Super cute, fun pirate themed park with easy parking and plenty of shade. My 3 year old…read moreparticularly liked the little sand/wood chip digging areas. Very cute and well done.

Fun park to take the kids with the advantage of excellent shade over the playground area. As noted…read moreby many, it has a pirate ship theme and includes swings (bucket and regular), areas split for younger and older children, and several benches for adults.

Carl Thornton Park is a neighborhood park located in Santa Ana that spans 32 acres. Two of those…read moreacres is the lake in the middle and you'll often see ducks roaming around. Although you can fish in the lake, you need a license and it's catch and release only. There are baseball fields, soccer fields, a kids playground, outdoor fitness area, large grassy areas, and shade from a lot of trees. There are also restrooms and a parking lot. Part of the space is the George Upton All Access Park, an accessibility-focused park that caters to kids of all physical abilities. This park is very kid-friendly and is the location of many kids and adult sports leagues.

This is a decent sized park with a pond where there's usually lots of duck and geese. There are…read morealso several playgrounds throughout and large grassy areas. It's a nice little walk around if you aren't looking to do too much walking.

Beautiful new park in Tustin. The parking lot is a bit small but it doesn't seem to get too crowded…read moreand there is plenty of outside neighborhood parking. I came on a Sunday afternoon and there were a few parking spots left. There is a big grass area, sizable playground, and some picnic tables scattered around. From this park, you can actually take a paved trail called Greenwood Gulsh across the street (look it up on Google Maps), which then takes you to another park called Ron Foell Park. Nice little loop between the two parks. Dog friendly park as well. Quiet and safe.

Huge park! My kiddos had a lot to do. There are shaded picnic tables and bathrooms…read more Bathrooms are a bit ugly haha but we're thankful there were some.

I've been coming to Inspiration Point for many years, and I still enjoy it every time I visit…read more I usually bring my dog here for a walk so She can enjoy the ocean breeze and watch the sunset with me. Sometimes I bring a blanket, sit on the grass, and bring some food to have a little picnic. It's a simple thing, but I always enjoy spending time here with the ocean view and the sound of the waves. I also like that they have bags available the area in case you need to clean up after your dog. I noticed there is a one of stations near the end of the street where you can grab them. From here, you can walk down toward little Corona del Mar and get closer to the beach. You can also walk on the sand, but personally I prefer staying up here because it feels cleaner and more convenient when I don't need to go down to the beach. Street parking is available nearby, but you may need to drive around a little to find a spot for parallel parking.

What a gorgeous spot I stumbled upon! I had no idea how gorgeous this would be! I'll definitely be…read moreback to visit again. I entered the park from above and walked down the steep paved trail to the landing about halfway down. The path is too steep for wheelchairs but does offer a railing for stability and some places to sit at the landing. The view at sunset is breathtaking! There are public bathrooms and a parking lot down at the beach, as well as some volleyball nets, etc. The beach looked clean, welcoming to families, and was a good size where people could spread out. I'll definitely be back

Hands down one of the cleanest, most convenient parks in the Irvine area!…read more There are several baseball fields, tons of gated tennis courts, playgrounds for the kids, countless picnic areas that are numbered for parties and gatherings. I think what makes this park stand out is the crowd. Any park can be beautiful but, without the proper maintenance from the park crew (and most importantly the park goers) it doesn't stand a chance. You see tons of regulars here with their dogs, families, kids. Everyone is friendly and respectful of one another. The dog crowd at this park is also one of the best I've seen. Although the park is not off leash, there's wide open areas for you to allow your fur family to play catch, run around, and have a bit of freedom! They do have a couple of posts that have doggie bags however, they run out quick so please do come prepared with your own poop bags just in case! There are plenty of water fountains throughout with water filling stations attached, so don't forget a bowl for your fur family!!

The park is located on Harvard Ave just next to the Irvine Civic Center. There are plenty of…read moreparking spaces around the park area. We visited there on a Saturday around noon. There were quite a few cars in the lot already. However, we didn't see a lot of people milling around as the park covers quite an extensive area. The park features a flower garden with a fountain near its center. Beyond that are several picnic shelters amidst an elaborate children's playground. Further on, there is a large expanse of grass area amidst soccer fields, base ball diamond and tennis courts. There are paved walk paths through out the complex that winds up and down the various terrains. Overall it's a nice place to enjoy a leisure walk!

