Science of Hockey at the Discovery Science Center

Last Thursday I had the opportunity to preview the Science of Hockey permanent exhibit at the Discovery Science Center.The Discovery Science Center has teamed up with the Anaheim Ducks and the NHL to bring you this fantastic hands on exhibit. The exhibit officially opens on April 2nd.

I have to start off by saying that your kiddos will absolutely love the exhibit!!!Two of the highlights of the exhibit are You be the Goalie and You be the Shooter. Your kiddos will absolutely love this. The interactive You be the Goalie experience allows you to put on the skates of a NHL Goalie and learn all about blocking goals. The You be the Shooter allows you to shoot a puck at a virtual goalie. The kids are going to be all over this. I wanted to shoot a few rounds myself!!

The exhibit also features a replica of a Zamboni Machine. This is going to be a favorite. The kids can play with the the different buttons and of course play with the wheel. It's some serious fun!!

The penalty box is another fan favorite. When your little hockey players are sent to the penalty box- they must use their math skills to be able to get out. It's a great way to test those math skills!!

My personal favorite interactive experience is the Broadcast Booth. Here your kids can play broadcaster and do a play by play. I could play with this forever!! If your kiddos love play acting this will be a sure hit. Another experience sure to be a hit is the Skater Challenge. Your kiddos will be able to test their skating skills against a professional hockey player and skate through a NHL skating drill.

Other experiences are reaction time-Test your reaction time to sound, light, and vibration. Place your hands on the surface of the exhibit, and then wait.... when the sound, light or vibration is activated, a timer begins and you must hit the stop button as fast as you can!

Sounds of the Game is another experience which allows you to explore the principles of sound using actual audio and video footage of a hockey game.

The friction table will allow you to test and compare how pucks move on various surfaces and learn about the effect that friction has on movement of the puck.

Your family will love the new exhibit. It is located on the upper floor of The Cube. Make sure to check it out- You will love it!!

Autry National Center of the American West

Last week I had the opportunity to take my kiddos to the Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles. It was a place I had been wanting to visit for some time and finally got around to visiting.

The Autry National Center of the American West is located inside of Griffith Park and across from the Los Angeles Zoo. We loved the museum from first sight. The grounds are absolutely beautiful!! We started our excursion by taking a stroll through the upper level exhibits. The kids loved looking at the different cowboy costumes!!

The upper level of the museum is interesting and great to look at - but it can't compare to the ground floor- a.k.a- The Family Discovery Gallery- or kid heaven!! There is an outside area that your kiddos will love. There is an actual stagecoach that you and your kids can climb on and a recreated setting of gold rush country. My kiddos loved it and did not want to leave. They ran around for quite some time.

After exploring the outside area we headed to the Family Discovery Gallery which was the highlight of our excursion. In this special gallery, families step back in time to discover what life was like for the See family, a Chinese American family in the 1930s. You will explore the family’s antique store, restaurant, and home. This was the coolest little exhibit I have ever explored with my family. I could not tear the kids apart from the restaurant and home section. They played for at least an hour in the restaurant section. They loved "cooking and serving us". It was also a blast to play house with them inside the replica California Bungalow. We had so much fun and I'm sure your kiddos will too.

We finished our excursion with lunch at the Golden Spur Cafe. I usually don't like to recommend museum cafe's because they are usually quite pricey- but the Golden Spur Cafe is the exception. The food was fantastic and the prices were unbelievably reasonable. I think my lunch with drink was around $6.00 and the kids meals(which are huge by the way!!) were $4.00. The kids shared a meal and I think the total for an amazing lunch was $11.00- not bad at all!!

After lunch I let the kids run wild and burn off some energy by running around in the gorgeous field adjacent to the museum. You could bring a picnic and your kids would love to eat and run around the field.

I can't rave enough about this fantastic place. If you have never been - make sure to visit soon.

Autry National Center of the American West

700 Western Heritage Way

Los Angeles, CA, 90027-1462

T. 323.667.2000

F. 323.660.5721

Admission

$9.00 for Adults

$5.00 for students (13-18) and seniors

(60+)$5.00 Adult Students (18 and over with ID)

$3.00 for children (3-12)

Free for children under 3

For additional information click here

Shark Lagoon Nights- Free @ The Aquarium of the Pacific

I love free events. Come to think of it- everyone does!! I'm going to write about a Free event that you will not want to miss!!

I've posted about Shark Lagoon Nights before but due to popular request(my friend Amy) and since it's been almost a year since I posted - I wanted to post about it again.

