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During last July’s 5.8 earthquake, 3-year-old Bronwyn told her 1-year-old sister, “We’re going for a wiggle.” READ MORE
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OK, so the Angels fell off the radar around Aug. 1. There are still plenty of other things to do, places to visit and joys to celebrate here in Orange County. Each year, in fact, Orange County gets better with age, whether it's the California Adventure Park addition at Disneyland, a meal at one of our outstanding new restaurants or a new season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. With all that the county has to offer, there are standouts, there are places or activities that create particularly special memories for parents and families. Here, for 2003, we've created 10 favorite picks: 1. PARK: IRVINE REGIONAL PARK Orange County's oldest park is 477 acres of rolling foothills, heritage oak and sycamore trees. Santiago Creek splits the park and creates a pond with a stone waterfall and footbridge located in its center. Once you're there, your family can spend all day enjoying a wide variety of fun activities. These include: • Miniature railroad: With a 1/3-scale replica of the "Huntington" - the first train to make a transcontinental crossing - the railroad is fun to watch and fun to ride. As it wanders throughout the shade of the park's bountiful trees, the railroad offers fun for kids of all ages. $3 per rider. Open seven days a week. • Pony and horse rides: Who can resist this wonderful photo opportunity? Pony rides are $3 per child. For rides in and around the open spaces surrounding the park, rides are hosted by the hour, two-hour and longer. Information: 760.956.8441. • The Orange County Zoo: The more than 150 native Californian animals include Simba, the mountain lion. Open daily from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Admission: $1 per person. Children 5 and under are free. Information: 714.663.2022. • Tandem bicycle rentals are available at $12 per hour. • Paddleboat rentals are available at $9 per half-hour (ID required for deposit). • There also are picnic tables and barbecues sprinkled throughout the park as well as easy access to six playgrounds, four softball fields, two horseshoe pits, volleyball courts and lagoon. Plus, most of the bicycle trails are flat. Information: 714.997.3968. If you go: Take the 55 Freeway to Chapman Avenue and continue east for five miles to Jamboree Road. Turn left to the Irvine park entrance. From south Orange County, take Interstate 5 to Jamboree. Go east for 7.5 miles to the Irvine Park entrance. 2. BEACH: CRYSTAL COVE STATE BEACH Don't look for this beach, between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, to be in the style of action-filled Huntington Beach or the glitzy, glamorous Newport Beach. Instead, visit Crystal Cove for the peace and quiet it offers over its 3 1/2 miles of beautiful beachfront. Crystal Cove State Park is more a park than a state beach, for across Pacific Coast Highway, Crystal Cove has more than 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland. The woodlands area offers camping, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, with about 17 miles of double and single-track trails. Bobcats and coyote sometime appear, so campers and hikers are advised to be considerate and tread carefully through their home. But the beach remains the main attraction. The beach has fascinating tide pools at low tide and the waters offshore are designated as an underwater preserve. Divers will especially appreciate the pristine aquatic life below the water. Parking is $6 in a lot adjacent to the park that is regulated by a parking vending machine, so be sure to bring exact change. Crystal Cove lacks the level of food and rental opportunities as our other beaches - although it does have the famous Shake Shack - but makes up for it in beauty. If you go: N. Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. Information: 714.492.0802. 3. PICNIC: CRESCENT BAY POINT PARK Located on a bluff overlooking the ocean just north of Laguna Beach, this space may be small but it's impactful. Serene, secluded and special, Crescent Bay Point Park offers 180-degree panoramic views of the ocean and the rugged shoreline below while you enjoy dining al fresco. One of the park's main attractions are the large waves that crash onto the rocks at shore, often creating tall sea spray that is fascinating for smaller children to watch, particularly when the rocks are occupied with sea lions. And in the winter months, you often can spot whales migrating offshore. Some of the paths at Crescent Bay Point Park are paved so access is easy. One of the downsides of Crescent Bay Point Park is that there are no restrooms. However, that should not be a problem during a quick picnic. If you go: Open daily from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Parking is free on the surrounding streets. For more information, contact the South Beaches Operation Office of Orange County Harbors, Beaches, and Parks at 714.661.7013. It is located about one-half mile north of Main Beach in Laguna Beach, at the end of Crescent Bay Drive. 