If you don’t plan to get away, there are plenty of places nearby to play for the holidays.
Want to get that chilly, cozy holiday feeling, but with a beachy twist? Maybe strap on some ice skates and glide around on an ice rink that overlooks the sand and sea. How about a mellow stroll or a strenuous hike to work off that turkey dinner?
The malls and shops will be packed for Black Friday, but another option will be to get outside, a growing trend in recent years for people who want to spend the day out in the fresh air to soak in the outdoor scenery rather than be stuck in lines.
In Southern California, we happen to have plenty of diverse landscape from the mountains to the sea to play for the day. Here’s a few ways to make some fun memories and glide into the holidays:
1. Take a hike:
Spent Thanksgiving stuffing your face and sitting in a food coma? Good for you – now get moving.
Work off those pie calories by taking a strenuous hike or continue the vacation vibes by taking a relaxing stroll at the many trails that weave throughout Orange County.
One of the most unique landscapes that looks more like Nevada or Arizona can be found right here at Red Rock Canyon in Foothill Ranch, accessed by the Borrego Canyon trailhead off Portola Parkway.
The 4-mile roundtrip trail is a great geological exploration– the red rocks date back to 20 million to 40 million years ago, created from deposited gravel, sand and mud and shaped by earthquakes, water and wind.
Start the trek at 26701 Portola Parkway in Foothill Ranch; parking is $3 or use an annual OC Parks pass.
If you want to be closer to the coast, check out the 40 miles of trails tucked away in the 7,000 acres of Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. You can choose from pathways lined with oak and sycamore trees, and the trek pays off once you hit the rocky bluffs that overlook expansive scenic views, the glistening ocean in the distance.
Mostly untouched by human development, the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park exists much as did thousands of years ago, with coastal sage scrub abundant in the rolling hills.
Explorers can make the trek as easy or as challenging as they want, even connecting to other the trails that make up the 20,000-acre South Coast Wilderness area. You can connect to the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Crystal Cove State Park or inland into the Irvine Ranch Conservancy’s open space network.
A good starting point is the Nix Nature Center, 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, where you can find trail information, including what’s allowed and what’s not.
Or head north to the Chino Hills State Park where there is great bird watching opportunities as you hike the rolling hills.
The 58-acre Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim offers miles of hiking through woodlands and canyons. Follow the Stream Trail to the oldest oak tree in the canyon. At about 15 minutes its a great family option. The Bluebird Lane trail goes deep into the woodlands about half a mile.
The Ralph B. Clark Regional Park in Buena Park offers hiking trails, but also take a pause at its interpretive center, which has a a paleontology museum telling the story of Orange County’s earliest residents.
2. Explore the water:
With summer crowds gone, it’s a great time of year to explore Orange County’s 42 miles of coastline.
Stand-up paddle or kayak the region’s three harbors – the canals of Huntington Harbour, the vast Newport Harbor or the quaint Dana Point Harbor – for a bit of leisurely exercise with a view.
If you’ve never tried a stand-up paddle, there are plenty of places that can get you started with your rental. It’s pretty easy, but be warned, if you lose your balance, you might be in for a chill.
If you prefer to kick back and relax, there are plenty of charter boats available for ocean adventures.
Dana Wharf Whale Watching marks the day after Thanksgiving with “Gray Friday” to kick off the gray whale season as they cruise past the coast on their way from Alaska to the warm lagoons in Mexico.
If you have family in town, you can charter a trip for just you and your loved ones by renting a Duffy boat or going offshore with Newport Coastal Adventures to seek out ocean marine life.
Not an ocean person? Drop a line into the many lakes that dot Orange County (you’ll need a fishing license if you are an adult). Among the options are Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Mile Square Regional Park, Tri-City Regional Park and Laguna Niguel Regional Park.
Have some fun renting a paddle boat at Mile Square Park or Irvine Regional Park.
3. Outdoor ice rinks:
Now is about the time you may see some outdoor ice rinks popping up at shopping centers, but new this year will be a unique experience with an ocean view.
The outdoor rink near the sand in Huntington Beach will no doubt become a prime photo op stop for holiday cards with the pier and ocean in the backdrop. The rink has been placed in the Pier Plaza area on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier to encourage visitors during the slower season.
The city plans to open the rink by Nov. 26 and it will run through Jan. 2.
Huntington Beach’s rink will be 4,100 square feet – a rectangle in shape about 82 feet by 50 feet – running parallel to Pacific Coast Highway. It will be able to hold 162 skaters at a time.
Admission will be $12 per person for unlimited time on the ice, and $5 for skate rentals. The rink is expected to be open 2 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Weekday hours will be earlier during winter break when schools let out.
If you want a more secluded experience, but still with an ocean view, the ice rink at the Paséa Hotel & Spa is back through Jan. 3 for the hotel’s Cool Yule holiday celebration.
