Was one of your New Year’s Resolutions to get healthy and exercise more?  Let’s combine Orange County weekend events with these heart healthy resolution keeper activities!  Put on your running shoes and pick an event…

February:

20th Annual Brea 8K Classic presented by the Brea Mall: 
The Brea 8K Classic, sanctioned and certified by USA Track and Field, is run on the streets of Brea with start and finish lines at the Brea Mall.  The race benefits academics and the arts at Brea Olinda High School through the Instrumental Music and Academic Booster clubs.
Sunday, February 27th. The race will be run rain or shine.

March:

Dove Dash – All proceeds and donations go to Ryan’s Reach. Ryan’s Reach envisions a nationwide network of High Hopes Neurological Recovery Group

Sunday, March 20, 2011 @ 8:00 AM
Corner of Dove Canyon Drive and Sycamore Drive
32003 Dove Canyon Drive
 
April:

Irvine Mud Run
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Expect to get muddy (over and over again) with professionally built obstacles and multiple mud pits to run, crawl and jump through.

May:

OC Marathon - May 1st
Over the past 6 years, The OC Marathon has grown and changed to become community event focused on the health and wellness of our youngest citizens, Orange County youth. With a beautiful course running through 26.2 miles of OC landmarks, runners view the pristine baches of Corona del Mar, the scenic Back Bay Estuary, the Orange County Performing Arts Center, South Coast Plaza and the OC Fair & Event Center. 

Not ready for a marathon?  There is also a half-marathon and 5K available.

Be sure to visit each website to get the full scoop on the races including registration dates.  It’s time to keep your resolution and start training!

New Year’s Day would not be complete without watching The Rose Parade!

Each New Year’s Day, the world focuses its attention on Pasadena, home of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. The Tournament of Roses has come a long way since its origin in the winter of 1890. The Rose Parade’s elaborate floats now feature high-tech computerized animation and exotic natural materials from around the world. With needing nearly a year to complete, the construction of the floats is no small undertaking.

This year the 122nd Rose Parade themed “Building Dreams, Friendships & Memories”, will take place on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. (PST) featuring spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units.

There are several ways to enjoy the parade:

Volunteer to decorate a float – It’s surprisingly hard work, but definitely a great time.  And on New Year’s morning, you have a sense of ownership when you spot the float you worked on and can say that you contributed to its overall beauty.

Take a sneak peak – Get a backstage glimpse of the floral floats in their final stages of preparation at three different locations.  See a variety of fruit, seeds, bark, grasses and of course, flowers being applied to the floats by experienced professionals as well as hard working volunteers.

And of course, be a spectator – Whether curbside or from the comfort of your own couch, the grandeur and pageantry of the Rose Parade is not to be missed.

Click HERE for information on volunteering, tickets, parking, and other pertinent information.

On Saturday November 27th 2010, the San Clemente Downtown Business Association, along with the City of San Clemente, proudly presents Puttin’ On the Glitz, San Clemente’s premiere holiday gala, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm.  Free to the public, this family-friendly event is the perfect way to begin the holiday season.  It is a magical event that invokes the small-town holiday spirit in one of the only true downtown seaside villages of Southern California.

Decked out in twinkling lights, historical Avenida Del Mar becomes a festive pedestrian mall, closed to traffic for the evening as children enjoy rides on a motorized mini-train and an enchanting horse-drawn fantasy carriage.  Face painters, balloon artists, and magicians are on hand to captivate one and all.  Entertainment includes carolers in Victorian costumes, a barber-shop quartet, bagpipers troupe, live music and much more.  The charming shops and windows which line the avenue are decorated for the season and open through the evening to accommodate holiday shopping lists, with many offering treats & refreshments.  Organizations and vendors such as the Boy Scouts of America offer up hot apple cider, fire roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, snow cones  and cotton candy as you stroll the quaint downtown village.

Sirens signal the arrival of Santa Claus perched upon a fire truck, as he leads a fanfare procession down Del Mar to the Community Center.  Mrs. Claus & their elves are there to greet him and take Santa to his awaiting fireside chair where the children come to profess their hearts desires and make a lasting memory with a photo.

This year, let San Clemente become one of your holiday traditions by attending Puttin’ on the Glitz.  Be sure to pick up the San Clemente Downtown Business Association’s limited edition Surfing Santa ornament at the DBA booth before they are sold out.  Free shuttle service is provided from the San Clemente High School parking lot, located just East of the freeway on Avenida Pico. Once you have been to the Glitz, you will never miss it again!

For other great things to do with kids in orange county during the holidays, click HERE.

Welcome to OC presents guest blogger Craig Carbonniere, President of Orange County Coastal Concierge

It’s a beautiful summer day in July and you are visiting Orange County, what should you do? This is where Orange County Coastal Concierge comes in to give you and your family personalized recommendations on how to maximize your vacation’s potential.
 
