Outdoors
BEACHES
Beaches: For hanging-out, bonfires, and a little volleyball, Newport Beach, Balboa Penninsula, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, and Corona Del mar Beach (“Big Corona’), are fantastic. A couple of local favorites for body surfing and sunning are El Morro and Crystal Cove Beach (where Newport Coast Drive meets the Pacific Coast Highway). Tide-pooling is also fantastic at Crystal Cove Beach (with hermit crabs galore!) or at “Little Corona Beach” (right next door to Big Corona). For a more romantic, scenic beach, try Wood’s Cove in Lsurfing is Laguna (PCH south, R on Diamond Street, park and head down the stairs.) You can find great waves for surfing all along Balboa Penninsula, especially from 30th St. to 56th. Laguna also boasts some great surfing spots: Main Beach gets pretty crowded, but beaches at the end of St. Ann’s, Thalia, Bluebird, and Agate streets all have good waves. Or, head farther south to surf in San Onofre, Doheny State Beach in Dana Point (beach is rocky so you may need booties, but a perfect small and easy place to learn to longboard), Salt Creek Beach Park in Laguna Niguel (more suited to an experienced surfer), or Trestles. Go north to hit Huntington Beach. For scuba diving and snorkeling, Laguna Beach is easy and shallow, with lots of underwater animals, including seals. Otherwise, head to Catalina Island.
RUNNING and WALKING
Places to run, skate, bike, and hike: Paved trails for running, blading, and cycling can be found at Woodbridge Lake along W Yale Loop (about 5 miles), Back Bay along Harvard to PCH, Balboa Penninsula boardwalk, the Strand at Manhattan Beach, and the sidewalk around Balboa Island (3 miles total if you run both the big and the little islands). Dirt trails for hiking, running, and mountain biking include the hills behind University Park (the trail runs behind Palo Verdea/ Verano), Crystal Cove State Park (with trails named things like “I Think I Can” and “Mach One,” $5 parking), El Morrow Canyon (PCH south, left at El Moro School Signal, $6 parking), Silverado Canyon, Aliso Woods “Top-of-the-World” in Laguna Beach, Whiting Ranch, Trabuco Canyon Road (hiking only), the State Beach in Newport (hiking only), and Lake Elsinore (around 45-60’ away; 5S , exit east on the 74, to the tops of a hill overlooking Lake Elsinore. Both hiking and dirt biking). For more great ideas in Orange County, pick up a AAA guide, or go online to county parks and rec. Or, for a weekend trip, check out the scenery at beautiful Lake Arrowhead. Just be sure to bring a map!
• Rock-Climbing: Use the indoor walls at The ARC or Rockreation Sport Climbing Center (1300 Logan Ave., Costa Mesa, (714)556-7625), and talk to the instructors there about great outdoor sites, especially Joshua Tree. Make a class trip out of it!!
BIRD WATCHING
Bird Watching: The Eucalyptus trees between Med Surge II and Med Ed are often buzzing with hummingbirds. Turkey vultures and road runners have also been seen near the medical school. In the grassy hills behind Palo Verdea you will find hawks and road runners, especially in the early morning. The Back Bay is home to beautiful egrets, herons,
ducks and birds of all varieties. The Audubon Society has a number of shallow pools populated by many different shore birds. To get there, exit campus by Bridge or Berkley, turn left on Harvard, and left again on Michelson. After corssing the creek, turn left immediately on Riparian. Riparian becomes a gravel road before reaching a small house labeled “Audubon Society Sea and Sage Chapter.” They have guided walks on Sunday mornings.
CAMPING
Camping: San Bernadino National Forest is 1.45 hrs away behind Lake Arrowhead, and has great backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail; as well as a wonderful 10mile trail along Deep Creek with excellent views, spots to camp, and water access. Also receiving praise are Blue Jay Camp and O’Neill Park, and a little further away, Angeles National Forest and the 1,000 Lakes area (Muir Wilderness).
WINTER SPORTS
Winter Sports: Talk to our own resident skier aficionado, Reza Torshizy, for ideas on great places to ski and snow board. Several 2nd years when skiing together last year during vacation, perhaps you can organize a trip of your own!
