How to Visit the Great Park in Irvine, California

The Great Park is located in Irvine, California. It's one of the largest parks in the nation. The El Toro Marine Corps Air Station was transformed into the Great Park. It's a must-see for visitors. Locals should plan on spending many lazy days enjoying its beauty.

Instructions

1. Arrive through one of many easy routes through any of the highways that run through the country. The park has the great asset of being almost directly in the center of Orange County. That means all of its residents can have fairly easy access to this park. In fact, all residents of the country are within a 30-minute drive to this haven. If you are here to visit Disneyland, take a quick stop at this park to marvel at its natural beauty.

2. Put on your walking shoes. You have 1,347 acres to cover if you want to see all of the park. Bring along a friend and wander around in the glory of the magnificent park. Plan on keeping the day free so that you can hike, picnic and wander wherever your heart takes you. A schedule likely will be thrown away once you arrive at the park.

3. Take a ride in the Great Orange Balloon. It's a free ride service offered by the park (see Resources below). This is a great adventure for children of all ages. You'll soar seemingly sky high as you enjoy the sights of the park and surrounding areas.

4. Enjoy Saturday-night concerts and Friday-night dance parties at the park. This is seasonal, usually occurring in the summer. Plan your trip in advance by contacting either the park's representatives or the conservancy. Both offices usually have the information that you need to plan your trip well in advance, based upon which activities appeal to you most.

5. Enter The Great Canyon. It runs 2 miles long. It also is 60 feet deep in some places, so watch children carefully if you bring them along. If you are here in the summer, you'll welcome the fact that it's also much cooler than other places in the park. If you are a nature lover, you'll delight in finding native palms and woodlands here.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan on spending 1 to 3 days enjoying the park. There is enough splendor here to last for an entire vacation in and of itself.

• Become a "Friend of the Great Park" in honor of your visit. A small donation will help go to beautify the park, improve its current state of being, and create more amenities for future visitors.

• Don't worry about planning this trip based on seasonal concerns. This is a beautiful area for visitors year round.

Resources

• Great Park Conservancy
• Great Park Official Website