Shark Lagoon Nights are held every Friday night at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It's a free event open to the public. Shark Lagoon night gives your kiddos an opportunity to see sharks up close and personal. You will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks such as sand tigers as well as rays in the Aquarium's Shark Lagoon. It's held every Friday from 6-9pm. It's a seriously cool experience and of course absolutely free.

I hope you will visit soon!!

For additional info click here

Shark Lagoon Nights- every Friday 6-9pm

Aquarium of the Pacific

100 Aquarium Way

Long Beach, CA 90802

IrvinePark Railroad Easter Extravaganza Winner

Thanks to all of you for entering the Irvine Park Railroad Easter Extravaganza Giveaway. I wish I had enough tickets to give to everyone but unfortunately I only have one 10 pack. I used Random.org to select a winner True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 5 Powered by RANDOM.ORG The winner of the giveaway is comment # 5 Celeste wrote: sounds like the perfect spring activity! I am always searching for something fun to do with my 2 1/2 year old. thank you! Thank you again for entering!! Stay tuned for more fun giveaways!!

Discovery Science Center Membership

One of my absolute favorite places to visit with my family is the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. My kids love all of the exhibits and it's hard to get away from there in under two hours. We usually extend our visit a little longer and sneak in lunch at the Taco Bell that is located on the bottom floor of the Center. It's a perfect place to visit on a hot summer day.

Since my family loves The Cube so much and we visit often ,we bought a membership. I'm a huge fan of memberships for any place that you love. You usually save a lot of money and in many cases your membership is tax deductible. You also have the benefits of special member days or nights. I love the member nights at the Discovery Science Center. They are held on a weekday evening and are open only to members. The kids always have a blast on the member nights.

If you've been thinking about buying a membership for your family - look no further.

You can buy your membership online at the Discovery Science Center until the end of March and save anywhere from $5.00 to $15.00 on the regular price.

We have the family membership which comes with admission of two designated adults and up to 4 children/grandchildren.

You can also buy and individual membership for one designated adult and one guest or a family and friends membership which has the same benefits of a family membership plus the benefit of bringing two additional guests per visit.

To enjoy the benefits just Enter Coupon Code: YT6N54 and purchase before March 31st. It's a great deal!! To purchase online click here and for additional info on the center click here.

Here are a couple of the new exhibits that the Discovery Science Center will be hosting

Don't Miss Out on Upcoming Exhibits... Members Visit for Free! The Magic School Bus: Kicks Up a StormNow Through May 3 Scholastic's The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm offers interactive learning in the wacky Magic School Bus way. Create your own storm, predict the national weather forecast or build your very own thunder maker! The Science of HockeyOpening April 2, 2009 Experience the colder side of science with The Science of Hockey featuring physics, physiology and flying pucks! No helmets required, but the icy interactives aren’t for rookies! Exhibition highlights include a Zamboni, Penalty Box and Broadcast Booth, among many others. Bubblefest XIIIApril 4-19, 2009 The mysteries of bubbles are revealed as we explore the science behind the amazing and colorful world of bubbles. Hands-on bubble activities demonstrate a bubble's science and math principles such as surface tension, elasticity, air pressure, molecular properties, and geometric properties, while Fan Yang's Mega Bubble Show puts those theories to the ultimate test. Robots and UsMay 23 - Sept 13, 2009 Robots and Us compares today's technical realities with the pervasive robots of science fiction fantasy. Explore the sophisticated technology that underlies automated machines and gain a new appreciation for the multifaceted machine that is your own human body

Irvine Park Railroad Easter Extravaganza and10 Ticket Giveaway!!

I love the Irvine Park Railroad. In fact everyone in my family is a big fan. Easter is fast approaching and The Easter Bunny is coming to the Irvine Park Railroad. The Easter Extravaganza starts on Saturday the 28th. On Saturday, March 28th through Saturday, April 11th, Irvine Park Railroad will hold its annual Easter Eggstravaganza. Children and adults can ride the train through beautiful Irvine Regional Park. And, children ages 2 through 12 can participate in an Easter egg hunt. Each egg will be filled with candy or a prize. Easter egg hunts begin daily at 10:00 AM and tickets may be purchased to participate in an egg hunt at a specific time. Please bring an Easter basket for each child that will be participating in the Easter egg hunt. Irvine Park Railroad will also offer Easter baskets for sale. Below are some of the activities offered. Easter Egg Hunt 1 Ticket per Child

Weekends:

Ages	Times
2 – 4 years	10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00
5 – 7 years	10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30
8 – 12 years	11:30, 1:30, 3:30

Weekdays: Times: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00

*Ages will be separated appropriately.

