Free things to do this weekend!

It's the first weekend of the month and there are a couple of free things to do this weekend and also next Tuesday which is the first Tuesday of the month. Just a reminder for the Bank of America Museums on us program. It allows one admission per name/names on debit card or credit card. Have a fantastic weekend and I hope you can take advantage of one of the free things to do this weekend!

• Target Free is offering Free admission to La Habra Children's Museum on Saturday
• Target Free is offering Free admission to the Bowers and Bowers Kidseum on Sunday
• Target Free Family Day is offering Free Admission to the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach on Sunday
• Bank of America Museums on us - Saturday only - Free Admission with your B of A debit/credit card- Discovery Science Center-Santa Ana
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat & Sun- Muzeo in Anaheim
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat & Sun- Birch Aquarium - La Jolla
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat & Sun- Museum of Latin American Art- Long Beach
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat & Sun- LACMA- Los Angeles
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat & Sun -Autry National Center of the American West- Griffith Park
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat only- Riverside Art Museum
• Bank of America Museums on us- Sat & Sun- The New Children's Museum - San Diego
• First Tuesday of the month free admission this upcoming Tuesday at the La Brea Tar Pits
• First Tuesday of the month free admission this upcoming Tuesday at the Natural History Museum at Exposition Park
• First Tuesday night of the month Free Admission this upcoming Tuesday Eve 4pm-8pm - Kidseum in Pasadena

Adventures in San Diego- A ferry ride to Coronado Island

A couple of weeks ago we were invited by Country Inn and Suites by Carlson to head down to San Diego and explore the city. The hotel chain has a fun road trip itinerary if you are heading down south. We decided to check out their Mom's pick, Balboa Island, but were a bit disappointed when a big parade and festival happened to be going on the day we decided to explore the park. We decided to explore Balboa Park the following day and started searching for other affordable outings in the city.

We love anything nautical in our family and decided that we wanted to take a little boat ride. I remembered reading a while back that there was a ferry to Coronado island. It was settled we would head over to Downtown SD and take the ferry to the island. It's a fun 15 minute ride into another little world. The ferry leaves San Diego from either the Broadway Pier in Downtown SD or the Convention Center area in the Gaslamp District. Tickets are $3.25 one way and $6.50 round trip. Children 4 and under are free.

We loved our little ferry ride. The weather was perfect and we found a great seat. The kids loved every single minute of our ride and before we knew it the ride was over and we were off to explore the island. We had a fun time looking through all the shops and had an inexpensive and yummy lunch at KFC (which is about a block away from the Ferry landing). We had a fun and inexpensive outing for less than $25.00. The kids loved every single minute of our little outing. In fact there were a couple of tears when it was time to head back to our car.

Here is the nitty gritty on our little outing- Make sure to take quarters. There is coin operated parking machines all along the harbor area. We easily found a spot and walked only a block or two to purchase our tickets. The Ferry leaves at the top of the hour from the Broadway Pier and departs from Coronado island at the half hour mark. Make sure you take plenty of sunscreen and be prepared for some fun. Bring your stroller and bicycles-you can squeeze them on the first floor of the ferry. We had a great time and hope you will also!

For additional info head on over here

Splash!!

I received two emails from two wonderful readers giving me a heads up on this place. Let me just say this- I didn't even know this place existed!! I love water parks and we have been to the typical ones in the area- Raging Waters, Soak City, etc.., However did you know that there is an amazing an affordable water oasis in La Mirada? I didn't either!

Splash is the city of La Mirada's Aquatic Center. Bucanner Bay is the water park and it features a lazy river(my fav), slides, spray areas and a beach. The park also features shade areas, cabanas that are available for daily rental, a snack bar and lockers.

Admission is $16 for adults and $11 for children 3-11. Under 3 are free. The park is open daily through September 7th and on the weekends until September 27. Hours of admission are 10:30am - 5:30pm.

It's an amazing little place that you will have to check out.

For additional info head over here

Disney Sunday- My favorite places to eat at Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure

