Chino Hills La Sierra Trail

1.Where are you going?


    Chino Hills, CA is almost an hour East of Los Angeles and two towns west of Ontario,CA.  Chino Hills is in the hills of the Inland Empire. Not surprising, there are many trails that meander through this small city. A good route is Park atop Chino Hills Parkway, North of Grand Ave, at the top of the hill where the No Parking signs cease. From this point you have two choices: the Grand Ave Park Trial to the West or the La Sierra Dr. Trailhead to the East. If you take the Grand Trail, it connects with the Sunset Park Trail through Grand Ave Park, and then onto Ridgeview Dr. Trail. 

http://www.chinohills.org/DocumentCenter/Home/View/1978

2.Where did you stop? This is the stop. This is a hiking stop. However, you can grab lunch afterwards in Chino Hills, like Roscoes Famous Deli.

3.How long do I need to spend here? 1 hour

4. What you need to take?

            _x_Sunblock     __bug spray    __Parking $        _x_ a picnic lunch         __ snacks                    __camera         __Jacket          __Hair Tie/hats           __ Bathing suit     __Bag

__ Towels/blanket      __an appetite  __open mind   __ Patience      __ tent

            _x_ Hiking shoes          __sandals        _x_ Walking Shoes         __souvenir money      _x_good music              __ walking stick           __Baby Powder  

5.When should I go here?

__Summer       __Winter         __Spring          __Autumn       _x_ANYTIME __Don’t go

6.Who should come with me?

__Kids                        _x_Adventurous Adults           _x_Teens          __Drunks        _x_Dogs            __Boring Friends        __Artsy Friends            _x_Nature-minded        _x_Hikers         __Anyone up for a good time             __Everyone                 __Romantic partner    _x_Outdoorsy  __Indoorsy            __out-of-shape people                       __Tourists   ___ Horses

Definitely bring your dog if you can. They would love it.

7.What is there to do here?

_x_Explore        _x_Relax           __be amazed               __ be amused              _x_exercise              __History lesson                    _Cultural exposure            __family time

_x_One with nature      __Recreation               __Drink and Eat          __Party

            __Seclusion/escape     __People watch          __Old-timey town      __Antiquing

__Shop            _x_Walk around            __Tours          __Fairs/concerts                      __Farmers Markets    __Star gaze      __Get gas and leave            __Nothing good

 8.What is this place?

The trails in Chino Hills are very well maintained. This trail is a comfortable dirt trail loop. It is only 2 miles but, there are some trail off-shoots that you can take to add sights and miles to your hike. For example, the Monte Verde trial connects to the La Sierra trail at the 1.5 mile point. Take this trail to the south and south west back to Monte Verde St. It will lead to the Madrugada Trail. Both of those will add another 4 miles round trip to your hike. The Grand Ave. Park Trail is across the street and that can add 2-6 miles depending on how far you take that trail and if you connect it with the Sunset Park Trail. 

9. What was so fun about this place?

 It's a short trip to a great hike. You are near some big homes and you have something to look at. It is peaceful and quiet so you can enjoy being at nature. Some parts of the trail seem to hike old bits of Chino Hills farming kitsch, so there is some exploring to be done. There are other people on this trail and some with dogs. It isn't over crowded but you will feel safe.

 10. What makes this place unique?

It's close to home.

11. What should I do while I am here?

Hike. Walk or jog it.

12.This would make a good stop on the way to…

The Wetlands at the Water District, English Springs Park, Ayala Park

The Cove at Jarupa Aquatic Center

1.Where are you going?  The Cove at the Jarupa Aquatic Center near Riverside, CA

2.Where did you stop? This is the stop

3.How long do I need to spend here? 1-4 hours

4. What you need to take?

            _x_Sunblock     __bug spray    __Parking $        _x_ a picnic lunch         __ snacks                    __camera         __Jacket          __Hair Tie/hats           _x_ Bathing suit     __Bag

_x_ Towels/blanket      __an appetite  __open mind   _x_ Patience      __ tent

            __ Hiking shoes          __sandals        __ Walking Shoes         __souvenir money      __good music              __ walking stick           __Baby Powder  

5.When should I go here?

_x_Summer       __Winter         __Spring          __Autumn       __ANYTIME __Don’t go

 Show up early to get a lounge chair. This place gets crowded and even more crowded when the high school lets out.