Moon Bounce 1 Ticket per Child Weekends: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Weekdays: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Children can enjoy 15 minutes of jump time in the bounce house. This is an activity children of all ages enjoy as they tumble, jump, and hippity hop with excitement.

Hay Ride 1 Ticket per Person Weekends: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Weekdays: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm The hay ride has fast become a favorite activity for both children and adults. Take a 15-minute ride through Irvine Regional Park and enjoy the beautiful scenery… including beautiful Spring flowers, oak trees sprouting new growth, baby wild life, lush green meadows, and more.

Picture Stands FREE for All Visitors Weekends: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Weekdays: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Use your own camera and take pictures at one of the many Irvine Park Railroad picture stands located throughout Locomotive Loop. Pictures are sure to create lasting memories of family and friends this Easter season.

Carnival Games 1 Ticket per Child Weekends: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Weekdays: CLOSED With 1 ticket, children can try their luck at two carnival-style Easter games. That’s a lot of fun AND two chances to win a prize.

Face Painting 2 Tickets per Person Weekends: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Weekdays: CLOSED Always a favorite activity for children of all ages, a skilled face painter will turn a child’s face into something creative and fun… a bunny rabbit, chick, Easter egg, or other imaginative expression of Easter time.

Most activities are one ticket and each ticket is $4.00. Food will be available for purchase or if you can bring a blanket and picnic with the family on the beautiful grounds. We always make a full day of it by visiting the OC Zoo($2.00 admission- great deal) and enjoying a pony ride or two. I can't wait to take my kids and I'm hoping you will too!! Almost forgot- I'm giving away a 10 pack of tickets, a $40.00 value, compliments of the Irvine Park Railroad, for one lucky reader and their family to enjoy. All you have to do is leave a comment- any comment and you will be automatically entered to win. Winner will be chosen on random on Wednesday night. Good luck!!

Daytrippingmom picks- Things to do this weekend- 03/21-03/22

Here are my top picks for the weekend of 03/21/09-03/22/09.The events listed below are perfect for your family and most importantly that the kiddos will enjoy. The best part is that most of the events listed are free or almost free. Enjoy!! Saturday March 21, 2009

1. Return of the Swallows- Mission San Juan Capistrano
2. http://www.musiccenter.org/events/aa_tasteofdance.html- Downtown Los Angeles- Dance classes only $1.00!!!
3. Samuel Oschin Planetarium@ Griffith Observatory- Griffith Park
4. Free Train Rides- Southern California Live Steamers- Torrance
5. Free Train Rides- Goat Hill Junction- Costa Mesa
6. Caterpillar Adoption Days @Kidspace Museum- Pasadena

Sunday March 22, 2009

1. Return of the Swallows - Mission San Juan Capistrano
2. Free Train Rides- Southern California Live Steamers- Torrance
3. Free Train Rides- Goat Hill Junction- Costa Mesa
4. The Great Train Expo@ OC Fair Grounds- Costa Mesa
5. Sesame Street Presents The Body@ Hollywood and Highland- Los Angeles
6. Visit Centennial Farms- OC Fairgrounds- Costa Mesa

Orange County's Great Park Balloon - now open

,Have you heard of the Great Park In Irvine? If you live in Orange County you probably have. It's the new park that has been developed over the old El Toro Military Base.  There hasn't been much open to the public except for The Great Park Balloon ride. It was closed for a bit but it's back and it's open!! The Great Park Balloon is the first major attraction of the Orange County Great Park.  It's a pretty cool little ride and a treat that your kiddos will love!! The best part of the whole thing is that it's free!! We love free around here!!

TIMES & DIRECTIONS Thursdays; Fridays: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm; 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm Weekends: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm; 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm  Tel: (866) 829-3829 (toll-free) 

From the I-5 Freeway Heading South 1. Exit Sand Canyon Ave and turn left 2. Turn right on Marine Way 3. Turn left at the T intersection onto Perimeter Rd 4. Follow the orange signs to the Balloon The parking lot opens 30 minutes before regular operating hours. Registration begins 15 before the first flight. (Tip: Wind conditions for flying are best between the hours of opening and 12:30 pm.) And did I mention, it's free!

The Carlsbad Flower Fields

A little-known attraction in the San Diego area is the Carlsbad Flower Fields. They are easy to spot as you travel along the San Diego freeway. These fifty acres of flowers have been blooming in the hills above the Pacific Ocean for around fifty years. Visitors can walk the fields or take an open-air tractor ride through the flowers.

