Tanaka Farms (Irvine) A year-round farm with strawberry, pumpkin and watermelon tours depending on the season. Come tour our farm and pick your own fruit!
Centennial Farm (Costa Mesa) Pigs, peacocks, cows and honeybees for your kiddos to see! Stroll through the garden to see how crops are grown. FREE! Please check website for details on classes and their current hours.
Adventure City (Anaheim) Enjoy the rides, shows and miniature city at Adventure City. There is fun for all ages here. Site shows rides, park schedule, group rates and directions.
Balboa Island Fun Zone (Newport Beach) Enjoy the ferris wheel, carosel and lots of fun in Newport Beach. Site offers more information, times, etc.
Disneyland (Anaheim) Visit Main Street U.S.A., go on a jungle cruise, set sail on a pirate ship, meet the Disney Princesses and of course, Mickey Mouse! Site offers daily calendar, ticket sales, packages, special offers, and passholder info.
Disney's California Adventure (Anaheim) Disney's newest theme park now open across from Disneyland. Rides and attractions for all ages. Site offers daily calendar, ticket sales, packages, special offers, and passholder info.
Knotts Berry Farm (Buena Park) Visit America's first theme park! Rides and attractions for all ages.
Legoland California (Carlsbad) Legoland brings out the hero in everyone. There are more than 50 super rides, shows and attractions for the whole family.
Wild Rivers (Irvine) Cool off and dive in at Orange County's premier water park. Attractions for all ages. Open May - October.
Fun Express (Mission Viejo) A local source to buy discount tickets for local and regional attractions (Aquarium of the Pacific, Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, Legoland, and many more). Click here for a complete listing of available tickets. (Tickets can be picked up in Mission Viejo or emailed.)
Go San Diego Card (Various Locations) A pass which allows you to enter a variety of amusement parks & attractions in Southern California (Orange & San Diego Counties).
Irvine Park Railroad (Orange) Irvine Park Railroad is a one-third scale train that takes both children and adults on a 12-minute ride through scenic Irvine Regional Park.
Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) Take a journey of discovery through the world’s largest ocean at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.
Dana Wharf Whale Watching and Sport Fishing (Dana Point) Dana Wharf offers year-round fishing and whale watching cruises out of Dana Point Harbor. All trips are fun for the whole family! Be sure to try the new Laguna Beach Sightseeing Tour!
Davey's Locker & Newport Landing Whale Watching (Newport Beach) Year around whale watching cruises view many varieties of whales including the giant blue whales, which attains lengths over 80 feet, grey whales, several types of dolphin, seals, and huge array of other marine creatures.The Ocean Explorer was designed just for viewing marine life, our primary whale watching ship is 65 feet in length with a large upstairs sundeck, wrap around outside seating, and indoor seating with large windows.
Laguna Koi Ponds (Laguna Beach--FREE!) Come see the tanks of Koi fish and the store carrying fish supplies. You can even feed the fish (for a nominal fee).
Ocean Institute (Dana Point) Come experience hands-on marine science, environmental education and maritime history programs.
Omar's Exotic Birds (Lake Forest) Omar's has birds hanging out on perches where you can interact with them.
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary (Modjeska Canyon) a 12-acre non-profit nature preserve, with facilities including a small natural history museum, two ponds, a bird observation porch and feeders, picnic areas, hiking trails, restrooms and a visitor parking lot.
ZOOMARS Petting Zoo and Bird Park (San Juan Capistrano) ZOOMARS has over 100 friendly animals to pet, feed, love and learn from.
Orange County Zoo (Orange) The OC Zoo is located within Irvine Regional Park, and includes animals and plants native to the southwestern United States, including black bears, mountain lions, bald eagle, island foxes, ocelot, red-tailed hawk, great horned owls, porcupine, coyotes, turkey vultures, coati and more.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center (Laguna Beach) The center is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals stranded along the Orange County coastline.
Santa Ana Zoo (Santa Ana) The zoo is filled with many animals, including a variety of species of birds, monkey, fish and farm animals.
San Diego Zoo (San Diego) One of the largest, most progressive zoos in the world with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. Site offers information on current exhibits, hours, directions, and tickets.
Abrakadoodle (South Orange County) Art classes, camps & parties for children aged 20 months & up. Promotes creativity & engages their minds while having lots of fun!