4. TEEN HANGOUT: Knott's Berry Farm This top Southern California attraction may be living in the shadow of amusement park champion Disneyland, but it is by no means an afterthought. In fact, Orange County teens have discovered that Knott's is cool. Teens are drawn to Knott's for several reasons, chief among them being the thrill-factor of the rides. At Knott's, there are few stories to tell, no fantasies to spin, just steel and wood used to create some of the most awesome rides in the country. The Buena Park attraction is home to the longest wooden roller coaster in the Western United States as well as one of the world's tallest descending rides. That wooden coaster is "Ghostrider," a 4,533-foot ride with a 188-foot drop that gives teens a legal thrill: an initial 108-foot swooping drop, 13 hills and banked turns and speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour. More thrills await at Xcelerator, a 1950s-themed ride that blasts rides from 0-80 in just 2.3 seconds, travels 20 stories up and then straight down at 90 degrees. One of the main attractions for teens is the two weeks in October when the park turns into Knott's Scary Farm. All over the park, ghosts, ghouls, zombies and goblins roam freely, popping out of shadows to scare. Oh, to be young again. If you go: Knott's Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Information: 714.220.5200. 5. ICE CREAM: Cold Stone Creamery There is something about getting ice cream served piping cold, and making the most thoughtful selection because there are real choices to be made. Cold Stone Creamery sells freshly made ice cream, yogurt and Italian sorbet. One advantage is that each order is folded on a granite stone chilled to 16 degrees. It is then put into a homemade waffle cone or bowl. Each store also is well-designed so that families know they're in an honest-to-goodness parlor. This matters, particularly for little children. Now, to the creations. The following is a very partial list of original recipes, but is indicative of the choices that make a visit worthwhile: Nights in White Chocolate; Oreo Overload; Black Forest Dream; Candy Land; Coffee Lovers Only; Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip; Paradise Found; Cheesecake Fantasy; Mud Pie Mojo; Caramel Turtle Temptation. If you go: There are about 20 ice cream parlors in Orange County. One of the most convenient opened in March 2001 at Irvine Spectrum Center. One of the best for those summer months is just up and off Main Street near the Huntington Beach Pier. 6. BREAKFAST: Wilma's Orange County will get about 14 inches of rain this year, most of that during the four months of winter. So with all of this great weather, it's a curiosity that more restaurants don't include patio dining. In 1975, Maurice and Wilma Staudinger started a Balboa tradition that turned the tables on the tourist habits. "When we first started, a lot of people found us when they found Balboa Island," says daughter Sheri Drewry, "but now when people come here, they find Balboa Island." That's saying a lot, when one considers the island's strong summer attraction. "I think our success is due to our efforts to provide good quality food, good service and our highly visible family talking to people and making our customers feel they belong," says Drewry. "These are things you usually don't get when you go out." And is there truth to the rumor that Wilma's is so popular that a few folks are seen leaving the nearby church a little early in order to get a table? No one will say. What they will say is that this is great food in one of Southern California's hot tourist spots, but it's priced like a local hangout. Want a "light" breakfast of one egg, bacon, toast or cornbread and honey? That's only $3.80. Or, feast on a "build your own" omelet, Eggs Benedict or one of several Mexican egg dishes. And you can eat it all on the famous patio, the one with the wall-to-wall umbrellas. Don't worry about the weather. Legend has it that it never rains at Wilma's. If you go: Located along the main street, 203 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, Newport Beach. Information: 949.675.5542. 