The Carlsbad Flower Fields can be found at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008. The flower fields season just began this month in March and runs through mid May. The fields are open to the public seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Prices: $9.00 for Adults, $8.00 for Seniors 60+, $5.00 for Children 3 - 10, Children 2 and under are Free Wagon Rides: $4.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Children 3 - 10. Information Line: (760) 431-0352 To get there fom from Los Angeles and Orange County: Head south on Interstate 5 to Palomar Airport Road exit. Head east (left turn) on Palomar Airport Road to Paseo Del Norte and turn left. Make an immediate right into parking lot.

Seaside Lagoon - Redondo Beach

Here is a little known treasure in the Los Angeles beach area
to try out this summer, The Seaside Lagoon. 
The Seaside Lagoon opens for public use beginning May 23, 2009 and is
open daily through
September 4, then weekends of September 5-6, only.
Situated on the southwest corner of Harbor
Drive and Portofino Way in Redondo Beach's King Harbor,
the Lagoon operates from 10:00 a.m.
to 5:45 p.m. daily throughout the summer months.
The large saltwater lagoon, offers trained
lifeguard supervision.
Besides swimming, the Lagoon offers a large sand area for sunbathing,
children's play equipment, snack bar facilities provided by Ruby's Restaurant ,
 and volleyball courts.
There is also a grassed area and luau shelter for day and evening events.

The Seaside Lagoon is a salt water facility. Water for seaside lagoon comes from the other side of the breakwater, at about 50 feet deep, travels to the near by steam generating plant where they use it to cool the turbines. The water then travels under the street in large pipes to the Seaside Lagoon where it is chlorinated when entering the lagoon and de-chlorinated when leaving the lagoon back into the harbor. The Seaside Lagoon has approximately 1.5 million gallons of water and has a flow through rate of approximately 200,000 gallons per hour. Thanks to reader Gaby for the tip!

Target Free Family Saturday @ Japanese American Museum

Here is one more reason why I will always shop at Target over their competitors- Target Free Family days at the local museums. They are great and allow us to visit these wonderful museums without having to pay a penny. It's a great way to spend a day with the family and not have to spend any money. I would say that it's crucial at this time. Target has brought another Free Family Day at the Japanese American National Museum. Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together. The Free Family Saturdays are held on the second Saturday of the month. I hope you can all take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!! I know I sure will!! Here is a list of the upcoming events- Saturday, Apr 11, 2009 Family Festivals Target Free Family Saturday: What's Cooking? FREE ALL DAY! Celebrate shared traditions and family fun cooking demonstration, activities and workshops within the Asian American community. Keeping checking back for program schedule! All day craft activities:

• Decorate your own apron for when things get messy.
• Roll a candle that looks like a tasty bite of sushi!
• Careful when you’re cookin’! Design a fun potholder to get a handle on hot stuff in the kitchen.
• Test your chopstick chops by trying our chopstick challenge!

Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Fold an origami candy bowl! 12:00 – 3:00 PM Kidding Around the Kitchen: Parents and children’s drop in cooking workshops featuring the famous “rainbow stir fry” dish 12:30 & 2:30 Fugetsu-Do Sweet Shop: Mochi demonstration and tasting 1:00 & 3:00 Sushi Chef Institute: Sushi making demonstration and tasting Kidding Around The Kitchen: It is such a common problem in today's world that families rarely get to eat together anymore. Kidding around the Kitchen shows that families can make and eat food together without a lot of fuss or a huge time commitment. The family food demo helps families with tips on smarter shopping, fun recipe ideas, advice on how to incorporate healthier choices when possible and advice on how to delegate tasks in an age-appropriate way. This family food demo is a “how to” get everyone involved in the family meal. Kidding around the Kitchen is for families that have full plates in life as well as wanting a full plate of food to enjoy together. It's about time well spent. Saturday, May 9, 2009 Family Festivals Target Free Family Saturday: Aloha! * FREE ALL DAY Enjoy a day of family fun that explores shared traditions within the Asian American community. May’s theme is Hawai‘i. Keeping checking back for more program schedule! Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together. Saturday, Jun 13, 2009 Family Festivals Target Free Family Saturday: Try This On For Size! FREE ALL DAY Delight in a day of family fun that explores clothing and costumes within the Asian American community. Generously sponsored by Target. Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 Family Festivals Target Free Family Saturday: Books Galore! FREE ALL DAY Come explore the wonderful world of Asian American and Japanese American books with us. Generously sponsored by Target. Saturday, Aug 15, 2009 Family Festivals Summer Festival on the Courtyard Celebrate summer at the National Museum with a day of fun activities and performances for the entire family. Keep checking here for more program information

Winner of Elmo DVD giveaway!!

