Nice place for a stroll. It's no LA Arboretum but this 26-acre garden is free and more of an…read morearboretum on a college campus than a standalone. I met up with a friend that I hadn't seen for awhile and it was the perfect place to catch up during a walk around of the garden. I loved the pond with the lily pads and turtles, and the Heritage House surrounded by orange trees and roses. I was impressed by the amount of orange trees. It reminds you of why they call it Orange County. If I went to school here I'd be here probably once a week. Otherwise it's great to come if you live in the OC.

Another great visit on a very hot Easter Sunday!…read more Great place to touch grass and had free parking!

*Be aware of Rattle snakes out on the deeper walking trails during this season*…read moreThis is a fantastic park for families, parties, and individuals who love walking their dogs. Heads up, entrance fee/parking is $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. There is so much to see and do here! Snack Bar, Pony rides, a train that travels around the inner part of the park, horseback riding lessons (3rd party company), picnic areas, bike rentals, and giant wheel floating tricycles on the pond! To walk their inner perimeter pathways, where all the trees are, it's about a mile out and a mile back. If you have kids, they will love looking for the ground squirrels or wild peacocks, the train, ponies and more! There is so much wide open grassy space close to parking. There are several parking lots scattered all throughout the park. So you are always close to your care and nature. This last week, I walked a dog every day there and 3 outs of the 5 days, i encountered a rattle snake, not a big deal and it is after all...nature! Theirs was out on the more extensive hiking and walking trails beyond the main area. During spring and summer, it is good to carry a stick to help deter the snakes. I also would not use headphones out on the trails for this reason. Stay alert, and you will stay safe. If you have any concerns, always check in with a park ranger! It can get crowded on the weekends, specifically afternoons when a lot of parties and family gatherings are happening.

Visited Irvine Regional Park on a Monday and was honestly impressed by how expansive and family…read morefriendly it is. Right at the entrance, there's a small $3 parking fee if you go on a weekday collected by a park ranger who was very friendly and helpful. If you go on the weekends, parking fee is $5 and larger vehicles such as an RV or bus may be higher. Once you drive in, you quickly realize how massive the park is. There are multiple parking lots throughout, and you kind of have to explore a bit to find the perfect spot. Some areas have BBQ grills, others have playgrounds for kids, and there are plenty of open grassy fields as well as shaded areas filled with trees. The park really has something for everyone. There are hiking trails, wide paths for walking, and even a small zoo. Inside the zoo, there's a petting area that's perfect for little kids, which adds to the overall family friendly vibe. I also appreciated the upkeep of the park. I notice several lots has trash cans and restrooms, and the restrooms I went into were stocked with toilet paper, which is always a plus. With Easter season going on, there were also special activities happening, making the park feel even more lively. I mainly came to get some steps in and enjoy nature, and it was the perfect place to do just that. Whether you're coming with family, kids, or just looking for a peaceful outdoor walk, this spot checks all the boxes.

Poison Hemlock lines trail leading to the redwoods. The redwoods are beautiful and worth the walk…read more Avoid touching the Poison Hemlock which can cause welts on skin or death if eaten. Purple and green stems on white flowers are indicating this is poison hemlock. Water on a small area near end of trail is near poison hemlock and should also be avoided. The Redwoods are gorgeous! Many lovely birds. Just beware even among them some small sprouts of poison hemlock is growing. The signage explaining the redwoods is fascinating. It is lovely. Stay safe and warm kids because there is no signage indicating the danger explicitly.

Review 36/365 Day Challenge…read more This is a pretty big regional park with a big Lake. Seen guest fishing at the lake. Have a few playgrounds along w some gazebo available with picnic tables under the gazebo. It's a pretty nice clean park. With lots of trees, shadings and a great walking cemented sidewalk. You can walk from Carbon Canyon Park to go see the beautiful Redwoods. Lots of tennis courts available at this park. There is a parking fee since it's a regional park.

I absolutely love Peters Canyon. It's my go-to spot when I need to get outside without driving an…read morehour away. The trails are always well-maintained, and there's a good mix of flat paths and some solid "cardio" hills if you're looking to break a sweat. It's also incredibly dog-friendly (just keep them on a leash), and I always see plenty of mountain bikers out there who are generally pretty respectful of the hikers. Whether you're doing a quick loop or a longer trek, the views of the reservoir and the surrounding hills are beautiful, especially right now while everything is still green. Definitely a 5-star local gem in Orange County!

If you're looking for a solid hiking spot in OC, this place strikes a nice balance--it's not…read morecompletely cut off from civilization, but still feels like a legit nature escape. There are several trails to choose from, all clearly marked by difficulty, and the signage throughout makes it easy to stay on track. Still, it's a smart move to snap a photo of the trail map before heading out. We went with a moderate route, which was mostly easygoing with just enough challenge to keep it interesting. If you're up for more of a workout, the difficult trails will definitely get your heart rate up. The vibe was great, with lots of friendly hikers, and plenty of dogs along the way. We visited late Sunday morning, and it felt lively without being overcrowded. Parking was easy to find and only cost a few bucks. One heads-up: there's basically no shade, so sunscreen is a must!

