You've probably never seen a gym quite like the one at Cedar Grove Park. For one thing, there are no walls. The collection of weight and cardio machines resides entirely outdoors, arranged atop a large section of sandy ground. Just because the outdoor gym doesn't have electricity to work with doesn't mean it's lacking in equipment. Here, you can pedal on an entirely muscle-powered elliptical, tone your biceps on two-person weight machine, or strengthen other problem areas with the other eclectic equipment.

If you have kids along with you, however, they'll probably be more interested in getting their exercise in at Cedar Grove Park's playground. True to its name, the park is rife with flourishing trees, so the playground boasts plenty of shady protection from the sun (augmented by canopies over most of the equipment). Keep a close eye while your youngsters crawl through tunnels, race down slides, and scale the rock-climbing wall.

Cedar Grove Park
11385 Pioneer Road
Tustin, CA 92782
www.tustinca.org/departments/parksrec/parks/cedargrove.html
www.yelp.com/biz/cedar-grove-park-tustin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Conor Lawless

A trip to the salsa bar comes as part of your meal at The Original Taco Factory, and you shouldn't pass it up. The pico de gallo snags rave reviews from many customers, and it's just one of the freshly blended toppers available at the bar. Red and green sauces, toppings like cilantro and green onion, and other fixings also reside in the salsa bar. They're the perfect way to cap off any of the authentic Mexican fare on the menu, whether you stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

You can always go with something classic such as the "famous" burrito, stuffed with your choice of meat (beef, steak, pork, or chicken) and guacamole, gooey cheese, and either hot or mild salsa. It's the best-selling thing on the menu at The Original Taco Factory, but far from your only option. You can also dig into tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or the more unexpected machaca plate. The latter consists of steak and eggs with salsa, rice and beans, and corn or flour tortillas.

The Original Taco Factory
14455 Newport Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 731-1111
originaltacofactory.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-original-taco-factory-tustin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Special*Dark

Instead of throwing away those empty paper towel tubes and toilet paper rolls, you might want to keep them around. There are a number of fun projects that you can create using these cardboard tubes, and best of all, they even help to keep them out of the landfill!

• Cut a toilet paper roll in half and use it to plant seedlings. Simply fill the roll with soil, cover one end with plastic wrap, and plant your seedlings. When it’s time to transplant, you can bury the whole thing.
• If you’re an avid crafter, use a toilet paper roll to store tangled string by cutting a notch into one end of the roll, slipping the string through and winding it up inside. Cut another notch into the other end to keep the whole thing in place.
• Prevent creases in your pants from the clothes hanger by cutting a paper towel tube in half lengthwise and sliding it over the length of the hanger. The next time you hang your pants, the tube will help minimize creasing.
• Make cute (and cheap) napkin rings for your next get-together by cutting a toilet paper roll into smaller rings and covering them with leftover fabric scraps.

18 Incredible Uses for Cardboard Tubes [Reader’s Digest]
10 Unconventional Ways to Use Old Paper Towel and Toilet Paper Rolls Around the House [One Green Planet]
15 Surprising Uses for Toilet Paper Tubes [Care2]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Javcon117*