Happy Monday!! I wish I could give everyone a copy of Elmo's new DVD but unfortunately I only have only one copy to giveaway. The winner of the giveaway is comment #1 as selected by Random.org and that's Jean who wrote I'd love to enter. We love Elmo over here!! Jean email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info. We will be doing another great giveaway this week- stay tuned!! We will also be doing another Elmo DVD giveaway next week. If you didn't win this time hopefully you will next time.

Daytrippingmom's picks for this weekend- 3/14-3/15

Here are my picks for "something to do this weekend" with the kids. The events or venues are geared for families and are free or almost free ($10 and under). Enjoy!! Saturday 3/14/2009 1. Target Free Family Saturday@ Japanese American Museum - Los Angeles 2. Dana Point Festival of Whales- Dana Point 3. Family Day @ Norton Simon Museum- Pasadena - Children 18 and under - Free 4. Salt Marsh Open House @ Cabrillo Aquarium - San Pedro 5. Free Ice Skating and Gear Rental @ The Great Park- Irvine 6. Sesame Street presents the Body@ Hollywood&Highland Sunday 3/15/2009 1. Free Ice Skating and Gear Rental @ The Great Park- Irvine 2. Ocean Institute celebrates Festival of Whales- Dana Point 3. Art Odissey for Families @ The Getty Villa, Malibu 4. Air & Space Exhibit/wing @ California Science Center - Exposition Park

Universal Studios Special Offer for SoCal Residents

I was tipped off today that ZIP Codes 90000 – 93599 can buy an annual pass to Universal and receive a free 1-day ticket. The offer is good for any of the annual passes, including the buy-a-day get the year free pass. They must be purchased on-line and processed at the park by April 30th.

Universal Studios is almost done with the newly rebuilt backlot. There are some fun experiences along the tram route in the mean time, including the reopening of the collapsing bridge! We'll be taking the kiddos again before the summer season.

Elmo and Friends : Tales of Adventure Giveaway!!

We are big fans of Elmo in our home. In fact he's a superstar in my son's eyes. If your kiddos are fans of Elmo and Friends you are going to love Elmo's new DVD release- Tales of Adventure. The DVD has three stories overflowing with clues, heroic monsters and plenty of music. Your kiddos will cheer Elmo on as he races against the clock in Elmo's Amazing Alphabet race. Your kiddos will love to help Big Bird in the Adventures of Little Big Bird and Telly in the Golden Triangle of Destiny. All of this and much more in this great DVD. I have one copy to giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment and you are entered to win. Simple as that!! So leave a comment and make sure to check out this fun DVD. Your kiddos will love it!! I will select a winner using Random. org on Sunday the 15th. You have until Sunday evening to leave a comment. Good luck!!

Kidspace Children's Museum- Free Admission on Family Night

The Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena is a must visit for your family. Kidspace is located in Pasadena and is home to some pretty cool hands on exhibits. There is something for every child in your family- from a 4 year old and under area designed for the tiny ones to a dinosaur dig for the bigger kiddos.

The museum offers a Free Family Night the first Tuesday of the month from 4pm to 8pm. If you have not had the opportunity to visit this gem, make sure to mark your calendar for the next Free Family Night.

Free Family Night

4pm-8pm

Kidspace Children's Museum

480 N Arroyo Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91103

For additional information about the museum click here.

Sesame Street Presents the Body @ Hollywood & Highland

My kids absolutely love Sesame Street and when I read about this coming to town I was super excited. We had the opportunity to visit when the exhibit came through the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana and my kiddos loved it!! Sesame Street Presents The Body is a great hands on learning experience for your kiddos. It's geared for kids 2-8 but your toddler might get a kick out of it if he or she loves Sesame Street. My kids loved shopping and learning about fuel for the body in Mr. Hooper's store and romping around in Grover's obstacle course. It is a fantastic experience in my opinion and you will probably have to tear your kiddos apart when it's time to go home. I would plan on at least staying an hour. I would say that an ideal visit would be an hour and a half. The exhibit is located inside Hollywood & Highland on the second level. The exhibit is currently running until April 26th every Friday-Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The experience will be open on the following weekdays- Mar 25-26, April 8-9, 15-16. Admission is $10 per child and includes one adult admission. Each additional adult is $5.00. You can find a $2.00 coupon at Ralphs stores in the Los Angeles City Area. It's a great deal with the coupons because a family of 4 could have enjoy the experience for $16.00 Sesame Street Presents the Body Hollywood & Highland Center 6801 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles 90028 For additional info click here

