Orange

59 Things To Do with Orange County Kids Before They Grow Up

Submitted by Li Starr on Sun, 06/16/2019 - 7:11pm

Orange County may sometimes be considered second fiddle compared to Los Angeles for fun eats, kid-friendly parks, family outings, and outdoor adventures; but the OC has plenty of all of these—with the benefits of better air and less traffic (sorry, Angelenos!). If your kids are growing up the OC way, here are some key places to take them for the ultimate childhood experience behind the Orange curtain.

27 Festivals and Fairs: Must-Do Fun for Summer in LA and Orange County

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 06/11/2019 - 3:48pm

What's summer without a good festival? And what's LA without at least 25 of them? We've pulled together more than 25 of the best summer festivals in Los Angeles and Orange County, from June through September. Whether it's celebrating community or something more specific—like salsa or lobster!—fairs and festivals are an essential part of a Southern California summer. Here's our guide to help your family make summer plans to bond over fried food, carnival rides, art, boats, and lots of outdoor music.

18 Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in Los Angeles and Orange Country

Submitted by Martha Hall on Sun, 11/25/2018 - 10:23pm

The tree is trimmed, the presents wrapped, and the cookies baked and boxed. Hmm. Now, what to make for Christmas dinner. Our suggestion? Reservations. That’s right. Many Southland restaurants are open and happy to serve you on Christmas Day. You’ve already done so much to get ready for the holidays—instead of holing up in the kitchen, pile your family and out-of-town guests into the car and give yourself the gift of dining out. That way you all get to enjoy the day!

Best Pumpkin Patches for LA, Ventura, & Orange County Kids

Submitted by Roberta B on Sat, 09/15/2018 - 1:05pm

The time has come to surrender to the Great Pumpkin. Mind you, the big guy is spoiled for choice around the Southland in Halloween season. We won't presume to call one pumpkin patch more sincere than the others, but LA’s pumpkin patches (and pseudo pumpkin patches) run a satisfying gamut from small to large, folksy to commercial. Whether you're hoping for a hit-and-run Halloween photo or a day's outing in autumnal reverie, your destination is below...

Free in August: 21 Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Brian Steele on Wed, 08/01/2018 - 1:00pm

It’s the waning days of summer, and the pocket book may be feeling a little light. Thankfully, you live in Los Angeles, a city never short of fun things to do for free. Whether you want to hit the beach, dance under the stars, or catch a show, there's nothing to stop you, short of heatstroke. So why not gather up the fam and squeeze those last drops out of your summer fun, because if you do what we tell you to, you won't need to spend a dime.

Roller Skating Rinks Are Still Great Spots for SoCal Family Fun

Submitted by Audrey M on Tue, 02/13/2018 - 9:08am

If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you probably have great memories of rockin' and rollin' at the roller rink. Birthday parties, end of year school trips, disco evenings, or just plain having fun inside on a hot or rainy day—roller rinks were the best. Even though inline skates are the outdoor skate of choice these days, we can still put on some quads at these LA- and OC-area roller rinks. Take the kids for a taste of your childhood. And, Mom and Dad, you can go ahead and skate too. It is great exercise and just as fun as you remember.

Great Summer Horse Riding Camps near Los Angeles

Submitted by Martha Hall on Sat, 03/11/2017 - 7:59pm

It's hard to believe that only a few decades ago many LA kids could pat and even ride horses in their own neighborhoods. My friend who hails from Brentwood remembers feeding carrots to front yard horses just blocks from the now bustling and trendy San Vicente Blvd. Wouldn't that be nice? If you have a little rider-wanna-be but no riding ring next door, don't despair: there are many horseback riding summer camps with lessons for kids right around the corner.

Along with our recommendations for the LA area's best art camps, classic outdoor summer camps, science camps, and cooking camps, we offer our picks for LA and Orange County's best summer horse riding camps. (Be sure to check our camp guide periodically for more camp categories being added all the time!)

Weekday Picks: Boney Island, Hocus Pocus Under the Gun, Muertos Novenarios, Oct. 24-28

Submitted by Kathie Bozanich on Mon, 10/24/2016 - 4:04am

All things Halloween ahead of the holiday, from displays on private lawns to a movie screening on the fantail of the battleship Iowa, are on tap this week. Kids can test how many pumpkins they can carry at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, dress up for a Mini Monster Bash in La Habra and check out the Día de los Muertos procession on Olvera Steet. For more Halloween ideas, check out our roundups of Halloween fun and activities, Halloween ghost trains and rides, and the best places to trick-or-treat in Orange County or in LA.

The Mommy Poppins Event Calendar includes lots more options for fun and activities, and our picks for the month are detailed in our October GoList. Here are some of our favorite outings this week.