That darling toddler that couldn't spend enough time with you somehow morphed into an often sulky or sullen tween or teen who suddenly thinks you're fairly lame. The YMCA of Middletown is a community based not for profit organization dedicated to putting JudeoChristian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. 1 for North County, ext. bring some bags and cups (or you can ask for water cups, but they don't have lids. The iconic Angels Flight is a quick but fun trip. Now, when you suggest a fun family activity, you're more likely to be met with an eye roll than a hug. Total: $29-$31. start you day stopping at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center(PMMC)located on Laguna Canyon Road about 2 miles from the beach. Can't wait to do some of these with the kiddos Orange County Summer Bucket List For OC Families We included anchor links at the top and bottom of our content so you are able to jump to any section youre interested in re-reading. 3. Youll find more sightseeing and free things to do with kids in Orange County below: There are fun, kid-friendly activities to be found throughout Orange County. DON'T FORGET TO PRINT OUT THE COUPONS. Our Orange County Summer Bucket list includes lots of OC vacation stops! Whether youre looking to spend the day on thrills, play games in the arcade and along our classic Games Row, shop merch in our Dragon Gift Shop, relax on the beach by the sparkling Long Island Sound, or enjoy picnics with loved ones, were your destination for creating experiences that last a lifetime. Grab a bite in the park at one of our delicious new concession stands, like Kickin Chikin, Smash n Shake, and Cocina Fresca! You can let the little ones loose on the three story play area at Seascape Kids Fun or cool off at the Atlantis Play Center Splash Pad. are two small "beaches" with sand and a pontoon). How about 101 Things to Do in Orange County how about entertaining thetweens and teens. 101 Places to Find the Best Sweets in Orange County! Some are super long, some have treetop climbing parks, and some sail over an entire zoo or across an island. question constantly, I am going to refer to your blog! The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum (MHDM) is the ideal destination for children and families. Open Fridays - Mondays from April through December and by appointment, Boscobel offers gardens and grounds admission, guided outdoor tours, and lively open-air programs that explore history, design, and nature. Welcome to the Sandy Toes & popsicles Orange County Event Calendar. Photo courtesy of dreamscapeimmersive.com, FOLLOW US FOR ACTIVITY PICKS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS. We visited this fabulous playground with 5 children aged between 6-12 years old. Child (5 through 11) $.50per person x round trip = $2 LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester - it's like youve just jumped into the biggest box of LEGO bricks ever! Check out our guide to day trips! The OC Fair has officially announced the full concert schedule for The Hangar inside the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, which includes a handful of familiar acts like a Depeche Mode cover . To provide parents with all of the information they need to help them and their kids get "out and about" to fantastic opportunities for fun, education, and cultural enrichment in our area. 3 for South County) Events: 714-630-4510 ext. Don't forget to check out theSandy Toes and Popsicles Facebook Pagefor daily updates of events happening inOrange County! Of course, there are literallyhundredsof wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Best for kids near me in Orange County, California. pack up the car with comfy pillows and blankets, pack a picnic, pop some popcorn and gather some treats for an adventure ofsnugglingup for an evening watching movies under the stars. Awesome post Jill! 2. Exploring professional technology, encouraging growth, collaboration and creativity allows students to fully immerse themselves into this unique artistic environment. first, take a ride on the Balboa Island Ferry. OR 70 ratings. We are professional theatre artists who are passionate about sharing our love of storytelling with children of all ages. Get great ideas here on KidsOutAndAbout, visit our Everything That's Free page, and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter packed with great things to do around the Hudson Valley! You can take your family to learn about the history of Orange County and California at Mission San Juan Capistrano or catch an Angels baseball game at Angel Stadium. when you feel you have had enough fun on the island, head back to the Balboa Fun Zone via the Ferry to finish out the rest of your outing. . And no matter how cool a kid may be, no one rolls an eye while catapulting through the treetops at increasing speed. Your email address will not be published. pack hand wipes, extra drinks and blankets. Donations Youre invited to join in the family fun at our Kids Club.Bring your PC Grommets (Kids!) Sharing the greatest things to do in the OC is what we do best Read More. Kids love riding the trains at Goat Hill Junction in Costa Mesa. Worth a visit for an hour or so. Otherwise, scroll and enjoy! suggestion: Bring - picnic lunch, waters, small blanket, park toys and sunscreen. Visiting the beach is one of the most popular free things to do in Orange County with kids. Total: $25-30. Cinema City allows a free refill of both the large popcorn and the large drink. 