Imagination Workshop- Temecula Children's Museum

I can't believe this is the first time I'm writing about this fantastic place. The Imagination Workshop- Temecula's Children's Museum is a must stop for you kiddos. The museum is located in Old Town Temecula and sure to be a hit with your kiddos. The museum centers around Professor Pennypickle and his Imagination Workshop. Your kiddos will be able to romp around each of the themed rooms and partake in hands on exhibits and gadgets. There are several themed rooms such as The Library - the kiddos will learn about time and travel and the kitchen- the kiddos will learn all about physics and chemistry. I love places that can not only entertain my children but provide them with wonderful learning experiences. The Temucula Children's Museum is also a great place to visit because they break up the day into sessions. I think this is a wonderful idea because it allows you to experience the exhibits without long waits and of course it means more breathing room!! The sessions are as follows-

Imagination Workshop - Temecula Children's Museum hours: Closed Mondays Tuesday - Saturday: Session I - 10 am to noon Session II - 12:30 - 2:30 pm Session III - 3 - 5:00 pm Phineas' Family Night - 5:30 - 7:00 pm (Fridays only) Sunday: Session I - 12:30 - 2:30 pm Session II - 3 - 5:00 pm

Admission is 4.50 for guests 3 years of age and older. Not only is it a great place to visit but it's also great on the wallet!!

I hope you can all make time to visit the museum with your family and enjoy the rest of the day in beautiful Old Town Temecula!!

The museum is located at 42081 Main Street, Old Town Temecula, CA 92590. For additional information click here. I hope you can visit soon and enjoy some time in beautiful Temecula!!

Australia Winners!!

I wish I could give a copy to everyone that left a comment. I only have a couple and they were selected by Random.org... so here goes 1. Lewis Family 2. Zent Family 3. Mina G 4. Bonnie 5. Cristin Please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com. Thank you to all who entered and for those who did not win this time- no fretting- I have two great giveaways for Sesame Street and Nickelodeon's newest releases. Tune in tomorrow for additional details.

Daytrippingmom's picks for - 3/7/09-3/8/09

Saturday 3/7

1. Target Free Saturday @ La Habra Children's museum
2. Santa Ana Zoo Birthday Party
3. Dana Point Festival of Whales
4. Whale of a Day Celebration- Palos Verdes
5. Public Star Party @ Griffith Observatory
6. Free Ice Skating and gear rental @ The Great Park- Irvine

Sunday 3/8

1. OCMA= Target Free Sunday
2. Dana Point Festival of Whales
3. Free Ice Skating and Gear rental @ The Great Park Irvine
4. 35th annual Festival of the Kite- Redondo Beach@ Redondo Beach Pier

Drive-In theaters in Southern California - Making a comeback

One of my favorite memories from my childhood is going to the drive in with my family. My sisters and I would be stuffed in my dad's truck sharing popcorn and licorice. We would go a couple of times a month and it was always a guaranteed good time. We would stop at our favorite hamburger or taco joint and pick up drive in food. My Drive-In memories are so special and I really want my little ones to be able to make some memories of their own. Unfortunately most of the drive-in theaters across the country and especially in Southern California are gone. They are almost a thing of the past. After doing a little research I discovered that there are a handful of drive-in theaters in operation in So Cal. In fact the local theaters that are still around are making quite a resurgence I think many of us that grew up with the Drive-In's are heading to them in droves to make memories with their own families. I can't wait to take my kiddos to their first drive in and perhaps go on a date with the hubby. I can almost taste it- In-n-Out, homemade treats and a family movie. Sounds good to me!!! Here's a list of local drive-in movie theaters in operation and admission. Enjoy!!! Oh almost forgot if you would like to read more about the Drive-In's that are left and the ones that are now long gone- check out these sites- http://www.socaldriveins.com/ http://www.roadsidepeek.com/roadusa/southwest/california/socal/socaldrivein/index.htm 1.Van Buren Drive-in 3035 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside 951-688-2360 Screens: Three Capacity: 1,500 cars Opened: 1964 Admission: $7, 5-9 $1.00, under 5 free- Cash only http://www.vanburendriveintheatre.com/#/movies/ 2.Rubidoux Drive-in 3770 Opal St., Riverside 951-683-4455 http://www.rubidoux.icyspicy.com/ Screens: Three Capacity: 600 cars Opened: 1948 Admission: $7, kids 5-9 $1.00- under 5 Free- Cash only 3. Mission Tiki Drive-in 4407 State St., Montclair 909-628-0511 http://www.missiontiki.com/ Screens: Four Capacity: 1,885 Opened: 1956 Admission: $7, kids 5-9 $1.00, under 5 free- Cash only 4. Vineland Drive-in 443 N. Vineland Ave, City of Industry 626-961-9262 http://vinelanddriveintheater.com/ Screens: Four Admission: $8.00, kids 5-9 $1.00, under 5 free- Cash only Almost forgot- not only is a visit to the local drive in a fun experience - it's also easy on the wallet with kids either being free or a buck. p.s. Don't forget to enter the Australia Giveaway - you have until Sunday night to enter. Good luck!!

Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to celebrate my son Mikey's birthday at Goofy's Kitchen. What's Goofy's Kitchen you might ask?? It's Disney Character Dining at it's finest. It was fun from the very first moment. We checked in with a very friendly hostess and while we waited to be seated we were able to take a family picture with Pluto. The kids were in heaven. We proceeded to be seated and enjoyed a scrumptious buffet(we went for brunch). The food was fantastic. The hubby and I absolutely loved the waffles and well the kids loved every single morsel of food. After we sat down and started to eat the parade of characters kept coming by and giving our family individual attention. It's a pretty special experience because let's face it - meeting a favorite character at the park is usually not the most pleasant experience. There is always a pushy adult and the interaction is very limited. The experience at Goofy's Kitchen was the complete opposite. The characters interact with the little ones in a take your time kind of pace. It was so much fun. The look on the kiddos faces was priceless as they were able to have their picture taken with Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale and Minnie. My daughter was in princess heaven as she was able to meet Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Mulan. The best part is that she was able to have a conversation with them. They took their time and the interaction was priceless. The characters were warm and friendly and posed for many photos and of course signed a million autographs. The buffet servers were fantastic. They kept our drinks refilled and the quality of the food was amazing. As parents we were in heaven. Our children cleaned out their plates and they actually hit the buffet line for seconds. It was almost a miracle. I loved their made to order omelettes. Make sure you order one if you go for brunch or breakfast. Almost forgot-Two times an hour there is a little show and the children were able to participate with the Goofy and Pluto. Make sure to bring a camera to capture all of the wonderful memories your little ones will make. Would I recommend this to anyone and everyone? You bet. It was a very special experience and it was worth every penny. If you are visiting Disneyland for the first time and you are visiting from out of town- This is a must. If you are a local- I would save this place for a special event. It can actually be a good alternative to a pricey birthday party. It can be a little expensive but trust me on this - Your family will be enjoy a truly magical experience. Goofy's Kitchen is located inside the Disneyland Hotel. If you are planning on taking your family Make sure to call ahead for reservations. You can call (714) 781-DINE. You don't want to just show up because you will probably have to wait for some time to find a spot. Oh almost forgot.. Kids under 3 are free. Kids 3-11 - 18.00 for lunch ( I believe)and adults $32.00. I know.. I know.. kind of a silly review since I can't remember the exact price. Oh and by the way if you are an Annual Passholder you will receive either a 10 percent or 15 percent off if you are a Premium Annual Passholder. P.S. I know I'm a biased mom but my little boy is such a cutie pie!!! Don't forget to enter the giveaway. You have until Sunday to enter. Good luck!!! For additional information click here

Free Admission - The Arboretum of Los Angeles County

The Arboretum of Los Angeles is a fantastic place to take the kiddos. The 127 acre botonical garden is a wonderland for the kiddos. You can hike with them, take them to one of the many classes that are offered or just stroll around and observe nature in all its splendor. The Arboretum offers free admission on the third Tuesday of the month. Plan accordingly this month and enjoy a wonderful day with the kiddos. The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is located at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA, 91007.

Hours:

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., grounds close at 5:00p.m. For additional information click here P.S. Don't forget to enter the Australia DVD- You have until Sunday. Please enter- I want all of you to win!!

Australia Giveaway and Review

I love giveaways!! I'm sure you all do too!!It seems that I usually find myself only giving away movies for the kiddos on this site ,but not today.. You are in luck. Let me tell you about what I have in store for you grownups. I have a couple of copies of the beautifully shot and pretty amazing movie in my opinion- Australia. It stars - the hunkiest man on the planet- Hugh Jackman and the lovely Nicole Kidman- How can you go wrong with the combo? It's directed by Baz Lurhman- who directed one of my favorite films(Moulin Rouge). It's a feast on the eyes and it's a great movie to watch when the kiddos are fast asleep. It's absolutely romantic and you will fall in love this movie. You will be swept away. I could keep gushing on and on about it but see for yourself. Australia will be released on DVD today March 3rd- make sure to buy or rent a copy. You will not be disappointed!! Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment on this post.. any comment. I will pick a couple of lucky winners next Sunday evening. Please leave a comment and enter to win a copy of this great movie!!! Good luck!! P.S. You have until Sunday night at 7pm to enter!!

