Summer Event/Activity List for Families in Southern California

Is anyone else in a tailspin about summer? I am kinda freaking out that I will have all the kids and the added pressure of getting them out of the house all day (we run a business in our house). Hence this blog post. This is totally a selfish list- it is my personal family list of stuff we want to do this summer, but thought I would share it with others because that is the kinda person i am...also i can access it anywhere this way and did i mention it was mainly selfish? I will be adding to the list as more stuff comes up, but wanted a place where I can find the info. (please comment if there is anything I should add!)

ACTIVITIES THAT COST $$
1. Adventure Playground - Ages 5-12 / $3 per child - Huntington Beach
2. Pick Your Own Fruit! Morrell Nut and Berry Farm - Solvang (2 1/2 hours from LB) or Brian Ranch U-Pick Orchard - Llano (1 hr 45 min from LB) / Tanaka Farms - Irvine (30 min from LB)
3.
4. Take the Train to the San Juan Capistrano Mission (and visit the petting zoo!)
5. Calico Ghost Town - Calico
6. Sawdust Festival - Laguna Beach (through August) - Children's events and art booths - see website for details
7. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum - Topanga, CA (I have seen a play here before and the venue is GORGEOUS!) Family Fundays are on Sunday throughout the Summer
8. OC Fair -Costa Mesa -  July 12-Aug 11
9. Soak City - Buena Park
10. Orange County Great Park - Ride the balloon! (closed mon-wed / adults $10 children above 6 $5)
11. Bower's Museum - 2002 Main St. Santa Ana / closed mondays /
weekday adults $13 children (under 12) Free / Target Free First Sundays
12. Children's Museum at La Habra  - 301 South Euclid St 90631 / closed mondays / Adults and children $8 (under 2 are free) - First Sunday of the month (starting 7/7/13) is free
13. Angel Stadium Tours - Adults $7, Children 3 and Up $5
14. Aqualink - Fare $5
15. Crystal Cove - Laguna Beach
16. LACMA - Metropolis Exhibit on Weekends only
17. Indoor Bouncing Places - for THOSE days
18. The Movies- $1 Tuesday matinees at Mainplace in Santa Ana!!
19. Edible Adventure - OC Food Trucks
20. Redondo Beach Seaside Lagoon - Adults $6 / Children 2-17 $5



FREE
1. Movies on the Beach! - Long Beach
2. Downtown Skate Zone - Anaheim
3. Tide Pools - San Pedro, CA
4. Our favorite beach spot - Penninsula, Long Beach
5. Riding Bikes at the Bowl - Yorba Linda
6. Volcom Skate Park - 970 Arlington Dr, Costa Mesa
7. Gum Grove Park - Seal Beach
8. El Dorado Nature Walk (does cost $ to park)
9. Japanese Garden at CSULB
10. Laguna Hills Community Center and Sports Complex (Skate Park!) - 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna
Hills
11. Blackberry Picking - Newport - Early - Mid June
12. Huntington Beach Bike Trail
13. Laguna Koi Ponds - 20452 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna
14. Prehistoric Pets - 18822 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley (It's a pet store, and sooo much more!)
15. Swimming! (We are lucky to have access to friend and family pools but if you aren't so lucky - here is a link to a free one week pass to the YMCA in Long Beach - they have an awesome pool!)
16. The Getty (Admission is free, but parking is $15)
17. Pirate Park - 16559 Bellflower Blvd, Bellflower
18. Rock Climbing - Vasquez Rocks - 10700 W Escondido Cnyn Rd, Agua Dulce
19. Fullerton Arboretum (free but donation is asked)
20. Checking out the Surf at The Wedge - Huntington Beach
21. Farmer's Market - They are Everywhere, but our favorite is at Marine Vista Park Wed 3:30-7:30 - Long Beach
22. Santiago Creek Wildlife Reserve - Archery Range, 2 big metal slides that go down a hill (hours of fun) and a bike path - we could spend the whole day here!

OC Events - Just Spotted

July
Citrus Classic Balloon Festival - July 26-28
Insect Festival - Encinitas - July 13-14
Old Miner Days - Big Bear - July weekends
Youth Outdoor Safari Day - Corona -  July 20

Long Beach Scavenger Hunt

I totally wussed out on my husband for father's day...and last year our anniversary (10!) was a total bunk...and he has a birthday this week...so i wanted to do something super special to cover all 3! I put together a little bike ride through Long Beach scavenger hunt. We covered Belmont Heights, Retro Row, Downtown, did a boat ride ($5 a person!) during sunset, Alamitos Bay and back home. I had 8 "clues" - every clue had a little bag that contained either a gift card, or cash- i included all the cash he would need to buy the dessert and pay for the boat ride, etc - or a little card to represent that clue. He was super pumped - we both love riding our bikes and we both love Long Beach...so this was a perfect way to celebrate our little life markers!