You start out your warm summer day at Break of Dawn restaurant for breakfast and order the freshly baked Cinnamon Bun. Each gooey, soft, sweet bite of the Cinnamon Bun is a surreal experience!  Break of Dawn was founded by a remarkable chef who previously amazed Guests at Laguna Niguel’s own Ritz Carlton Hotel.

After your breakfast you spend the rest of the morning at “Surf City, USA”, Huntington Beach where you can watch the incredible surfers at the Pier. Now you are anxious to see if you would be any good at surfing so you enroll you and your family into Corky Carroll’s Surf School. You spend incredible family time playing in surf and your children obtain a memory that they will keep for the rest of their lives.

You have built up an appetite of course from your Surfing lesson and you want to pick up something quick for lunch. You shower off at one of the private showers at Bolsa Chica State Beach, and head up to the City of Orange for lunch. You stop at Mattern Sausage & Meats and eat a Reuben Sandwich that is piled high with their popular corned beef.

You and your full stomach are ready for your next adventure in the OC.  As I mentioned earlier, it is summer, and Orange County’s own “Boys of Summer” (Angels Baseball) season is in full stride. You purchase $9 outfield tickets and take the family out to the ball game.  The Angels sweep the Yankees and your appetite is back!

Just across the freeway east of Angels Stadium is Lazy Dog Café. The atmosphere of Lazy Dog Cafe is great for families who will truly feel comfortable in this restaurant. You will spend the next 45 minutes enjoying a blue cheese burger with bacon. Don’t forget to order the famous Cajun Fries!

As you make your way back down to the Laguna Beach hotel you stop at Joe’s Italian Ice, Garden Grove. As you enjoy your JoeLatti (layers of Italian ice and soft serve) you and the family reminisce on what an amazing day in which you just had.

Family Vacations can be such an important event in you and your family’s life.  We couldn’t agree more at Orange County Coastal Concierge!  We specialize in making our welcomed Orange County visitor’s vacations memorable. We understand that a perfect vacation can be so much more than the hotel or home in which you sleep in therefore we work day and night to find the best activities for your needs.  Take the work out of itineraries and planning by letting us assist in providing you our excellent services.
 
Please contact us at info@occoastalconcierge.com to arrange your next Orange County vacation!

Halloween is just a few days away…do you have plans for your kids yet?  Let us help:

Aliso Viejo – Halloween Fair and Haunted House

Welcome to OC is pleased to bring you important information about a charity event hosted by Pirate Coast Paddle Company.

Pirate Coast Paddle Company is a program at the newport aquatic center. Pirate coast is committed to offering the best Stand Up Paddle experience in Southern California. Pirate Coast will provide lessons, tours, corporate events, kids camps and excursions that offer an alternative activity for physical fitness, ocean appreciation, and recreational enjoyment. Pirate Coast is more then a paddle company, we believe the world and its people need help, so we give a percentage of every dollar we make to causes to bring the world hope. We support Surfrider Foundation, Krochet Kids, 31 Bits, Charity Water , Young Life International, One Days Wages,and Ever After.

PADDLE  FOR  WATER

We’re excited to announce that Pirate Coast Paddle Company will be hosting our first annual “Paddle for Water” event in Newport Beach this Fall. Pirate Coast has partnered with Charity Water to bring fresh water wells to the Bayaka people in the Central African Republic and wants to invite you to join us in saving lives and bringing joy to those in need.

 Charity Water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 1 billion people in the world today do not have access to the most basic human need, water. The truth is that 42,000 people die each week due to unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions. Sadly, 90% of those who die are under the age of 5.

 With your help we have the ability to provide multiple clean water drinking wells for the Bayaka people. With just $5,000 we can provide one well that has the ability to provide clean water for 250 people over 20 years.

 With local Corporations already pledging to match donations it is up to you to help raise the first $5,000. To help encourage the giving, Pirate Coast will be offering, free of charge, a spot in our “Paddle for Water” event that will take place on October 23, 2010. In order to celebrate your generosity as well as raise awareness for this cause we will paddle from the Newport Aquatic Center to Beacon Bay.

 How you can help…

Donate any amount to our cause at: www.mycharitywater.org/piratecoast and join us on October 23^rd for the paddling event. With free paddling to those who give $50 or more, raffle prizes, and great people. we can’t wait to share this exciting day with you! For a list of prizes and updates please visit us at www.piratecoastpaddleco.blogspot.com. You can also check us out on Twitter and Facebook.

Many Orange County weekend events revolve around going to the beach.  This makes the following information even more important.  Welcome to OC is happy to hear that our oceans are being so closely monitered for water quality!  The following information came from the County Connection Newsletter.

For eight weeks this summer, the Health Care Agency’s Water Quality team is undergoing a demonstration project to test for bacteria in ocean water using a new rapid water quality monitoring method. The new testing method yields results within a mere two – three hours after sample collection as opposed to 24 hours with the traditional method. Health Care Agency is first in the nation to Use Rapid Water Testing Project.   