There are theme nights, such as a Mariah Carey tribute night and a DJ on Friday nights, as well as “skate and sip” nights with champagne specials. New this year will be holiday movies playing on a big screen Prices range, starting at $30, including skate rentals, depending on time and day, with discounts available for military and seniors.
Irvine Spectrum’s rink will be back starting Nov. 26, with hour and a half sessions starting at 3 p.m. and running through 10:30 pm.
It also offers a 30-minute learn-to-skate program Saturday mornings from Nov. 27 to Dec. 19.
The schedule changes through the holiday. Prices are $25 for adult with skate rentals, $23 without. Military, seniors and kids under 10 are $21.
4. Want to soar?
The Great Park Balloon is a great way to feel far away from it all, with a trip to the sky that offers views of Orange County.
The best part: It’s free.
The tethered balloon goes up 400 feet and even does nighttime launches, offering twinkling, romantic views of lights below. Be sure to check the hours and days it is open and be warned that all rides are weather permitting.
Balloon rides are first-come, first-serve basis and reservations are not available. Check-in begins 30 minutes prior to each session of flight.
There are no age or height restrictions to fly on the Great Park Balloon, though passengers younger than 13 must ride with an adult. It is also wheelchair accessible.
Wait times vary based on demand and could be up to three hours on a busy day. If you have a wait, you can be contacted by text for when your flight is available.
Kill time by checking out the nearby Great Park Carousel that boasts vintage-inspired scenic artwork and the holiday decor.
5. Take the train:
The Irvine Park Railroad is a 1/3 scale train that takes both children and adults on a ride through the beautiful and historic Irvine Regional Park. The train runs seven days a week, weather permitting.
Located in the foothills of Orange, Irvine Regional Park also features both walking and trotting ponies for kids to ride. The walking ponies are open Tuesdays through Sundays and the trotting ponies are open weekends and holidays. The pony rides are located next to the train station.
Want to jump on a real train? Metrolink and Amtrak services have stops across Southern California and a trip on the train makes for a fun adventure.
The San Juan Capistrano stop is a great place to explore the historic mission, have lunch at one of the new hot restaurants or catch a movie at the theater just steps from the train station. A stroll along the San Clemente Pier or the nearby coastal path is a must-do.
If you want a fun day trip, take the line all the way down to Oceanside to explore beaches further south. The coastal views alone, which pass through San Onofre State Beach, are worth the ride.
Or step inside and marvel at the trains chugging through tiny landscapes at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda. Model trains are chugging up mountainsides, plowing through snowy tunnels and rolling across the windswept American plains in the always popular display – there are special events every Thursday.
6. Holiday lights:
Tis’ the season for the holiday decorations to start popping up.
Newport Dunes will kick off its 31st annual Lighting of the Bay on Nov. 26 at dusk, the picturesque bay transforming into a winter wonderland. The Lighting of the Bay is free and on-sight parking is $2 an hour.
Dana Harbor is already decked out with its harbor light display made up of 700,000 lights that illuminate the harbor.
There’s everything in lights from giant whale sculptures, lighted palm trees, Christmas trees, a giant Adirondack chair, and the popular “Merry Kiss Me” arch.
You may even run into strolling carolers, holiday-themed photo ops or Santa sightings.
The Night of Lights OC opens Nov. 26 at the OC Fair & Event Center, running through Jan. 2. The drive-through display of more than 1 million lights has multiple time slots to choose from. Tickets start at $39.99.
7. Santa’s Village stay-cation:
Want to feel far from home, but still be close enough to drive home for dinner? Santa’s Village (yes that same place you went as a kid, but reimagined) has kicked off its Christmas festivities and is a quick getaway for people who want to soak in the holiday sights and smell of pine trees in the lush mountain forest.
There’s everything from Village Lights that glisten at sundown with holiday music in the backdrop to Santa Meet & Greets with photo ops. Santa’s workshop and post office will be open where kids can paint their own toys. There’s also cookie decorating (an added $7) as well as magic and puppet shows.
Want an overnight? A fleet of Airstreams were just brought in for the RV Camping Resort across the street for a “glamping” getaway.
Santa’s Village has more than just holiday cheer with a bit of added adventure at the SkyPark such as mountain biking, zip lining, axe throwing and climbing challenges.
8. Snow play:
Head up the windy mountain for Big Bear Snow Play, a tuning hill that has enough of a snow base to operate for the holiday weekend, and beyond, with more snow blown from the machines expected as night temps drop.
Big Bear Snow Play also lights up after dark with a unique snow play experience called “glow tubing” from 5 to 9 p.m.
There’s also a Big Bear Ropes Course on site with aerial adventures where kids and parents can balance on ropes, cross bridges and climb through 37 different obstacles.
Source: Orange County Register
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