Peters Canyon Hike: The Best View in Tustin

If getting a great workout while also checking out a truly stunning view of Tustin sounds like a perfect afternoon to you, you’ll love exploring the Peters Canyon Hike. This popular hiking area contains a few different trails ranging in difficulty from beginning hikers to very experienced, and although they can get a bit crowded during peak hours, each one offers a relaxing and scenic time spent in nature.

Peters Canyon Hike is dog-friendly and inviting to both you and your four-legged friend, and you’ll even find the occasional mountain biker or horseback rider along the trail. Local wildlife and undisturbed trees, plants and flowers surround you as you hike, and there are frequent rest areas along particularly difficult parts of each trail. There is ample parking surrounding each entrance, which conveniently leads right to the start of the trails. For outdoorsy Tustin residents, the Peters Canyon Hike is a must-try.

Peters Canyon Hike
8548 E. Canyon View Avenue
Orange, CA 92869
(714) 973-6611
www.ocparks.com/parks/peters
www.yelp.com/biz/peters-canyon-regional-park-orange

Try a Turkish Latte Instead of Your Usual Brew at Kean Coffee

Enjoy a globally influenced menu of coffee and loose-leaf tea at Kean Coffee, a spacious Tustin cafe located in a bustling strip mall not too far from Coventry Court Apartments. Inside, Kean Coffee is cozy and polished, with an impressively large chandelier light fixture accenting the center of the room, soft, neutral decor, and handsome wooden tables throughout the seating area.

There are glass pastry cases filled to the brim with baked goods, as well as a spacious espresso bar where skilled baristas create each custom-made drink. Brewed coffees and traditional espresso drinks are served in ceramic mugs or takeaway cups, while seasonal lattes, Turkish lattes, and brewed black teas make unique and flavorful alternatives for those who want to mix up their usual coffee routine.

The Kean Coffee location in Tustin opens at 6 a.m. daily.

Kean Coffee
13681 Newport Ave
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 838-5326
www.keancoffee.com

Align Your Body and Mind at Yoga Squared

For avid yogis, first-timers and anyone in between, Yoga Squared is a great yoga studio in the Tustin area. The studio stands out from similar options in the area because of its childcare facility, which is located right on-site and gives busy parents the opportunity to attend a yoga class without finding someone to watch the little ones. The studio itself is located right above the popular El Camino Café in Old Town Tustin, so it is very near many of the area’s other shops, residences and offices.

Inside, Yoga Squared is bright and inviting, with a colorful reception area offering yoga merchandise for sale or rent. The studio features floor-to-ceiling windows that let in ample light and hardwood floors that keep things feeling clean, while the childcare room contains plush toys, mats and books that will ensure that both you and your kids leave relaxed and happy.

Yoga Squared
195 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 625-7230
www.yogasquaredstudio.com
www.yelp.com/biz/yoga-squared-tustin

Freshen Up Your Mid-Day Snack at Acai Republic

If you’ve always wanted to try those acai bowls that you keep hearing about, you’ll find a deliciously refreshing selection at Tustin’s Acai Republic. This colorful juice bar is sleek and modern inside, and it is located in a popular shopping plaza with ample parking outside for your convenience on a busy day. Acai Republic serves authentic bowls blended with acai, bananas, and your choice of toppings, which include healthy and filling items like granola or fresh fruit.

Bowls can be blended with fruit juice for added flavor, and you can even add honey or agave for a kick of sweetness without the artificial sugar. There are also different types of pre-made bowls to choose from with names like the Real Brazilian Bowl and the Tahiti Bowl. In addition to acai bowls, Acai Republic also offers fresh-pressed juices and real fruit smoothies. With free Wi-Fi and a coffee shop atmosphere, this is a great spot to check your emails with a healthy snack.

Acai Republic
632 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 617-4962
www.acairepublic.com
www.yelp.com/biz/acai-republic-tustin

Take Your Morning Jog Through the Lemon Orchard at Citrus Ranch Park

Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to jog through a grove of lemon trees every morning, but as a resident of Tustin, you are. Citrus Ranch Park is named for its lemon tree orchard, which emanates a sweet, mood-boosting scent as you stroll or run right through. Some people fill their homes with citrusy aromas in order to foster a happy atmosphere, but Citrus Ranch Park has the natural air freshener built right into the landscape.