I have to say...i timed this extremely well and i am super proud of myself because that takes work for me...i had friends meet up with us at one point, and we had to make the boat at 7, so there was a bit of a time crunch, but not really - he felt he had enough time to shop at the stores and a timeline was probably a good thing for Bryan since he has been known to spend an hour looking at all the different cereals in the grocery store...not really...but kinda...

It was so nice to spend the day alone with him...it really felt like a mini-vacation (thank you thank you mama!) and we had all sorts of funny conversations and new experiences together. Long Beach really is the perfect town to do this sort of thing - its easily accessible and has such cool unique parts to it...we are in love with where we live! where else can you take a semi-private (there were 2 other couples on the boat with us) sunset boat ride for $5 a person? so cool. and we took our bikes on the boat. 

We had a lovely dinner and since we don't really have lights on our bikes or night riding stuff - we got a cab home and locked our bikes...i somehow picked them up the next day and somehow fit them in our car...no small task (they both have kid seats)...and side note...i was walking my bike at one point and slammed my foot into a metal pole and i ended up breaking my toe...i thought i just stubbed it at first but the next day it was swollen and all bruised and today it hurts like madness...so i was doing all this with a broken toe apparently...

anyway - very fun! i highly encourage this type of date - keeps things new and definitely a cool memory of our little mini home-cation :) 

Clue#1 - Your boys have your style, so ride about 1 mile, and pick something out to wear out and about! (The answer was Long Beach Trading Co)

Modeling his shorts he bought with his gift certificate

Clue #2 - Mama's little baby loves shortnin shortnin,
Mama's little baby loves ____________ Fill in the blank to pick up some after dinner goodies!

Clue #3 - They are truly unique, No two are alike, They help catch creeps, So get on your bike....Head to the store Where there is music galore, pick up some vinyl and go buck wild! He got a Leonard Cohen record <3

Clue #4 - What has, holy water, Beers made by Monks, Naughty School Uniforms, The Roddys? (Congregation Ale)

Bryan's white twin and his beautiful wife and beautiful beer :) 

Clue #5 - Get Ready, Get Set, Get Sailing! Hurry up or you might miss the 7:00 departure...Look for the purple red and yellow boat at Dock #___________ (Hint: the number is also a golf term)

On the Aqualink

We perfectly timed it for a sunset arrival

Right after I broke my toe :( - i didnt know at this point...

I missed some pictures of dinner - Clue #6 - and Clue #7 was maybe a movie - but we were so tired (read:old) this was clue #8 - a gift card to Roger Dunn so he can get his club re-shafted or something like that...

Cabrillo Tide Pools

Last week I went on my son's Kindergarten field trip to the Cabrillo Tide Pools (in San Pedro, CA). I had taken the boys there myself a year ago, but i went to the wrong area...it was good to see the correct area to go to and also get to learn a little more about them. i pick his field trips completely selfishly :) Field trips are also tricky - i must say - i have to do it during my work day, which means i have to be answering texts and emails and i felt bad, but at the same time - its the only way i can be there...i limited my phone time to bus and lunch, but still. bryson didnt want to sit with me on the bus by the way...pshaw...whatevs...

anyway - so i went on this field trip - turns out the whole thing was outside. the kids went through stations and learned about marine life, grunions (the grunions do their infamous run around this time every year at the beach the kids were at...in fact they are supposed to be doing their thang tomorrow! Info HERE) - it was cool...but the coolest part was when they gave them each a little jar with sand and they filled it halfway with water and swirled it around and hatched little baby grunions! i thought it was pretty cool...i kept asking bryson if i could have a turn...

after the learning part - they had the option to either explore the tide pools or tour the aquarium...i am so glad his teacher decided to check out the tide pools - it was by far the coolest part! we found big crabs, sea urchins, sea stars, anemones...and it was gorgeous out there! i just finished reading this fantasy book, and i couldnt help thinking how other-worldly this place was...the landscape of it all was just so captivating!

the field trip actually consisted of a kinder class and a 5th grade class. they have paired up with a 5th grader all year as their reading buddy...and i was so impressed with the 5th graders. such neat kids - they really took their job of looking after their buddy seriously. they would not let them leave their side on the rocks and they were so kind and helpful and encouraging! i told the teacher i loved them and she agreed she had a pretty special class.

I would definitely recommend going - especially around this time of year as well. The aquarium is free, but they suggest a donation and the tide pools can be found (if facing the aquarium) off of the big rocks to the left and back of the museum.

