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California By County
California has so much to offer both tourists and its residents. From famous cities to National Parks, it’s easy to overlook smaller spots you never knew were there. The sheer amount of things to do in Southern California can be overwhelming. So we’ve broken it down by County.
Los Angeles County
- Old School Gaming At Neon Retro Arcade With Younger Kids
While we were adventuring around Pasenda, we stopped by the Neon Retro Arcade for some old-school gaming fun. Having recently celebrated eight years in operation, their Arcade offers a rotating list of over 40 classic gaming cabinets & pinball machines from the ’80s and ’90s. Neon Retro has also done a great job modernizing the… - Orange Picking La Verne Heritage FoundationVisited: 1/29/22 Published: 12/30/22 If you’re looking for a spot to u-pick Oranges with your kids this year, try Orange Picking La Verne Heritage Foundation, it’s about as fun and easy as it gets! Located a couple of minutes from the 57 & 210 interchange, La Verne Heritage Foundation is a perfect spot for…
- Mount Baldy Snow PlayWe love a good Snow day, and after seeing so many of our friends having fun with Mount Baldy snow play, we had to go 🙂 Mount Baldy is an easy drive from almost anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area. Its central location makes it an ideal place for the family to enjoy the…
- Lightscape At Los Angeles Arboretum ReviewLightscape At Los Angeles Arboretum is going on now in Arcadia. This seasonal event includes a self-guided loop with about a dozen light installations stretching out across the mile-long path. See The Full Detailed Video Below Lightscape At Los Angeles Arboretum Visiting Information What We Said In Our Lightscape At Los Angeles Arboretum Video Bringing…
- LA Zoo Lights Review With KidsOpen annually since 2014, the LA Zoo Lights is a seasonal event running through the holidays. It’s a fun stroll through a zoo decked out in holiday lights. With even more lights and signature light animals than ever before. See The Full Detailed Video Below LA Zoo Lights Review Visiting Information Helpful Info: What We…
- Visiting Dinos Alive Los AngelesIt’s been a while since we’ve been able to go to a pop-up exhibit. So we were excited to check out Dinos Alive Los Angeles in Montebello. It is a fun immersion experience to check out. See The Full Detailed Video Below Dinos Alive Los Angeles Visiting Information Extra info things to bring What We…
- Guided Tour Of Star Eco Station With KidsStar Eco Station is quite a unique exotic animal rescue and environmental education center operating out of Culver City, CA. The Center houses over 200 birds, reptiles & rescued wildlife. Offering 45-60min guided tours on the weekends and private tours on weekdays. See The Full Detailed Video Below Star Eco Station Visiting Information Address: 10101…
- Nights Of The JackNight of the jacks in Calabasas, California, is a Halloween-themed experience that’s sure to get you into the holiday mood as you stroll through their mile-long loop. See The Full Detailed Video Below Nights Of The Jack Information updated For 2022 Address: 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302 Phone: None, contact them through email. Website:…
- Visiting the Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, CALake Shrine in Pacific Palisades has carved out a beautifully peaceful chunk of space for itself in the Los Angeles area. Open to all cultures and all religions the Lake Shrine is a nice refuge to all in our increasingly divided world.
- Walking The Venice Canals In Venice, CAWe recently took a stroll through the Venice Canals in Venice, CA. The canals were a nice change of pace from the trails we’ve been exploring. After about an hour of telling our 4year old we can never afford to live there we snuck over to grab lunch at Venice Beach.
- Hiking the Antonovich Trail in San Dimas, CAAntonovich Trail in San Dimas was a fun hike with the kids. A lot of shade, a nice stream, things to look at. Plenty of little spots to explore and teach the kids about.
- Visiting the Arlington Garden Pasadena, CAWe’re always on the lookout for unique parks in the greater Los Angeles area. Arlington Garden in Pasadena is one of those places. The three-acre garden feels a lot like a mini arboretum that’s broken up into many different plant communities, with each area having its own distinctive feel and atmosphere. Opened in 2005, Arlington promotes well-being and relaxation.
- Visiting the Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar, CAThe Wildlife Learning Center has provided care for displaced, rescued, and zoo-born wild animals for many years. At the time of our visit, the Wildlife Learning Center was only offering private tours so we opted for their Adventure Tour. We initially thought our 4-year-old would enjoy the tour the most, but everyone in the group loved the experience.