If you have kids, however, the playground might entice them more than the lemon grove. It's spread out atop a cushy, colorful play surface that's soft enough for your kids to go barefoot (as many do). Keep a close eye while they swing toward the sky, zip down a bright orange slide, or simply scamper up and down the ramps and stairs woven throughout the jungle gym.

Citrus Ranch Park
2910 Portoia Parkway
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 573-3326
www.tustinca.org/departments/parksrec/parks/citrusranch.html
www.yelp.com/biz/citrus-ranch-park-tustin

Head to Tustin Library for Book Browsing and Studying

The spacious Tustin Library has many loyal followers, and for good reason. The library, while offering free WiFi, computer access, and of course many books, is also clean, well-organized, and cozy, according to locals. It can get crowded on weekdays and evenings, but you’ll usually be able to find a plush chair at a table or near an outlet to either read or study.

This branch of the Orange County library system does get new books in fairly quickly, but be sure to keep an eye out for them on the library’s website, as new books can get snagged fairly fast. If Tustin does not have the book you’re looking for, the staff can have it delivered from one of the other OC branches. The library also has audiobooks, kindle books for download, CDs, and DVDs.

Tustin Library
345 E. Main Street
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 544-7725
ocpl.org/libloc/tustin
www.yelp.com/biz/tustin-library-tustin

Cedar Grove Park: Work Out with the Whole Family

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

Grab a Glass from the Bar and Get Painting at Pinot’s Palette

Part wine bar, part art studio, Pinot's Palette brings the best of two worlds together for a unique date night or evening out with friends. You don't have to bother stopping for your own bottle of vino on the way to Pinot's Palette since it boasts a full bar in-house, a real perk if you're having enough trouble just getting your entire crew to commit to a meeting time. Beer, wine, and booze-free beverages are all served at the bar, so make sure to bring some extra cash to your class.

Even if you don't imbibe, you'll still walk away from Pinot's Palette with fond memories and a masterpiece. The studio's seasoned instructors lead their guests in creating cute paintings that you can have framed right on the spot and take home to hang on the wall. No matter your current level of artistic ability, the step-by-step approach at Pinot's Palette can turn you into a master of your craft in a matter of two or three hours.

Pinot's Palette
2479 Park Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782
(714) 400-9016
www.pinotspalette.com/tustin
www.yelp.com/biz/pinots-palette-tustin

Get Eye-to-Eye with Ocean Critters on Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari

Captain Dave is a trusted expert in the field of aquatic wildlife. So trusted, in fact, that Ellen Degeneres asked him to explain to her audiences about the dangers of commercial fishing in a special segment on her talk show. He earned the honor after heroically rescuing a whale trapped in a fishing net—along with many other critters who'd gotten tangled up in its web. Captain Dave's love of the sea shines through in everything he does, including his Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari.

The safaris set sale from the Dana Point harbor in one of four watercrafts, but the one that comes particularly highly recommended is the Manute'a. Although each boat offers a safe, stable ride on the waves, the Manute'a boasts one unique feature that gets you up close and personal with any dolphins or whales you encounter on the journey: the Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pod. It's exactly what it sounds like, a glass case that juts out from the bottom of the boat into the water. Let your kids climb down inside and get up close and personal with dolphins, or take a turn yourself.

Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari
24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 488-2828
www.dolphinsafari.com
www.yelp.com/biz/captain-daves-dolphin-and-whale-watching-safari-dana-point

Acai Republic: Give Your Day a Healthy Kickstart

If you’re looking for a healthy breakfast or snack, consider stopping by Acai Republic in Tustin. This popular cafe specializes in acai bowls, a trendy breakfast food that layers fresh fruit, coconut shavings, and granola atop a base of super-thick acai smoothie. While these bowls consist of mostly fruit, acai bowls are quite filling, as well as nutritious: They center around the Brazilian acai berry, considered by many to be an antioxidant-rich superfood.

Regulars at Acai Republic recommend the Sao Paulo bowl, which boasts a smoothie base made from acai and banana and topped with granola, coconut, blueberry, strawberry, and banana. Acai Republic also has several fruit smoothies on their menu, including an avocado and milk smoothie. The restaurant staff also serves freshly squeezed juices that are made daily. A few sweet and savory Brazilian pastries are also for sale, and if you’re in the mood for something savory, meat and cheese sandwiches are also on offer.

Acai Republic
632 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 617-4962
acairepublic.com
www.yelp.com/biz/acai-republic-tustin

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