Friday Hike Day: El Dorado Nature Center, Long Beach

This local nature center is a real gem, located  in suburbia. It's more of a walk then a hike and is great for younger kids especially. There are restrooms and water fountains located at the nature center and another about half way along the trail. The trail features a 1 or 2 mile option. Also, there is a 1/4 mile paved trail that makes this stroller and wheel chair friendly.

There is a parking fee as follows:

$5 Monday-Thursday
$6 Friday
$7 Saturday & Sunday
$8 on Holidays

We met some very friendly bird-watching photographers along our walk today. They let us use their binoculars to observe an osprey enjoying a fresh fish lunch over the lake. 

You will most likely see turtles along the bridge from the nature center and ducks, lizards, squirrels and possibly rabbits or even a snake along the way. Though this trail is nestled away in suburbia, there are beautiful views to be had, if you are looking for them. 

This is a fairly easy hike for us. Pretty flat, partial shade and sun. There are viewing and sitting areas along the path. This is a popular trail for bird watchers.

I usually head for the mountains but some days...you just gotta stay local and still get your outdoor fix.

Start the day outside! 

Friday Hike Day: Old LA Zoo, Griffith Park

This trail has no signs or markers and can be a bit confusing. There are plenty of restrooms at the park and parking is free.

You want to park in the lot at the merry go round, but the farthest one beyond it. The merry go round should then be behind you, picnic area in front and playgrounds to your front right and down right. The last pic, at the bottom of this post, has everyone pointing to the unmarked trail to take you to the less obvious animal cages, shacks and back cage entrances. 

You will hike up a hill, across and beyond a half asphault/half dirt area, into brush. You will see remnants of chain link fences. Stay to the right and you'll come upon a half buried cage on your left. It's still accessible but use caution throughout.

There is a creeptastic shack with tons of graffiti. We could smell something burning and saw wisps of smoke within but upon further exploration by two of our teen hikers, could not locate the source.

The pic above is Bee Rock. We could not find the actual trail to the summit so we took a narrow trail straight up the hill side. It was slippery and rocky, totally not recommended for, nor able to accommodate strollers. 

The ruins of the zoo are interesting to view. They are meant to be inaccessible, as shown by all the chain link fencing and chain locks. However, as you can also tell by the grafitti, there are often ways to get in. 

You can make your exploration more stroller friendly by going toward the white gated entrance instead. There are flat dirt paths and paved walkways in that direction. Past that gate and to the left, will take you to the fronts of a few old animal enclosures and picnic area. You can continue to follow the flat, wide paths with a stroller but it will be uphill. 

We all enjoyed exploring which really upped the adventure scale for everyone. We did not see any animals beyond squirrels at the playground and birds. The woods are full of exotic sounding bird calls.

Enjoy! 

Everyone is pointing to the way you can go to explore the zoo ruinsbthat are located deeper in the brush. 

Friday Hike Day: Ralph B. Clark Regional Park, Buena Park

This was a mild but nice local trail. The park itself is huge and features a small fishing pond, numerous awesome playgrounds, restrooms, a paleontology center and a stroller friendly trail. 

You can park free on the street adjacent to the park. If you dobtgat, enter the park along any of the openings along the fence and head all the way left. You can access the trail there via wooden steps. 

That is the only non-stroller area. The rest of the trail is hilly but wide and flat. If you have a stroller, walk parallel to the trail toward the back of the park and access the trail that way instead. The trail travels along the perimeter of the park for 3/4 of the edge. 

The peak of the trail offers stunning views. Wildflowers grace the trails and we caught sight of a rabbit. He blended in very well so be on the look out. 

The paleontology center is an informative and educational place to stop while you're there. You will learn how excavations and preservation of fossils and animal skeletons are handled. The center hosts lots of neat items to look at, including a giant shark jaw of teeth! 

There's a fabulous playground right behind the center that makes a great picnic area. Kids will love this walk/hike, the center and the park. 

Enjoy!