- Visiting the Natural History Museum Los Angeles, CAThe Natural History Museum Los Angeles is a great place to bring the kids. The dinosaur exhibits and animal dioramas are awe-inspiring. While it will cost a family of 4 about $45 to visit, NHM also offers a free admission day once a month, so start planning your visit today!
- Visiting The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, CAWalking the La Brea Tar Pits, you can’t help but think of the giant mastodon elephants and saber-tooth tigers that once shared this space. Being there makes it easy to imagine animals getting stuck in the tar some 50,000 years ago. It’s a great family-friendly place to visit with the kids.
- Visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CAVisiting the Aquarium of the Pacific with our 3-year-old was a blast. We initially set aside two hours to see everything but ended up having to plead with our daughter to head out after 5 hours of exploring!
- Visiting Catalina IslandVisiting Catalina Island gives LA and OC residents a unique chance to unwind. Just 27 miles off the coast. Catalina has something for everyone.
Orange County
- Eco Tots At The Ecology Center For ToddlersHey everyone. If you’re in or around San Juan Capistrano, you might have heard of the Ecology Center. The 28-acre organic farming community offers a handful of programs and special events to get folks more in tune with organic food and local growers. They even offer a great outdoor class-like activity for young kids that…
- Irvine Railroad Easter EggstravaganzaIrvine Railroad Easter Eggstravaganza always brings out the crowds. Located inside Irvine regional park, the Easter area isn’t far from its entrance, which does require a small fee to enter. Once inside, the seasonal decorations are always well down, with plenty of fun photo opportunities spread throughout the grounds. See The Full Detailed Video Below…
- Staycation At Ranchito De Ramona In Placentia, CAHey everyone. If you’re looking to get a few families under the same roof for a reunion or staycation, you may want to check out Ranchito De Ramona in Placentia, CA. It’s a fantastic house perfectly set up to entertain up to 15 guests in Orange County. And its beautiful architectural style will have you…
- Newport Beach Christmas Light CruiseWe ended our year of adventures with a relaxing Newport Beach Christmas Light Cruise. Running through December, Holiday Lights Cruises depart out of Balboa Village, and you’ll want to arrive at least an hour before your reservation. Cause parking there can be an issue during the holidays, But we managed to park across the street…
- Irvine Parks Santas VillageIrvine Parks Santas Village is one of Orange County’s most popular Christmas Events. With, ticketed game, Santa train ride, and more.
- Playing At Bubble POP In Tustin, CAIf you’re looking for a fun little spot to take the kids to play. Bubble Pop at The District in Tustin, CA, is a good option if you’re in the area. See The Full Detailed Video Below Bubble POP Visiting Information Website: www.gobubblepop.com Address: 2475 Park Ave, Tustin, CA 92782 Phone: 949-529-8078 Hours: Friday 10am-5pm,…
- Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch 2022The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch has been a top spot in the OC for years. Reasonably inexpensive and has a lot of great things to do. Watch Our Full Detailed Video Below Irvine Park Visiting Info Address: 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869 Phone: 714-997-3968 Website: www.irvineparkrailroad.com Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8am-6pm (Dates…
- Visiting Sunflower Fields At Hana Field In Costa Mesa, CAHana Field is Tanaka Farms’ secondary location which specializes in sunflowers fields, followed by a large color variety of zinnias and snapdragons. Their current crops are blooming throughout July, and they’re taking online reservations now.
- Hiking to Redwood Grove in Yorba Linda, CAThe Redwood Grove in Brea’s Carbon Cayon Regional Park is an easy hike to take with the kiddos. While the grove is only 200-ish yards long it’s nice to see so many Redwoods in one spot without having to drive up to the mountains.
- Visiting Tanaka Farms U-Pick Wagon Rides with Santa, in Irvine, CAGoing on the Tanaka Farms U-Pick Wagon Rides with Santa worked out perfectly for us. Our oldest daughter is very much in love with the idea of being a farmer when she grows up so picking veggies and meeting Santa was a win-win.
- Visiting the Corona Del Mar State Beach in Newport Beach, CA 2020The Corona Del Mar State Beach is one of our favorites in Orange County. It’s fine sand and unique landmarks make it a must-visit if you’re looking for a fun beach to take the kids.
