Orange County California: Great Places to Take Small-Town Folk

Orange County, California, has some wonderful places to take our grandchild for some good old-fashioned outdoor fun. It's always been that way. When my sister and I were growing up in Los Alamitos, my mom would take us to several beaches and parks on a regular basis. When my kids were growing up, I took them to the same great spots. And now, my grandchildren will get to do the same! (OK, one isn't born yet, and the other is a mere seven months old. But I think you can see that when you have "an oldie, but a goodie," they're going to keep being around generation after generation!)

Now Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach is free! It has a huge park area, bike and horse trails, lots and lots of acres to run around in and enjoy. Picnic tables are all over and families love to have birthday parties at the first come first serve areas and covered spots. What I always loved is that there is this cute little shack of a restaurant called, very appropriately, "Alice's in the Park". Homemade cinnamon rolls that aren't only huge, but more important, delicious. So are the juicy burgers on homemade buns and anything for breakfast.

Atlantis Play Center in Garden Grove. When my mom took us, we were admitted free, but adults were a quarter! Now the fee is $1, but it's a fun water-themed playground. Birthday parties in secluded coves, picnic areas, huge serpent slides, octopi merry-go-rounds and seahorse rockers and more. I remember feeling very much at ease sitting with my fellow moms and all of us letting our little "fish" run themselves ragged! One of my own birthday parties were held there. Hopefully, my grandson will "yo ho" with the best of the underwater school participants within the next couple of years.

Irvine Park in Irvine. The park is huge-acres and acres that I have yet to discover all of! The most popular things they offer is you have little ones is the pint size railroad and the rides that go with it and the pony rides. Call the city offices before going, since they sometimes have to forgo the weekend fun due to weather.

If the weather is hot or just plain Southern California gorgeous and you'd like to go to the beach-prices have gone up, but I've always enjoyed Newport Dunes RV Resort in Newport Beach. They have a grassy park area, a small market and snack bar, a private pool area that's part of your "entrance" fee and the cleanest most private rest rooms you've ever seen at a beach! Since it's privately owned and operated, there's always enough life guards. No waves, so forget any ideas of surfing, but since we're talking "small fry" that should be a bonus. Very, very family orientated.

The last two are more theme parks for the very young. Built with lots of "horse" play in mind and the most expensive to spend the day at-consider these when a special outing is on the docket:

Adventure City in Anaheim. Lots of rides, even roller-coasters, done in versions not meant to give the younger kid set concussions or nightmares, yet still allow them to feel the "thrill" of a day at an amusement park.

And then Soak City, USA in Buena Park. Now this wasn't around for me and I am not one to enjoy being in wet, dirty clothes, but trust me-just bring an extra set of clean things and let your kids just be, well, kids! My nephew-who also doesn't enjoy being less than pristine, went with his third grade class and was named "Mud King" by his classmates-had a blast and even now at 15-talks about what a great end of the year party that day was!

There you have it-so grab the short ones in your home and get out there and have some good old-fashioned fun!