Pictures in order:
1. The Tide Pools
2. Bryson and his reading buddy checking out the crabs
3. Hatching grunion eggs
4. Reading Buddies!
5. Pretty colors in the Tide Pools

Summer Kick Off Party

Last friday the weather was so nice, i couldn't even think about staying indoors...so we picked up some burritos and went down to our local park and there happened to be a summer kick off party hosted by LB Parks and Rec. it was so fun because we happened upon it and were some of the first there to enjoy the bouncy slide, the giant balls that the kids could go inside of, the free popcorn and of course the Journey cover band. i think most people thought they were funny...but my husband was seriously excited. he loves him some Journey...like knows all the words...it cracks me up.

Anyway...made me so excited for summer...we ate watermelon, had a picnic, played some baseball, climbed trees, ran in the grass, stayed until the sun was *almost* down and that cool breeze kicked in. wonderful, magical night!

Geocaching - 3rd Attempt and First Find!

we had tried for the first time when we were in Colorado. 

Robin - if you are reading this...i read your FB post about how you went with your girls and then someone told me there is an app for geochaching and now you can do it with your *smart* phone, so i downloaded one while we were in CO and we went to test it out. So you totally inspired us! 

Unfortunately, the one we tried to find was excavated due to construction...bryson was super bummed too because he wanted to find "treasure". The second one i think my phone and my free app is not the greatest at the coordinates, and my kids' blood sugar levels must have been low because they were all kinds of crazy and i didnt have the time to look around for it. this third time i came prepared with snacks and a stroller...

So - this is so fun! what a perfect activity to do with the kiddos...you get exercise, teach them to use a compass and the different directions (N,S,E,W) and it gives your hikes a focus and goal...which, let me tell you is HUGE - kids dont always understand hiking for the fun of it!!! i am still super new at this and need to figure out what all the terms are and the different types of caches, but i can see it being a past-time of ours for sure!

we found this one near our stomping grounds at the El Dorado Nature Walk...Bryson found it - he was soooo excited. and, being new to this, i am not 100% sure that this was it...pretty sure...our coordinates matched up and everything, but i thought there is usually a log sheet in them? i dunno...still new to it all.

Here is the geocache website in case you are interested too!

El Dorado Nature Walk

i came down with a bug this week and so bryan was left to abandon work and take the kids adventuring. 

its nice that our business allows him/me to do these sorts of things...but the next day back is always ugly...there is no such thing as "time off" when you work for yourself/from home...its just "time extended" and then piles and piles of work...but when i download these pictures it makes me feel so blessed we are able to do just that...and then we can attack those piles with a new sense of perspective...

the nature walk had been closed for some restoration work, but is now open...yay! one of our favorites to explore!

and the little redhead? bryan says she was a cute little 2 year old that seemed to be taken with Bodie...i can't say i blame her - he is quite the dapper dude!

long beach flea market

this post should be under "not so cool places to take kids" due to the fact that this is more of an antique/collectibles market and people have all sorts of collectors toys that they dont want kids touching...even though they were intended for kids...and the people who buy them probably do so because they remind them of being a kid...but whatever...

we visited this flea market when we first moved to los angeles...i remember we needed a book case and there was one that i liked, but they said it was $200 and Bryan tried to negotiate with them and they got mad...it was such a sharp contrast to our honeymoon in Bali, where Bryan even had the locals praising his bartering abilities. There they looked at one's ability to barter a good price as a sign of cunning and skill...here they were offended...whatever.

anyway - as i suspected we left with nothing that we came here for. in fact we went back to Ikea to pick up the rest of the things we needed. i wish i would've found what i was looking for - whatever that is...i have been scouring thrift stores, craigslist and now flea markets to pick up the furniture we need, but nothing was quite right. my favorite pieces of furniture are the ones we have picked up along the way from alleyways or thrift stores...they have so much more character...oh sad day.

even though bryson was bumming on the flea market he did manage to find these rad binoculars (can you pick up on my sarcasm?) and he did take all of these beautiful pictures...minus the one of himself of course. he wanted to blog about his flea market pictures and i thought what about this one ( of the statues - i think its so cool ) but no - he wanted to talk about the Indians...grrr...which by the way he keeps telling me at random parts of the day how i am wrong and they are really called Indians...