6.Who should come with me?

_x_Kids                        __Adventurous Adults           _x_Teens          __Drunks        __Dogs            __Boring Friends        __Artsy Friends            __Nature-minded        __Hikers         _x_Anyone up for a good time             __Everyone                 __Romantic partner    __Outdoorsy  __Indoorsy            __out-of-shape people                       __Tourists   ___ Horses

7.What is there to do here?

__Explore        _x_Relax           __be amazed               __ be amused              __exercise        __History lesson                    _Cultural exposure            __family time

__One with nature      _x_Recreation               __Drink and Eat          __Party

            __Seclusion/escape     __People watch          __Old-timey town      __Antiquing

__Shop            __Walk around            __Tours          __Fairs/concerts                      __Farmers Markets    __Star gaze      __Get gas and leave            __Nothing good

 8.What is this place?

The Cove is a miniature water park. There are three water slides, one lazy river, and one kiddie pool complete with water playground.  That's all. It is situated on just a few acres. It's nice that it's small because you can keep an eye on your kids while you relax on your chair. But, it's small and it fills up quickly because Riverside County is a furnace during the summer.

9. What was so fun about this place?

It is filled with WATER!!! Who doesn't like going on water slides or laying in a lazy river.

 10. What makes this place unique?

It is the oasis in Riverside. It is close to home for all of the inland empire folks. If you are in from out of town and you've blown $500 at Disneyland, don't spend another $200 at Raging Rivers or Soak City. If all you want to do is get wet and see what the local color does, spend $50 here and beat the heat.

11. What should I do while I am here?

While you are here, relax. Take it in and have fun with the folks around you. When you have had enough sun, head out to Downtown Riverside for a pub crawl, or to stop in at one of the many historic buildings. Do both at Heroes Restaurant and Brewery.  Take a trip even more East to Perris, CA and visit the Train Museum (I'll review this place later). You can head south on the 15 to Tom's Farm too.
If you are in town for a few weeks, or if your dropping off the kid at grandma's for the summer, they offer swim lessons. My kid attended 5 sessions for swim and he always had wonderful instructors. Breanna was my favorite.

12.This would make a good stop on the way to…

Palm Springs, Riverside CA, Big Bear CA, Ontario CA, Chino CA, Pasadena CA

http://www.covewaterpark.org

Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park-- Chino,CA

This place is so cool. Totally geared toward nature lovers. Imagine a place that FEELS secluded and natural but is right down the street. This is that place.

The Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park is at the Inland Empire Utility off El Prado Rd and Kimball at 6075 Kimball Avenue Chino, CA 91708. It is easily 20 minutes from ONT off the 71 freeway, just south of the Chino Prison (Yup, it's here). You can find a link to the CCWEP here --> http://chinocreekwetlandsandeducationalpark.blogspot.com

OK first things first. I have driven past here many many times and never bothered to stop. From the street, it looks like a small path for slow pokes or school trips. Finally, i had the dog with me and i figured we would check it out together. WAY MORE THAN A SMALL PATH. On the north side of the park is a Pipe Garden. There are placards that talk about water conservation and the natural areas in the Inland Empire. Nerd stuff (Being a super nerd on the inside, I was interested). The middle and south sides of the park create and arboretum. It is a large area with native plants and meandering walking paths. There were alcoves, bridges, lakes, ducks, more placards and everything conducive to creating a relaxing experience. I felt instantly at peace.

Let me tell you about one place in particular that really resonated with me. Follow the path south and east. It will take you to a crystal clear pond filled with water grasses, lazy fish, and friendly blue-billed ducks. The south corner of the pond has a bridge situated on it. It is covered and has the most perfect breeze flow through and around it.  Sitting on the bridge, i was wrapped up in heaven. The birds were singing their melodies to the ducks. The ducks were lazily paddling along in the water. Bobbing for fish that seemed naturally subservient to the inevitable. The grass in the water was still and calm and you could see every blade, every leave, every living soul amidst it. Transported to a mellow, comforting corner of my own little world, all the stress and depression of real life melted away.  This was heaven.

But i digress...

This would be a wonderful place to take a small group of active adults, college kids, science groups. This is great for all ages and all fitness abilities.
Go ANY time of year. I went on a stormy summer day.
Take your dog or not.
Go to relax!!! or to work out.