15 Free Things to Do in Orange County with Kids They will even put it in a new cup or bucket. We opted to do a bushwalk and did a loop track nearby. BTW, there is a great and free Koi Pond store just a few blocks down the road from the mammal center in Laguna Beach. Ride a Duffy Boat Around Newport Beach Harbor 6. ****. also, check the calendar for FREE community events at the center. As Orange grew, the Lake proved to be not large enough to supply Orange with a sustainable water supply, so by 1957 alternate supply sources were investigated. I included that cost in the cost breakdown. 30 Fun Things to do in Orange County with Kids - Trekaroo Family Travel Black soft serve in a charcoal cone anyone? all of the other expected playground amenities are here as well, from swings to climbers. The Warner Brothers Studio tour is a huge hit with teens, with a golf cart tour of the lot, a stop at Friends'Central Perk for a photo op,and maybe evena peek at a show being filmed. They're proud that locals voted them #4 in best places to take kids this year! Catch a Game. We drove out from Orange to find that the summit was closed. 24 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Orange County: The Best Family Great Park Balloon: $10 per adult, Kids 18 and under FREE with paying adult= $20 Summit was closed but still worth the drive. Parking $3-5 The 3-mile-long beach comprises five surf breaks: Cotton, Uppers, Middles, Lowers, and Church. spend the day exploring this special park. The Museum of Neon Art? Woodbridge 5 Starplex Cinema(Irvine)$2 movies before 6pm,$3moviesafter 6pm, $4 for3-d movies. Fun Things to Do in Orange County with Kids - TravelMamas.com 10 Fun Orange County Family Outings for $30 where ever you can find a parking spot, get it! Orange County has SO much to offer truly we live in one of the best places! 15. When in season you can pick your own cherries, apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, apples (several varieties), pears and figs. it is located at 231 Forest Avenue, just a couple blocks from the beach. Sounds like fun. 35 Best Things to Do in Orange County Knott's Berry Farm Ride intense roller coasters and eat the best chicken dinner at this popular theme park. LEGOLANDDiscovery Center is designed specifically for children aged 3-10 yearsto enjoy - everything is kid-sized. Free Miniature Train Rides at Fairview Park. I have never been to the reptile zoo though. instead of the 50's theme, it has a 60's theme with cool retro decor like kidney bean shaped tables and lava lamp. Almost every teen I've met loves VR. when you return from your Ferry adventure, take a ride on the ferris wheel or visit theExploreOceanNautical Museum. -Join us on level 1 near Sephora, and the Reading Reef! 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Currently, we operate primarily out of three facilities including our main branch and association headquartersin Middletown known as theYMCA of Middletown, theSouth Orange Family YMCA(nicknamed "SOFY") in Monroe, andThe Center For Youth Programsin Middletown- the home of our First Step Preschool, our summer day camp in Middletown and many other youth programs. The concept of these rooms is to use mental deduction abilities to read clues and decipher them to get to the next level. JUST STUMBLED OVER THIS WEBSITE. #vacay! if you walk around the grounds near the Great Park Carousel, you will find the Farm + Food Lab, an area where many kinds of plants and vegetables have been planted and are growing. Brea Plaza 5(Brea) $3 daytime and $3.75 evening The second largest county fair in New York State is the showplace for agriculture in Dutchess County. Havent got a whole day? Downtown Laguna Beach 9. YesI know. Go tide pooling in Orange County with kids. Bring cash for the Ferry. both of these places have unique and yummy desserts that you won't find at the average ice cream shop. Print out ourSummer Bucket Listand see how many you check off before school starts back up! besides the expected amenities, you also have theIrvine Park Railroad,OC ZooandOC Fun Rentals. For too-cool-for-school teens, pop-up selfie museums can elicit that same sense of