The recent weather system passing through the County of Orange produced these BIG, puffy fantastic clouds. The skyline resembled oil on canvas from the romantic era of landscape painting. As I was headed home after my open house this past weekend, I decided to stop off at Victoria Vista Park in Costa Mesa to take in the surrounding skies.
It was definitely brisk in the late afternoon, but well worth catching these panoramic views that this wonderful park offers. Victoria Vista Park rests on top of the mesa overlooking the City of Huntington Beach. You can get views of Catalina on a clear day, as well as, the mountaintops of the San Bernardino National Forrest.
On the day of my visit, I was able to capture the every changing skyline, a silhouette of Catalina with sun spots on the Pacific and the dusted white mountaintops of the San Bernardino National Forest. It was awe-inspiring; inspirational. It reminded me about the importance of taking some time off and getting wrapped up in the beauty of nature.
In addition to the sights, the park offers a flat field for recreational sports and playground equipment for children. Many people where out and about walking their dogs and I even caught a family flying a kite. The ravine below is a natural preserve where horseback riders can travel along the winding paths. On one occasion, I have even seen dog sled teams with all terrain scooters running the paths of the park.
Take some time off, and get out into our cities parks. There are plenty of green spaces that offer a wide arrange of activities for neighbors of the community. Remember that our tax dollars pay for these parks, so go out and enjoy your investment.
Best regards,
David
Westcliff Park in Newport Beach
A few months prior to our picnic rendezvous, me and a couple of buddies stumbled upon Westcliff Park in Newport Beach. Struck in awe at the fantastic views, I decided at that time to come back with Rachell to enjoy a day in the sun.
We were the first to arrive which worked out great because it gave way to exploration of the small park. The design of the greenbelt leads to multiple vantage points with two inlets in direct view as well as the actual opening to the Back Bay. Across the way you can see the club house and docks. The sun beats down on the turf that wraps around the west bluff.
There are two places to park your auto; we first choose the actual parking lot for the park. But as we moved about on foot we discovered a col-de-sac at the other end. After we enjoyed the views and picked out a prime location to host the event, we hopped back into our auto and parked at the end of the col-de-sac.
Although this wasn’t the driest outing, we made due with blankets and tarps to block the dampness of the ground. The end of the col-de-sac is the high point of the park with a flat mesa top, just perfect for our function. After the sprawl was set, we waited for our guest and bathed in the warm sunlight.
I know it’s not summer yet, but an outing in the park is a great way to spend some time with family and friends. I think we sometimes get so wrapped up into spending money at the movies or amusement parks that we forget about what our city and county have to offer. Well, here is to the cities, of Orange County, parks and open green space available for all to enjoy.
Take a look in your city; what does it have to offer?
Best,
DSWilfert
Photos:
Map: Westcliff Park Newport Beach
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