Need to know:
Spend an hour or two
Parking is free
Entry is free

Need to BRING:
Use mosquito repellent
Use sun screen

Saving cash: road trip souvenirs and food

Every road trip has two inevitable questions: do we eat out and do we really need souvenirs? 

The answer can easily be "no" to both. Saying, "yes," to eating out is, at the very least, five dollars a person. By the time you spend $60 to feed a car-full of travelers you could have bought a fresh tank of gas. And, I don't know about your kid, but The Kid always wants something from the gift shop that he already has: a toy helicopter, a matchbox car, a crappy price of plastic that spins around and lights up. Each of these costs ten bucks a piece. So with food and souvenirs, the cost is really starting to add up. This was supposed to be a day trip (and aren't day trips supposed to be cheap?).

Here is the fix: "no!"

For road trip meals: Pack sandwiches or (our family's favorite) a loaf of French bread, cheese block, and  salami, or something you can keep in a cooler all day and serve that for your travel meal. Keep the meal balanced with carbs and protein so everyone can be pleasantly full when done. Bring fruits, veggies, a carb, and a protein. I always slip in one fun sized candy bar for each of us for dessert, because this is a special occasion and i want to brain wash them all into thinking this was a great idea (road trip=candy, yea!). 😃

If your road trip was suppose to have you home before dinner but it has been one hellofaday and now you are 150 miles from home without any more snacks or food, go get food from the grocery store. Pick up some hot grub in the deli department and grab fruit and veggies in the produce isle. A quick grocery trip will cut the food costs in half compared to The Golden Arches or the like. No need to get utensils and plates, some delis will give them to you on request. But you probably have Tupperware and utensils from earlier. Reuse them.

 So, food solved!

Souvenirs...(sound of doom). Don't worry. This can be solved a few ways:

1. We collect rocks. Not in the nerdy, rock hounding, "looks at my Andasite" way. But everywhere we go we see the most amazing geology. We see 3,000 foot cliffs of marble. We see desert rocks that have been slowly racing across Death Valley for 1000 years. We see the tallest trees and the biggest trees on the planet. We saw volcanic rocks from Emboy. We see beaches with marble-like rocks instead of sand. What better way to remember those places than to bring it home!!! And it is free. Everyone take home their favorite rock. We keep our family rock collection in a display case but it would work equally as well in the garden or the kitchen window sill. 

2. Invest in smashed penny souvenir books. Collect pressed or "smashed" pennies from your travels. We have all see those machines you drop $0.51 or $1.01 worth of change into the top, crank the lever. Then, your penny slides the shoot, gets pressed against the die, and comes out of the bottom proudly marked by _(town/zoo/amusement park)____ . This can save you a lot of money compared to the alternative of crappy light up noise makers. If you have six kids you will spend $6.06 vs. $60.92+tax. 

3. Bring your kids' money pouches or wallets with you and make THEM buy their souvenirs. If they want that Calico Gold/Pyrite rock, let them pay for it. This will only work if you have an allowance program in place at home or if you have given them a set $ amount before leaving home.  The Kid receives $8.00 a month for just being part of the family (he is learning how to manage money, not where it comes from). Then he can earn more through extra work (not through chores. Chores are mandatory and without monitory reward and just part of being in this family). I buy him, at most, $5.00 of souvenirs: a piece of candy, a sack or rocks, a whistle, etc. if he wants a plastic airplane or a fire truck, he buys that with his own money (Yes, The Kid is familiar with the returns line at Target because a 4 year old IS fickle!).

+++quick tip++++

Keep an eye out for souvenir prices. Buying souvenir jewelry is almost always cheaper at missions, churches or community centers. But if you feel you are getting a good deal, take it no matter where it is.

4. Just say "no" and that's the end of the story. If you don't have cash on you, in a cash only site, this will be simple. If you don't want to spend anything at a site, say so. You are the adult and you make the rules. Just be honest with your kid. If he has a melt down because you said no. Tell him to ask you "why" and then tell him,honestly, why. It will work and he will get over it. Besides, he DOESN'T need another paper envelope of Mexican Jumping Beans.

I hope this helps to tackle the two biggest money eating issues for your next one-tank road trip. 

Safe travels from us to you.