Review: Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Located on the very eastern edge of the city of Orange, Santiago Oaks Regional Park runs alongside Santiago Creek, Orange County’s main tributary to the Santa Ana River.

This secluded 1,269 acre park – located close enough to most east Orange neighborhoods to walk to, including Orange Park Acres and Villa Park – offers family-friendly nature well within the reach of everyone. There is a mature forest, Santiago Creek, wildlife, and trails for virtually every level of hiker, mountain biker, and equestrian.

Unlike nearby Irvine Regional Park, Santiago Oaks is less of an ‘entertainment’ destination park; you won’t find a zoo, trains, or large open maintained grass areas for parties. It’s a wilderness park. Santiago Oaks calls to the adventurer’s spirit within; the park does offer a cozy amphitheater, BBQs, picnic tables, playgrounds, and an interpretive programs/nature center, but the draw – the beauty – of Santiago Creek are the trails. A vast interconnected series of trails stretch throughout the park offering technical trails for all skill levels, and rewarding the hiker, biker, or equestrian with inspiring views of Orange and the unspoiled foothills surrounding the city. The park trails also connect with the Anaheim Hills Trail System.

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Why are Beagles so popular as pets despite their low intelligence?

The question was asked:

Why are Beagles so popular as pets despite their low intelligence? According to The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren, beagles have the “Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence”.

According to American Kennel Club, they are the fourth most popular breed used as pets: AKC Dog Registration Statistics

Why do people choose beagles as pets? Doesn’t their low intelligence cause problems?

My answer is simple:

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Incredible Camping Opportunities: Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park

Recently, David Miller posted on the REI posted about seven U.S. state parks that offer up some great camping opportunities (see article: “7 U.S. STATE PARKS WITH INCREDIBLE CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES“). One of the parks mentioned was California’s own Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

David wrote that  “Camping in a redwood forest is mystical. Tucked within a massive canopy of redwood, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, and grand and Douglas fir, and with a soft layer of duff covering the forest floor, there’s a sense of quiet and peace here. Sounds are dampened. Jedediah Smith is an entrancing place to camp: just imagine looking up through the huge branches and the understory of madrone and bigleaf maple, strolling through the giants in the Stout Grove, and wading in the crystal clear Smith River, the last major undammed river in California.”

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Welcome to National Public Lands Day!

Today is National Public Lands Day! Entry fees are waived in most of the national parks and national forests, so you won’t have to pay for day use areas – visitor centers, picnic areas, trailheads, etc.

You’ll still get o pay for concessions, camping, rentals, and other services. Check with your local national forest or park for specific information on the park you plan on visiting.

You can find out more about national parks, forests, wildernesses and other areas managed but the National Parks Service HERE.

Get outdoors and enjoy the day!

Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act

From the BlueRibbon Coalition: Earlier this year, California Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-21), Sam Farr (CA-21), and Jeff Denham (CA-10) introduced H.R. 1838, the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act, to direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reopen the 75,000 acre Clear Creek Management Area in San Benito and Fresno counties for recreational use, including access for off-road vehicles. Additionally, the legislation would protect approximately 21,000 acres of BLM land adjacent to Clear Creek as the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness.

Once considered a premier off-road vehicle recreation site, Clear Creek was temporarily closed in 2008 to the public after an Environmental Protection Agency analysis about the risk created by naturally occurring asbestos.

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