wonder they had when they were 5 and you mentioned scootering to the park to play on the jungle gym. 30+ Free {or nearly free} Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer. 1. Required fields are marked *, We love living in Orange County from the beach, to theme parks, to the great weather and food. My family and I are always looking for family things to do here in SoCal especially here in the OC since we live in Anaheim! Discover all the hidden gems of Orange County! We are sure our Orange County Ultimate Summer Bucket list for OC families will keep you busy all summer long! Wi Spa will take your tweens, teens, or even the whole family. there are hundreds of them here wall to wall. There are also several splash pads in Orange County to keep you and your kids cool this summer! if you head to the west, you will have a scenic view of ocean front homes, if your head east, you will also have a view of ocean front homes, but also there are shops about a half a mile down that you can window shop at. Almost every city has a Concert in the Park Series check them out here! Goat Hill Junction has one of the largest miniature train layouts on the west coast. if you are not up for ice cream, there are also a few other places to get a bit to eat. Big Attractions Local Fairs Library Events Kids Eat Free Free Concerts Things to do this weekend in and around Orange County, CA Every year we search for items that would make a perfect bucket list for you and your kids to tackle during the summer season and this year we are proud to share a list with well over 100 activities, events, and sightseeing experiences, most of which are cheap or free! Also visit our Guide to Orange County for detailed lists of how to have fun in Orange County. Highly rated activities for a rainy day in Orange County: The top indoor things to do in Orange County. I just called the Regency Laguna Niguel location and they do not offer $3.00 movies. Many of our patients have been withour doctorsfor more than 20 years. MHDM provides early learners impactful and nurturing programs and spaces that help foster imagination, creativity, socialization skills and the ability to understand the world around them. For six days each August, the bucolic fairgrounds on Route 9 in Rhinebeck plays host to nearly half a million patrons. the Reptile Zoo is located at 18822 Brookhurst Street in Fountain Valley. Take a stroll on the boardwalk and surround yourself with panoramic views of Playland Park and the shores of the Long Island Sound. The Lake was originally constructed in 1918 by damming the Molong Creek with the water being transported by pipeline to Orange. Kids will love the over 100 exotic species of reptiles at The Reptile Zoo as well as the tons of fun activities offered at Thrill It Fun Center. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and have read the Privacy Statement, Up to 40% Off Admissions at LOL Kids Club, Admission for Two Children and up to Two Adults (Valid Monday-Thursday), Up to 63% Off Cruises at San Diego Whale Watch, All-You-Can-Eat Endless Buffet with Unlimited Drinks and Two-Hours of Rides and Video Games For One Person, 60% Off Buffet and Games at John's Incredible Pizza Company, All-You-Can-Eat Endless Buffet with Unlimited Drinks and Two-Hours of Rides and Video Games For One, Up to 30% Off on Museum at Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, Up to 50% Off on Paddleboarding at Paddle Board Newport Beach, Two-Hour Paddleboard or Kayak Rental for One, Catalina Island Ferry First Leg Newport Beach To Avalon, Up to 35% Off on Trampoline Park at Sky Zone Cerritos, One 90-Minute Jump Pass with Sky Socks; Valid Any Day, Up to 26% Off Jump Pass or Party at Sky Zone - Westminster, One 90-Minute Open Jump Pass w/Orange SkySocks; Valid Monday-Thursday, Up to 34% Off 90-Minute Jump Pass with Sky Socks at Sky Zone, One 90-Minute Jump Pass with Sky Socks, Valid Monday-Thursday, Up to 58% Off Deep Sea Fishing Trip at Freelance Ocean Tours, One Adult Deep Sea Fishing Ticket with Breakfast and Lunch Included, General Admission for Two or Four People at Lyon Air Museum, Up to 47% Off Climbing Classes or Membership at Hangar 18, Wild Rivers Waterpark - 2023 Season Passes, Diamond Season Pass - Valid April 30-October 1, 2023 - Diamond Season Pass, Up to 34% Off La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak Tour or Rental, 90-Minute La Jolla Double Kayak Rental; Valid for Ages 6 and Up, Admission Tickets at Raging Waters LA (Up to 37% Off), Admission Tickets at Castle Park (Up to 44% Off), Single Day Admission with Unlimited Rides, Up to 36% Off Gen Admission or Birthday Party at We Play Loud, All Day Play Pass for One Child and One Adult, Up to 60% Off on Kayak Rental at Huntington harbor boat rentals, Disneyland: filled with themed rides and attractions to bring the kid out in