Color Me Mine (Lake Forest and Rancho Santa Margarita) Come paint your own piece of pottery, then take it home as a keepsake.
Fired Up (San Clemente) Paint your own ceramics, and then take it home as a keepsake.
Home Depot Workshop (Home Depot Stores) Make a craft at your nearest Home Depot store. See website for project and times.
Lil Artist (South Orange County) Unleash your creativity at a party for kids (and adults)! Color and enjoy your artwork!
Lowe's Workshop (Lowe's Stores) Make a craft at your nearest Lowe's store. See website for project and times.
Joann Fabrics (Joann Fabric Stores) Sew or make a craft at your nearest Joann's. See website to find the store near you and to see their classes (listed under "Creative University Classes")
Lakeshore Learning Crafts (All Lakeshore Learning stores) Make a free craft on Saturdays at Lakeshore Learning. See website for more details.
Brown Bag Players (Lake Forest) A organization which presents audience participatory plays, performed by professional actors to children of Orange County.
Musical Theatre Village (Lake Forest) A small, community theater presenting family productions throughout the year. Check our schedule for the latest performances.
Rancho Los Alamitos (Long Beach) Historic ranch and barns in Long Beach, with a working blacksmith's shop, live farm animals, four acres of nationally significant gardens and an adobe house. Admission is free, and the ranch has monthly events for children, especially at the holidays.
Bowers Kidseum (Santa Ana) Kidseum visitors can experience the world's cultures through music and mask, storytelling and song, and art and artifacts. The popular Pre-School Discoveries program will be back in full force on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to delight the younger set with music and movement, whimsical art projects, stories and nutritious snacks. Visit their website for updates and the scheduled opening.
Centennial Heritage Museum (Santa Ana) The Centennial Heritage Museum offers a hands-on experience of life as it was a century ago in Southern California. The 11-acre site includes restored 19th-century homes, a blacksmith shop, citrus groves, four gardens and a 5-acre Nature Center.
Discovery Science Center (Santa Ana) Imaginations twist and fly through more than 100 hands-on exhibits at Discovery Science Center. Play Virtual Volleyball, lie on a Bed of Nails, feel an earthquake in the Shake Shack and explore Dino Quest – the World’s First Interactive Dinosaur Adventure! Annual Spooky Science and BubbleFest events spark children’s natural curiosity! See the website for special attractions (changes monthly).
La Habra Children's Museum (La Habra) Museum designed for kids! Permanent exhibits include a carosel, a pre-school play park, a kids' stage, a miniature Union Pacific railway, and Buster the Bus (miniature OCTA bus) for kids to play with. Site shows exibits and the calendar, as well as special exhibits.
MUZEO (Anaheim Museum)
Orange County Natural History Museum (Laguna Niguel) The Orange County Natural History Museum is dedicated to preserving both the past and present through the display of its unique collection of artifacts. Nature walks, tours, and youth and school programs teach visitors about California's natural history year-round.
Cool Trails (Red Routes) in Orange County A list of biking and hiking trails which are appropriate for families.
Environmental Nature Center (Newport Beach) Organized nature activities for kids and families.
Paleopack Program (Laguna Hills Dinosaur Park) Designed for kids aged 2-9, this program features a guided tour of the Community Center Fossil Exhibit with interactive activities that parents and children may do together as they explore the fascinating fossils.
Jump 'N Jammin (Mission Viejo) An indoor play-center for children of all ages.
Jump N' Shout (Rancho Santa Margarita) An indoor facility with inflatibles to jump, slide and climb in, as well as other activities, trampolines and more!
San Clemente Skate (SC-SK8) (San Clemente) An indoor skate park, with bounce house, teddy bear stuffers, roller skating and more.
Scooter's Jungle (Aliso Viejo) An indoor tropical-themed center for ages 1-100, swhere children can swing, slide, jump, bounce, and have FUN!
YMCA of Orange County (Various locations) Aquatic, fitness and sport classes for kids of all ages.
Big Fun Gymnastics (Various locations) Specialized gymnastics, swimming, occupational therapy and more for children who have special needs.
Do you have a favorite activity that keeps your kids (and you!) stimulated and engaged? Just email us the information (SouthOCKids@gmail.com) and we'll include it here!