Mission San Juan Capistrano Garden Tours 

Once again, let us praise the merits of living in Orange County during the winter months. You get to see the sun year round, which means you have a slightly better chance of happiness than those in higher latitudes. You don’t ever, ever have to shovel the driveway to get to work or feel your nostrils freezing together every time you exhale. And in the middle of December, you can take a garden tour. Just to drive home the point, you’ll notice that growing things are actually still alive in winter around here. Mission San Juan Capistrano’s Gardening Angels will lead you on a half hour tour through their beautifully kept gardens. What angels, indeed. — By Chesney Higgins

Price: Free with mission admission