LB Aquarium with Auntie

Bryan's sister Kimmy has been in town and on Monday we took a field trip to the aquarium...she just sent me these pictures and i especially love the first one and wanted to share it...taken by kim on her iPhone...then i loved the one of Bodie looking all crazy...and of course Auntie and Bryson touching the sting rays...another fun day at the aquarium...i broke the cardinal rule and went before 3 (there usually are field trips galore) but it actually was not bad - maybe due to Veteran's Day? anyway if you are a pass holder and you somehow haven't figgered it yet - just a tip - go right when they open or after 3 - its a whole nother Aquarium!

nature walk

at the El Dorado nature walk...one of our favorite places to explore!

ye olde park

we took a walk the other day around the neighborhood and visited our old stomping grounds - our neighborhood tot park - Los Altos Plaza Park...this park has such a special place in my heart - we met so many wonderful people - moms, dads, playmates, friends, nannies, etc. we moved into our place when bryson was 16 months and this was the perfect park. not only the park itself - gated...low structure...clean - but also the fact that a group of regulars met there nearly every weekday from 10-12.

bryson developed his first friendships there. i watched him as he matured from not giving two licks about other kids to devloping interactive play with friends. i watched as he learned to climb and slide by himself and (to my horror) jump off of high things. he and bryan would golf in the outside grass area and he and the other kids would kick a ball...and fight over said ball...and figure it out as kids do. we would hunt for mushrooms and play in the fall leaves and celebrate many a friend's birthday there...not to mention potlucks for baby showers and good-bye parties.

as all good things must see an end so did our park days here...the kids grew up and many of them entered pre-school and our regular meetings there turned into once or twice a week and then no more. when we visited the other day there were no familiar faces...in fact the park was empty. bryson is a little big for it now - he likes it for about 30 minutes at a stretch. bodie was content to sit in the stroller and look earnestly at us and ponder why we would want to be up and about.

it was a good reminder at how precious this time with young children is. how quickly they grow. how relationships come and go and the good ones remain constant in the background like a soundtrack. i picture us coming back when bodie is figuring out how to walk and climb and slide and letting him figure it out in this *safe* park while brother finds a nice tree to climb or a nice platform to jump from.

i look forward to the new friendships to be forged and new parks to be discovered and the continuing awe and excitement my boys bring me...feeling truly blessed.

The VA Garden

perhaps my favoritest place in long beach. it has a very special place in my heart...and until now only a handful of people knew about it...but its too good a secret to keep...too good!

we live across the street from the VA hospital. 2 1/2 years ago or so we were exploring our new neighborhood and ventured out of the park estates and found a dirt trail at the end of the VA grounds. we decided to try it out to see where it led - perhaps to the college? perhaps it turned into a trail? well even better...it ended at this AMAZING garden. i mean - the most diverse, well kept, huge garden. we felt like we were trespassing...i guess we were...we couldn't see anyone there and then walking around was an older man...we have come to know - Jim (I believe his last name is Bradford, but not 100%) who is in charge of the garden..."are we allowed to be here?" was the first thing we asked and a smile and an "of course" was what we received in return. He explained that this was the patient's garden...that the Vets maintain it as a part of therapy and also the kitchen uses the *very bountiful* produce.

(I believe the L.A. VA hospital also has a garden and I believe they sell the produce as well and have a huge market in the local restaurants....but I never have asked Jim)

He also told us that the produce and plants were for sale. At that time we had just started planting our first garden and he spent about a half hour with us explaining how to plant in Long Beach - what we will have the most success with - sold us some starter plants - told us we could have the compost for free - just pull our truck on up!

All of their produce is organically grown (evidenced by the spider that came home with our chard :) and not only do the Vets help with the tending, so do aspiring horticulturalists from CSULB and Long Beach City College...who have been tremendous help each time we have come. They spend so much time walking you through - helping you pick out whatever you need. plus let me just tell you about prices! produce - $1 per ziplock bag full of amazing veggies and fruit - 2 cucumbers for $1 - a huge bunch of chard for $1 - 2 heirloom tomatoes for $1 - a flat of flowers (16) for $5. Tomato plants $1. I could go on...we always try to contain ourselves when we go, but its difficult!

They are open in the mornings until 11:00a.m. - I can't recall if they are open during weekends or not...they must "close" but not sure - why am i not sure? because there is no website or phone # or really anything that i know of to double check...you could probably try calling the VA hospital itself...but why would anyone voluntarily call the VA? i mean really?

Bryson loves it there - there are so many different types of trees and plants we have a lot of fun playing "guess the plant" he is getting good at it i must say! his favorite part was the HUGE pumpkin they are growing for a contest. it is only a couple months old and already ginormous! we didnt know it but he picked up a jalapeno pepper from the ground and took it home with us and started eating it along the way...mr. picky pants eater was eating a raw jalapeno and liked it! whatever...

The garden is located in the very back North East corner of the property...and we found out today that one of their warehouses used to be the brig for the Navy base it was at one point in history during the second world war. The whole garden is extremely well cared for - they have art from the Vets sprinkled throughout and memorial gardens through it as well. and although it always seems like we shouldn't be there because it is so hidden...we are always greeted with smiles and "did you see....?"s

so i hope i convinced you to go...its difficult to park close-by by car....but try to park as close to the water towers as possible. of course i would be willing to accompany you if you must pull my leg! happy gardening!