Florence Joyner Olympiad Park, Mission Viejo
Why we love it: The creativity of the design of the park is fantastic. The kids have a great time and there are seemingly endless areas for the kids to explore. There are quite a few shaded areas but the swings in particular are in full sun. There are tic tac toe boards, a large corkscrew slide, clubhouses and other neat park structures I have not seen at other parks. There was even a giant enclosed cave-like area with dinosaur etchings inside.
Be sure to bring: Lots of sunscreen, water and a few snacks for the kids. If it is your first time going to the park, plan on staying there for at least an hour, because kids have so many areas to explore. There are restrooms, but as always- bring hand sanitizer! There are also shaded picnic benches.
Appeals to: Kids of all ages and sizes. There are copious amounts of shade for babies, little clubhouses for toddlers and some of the neatest climbing structures I have ever seen for older kids! There are lots of walking paths, so bring a jogging stroller and go for a good trek in the mornings or evenings. There is also a large field adjoining the park for outdoor sports.
Directions: It’s easily accessed off of Alicia Parkway near Lake Mission Viejo, at the intersection of Olympiad road and Alicia Parkway. The entrance is about a block down Olympiad. 22760 Olympiad Road, Mission Viejo
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mission+Viejo,+CA&ie=UTF8&ll=33.631987,-117.632675&spn=0.025691,0.036221&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1