Here’s our list of 7 of the best parks and playgrounds to explore with kids. Does the thought of your little one taking a peaceful nap sound like music to your ears? Your toddler is a little bundle of energy – which is great, but can also be very tiring. Luckily, there’s a whole host of great parks right around the corner you can take them to, not only to tire them out, but to explore a brand new, exciting area. By the time they get home, they’ll be tuckered out. But we can’t guarantee they won’t be asking to go again tomorrow. From the sprawling Irvine Regional Park to the quaint Pitcher Park, the Villa Park/Orange area has just the park you’re looking for. It is named Villa Park, after all.
Serrano Park
2349 Apache Creek Rd, Orange, CA 92867
Serrano Park is off the beaten path, hidden in the residential neighborhoods of Orange. If you’re looking for a private park to take your kids for a little leisure time, this could be the place. The park has a recycled rubber play surface with a large field, a sand volleyball court, and a basketball court. The surrounding foothills make for a beautiful view while you watch your kids play on the playground.
Pitcher Park
204 N Cambridge St, Orange, CA 92866
If you’re looking for lots of playground equipment, this is not the park for you. But if you’re looking for a quiet little getaway, then you’ve found your spot. Take your little ones for a picnic in the small grass area in the back, and relax in the shade. This is a pocket sized park, so you’re not going to spend the whole day here, but it can be a nice place for a change of scenery to go and relax, letting your kids roam the park while being able to keep them in view the entire time.
Hart Park
Hart Park 701 S. Glassell St. Orange, CA
A hop skip and a jump away from Pitcher Park, you’ve got Hart Park waiting for you. And it’s the opposite of what you’re going to find at Pitcher Park. Where Pitcher Park is tiny and restful, Hart Park spans a sizeable distance that’s going to allow you a lot of options for the activities of your choice. A parking lot splits two sides of the park in half (be careful there when it rains!) One side holds bike trails – if you choose to venture down them, you’ll find yourself along the Santa Ana Riverbed. It also plays home to a sizeable baseball and soccer field. You can find tennis courts on the other side, along with a playground and even a pool with recreational swim hours.
Eisenhower Park
2864 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865
This is another park with plenty of space for your kids to run around and play. They can check out two separate playground areas, the small waterfall, and run over the bridge. Be sure to bring some food, because one of the most popular things to do at Eisenhower park is to feed the ducks. You might want to steer your little ones clear of some of the larger Canada geese that frequent the area, but they can still throw food to the ducks to their heart’s content at the large pond located in the park’s southern area.
Grijalva Park
368 N Prospect St, Orange, CA 92866
Grijalva park hosts one main soccer field for you to enjoy, surrounded by other amenities such as exercise equipment and basketball courts. You can also use the Grijalva Sports Center during free times, and behind it you can find trail access. The playground is well-kept, and your kids can use the monkey bars or swings, or slide down the slides as they watch people walk their dogs.
Irvine Regional Park
1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, CA 92869
If you’re worried about driving all the way to Irvine, the first thing you should know is that Irvine Regional Park is actually located in Orange. It has just about everything you could ask for in a park, including the Irvine Park Railroad and paddle boats. Keep in mind that parking is $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. You can also take your kids for a visit to the OC Zoo inside the park. The park has four playgrounds and two swingsets, plenty to keep your children occupied until it’s time to go home.
Handy Park
2143 E Oakmont Ave, Orange, CA 92867
Handy is another place with spacious area for your kids to play and climb trees. It has a large grass area behind the playground, and another grass area and baseball field across the parking lot. It also comes with a sand volleyball court. Spend some quality time here surrounded by the residential neighborhood – you’ll feel right at home.