- Visiting the Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch in Irvine, CA 2020On weekdays Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch in Irvine, CA offers tickets for a more socially distanced experience. Which they accomplish through specified time slots and smaller capacity. The entire visit takes about 45-60 minutes
- Visiting Adventure Playground Irvine Kids Park in Irvine, CAAdventure Playground Irvine’s hands-on design allows kids of all ages to get dirty and show off their creative side. Large Lego Blocks enable kids to make life-size versions for whatever they can imagine. We highly recommend a visit if you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids in Orange County.
- Riding Trains for Toddlers for FREE at the Orange County Model Engineers ClubThe Orange County Model Engineers in Costa Mesa, CA have been giving FREE rides to train enthusiasts young and old for almost 30 years.
- Visiting The Zoomars Petting Zoo In San Juan CapistranoZoomars is perfect for kids, and it’s been a staple in the Los Rios Historic District for over 30 years.
San Bernardino County
- Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park Review With KidsWith snow in the mountains, we headed up to check out Snowdrift Snow Tubing Park in Running Springs, CA. Open since 1964, we’ve driven past it for years, but now that we’ve gone, we wish we had checked it out sooner. The park’s a ton of fun with various slopes to choose from, with intensity…
- Big Falls Trailhead Snow PlayIf snow is in the forecast, a Big Falls Trailhead snow day near Forest Falls, California, is a great option. We loved our visit, and it’s easy to get there from the 38 highway. You follow the Valley of the Falls road to the trailhead parking lot, where you’ll need to display an adventure pass….
- Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm Redlands, CAIf you are looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday season. Consider Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm in Redlands, CA. It’s an excellent option for families to enjoy the holiday season with free admission, Christmas-inspired activities, and more. See The Full Detailed Video Below Live Oak Canyon Christmas Tree Farm Visiting Information…
- Greenspot Christmas Tree FarmWe loved our previous visit so much that we came back to experience GreenSpot Farms Christmas Tree Farm. Visiting opening night, our family had a great time walking to see the trees and enjoying the activities. The warm smores hit the spot as well!
- Logan’s Candies Review With KidsIn December, families from all over SoCal visit Logan’s Candies to watch them make their signature peppermint candy canes. The 45-minute presentation goes from boiling the sugar into bending the candy into its iconic shape. At the end of the demo, you can even form your unique candy cane!
- Oak Tree Mountain Slide & Activities, Oak Glen, CAIf you’re looking to do more with your family than just Apple Picking in Oak Glen, CA. Oak Tree Mountain is a great option. Opened initially as an Apple Pie and Cider stand some 50 years ago, the spot has transformed into a 14-acre family fun park full of shops and entertainment. See The Full…
- Greenspot Farms Pumpkin Patch 2022Greenspot Farms out in Mentone, CA, has a great pumpkin patch that is free to enjoy if you’re out in the area. See The Full Detailed Video Below Greenspot Pumpkin Patch Information updated For 2022 Address: 10133 Ward Way, Mentone, CA 92359 Phone: 909-794-7653 Website: www.greenspotfarms.com Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-6pm. Pumpkin Patch opens Oct 1, 2022…
- Visiting Skypark At Santa’s Village With KidsWhen we heard Santa’s Village reopened a few years back we both agreed we needed to take the girls. Located up near Lake Arrowhead Skypark at Santa’s Village is now a part of an outdoor adventure park that has tons of mountain biking and hiking trail
- Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch 2022A trip to your local Pumpkin Patch is one of the most popular things to do in October as a family. This year we checked out Live Oak Canyon Pumpkin Patch Farm in Redlands, CA. The farm was jam-packed with things to do in addition to its homegrown pumpkin patch.
- Wrightwood Snow PlayUpdated: 12/28/22 Original Post: 01/25/21 Since this was our girl’s first time experiencing snow, we wanted to find a less busy place for them to play. Normally that means renting a cabin for some crazy expensive rate or playing in it right off the highway, which can be somewhat dangerous. We didn’t want to worry…
- Exploring Lytle Creek River in Lytle Creek, CALytle Creek was a great activity for our family. With the pandemic in full swing, we’ve had to try more isolated activities. While It’s still possible to go out, safe options are getting even harder to find. Lytle Creek is nice because you don’t have to hike far to enjoy nice clear water coming down from the mountain.