This means faster, more meaningful water quality advisories to keep surfers, swimmers and all other beach-goers better informed of water conditions.  “We are very excited to be the first in the nation to use the rapid water quality testing method because it is one step further in protecting public health,” said Environmental Health Director Richard Sanchez. “Since Orange County is known for its beaches and its water quality research, we are motivated to stay abreast of the latest technology possible in keeping the public safe.”

The water samples are collected around 7 a.m. from nine sampling sites along Orange County’s coast and bay areas. At each site three liter samples are taken and then dropped off at the closest water quality lab by 8:30 a.m. and testing results are sent to public health officials by 11 a.m. Public notices typically go out around noon of the same day the sample was collected.

The new water quality method is a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) that measures the presence of DNA from specific bacteria through a rapid heating and cooling process that enables bacteria to multiply exponentially within minutes. The qPCR machine then feeds the data to a computer for an almost-instant analysis. In contrast, the currently used method requires bacteria to grow overnight in an incubator. The traditional 24 hour growth method is still being performed daily alongside the new rapid method for comparison throughout the demonstration period.

If bacteria levels are over existing regulatory thresholds set by public health officials, notices are then posted on HCA’s beach information web site at www.ocbeachinfo.com as well as on a Twitter feed at www.Twitter.com/ocbeachinfo.

In addition, any warnings or closure information is remotely sent to five new video display monitors at major beach locations, including Doheny State Beach entry, Huntington State Beach Magnolia Street entry, Newport Pier and the Fuji Grill at Big Corona State Beach. The electronic monitors were provided by the Miocean Foundation and show results as red flags for closures, yellow for warnings and green for open.

The rapid testing project is a possibility thanks to a collaborative partnership between the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, which provided the equipment and training. In addition, the Orange County Sanitation District and South Orange County Wastewater Authority are participating in the demonstration.

Take a look at a comprehensive list of Orange County Beaches and plan your day enjoying surf and sand!

Take note all of you OC runners and yes, walkers also.  Here is a wonderful chance to lace up your shoes and participate in a worthwhile activity!

7th Annual Survive and Thrive Run/Walk
Health & Safety Expo
Saturday, October 9, 2010
– NEW LOCATION –
Orange County Sheriff Regional Training Academy
15991 Armstrong Avenue, Tustin, CA 92782

Special Guests include Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and Robin Sax, Author, Legal Analyst, and Victims Advocate

If you need more incentive to start training, cash prizes  are available to top three male and female finishers.  More details are available here.  (Cash prize monies donated. No monies will come out of programs or services)

All registered participants in the run walk will receive a medal to acknowledge their accomplishments, a shirt and goody bag. 

Entertainment will be provided at the health and safety expo.

But what is Crime Survivors all about?  Take a look:

Vision

Crime Survivors vision is for victims of crime to recover from their experience mentally, physically,emotionally, and financially, by receiving the respect, support, and protection from law enforcement, the judicial system, and the community.

Mission Statement

The mission of Crime Survivors is to ensure the public knows victims’ rights and needs and to provide resources, support, and information to empower crime victims to survive and thrive.

THEY ARE HERE TO HELP!

Crime Survivors is committed to serving our community by being an advocate and resource for crime victims and their families. If you don’t know where to turn, or are confused or frustrated with the publicservices that are available to you as you recover or seek justice, Crime Survivors can help. Their web site will provide information, resources and tools that will help you become a “Survivor”.

All victims of crime have the right and responsibility to survive.

Looking for Orange County weekend events?  Love the outdoors?  Want to relax and exercise at the same time?  Love to explore?  We just discovered this wonderful website for the OC Hiker –

http://www.oc-hiking.com/index.php

Here is some info taken from their website…

“Hike Everywhere/OC Hiking Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting men, women and children out into nature through social hiking, backpacking and peakbagging activities.

Get outdoors with OC HIKING CLUB!  Welcome all walkers, hikers, backpackers, peakbaggers, campers. Come enjoy the great Southern California outdoors.

- Membership is FREE!
- Reconnect with nature
- Beginner to Advanced hikes
- Largest regional hiking club in California
- Hikeminded people – over 100 hikes monthly
- Kids programs: Get Up, Get Out!, Taking Teens to the Top
- Educational Events – learn to backpack and more
- All ages welcome (kids under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)

Your soul is whispering, “Get outdoors, go hike!”  Beginner to advanced including easy beginner walks,intermediate conditioning hikes, advanced peakbagging, in-town-hikes and walks, out-of-town day hikes,overnight backpacking and peakbagging, Sunday brunch/hikes, yoga hikes, peaceful mind hikes, photography hikes, dog walks, beach walks and more outdoor fun!”

We are ready to lace up our hiking boots, how about you?