Rainy Day Outing- A good repost- Dollar Movie Theaters

It looks like it might rain this week and I don't know about you but if it's not a weekend and I have bored kids I want to do something that is simple, fun and well cheap. The movies are usually a good idea but it can add up quickly. A night at the movies has become painfully expensive. With prices hovering over $10 a person, it can really put a dent in your pocketbook. Thankfully we have several dollar/bargain theaters in the Southern California area. There are local dollar theaters in the Inland Empire, LA , Orange and Ventura Counties. I searched and searched and couldn't find anything for the San Diego area. If you know of one in the area , please email me so I can add it to the list. We love visiting bargain theaters because they're inexpensive and if the kids became bored and we need to leave, we are only out a couple of bucks. Family films are particularly popular at these type of theaters, so it's usually easy to find something for everyone. We've had a great experience and I'm sure your family will too!! As of January 2008: Los Angeles County Academy Cinema - Pasadena - $2 before 6pm, $3 after Cinemark Movies - Lancaster- $1.75 before 6pm, $2.25 after, $1.25 all day Wed Redondo Beach Cinema 3 - Redondo Beach- $3 all day Starplex Cinema - La Mirada -$1.50 before 6, $2 after, $1.00 all day Tue Orange County Charter Center Theatre - Huntington Beach - $2 before 6, $ 3 after Starplex Cinema - Irvine -$1.50 all day, $ 1.00 all day Tue PictureShow@Mainplace Mall - Santa Ana - $1.75 all day, $1.00 all day Tue Inland Empire Regency Towngate 8 - Moreno Valley - $ 2.00 before 6, $ 3 after Temeku Discount Theaters - Temecula - $3.25 before 6, $ 4 after Cinemark Cathedral City - Cathedral City - $1.50 before 6, $ 2.50 after Ventura County Regency Buenaventura - Ventura- $3.00 all day

Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology

Did you know that there is new museum in the inland empire dedicated to creatures from a long time ago? Yep, if your kiddos love anything related to big creatures that roamed the Hemet area some 230,000 years ago , this is the spot for you. The Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology came about 10 years ago when the Metropolitan Water District started drilling 270-feet below the earth's surface to build Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet. While Digging for the lake they found more than a million fossils and artifacts. The new state of the art museum is home to 33,000 square feet of permanent and special exhibits that are sure to delight your kiddos. Current exhibits are

The Big Dam Hole

Use the interactives to learn about the people and animals that inhabited the Diamond Valley Lake site over time. Discover how scientists uncovered evidence of their existence.

Postcards from the Past

Learn about a typical 1880s house in the Diamond Valley region.

Travel farther back in time with the artifacts created and used by the earlier Native American residents.

Movies in the Theater Two short films are shown regularly in our circular, immersion theater with its 270-degree screen.

Enjoy the animated Echoes of the Past, which transports viewers to a time when giant creatures roamed the area. The informative, ten-minute documentary, Discovery and Recovery provides an eyewitness view of the excavation at Diamond Valley Lake.

Snapshots in Time Be amazed by the size of mammoths and mastodons that used to live in the Diamond Valley Lake area. See the real fossils of some very large animals: • A 10ft tall mastodon, nicknamed Max • A 12ft. tall mammoth, nicknamed Xena, • And a giant ground sloth nearly 7ft. tall. Use the magnifying glass to see fossils from some very small critters including birds and lizards. Walk over a re-created quarry site that holds the remains of "Little Stevie", a mastodon that lived nearly 50,000 years ago. Discovery Lab Follow the trail of these animals from their discovery in the field to curation and research in the museum. Explore discovery sites and the "Tools of the Trade" that archaeologists use in the field. Understand techniques used to date fossils and artifacts by using an interactive "Dating Game." Learn why "Not Everyone Gets to Be a Fossil" and make your own fossil cast using air-dry clay and one of our molds. The museum special exhibit- The Music behind the magic-explores Disney’s legacy and draws inspiration from Disney animation, television programming, theme parks, live-action films and Broadway musicals. .The museum is amazing and a must for that little explorer in your family. .Western Center for Archaeology and Paleontology-2345 Searl Parkway, Hemet Open Tuesday-Sunday 10AM to 5PM- Admission $8.00 Adults, $6.00 Youths (5-13), under 4 -Free For additional information click here