- Visiting Mission Tiki Drive in Theatre in Montclair, CAThe Mission Tiki Drive-in Theatre has been in our stable rotation of things to do for years. Even before kids, Trang and I would spend our summer nights watching double features.
- Visiting the Greenspot Farms Pumpkin Patch 2020The homely feel to Greenspot is what we really enjoy about this farm, it’s the least commercialized out of all the other pumpkin patches we’ve visited this year and we like that.
- Visiting Riley’s Farm Apple Orchard in Oak Glen, CA 2020Riley’s Farm has been a staple in Oak Glen for decades. Overall, Riley’s is a beautiful farm with many U-PICK fruit Orchards and a REAL pumpkin patch.
- Visiting Snow-Line Orchards in Oak Glen, CA 2020Oak Glen is known for it’s October Apple Picking, but it really should be known for Snow-Line Orchards Apple Cider Donuts. Eaten fresh these mini donuts could heal the world 🙂
- Visiting Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen, CAWe headed over to Los Rios Rancho in Oak Glen to pick some end of season strawberries. We’re big fans of the Oak Glen area on a normal year. It’s a great little town with a lot of family-friendly u-pick farms.
- Seasonal Apple Picking in Oak Glen, CAAn apple-picking town where every parent is yelling out, “Don’t touch that!” Bad joke aside, Apple picking Oak Glen is a great day trip for any LA and Orange County families looking to do something fun with the kids.
- Visiting the Free Greenspot Farm Pumpkin Patch in Mentone, CAWe really wanted to find a real farm that offered the possibility of picking pumpkins right off the vine. After some searching, we headed out towards Greenspot Farm in Mentone, CA. While the farm is pretty far off the beaten path, Greenspot more than makes up for the trip in character and charm.
- Visiting the Original McDonald’s Museum | San Bernardino, CARight in the heart of San Bernardino lies a forgotten piece of American history. The site of the Original McDonald’s.
- Visiting Amy’s Farm in Ontario, CAWe stumbled across Amy’s Farm on our search for petting zoo alternatives. Our daughter Kairi loves animals, and we decided to check it out after a friend’s glowing recommendation.
Riverside County
- Free Mini Train Rides At Riverside Live SteamersWe recently visited the Riverside Live Steamers at Hunter Park in Riverside, CA, and had a great time. For over 50 years, they’ve offered free rides to the public on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, and their all-steam train yard makes the Riverside Live Steamers one of America’s only fully steam mini-train…
- Illuminate Silverlakes Is Celebrating Christmas With Kids & DiscountsIlluminate Silverlakes does a great job bringing Christmas cheer, and we can confidently say the experience is well done for families with younger kids. VIP Discount For Our Readers! Illuminate also gave us a code to share to our readers for a big discount to their VIP tickets good through the 24th (that pretty much…
- Visiting Wildlights At The Living Desert With KidsThe Wildlights holiday event at the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert has been going strong for decades. Open select dates in December, Wildlights is considered one of the top 5 best zoo lights in the country by USA Today. Sure, that’s an oddly specific award to be bragging about, but it’s true. See The…
- 123 Farm Christmas Nights With KidsPublished: 11/21/22 Nothing rings in the Holiday Season better than a well-done Christmas Event. And we appreciate the places like the 123 Farm’s Christmas Lights Festival in Cherry Valley, ca, that go all out to make something special for families to enjoy. Predominantly known for its lavender fields, 123 Farm is located on Highland Springs…
- Visiting Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, CAThe girls had a blast on our visit to the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, CA. We learned a lot from the passionate volunteers donating their time to refurbish the old trains and teach visitors about the railway’s amazing past.
- Pumpkin Rock Trail in Norco, CARight at the end of Sixth St. In Norco, CA, you’ll find the entrance to an easy family-friendly hike to a giant rock painted like a pumpkin. The pumpkin rock trail has a couple of nice landmarks to investigate as you make you’re way up the hill.
- Visiting the Cabazon Dinosaurs in Cabazon, CAFor a roadside attraction, the Cabazon Dinosaurs is a must-visit if you’re driving through. Initially opened in 1975 by Claude Bell, the Dinosaurs were initially built to attract travelers to his now-closed restaurant. Still, the dinosaurs were made famous in classic 80’s movies like Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and The Wizard.
