This summer is flying by! Let’s get right to it. Inside this newsletter, you’ll find:
Featured: 101 Places to Visit with Kids in OC
Classic Summer Play Trip: Quieter side of Newport Beach / Costa Mesa
One Positive Action: Introducing “PLAN” by More Than Just Parks
Plus, special extras in the paid section (Analog in OC play idea, Noticing Nature tidbit, and a mini trail guide from the OC Tiny Hikes archive).
Thank you for playing and supporting play! I said it on Instagram and I want to say it here, too:
Every newsletter is a love letter to you sending support through the tough yet rewarding work of parenting. Always hoping to remind you of the lighter, slower, playful side.
Michele
As a friendly reminder, make sure you ALWAYS check official sources when you are heading out to any of the locations I share. These are merely suggestions. Only you know what works for your family. Plus, your experience may not be the same as mine — and there can be changes to the hours or unforeseen circumstances or conditions at the suggested locations.
I started this list over a dozen years ago and I keep playing with it to make it better each year. Hope you find some places you want to play!
Nature in Newport - A nature trail near a stream with birds and even redwoods - you’ll feel like you can get lost here. Only open to public 10am-3pm weekends.
TeWinkle Park Ducks, Geese, & Chirping Squirrels - Don’t feed the animals even though they might follow you around! Only for viewing! Restoration was just completed at the upper lakes. Little construction fans will also like seeing the work they are doing on the lower lakes. Visit before July 17th to beat the OC Fair traffic. The playground is accessible.
Bob Henry & Castaways - Bob Henry Park and Castaways Park are nearby for playground play or a harbor view walk.
Juliette Cafe & Coffee Culture in Newport Beach - this is a new restaurant addition since creating the original Summer Play Trip. Tons of other restaurants also nearby on 17th Street.
Bonus: Add in Mariners Park and potentially Crean Mariner’s Branch Library if the hours of your visit fit in their schedule.
Do you have a play trip to share? Or a restaurant you love to support? Send me your recommendations!
I’m holding this space for one idea a week for an action you can take. Something that might only take you 10-20 minutes to read and act. I know it’s hard to know HOW to help at times. I tend to start small with daily kindness, gratitude, and caring for others. Beyond that, what can you do to make a difference? Any one action adds up when we work together.
Less than a minute: I have shared More Than Just Parks newsletters often (subscribing to that free newsletter would be an excellent ONE action since it brings lots of deep reporting on the threats to our national public lands).
Maybe 5 minutes? Get acquainted with these 3 resources they developed:
Threatened Public Lands Map “shows you every place on the chopping block.”
And their Congressional Public Lands Scorecard “shows you how all 535 members of Congress vote” on public lands issues.
Now they just introduced PLAN (Public Lands Action Network).
They say: “there’s never been anything like it for America’s public lands. Every morning it reads the entire Federal Register, the government’s daily log of what it intends to do to the country, and it pulls every decision open for public comment that touches the land you own. It explains each one in plain English. It shows you the official count of how many people have already spoken up. It hands you four fast ways to act. It covers all 50 states. And it’s free, with no account required and no paywall on action, ever.”
5 minutes to 20 minutes: Spend a little time learning about a PLAN issue and make a public comment. Right now there are 43 open decisions and 10 close this week! Prioritize one of them and make a comment.
Click the photos to go to the guides!
Week 3: Three ideas for making this summer more basic (90’s summer)
Week 2: Newport Beach playgrounds + nature centers + libraries
Week 1: Family-friendly stops on Irvine CONNECT + FREE summer trolleys
What’s behind the paywall today?
Analog in OC - next level hopscotch idea
Noticing Nature in OC - walking on the other side of the street + growing hot joy
OC Tiny Hike archive - stumble upon a plethora of birdhouses
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