This regional park contains an expansive trail network with difficulty levels appropriate for all…read morewalks of life! Having (embarrassingly) not been as active lately as we used to be on hikes, my friend and I came with our dogs and set out on the creek trail, which is about a 2 mile loop. The trail is well-maintained and wide, making it an ideal warm-up for more experienced hikers and great for outdoorsy families. The day we came, someone was even taking their graduation photos there! As of mid-May 2026, there wasn't very much water on the creek/dam trail, but it's nicely shaded and home to many vining plants and bird species. We ended up moseying through parts of different trails like Bobcat and Meadow, but signage is excellent and very clear (distance, easy/moderate/difficult). You could also rent the event space towards the entrance for weddings and other celebrations; the facilities are clean, and they clearly take care of the grounds. Parking is $5 at the kiosk, but well worth it in my opinion! There's a paved parking lot to the right past the kiosk and you can pick up a map on your way in.

The trails and views are AMAZING! We peddle from home into Irvine Park, then into the " OAKS"…read more A must 2-3 times a week See you out there!!

This is such a gorgeous pocket of nature to get away from life for a while! There's so many places…read moreto go explore, people are really respectful for the most part so there's not trash on the trails, even people who bring their kids don't let them run around screaming like in some places. Nature is very much respected. It's also absolutely gorgeous! There's little Creeks, tiny waterfalls, the nature preserve itself is stunning, they have an area set up just for little birds to come visit that is beyond adorable, the birds you can come up to you! Well at least they did with us. I've also been to several weddings here, it's a really nice venue. Especially if people put lights up and have a dusk wedding OMG Parking is free, cheaper than therapy, wonderful break from the rat race. This is by far my favorite place in Orange County to just unplug.

Amazing hikes with the whole family…read more Very fun and chill hikes that cross a nice little steam in several areas.

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.

Lots of public restrooms available throughout the park…read more Lots of kids playgrounds - different sizing for all ages. There are paved pathways so it's easy to push a stroller or to bike or roller skate throughout this park. There is a good amount of parking for your car depending on which park entrance you choose. There's lots of nature life and greenery here so it makes for a fun place to go on a walk or have a picnic with the family - there is both large grass areas available and a plethora of picnic tables.

I love this park. Typically my go to park is Irvine regional park in Orange, but this one has…read morebecome our new favorite. There are always spots available. Plenty of parking. I think the biggest downside to the park is that the entrance line can get really long and there's only one way to enter. We like to picnic and BBQ and we always feel secluded because of how much available space there is.

My family and I met several of my daughter's high school classmates at this park to take photos…read morebefore they departed for their prom. The big deal here is to take photos adjacent to the large water fountain. This is an extremely popular photo location, as over 100 students here in formal wear from various high schools. The park itself was very clean and well-maintained, with numerous areas for visitors to take photos. Parking is available in one of the numerous parking lots surrounding the park.

Hillcrest Park in Fullerton--specifically the stairs--is no joke, but that's exactly why we love…read moreit. We went early in the morning around 7:00 AM, and it was already packed. Parking was very limited at that time, so plan ahead if you're going early. Clearly, a lot of people know this is the spot for a serious workout. The stairs themselves are brutal in the best way possible. After about three rounds, my legs were completely done--but it's such an effective workout. This place really gets your cardio in fast, and you feel accomplished every time you finish a round. The views along the way make it even more worth it. We also came back later in the day around 5:30 PM. It starts to get a bit dark around that time, so that's something to keep in mind, but it's still a great experience and totally worth it. Overall, if you're looking for a challenging, fun, and effective outdoor workout, Hillcrest Park stairs deliver every time. Just be ready for sore legs and limited parking during peak hours.

This is a large, well maintained park, that is pretty quiet and feels secluded despite it being…read moreright off Imperial hwy & the 57 fwy. You pay to park inside, or you can park off State College and just walk in, plenty of parking either way. Very dog and kid friendly, ample space to run around for both. There are also small playground areas and a pond, and multiple picnic tables and benches scattered throughout. Bathrooms are large and clean. Great park to enjoy the outdoors for a few hours.

This 124 acre park was established in 1984. You can park on the periphery, as I did the first time,…read morebut there are lanes of cars roaring past on a curved road, making the interior parking a much better option. The paths are concrete surrounded by green grass and rolling hills. some paths are flat throughout. I took a pathway along the river, which turned into a lake. The birds were plentiful. It was hopping with people; folks getting their steps in, like me. Moms, toddlers and strollers, and people walking dogs. The grounds were well tended. Healthy and lush grass. The trees are mature and plentiful. I read there is fishing, including catfish. There are several play areas for the kiddos.