- Should you visit the Walker Canyon Poppy Fields for Super bloom 2019?The “it” place to be in Southern California this March has to got be the Walker Canyon poppy fields near Lake Elsinore. The last time our state had this much rain the canyon’s hills were alive with color. Fingers crossed super bloom 2019 will put our last one to shame.
- Visiting The March Field Air Museum | Riverside County, CAMarch Field Air Museum is home to many of our country’s most iconic military planes. In addition to the aircraft, the March Field Air Museum is full of interactive models and documentary videos that make it a great place to take the kids to learn about our past.
San Diego County
- Visiting The New Children’s Museum San DiegoSan Diego is home to one of the coolest Children’s Museums in the state. Located in downtown near the Convention Center, The New Children’s Museum San Diego is an excellent space for your kids to enjoy. Opened in 2008, it’s a beautiful building with large open spaces connecting the museum’s sleek interior to San Diego’s…
- The Cave Store In La Jolla, CAHey everyone, The cave store in La Jolla, ca, is a tiny little tourist spot. With an interesting history dating back to the times of prohibition. Outside of all the store’s beach-inspired Nick knacks, the cave store has built quite a buzz out of their old smuggler’s tunnel. See The Full Detailed Video Below The…
- Birch Aquarium At Scripps in La JollaAfter visiting the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, ca, we’re surprised it isn’t as talked about as other aquariums in California. Sure it isn’t as big as the Long Beach or Monterey Aquariums, but Birch is a great place to bring the little ones. See The Full Detailed Video Below Birch Aquarium Visiting…
- Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch 2022Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch in Valley Center, CA, has been patching it up for over 50 years! See The Full Detailed Video Below Helpful Visiting Info For Bates Nut Farm Address: 15954 Woods Valley Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082 Phone: 760-749-3333 Website: www.batesnutfarm.biz Email: [email protected].biz Hours: Pumpkin Patch 2022 is from Sept 17th –…
- Petting Pigs At SoCalMiniPigsSee The Full Detailed Video Below Visiting Info For SocalMiniPigs What We Said In Our SocalMiniPigs Video If you’re looking for a place to pet pigs, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better spot than SoCal Mini Pigs in Valley Center, CA. The owners, Sandra and Wes, are incredibly welcoming. We felt their kindness the…
- Strolling Balboa Park in San Diego, CADuring our last visit to San Diego, we strolled through Balboa Park. While there was plenty to look at during our visit, we can only imagine how much fun the park would have been pre-Covid.
- Visiting La Jolla Cove in La Jolla, CA 2020We’ve always loved our visits to La Jolla. It’s a location with beautiful views and plenty of activities for families of all ages.
- Visiting the San Diego Zoo Kids FREE October 2020Kids love the zoo, but it can be expensive depending on how big your family is. San Diego Zoo Kids free October is a great time to visit, you can save a lot of money and have one last outing with the family before the sick season starts back up.
Ventura County
- Apricot Lane Farms TourTrang doesn’t get excited about many places, but Apricot Lane Farms is one of them. Having first learned about the farm through their farm documentary, “The Biggest Little Farm,” from 2018, she’s been a fan ever since, and when the opportunity to go on the Apricot Lane Farms Tour came up, there was no way…
- Visiting the Underwood Family Farm Pumpkin Patch in Moorpark, CA 2020We were shocked to see how much of a transformation the Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, CA undertakes for their fall harvest. Their gigantic pumpkin patch offers over a dozen different pumpkin types to choose from and plenty of great spots for taking fun family photos.
Monterey County
- Pfeiffer Falls Trail Hike With KidsIf you’re looking for things to do around Big Sur, the Pfeiffer Falls Trail is a fun, easy hike to do with the family. Located next to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, the trailhead starts at the Big Sur Lodge, and the hike is just over a mile round trip. See The Full Detailed Video…
- Camping At Big Sur Campground & Cabins ReviewIf you are looking for a great family camping experience in Big Sur, the Big Sur Campground and Cabins is a special place for any type of camper. In addition to traditional RV and tent camping, The 11-acre site also has multiple cabins options, which include camp cabins, A-frame cabins, and little houses. That said,…
