five hours a day and include a lunch break, trash pick up, and on-beach and in-water sessions. The last day features a mini-surf contest, so students can show off their skills for the entire family.
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