Biking

At the end of August in Southern California you don’t expect to find running water and a beautiful cascading waterfall – but that is exactly what we found during our hike through Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, California.

Thousand Oaks is situated at the southern end of Ventura County adjacent to Los Angeles County. The area in and around TO, as it is called by its residents, is full of parks and recreational facilities.

Our surprising waterfall was hidden within a deep valley at the park - near Avenida De Los Arboles and North Big Sky Drive intersection. Free parking is available off West Avenida De Los Arboles.

Big Bear Valley is well known for its winter sports fun. But after the snow melts and the skiers flee the area, a whole new adventure awaits you.

The valley and mountains around it are full for hiking and biking trails waiting to be explored, and the “Big Bear Discovery Center” is the place to start your adventure.

The San Clemente Coastal Trail is a newly completed hiking and biking trail in the city of San Clemente. The trail is a section of the planned California Coastal Trail which will parallel the beach throughout the state of California when complete.

The trail starts from North Beach next to the Metrolink train station and it runs under the bluffs, next to the train tracks with great views of the beach all along the way. The full hike is about 3 miles long (each way). The south end of the hike terminates at Trestle Beach or San Mateo Creek.

This hike is considered easy and it is great for families with small children.

It’s a park. It’s a beach. It’s a campground. It’s all of the above and much more.

San Clemente State Beach is one of the rare places where everything aligns perfectly to make your visit unforgettable. You will want to come back again and again.

The “State Beach” offers camp sites atop the bluffs with breathtaking views of the ocean. The camp has around 160 campsites which are divided into group, RV and tent areas. The campground is beautifully laid out with paved roads connecting the various areas. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, shade ramada and shade trees - with drinking and washing water nearby. Bathrooms – with hot showers - are never too far.

Anaheimer Tip: This park is extremely popular. You will need to make reservations many months ahead of time. Go to ReserveAmerica’s website and book your camp sites up to a year in advance.

After the closing of El Toro Marine base in 1999 a great debate erupted in OC. What to do with the huge real estate vacated by the marines? Some wanted a new airport, others preferred more urban sprawl, but the forces of nature won. Now we have the Orange County Great Park.

This park is located in the city of Buena Park, north of Anaheim. It is another large recreational area with lakes, streams, trees, hills, playgrounds, sports fields, bike trails and a very nice hiking trail.

The park lands range from large open grass areas, to gently rolling hills of native plants, to shear sandstone cliffs to the north.

For sports enthusiasts, the park offers sand volleyball courts, three softball fields and a baseball diamond and tennis courts.

Irvine Park is located in the city of Orange and is about 20 minutes from Anaheim. It is the largest park in Orange County (477 acres). This park has lakes, creeks, lagoon, Oak and Sycamore trees, waterfall, bridges, playgrounds, bike trails and paddle boats.

Located in the east end of Anaheim, it is one of the largest parks in the area with acres of turf, trees, lakes and streams. It also has multiple playgrounds for kids of all ages, a very long bike trail, volleyball courts, horseshoe pit, two baseball diamonds and a physical fitness course.