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20 Free Things To Do in Orange County this Summer with Kids

8/3/16 - By Dana Zepeda

Today's kids lead busy lives; from school to sports to playdates, practically every moment of the school year is scheduled. So when summer finally rolls around, we can't think of a better way to take advantage of the downtime than to play together as a family—for free! Premium passes to Disneyland may not be in the cards for everyone, but there are still plenty of ways to stave off boredom in Orange County this summer.

From outdoor movies to free bowling to concerts at the park, The OC has plenty of ways to keep kids entertained, all without spending a dime. Here are 20 of our favorites.

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1. Take a twilight walk at Oak Canyon Nature Center.

2. Check out your local bowling alley with Kids Bowl Free.

3. Watch caterpillars emerge from chrysalises at the Butterfly House. 

4. Visit the livestock at Centennial Farm.

5. Attend a free concert at the park.

6. Sign up for a free mini build at the Lego Store.

7. Watch a movie under the stars in Huntington Beach.

8. Explore the Corona del Mar tidepools.

9. Get down and dirty at Adventure Playground.

10. Spend a day at The Children's Museum at La Habra.

RELATED: 30 Things To Do in Irvine with Kids


Photo credit: Oscar Rohena via flickr

11. Get wet and wild at a local splash pad.

12. Learn about literature at Shakespeare by the Sea.

13. Become the next Tony Hawk at Brea Skate Park.

14. Enroll in a kid's workshop at Home Depot.

15. Unwind after a long day with milk and cookies before bedtime at Once Upon a Storybook.

16. Sign up for one month of free mixed martial arts classes.

17. Jump through the fountains in Old Towne Orange.

18. Sign up for a summer reading program at the Orange County Public Library.

19. Learn to fish at Dana Wharf Sporfishing.

20. Go bird watching at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.

 

Top photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar via flickr