Environmental Nature Center
Newport Beach, CA
Free (donation); butterfly house seasonal
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.7(232 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 4 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Not stroller friendly. One reviewer had to leave theirs at the top and walk down, and reports an all-terrain loaner wheelchair but only one. The parking lot is small and fills during events. Inside there are hands-on exhibits and books; outside, an enclosed patch of nature where kids can explore safely.
A 5-acre campus of trails winding through 15 California native plant communities, tucked behind the city for a quiet, free nature fix close to the coast. From May through September, docents open the seasonal Butterfly House to point out the host and nectar plants that draw local butterflies.
Good for
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 10+
- Shade
- Free parking
- Nap-schedule friendly
- Sensory-friendly
- Restrooms
Happening near here
- Movies on the Beach at Newport DunesNewport Beach · <1 mi · Fridays & Saturdays at duskFree
- OC Japan Fair (19th Annual)Costa Mesa · 4 mi
- Free Public Train Rides at Goathill JunctionCosta Mesa · 4 mi · 3rd full weekend of the month, 10am–3:30pmFree
- First Thursdays Art WalkLaguna Beach · 8 mi · First Thu 6–9pmFree
1601 E 16th St, Newport Beach, CA 92663, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
Map
What visitors say
- Jen Montgomery★★★★★
It was a really beautiful location, saying that it was behind a high school. I didn't think it was going to be very big on the inside, but when my toddler and I went for a hike, we were walking for a pretty long time and it was gorgeous on the inside. Definitely a beautiful place for any nature enthusiast or any parent who needs an enclosed space to let there kids explore nature safely. We went for the plant sale and exchange and they had a wonderful selection of plants. The inside of the center also had a lot of educational materials for all ages from books to diorama's and other interactive material! One con is that it is not very accessible for strollers and I assume wheelchairs, although I did see that they had a wheelchair to borrow that was more geared towards the terrain. However, I only saw one. I had to leave my stroller up above, and walk down. Just be advised, that if you plan to bring a stroller for small kids you're going to have to leave it. The parking is also small, so if you go during an event you might have to circle around a couple times for parking.
5 months ago
- Hakeem W★★★★★
Great place to take kids. Lots of hands on activities for kids, beautiful nature, variety of different areas in the center. I’ve never seen so much green in Newport Beach lol. A great place for a field trip as well. Would happily come again.
2 years ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
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