Noguchi gardens is a gorgeous spot to just relax for a little, enjoy a break from the hustle and…read morebustle of the world. It's a small space but the artwork is nice and instills a sense of calm that is appreciated

Fun and interesting little place to visit if you are in the area by South Coast Plaza mall…read more Not the easiest place to find since you can't see it from the street. It is behind the Mastros restaurant. There is a parking structure nearby that is like $3 or $4 for 15 minutes and you can probably run through in 15 minutes, but 30 minutes to be safe. You can also walk from the mall parking lot, it is a little bit of a stroll but manageable. There are plenty of pictures so you can see what you are getting into before you make the drive, pay for parking, and walk over. When we went there on a Sunday morning, there were only 2 or 3 other people, so it was very quiet and zen. I enjoyed the write-ups and the exhibits. If I worked right there I would probably visit all the time.

Cute little play structure. There is a music area and a double layered sphere that spins around and…read moreyou can ride inside. It reminds me of those playgrounds wheels from the 80s but with more safety considerations without removing the fun. The play area is turf and surrounded by picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, with plenty of shade. The design is thoughtful and makes for a great place to spend an afternoon. The parking is free and right next to the play area. It feels secluded and somehow also right in the middle of everything. The only thing missing is a bathroom and while I understand that it's prevent homeless people from moving in, it does limit the amount of time that anyone can hang out here (especially with littles). Still a nice place to enjoy a coffee or picnic and let the kiddos play.

Hidden next to an apartment complex but fun place to take a little one for some fun. There's also…read morewater fountains nearby for those fascinated by water and plenty of space to run around. Ample parking. Great for a kid looking for an obstacle course

Good and Bad: Good:…read moreNicely decorated, lots of greenery, play areas, left side of park safer Bad: Homeless took the right side of the park (closest to discovery cube), park ranger not present during day, saw homeless sleeping in one of play areas for kids Pro tip: Walk vigilantly! Be alert and present. Be around other people! You don't want to get attacked or robbed.

Santiago creek is a mixture or even a combination of two major parks. One, hart park and the other…read moreSantiago park. The watershed is the in between. Both offer goof parking availability, both are well placed for long distance running, with paths consistent of dirt trails of pavement and concrete, with a few obstacles, all of which are easy to moderate. It seems like a good place for walkers, joggers runners and for bikers . The paths at hart park starts by the old buildings of the swimming pool area. Crossing towards the west, you'll come across a few highway overpasses and an archery park, and a open air auditorium . Along the way, a dry water shed that connects to Santiago park, which has been in redevelopment . New trails, new kids park, new arbory and cleaned up trails. The trail extends into and past the science center and willl make its way to the entrance of the mall, by Broadway. On your return trip, there will be outlets by the rail, that lead out to the neighboring community. Total path in and out can 2 to 4 ... but can extend to over 8 miles... if one follows east of hart park. Overall, great family trails, clean, quiet and welcoming and beyond all else, made for everyone to have fun. Rating of 3.9 to 4.1 stars

+ 10 new free pickleball courts opened last Wed! + 9 open…read moreplay courts, 1 challenge court. + Bright lights and water. . Each court has its own paddle queue. . Last Sun afternoon (Mother's Day), there was plenty of room for play. Come evening, each queue had 4+ paddles. -- Restroom pavilion is across the trench, about 5min walk from the pb courts... + Wide skill range here. + Ample walk space between the courts. + I like that they included doors between the courts. + Pleasant ambience to hang out. + Good amount of benches for spectators too. . Need a little more wind guard. . Park in the trench. Decent size but often crowded. Parking coordinates: 33°46'37.6"N 117°51'06.5"W PB courts: 33°46'35.5"N 117°51'05.4"W

Beautiful and well made courts. Just too many people but…read morerotation is easy with their setup.

Fairview Park is one of my favorite places to walk and run because there are endless route options…read more You can stay around the park on dirt or paved trails, climb the stairs for a workout, enjoy the grassy open areas, or connect to the Santa Ana River Trail and head all the way to the beach. The trails also connect by bridge into Costa Mesa, where you can grab coffee or food after your workout. The people on the trails are friendly, and the park workers are always courteous, stopping their trucks to let pedestrians pass. Wildlife is part of the experience, so be aware of coyotes, snakes, rabbits, and squirrels. I also recommend staying aware of your surroundings and avoiding walking alone in the early morning or late evening. Whether you're looking for a relaxing walk with a friend, a quick mile, or marathon training, Fairview Park is awesome!

Huge park with hiking trails. Plenty of parking spaces. Very nice neighborhood place to hang out…read more They have public restrooms and tennis/baseball courts there. People go here to have photoshoot sessions. I love going here.