Spring is officially here! And with time jumping forward, this brings longer daylight hours with more time to enjoy the day! Springtime is the perfect time to dust off your walking shoes, get down that bike hanging in the garage, take that big lunge off that couch, and explore the outdoors!
Here are a few budget-friendly springtime activities to consider this year:
Attend a Festival
Highland Springs Ranch Inn has some fun things planned this spring. Their Sheep Shearing Festival goes from March 12-April 3rd and is open from 10 am-4 pm every Saturday and Sunday. Children under the age of 5 are free!
If beauty and relaxation are more your things, HSRI has another favorite festival, The Annual Lavender Festival! Here, you can stroll through the lavender fields, expand your pallet with lavender-inspired treats, enjoy live music, and hop on a hay wagon! They are closed on Tuesdays. Online admission and parking tickets are available here.
Sawdust Spring Fling is another family favorite! March 26th, 27th, and April 2nd & 3rd from 10 am-5 pm; you can come and enjoy the artistic festivities with live music, complimentary festival classes, and art demonstrations! Admission is only $5, and any child under 12 is free! Online ticket purchases, entertainment schedule, exhibit artist, and festival class schedules are available here.
Take a Bike Ride
Nothing beats the feel of the sun on your body and the breeze through your hair while riding your bike along the pacific coastline! Here are a few of our favorite spots (and don't forget the portable radio to listen to your favorite tunes along the way!)
The Monterey Bay Coastal Trail is the place to be for biking along the beautiful 18-mile stretch, from Castroville in the north to Pacific Grove in the south. Enjoy your ride with the options of stopping for a snack and taking in the beauty of sea lions and sea otters! You can even rent bikes there if your bike is not available! There are many local businesses available to rent a bike from, including Adventures by the Sea. Check out their info here!
The Huntington Beach Bicycle Trail is the perfect trail for a smooth ride with a 10 mile stretch of a paved wide bike path along the shoreline! Along this path, you will come across shops and restaurants, a dog beach, and the chance to rent a bike for up to 4 people from Jack's Beach Concession! You can find more info here.
A beginner at bike riding or not wanting to go too far? Long Beach's Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath may be for you! This 3.1-mile paved bike path is 17 feet wide, starting from Alamitos Avenue to 54th Place on the east. Bikes, skates, umbrellas, and beach chairs are also available to rent if you want to take a break and enjoy the beach! You can find out more details by contacting Alfredo's Beach Club here.
Visit a Flower Field
Timing is critical, and pictures are everything! This spring season should be a beautiful time to enjoy the flower fields (and get good Insta pics to post!) Here are some beautiful spots to make you feel like you’re in a movie scene!
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, although this is not a wildflower field, you can see an array of beautiful flowers of every color. Talk about walking in a rainbow! The best time to take in this beauty is from early March to early May 8th. Pre-sale tickets are required to enter. Click here to purchase.
At the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, your eyes will be amazed by the beautiful golden hills covered by California's state flower, the California Poppy. Nearly every year, starting late February to May, you will see these beautiful wildflowers. Even better, here is a live cam to view before heading out to make sure the flowers are in full bloom before you go! Click here to view
Figueroa Mountain Recreation Area has wildflowers galore! Again, February- April is the best time to see purple shooting stars, chocolate lilies, and the scarlet Indian paintbrush, to name a few! The Figueroa Mountain recreation area lies thirty minutes north of Los Olivos and can be reached by the Figueroa Mountain Road or the Happy Canyon Road.
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