7. DINING: Ruby's Look up the word "consistent" in the dictionary and you may find a definition of Ruby's restaurants. You also may find that definition under delicious, affordable, fun and satisfying, for Ruby's truly has something for everyone. The fast-growing company has created the perfect mix of good food at reasonable prices, an exceptional kid's menu with a wide variety of items and an adult menu that offers dishes for every taste, from burgers to perhaps the best fish and chips in Orange County. Adults can even enjoy a glass of beer or wine with their meal. Children love Ruby's not just for the awesome food but for the chance to join the "Car Hop Club" and receive a free toy or game with their meal from Car Hop kids Rudy, Trudy, Will and Nilly. At any of Orange County's Ruby's restaurants, diners are guaranteed a great meal in a clean environment with superior service. Many locations offer excellent views, such as the location at the end of the Balboa Pier, or are conveniently located in a shopping district that is perfect for dining before or after a movie. Ruby's has been an Orange County staple for more than 20 years, but that's no surprise. They have found the perfect balance of excellent food (we're nominating the Bleus Burger for some sort of prize), great service and good prices. If you go: Location information: www.rubys.com. 8. AMUSEMENT PARK: Disneyland (Pooh Adventure) One of the top reasons that Orange County keeps getting better with age is Disneyland, the ever-changing family playground that started an industry. Disneyland celebrated its 48th anniversary in July with no signs of slowing down for middle age. In fact, Disneyland has a lot of imagineering on its plate, including a new area just for very young children. The 6-month-old "Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh" replaces what used to be Country Bear Jamboree. But with the Country Bears off to Hollywood to make movies, who better to fill the slot than Pooh? The Pooh ride is a slow-moving "dark ride" (descriptive of the lighting, not the scenes inside) that the entire family can enjoy, particularly because there is no height requirement. Disneyland offers what is perhaps the county's best entertainment value. For $105, Southern California residents can buy an annual passport that can be used to enter the park on selected days during the year. There is still so much for families to see and do at Disneyland. No one does it better. If you go: 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. Information: 714.781.4565. 9. GATHERING (without kids): Mama Cucina Room, Antonello RISTORANTE Parents can still love their kids and leave them at home occasionally. In fact, OC Family Magazine columnist Jenny Bioche recommends a steady diet of "parents only" activities. When the big night comes, and you've gathered other grown-ups for good conversation and a very good meal, you'll enjoy it in a very special way at the Mama Cucina (Mother's Kitchen) Room at Antonello Ristorante at South Coast Plaza Village. Since 1979, the restaurant has been providing Orange County diners with authentic Italian dishes made with the finest fresh ingredients. Antonello's has a wide variety of antipastos, soups, salads and fresh pasta dishes, as well as exceptional fish, poultry, veal and beef entrees. An award-winning wine list boasts more than 700 foreign and domestic labels. For special occasions or business meetings, there are eight private dining rooms, and that's why we mention Mama Cucina. This intimate private room has the ambiance of being home in Italy. If you go: South Coast Plaza Village, Santa Ana. Information: 714.751.7153 10. PARENTS' NIGHT OUT: Irvine Spectrum CENTER As part of his globe-hopping, The Irvine Co.'s chairman, Donald Bren, searched the world for ideas and inspiration to bring back to the country's best-known master-planned community. In Granada , Spain, he found Alhambra, a 13th century citadel that overlooks the city. The result for Orange County parents is a grown-up place to play. So, where do we start? Perhaps with dinner at a very impressive and growing list of restaurants for every taste, including Thaifoon, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, the Cheesecake factory, Wolfgang Puck, Yard House and Champps's Americana. Dinner can be followed up by a visit to one of the 21 movie theaters in the plaza - the busiest theater complex in the country. Or, if you prefer to combine your dining and entertainment, there are several places from which to choose. Want to play games? Eat and play at Dave & Buster's. Or grab dinner and catch a name act at the Crazy Horse Saloon and Nightclub. Plus, you can end it all with a double scoop at Ben & Jerry's or a cinnamon pretzel at Wentzel's Pretzel's. The top names in comedy are also at the Spectrum - laugh at them or with them at the Improv. And Sing Sing provides you with a great meal and entertaining servers. Irvine Spectrum Center also is growing. The company just announced that Nordstrom and Target stores will be built on site. Having said all of the above, you can amend some of the locations and turn a parents' night out into a family night out. If you go: Information: www.shopirvinespectrum.com. |
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