everyone, Disney California Adventures: eight different neighborhoods bringing all of the best kids movies to life, Knott's Berry Farm: a world-renowned theme park with attractions and entertainment for all ages, Crystal Cove State Park: one of Orange Countys largest remaining examples of open space and natural seashore, Angel Stadium: catch a Los Angeles Angels game at this modern stadium, 1500 West Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach, Adventure City: a family theme park where the price of admission includes unlimited rides and attractions, Santa Ana Zoo: this charming Zoo features over 80 species of animals, including the smallest monkeys in the world, Legoland: where awesome awaits for families looking for a great day out, or the ultimate vacation experience, Balboa Island: come here for beach-focused activities, delicious dining and shops, Knotts Soak City: Orange County's largest water park boasts a total of 22 speed, tube and body slides plus much more, All Fees Included: Davey's Locker Whale Watching, Huntington Beach Pier: an iconic pier with amazing views of the beach and ocean, Sleeping Beauty Castle: this fairy tale castle is sure to make your little girl giggle with excitement, Corona Del Mar State Beach: a half mile of protected beach perfect for swimming and surfing, Pixar Pal-A-Round: the 160 foot tall observation wheel at Disneys California Adventures, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve: 1,300 acre ecological preserve with over 200 avian species spread around the coastal wetlands, The Candy Man: famous for their great tasting candies and snacks, Thrill It Fun Center: this place has everything from rock climbing to laser tag, Salt Creek Beach: take a dip in the ocean and then have a picnic on the large grassy area, We Play Loud: a large indoor playground designed specifically to keep your children happy for hours, The Reptile Zoo: houses over 100 exotic species of reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids from around the world, Sky Zone Trampoline Park: high-flying fun across a sea of connected trampolines, Sender One Climbing: an interactive climbing center great for kids and adults of all ages, Froggs Bounce House: a 9,000 square foot play area with a variety of inflatables, Seascape Kids Fun: a large three-story play area offering almost endless fun, Atlantis Play Center Splash Pad: kids will have a blast playing on the concrete animals or sliding down the sea serpent slide, Pacific Marine Mammal Center: rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship, Discovery Cube Orange County: inspire and educate young minds through engaging science-based programs and exhibits, Heritage Hill Historical Park: includes, four fully restored historic buildings that span the early history of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro area, Pretend City Children's Museum: designed for children to learn how the real world works, Mission San Juan Capistrano: founded over 200 years ago, this mission is the birthplace of Orange County, 16732 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, Creative Kids Playhouse Children's Theatre of Orange County: dedicated to providing fun theatre opportunities for children, Brushstrokes: offers an atmosphere that is beautiful, inspiring, relaxing, and hospitable where visitors can express their creativity, Muddy's Studio: here your kids will learn the basics of ceramics, Country Trails & Riding School: take your kids here for a day of horseback riding, OC Dance Studio: teaches kids the basics of many different dance types, Boomers! Click on the images below to read the latest issue or download a copy of your very own. Excellent farm shop with fresh local produce and a pick your own fruit in season option. Your goal: Take out your opponents before they get you by shooting, running, and hiding. Although the cheap seats mean basically watching the jumbotron the whole time, it's still super exciting to feel the energy and the kindred spirit of being part of a global artist's fanbase. and those are my top suggestions for inexpensive outing for families in the OC. Orange County Fun: 30 Things To Do in Irvine with Kids. I feel that these little trains are one of the hidden gems of Orange County. Exploring professional technology, encouraging growth, collaboration and creativity allows students to fully immerse themselves into this unique artistic environment. IS THERE AN APP FOR THIS SITE? Big Air Trampoline Park Literally bounce off the walls! LEGOLAND Discovery Center is designed specifically for children aged 3-10 years to enjoy - everything is kid-sized. this is a fun way to get up close and personal with localanimals. 3. 7. Atlantis Play Center in Garden Groveis a unique park unlike the others in Orange County. THE 10 BEST Orange County Rainy-Day Activities