It's almost 11pm- I figure I still can blog about Disney Sunday just in the nick of time. Today I wanted to write about my favorite places to eat inside the park. I've pretty much tried every restaurant or stand in the park and I wanted to share with you my favorite places at both parks. Top picks for Disneyland 1. Tastiest and filling treat- This is a seasonal item- The yummy turkey legs! You can find the delish turkey legs in Frontierland. The cart is usually located directly across from the Mark Twain Landing and next to Rancho Del Zocalo Mexican restaurant. They sell for $7 and the carts only take cash. You can also find them by the Matterhorn entrance. They are very filling and make a great lunch! 2. Favorite dessert- Funnel Cakes! - The Hungry Bear Restaurant Disneyland's fruit topped funnel cakes are out of this world! You will love them. I also love pretty much anything that The Hungry Bear serves. It's a great place to relax and catch a bite to eat in a beautiful setting(you can watch the ducks and boats go by- it's lovely in the evening- perfect for date night! ). The Hungry Bear Restaurant is located in Critter Country - you can't miss it! 3. Favorite restaurant- Rancho Del Zocalo- Pretty good Mexican Food! I love Rancho Del Zocalo. As a girl that grew up on fresh homemade Mexican food - I have to say that I find the food at Rancho Del Zocalo to be quite tasty. My favorite is their enchilada plate. It's really good. A little on the pricey side-(around $9-13) but the food is great, excellent seating and one of my favorite places to hang out on a cold night-wonderful heating lamps! My born in Mexico parents love the carne asada plate. 4. Favorite drink-Mint Juleps(non-alcoholic)- Mint Julep Bar I love love the Mint Juleps that are found at the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square. They go for around 2.50 and they are a yummie and refreshing treat. The Mint Julep Bar is located across from the New Orleans Square train station. 5. Tastiest and least expensive way to feed a family- Redd Rockett's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. You can buy a whole pizza for $31.99- not bad for a theme park. It's a good way to feed the family and the pizza is actually really good! The Hawaiian is one of my fav's! 6. Soup to die for!- Clam chowder sourdough bowl- Royal Street Veranda The soup at the Royal Street Veranda is amazing. A little pricey($9) but so worth it. The Royal Street Veranda is located in New Orleans Square. It's that little place across from the parasol cart and visible while you wait in line for Pirate's of the Carribean. 7. Last but not least- my absolute favorite treat- Dole Pineapple Whip I love love DPW. It is a must in the summer. Yummie. You can buy one at the entrance to Adventureland, right next to the Enchanted Tiki Room Top picks for Disney's California Adventure 1. So good but so bad for you treat- Full Throttle Fries- Taste Pilot's Grill These frieds are amazing. Perfect for sharing and incredible. The fries are loaded with cheese, chilli, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. The downer- probably not good for the waistline or your heart! 2. Best Hot Dogs- Award Wieners I love the hot dogs at Award Wieners. The hotdogs come with chips and the combo's are under $6. A tasty and reasonable treats. Award Wieners is located directly across from Playhouse Disney in the Hollywood Back Lot 3. A refreshing treat- Schmoozie's Smoothies! I'm all about fun drinks and Schmoozie's Smoothies are made to order and absolutely delish! You can find Schmoozie's Smoothies in the Hollywood Back lot- Directly across from the animation building 4. Favorite Ice Cream- Burr-Bank Ice Cream- My family loves the ice cream at DCA. It's less crowded than it's Disneyland counterpart and just as tasty! You have to try their sundaes- Delish! Burr-Bank Ice Cream is located near the entrance of Disney's California Adventure So now that I've shared my favorites- I want to hear from you- What's your favorite treat at the parks.

Winner of Angels giveaway!

The winner of the giveaway is comment # 2 by Tati who commented that her perfect last minute getaway would be

I would probably say any beach in a nice hotel with my husband ;)

Sounds good to me! Tati please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info so that I can mail off your tickets asap :) I'm back home after a hectic but very fun week. I spent some time at Comic-Con in San Diego and boy was that fun!! I scored a great swag bag that I want to giveaway and will start the contest first thing tomorrow. I also have a week full of posts of fun and inexpensive things to do in SD- Stay tuned!

A little bit of a hectic week

Ever had one of those weeks when life is extremely hectic? This week has definitely been a busy and hectic one in our household. Hubby was out of town all week and well that just makes things very busy for a full time work at home mom and blogger. We did however manage to squeeze in two very fun outings that I can't wait to share with you. I will also be picking a winner at random tomorrow for the Angels giveaway and also blogging about our fun excursion in San Diego. I promised I would do it late Monday and I never got around to it. I promise that I will do that tomorrow. We are headed down to San Diego tomorrow morning to partake in a little Comic-Con fun. Pictures and posts will be coming soon. Have a great Friday!!

SeaWorld Annual passes- EZ Pay Payment Option

This past weekend my family and I headed down South to San Diego. We had a fantastic time and I can't wait to share my experiences with you during the next couple of days. We also had the opportunity to visit SeaWorld. We have usually just bought the SeaWorld Fun Card which basically boils down to buy one day and get the rest of the year for free with some black out days and no parking. This year we decided to mix it up a bit as we are looking to stretch our dollar a bit. We like to head to San Diego often and decided to upgrade and purchase a Silver Passport instead. We figured we could head down a couple of more times this summer and on the weekends once tourist season is over. The Silver passport is around $30 more than the fun card but it includes parking and is more like an annual pass- since the pass expires 12 months from the date of purchase. The best part is that you can buy your pass in payments- with no financing! It's called EZ pay and our Silver Passport will cost us around $8.25 a month per person. We only paid the first payment on Saturday. I believe we paid $24.75 and will have 11 more payments throughout the year. It's a great deal for us because we know we will get much use of our pass and because sometimes coming up with a couple of hundred dollars for admission can be a bit overwhelming. I know that breaking it down for us makes it much more affordable. I can't wait to share with you our adventures down south and to also pick a winner for the Angel's 4 pack. Will share tonight. Have a fantastic week!

Disney Sunday- First Aid and Baby Care Center

On the third installment of Disney Sunday I wanted to write about two very important places in Disneyland that tend to be overlooked- The First Aid Center and The Baby Care Center. I've had two use both on my last visit and wanted to share what you can expect to find at both centers. First and foremost is the Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Baby Care Center. This is a place that might be overlooked or unknown. Those of you visiting Disneyland or DCA with babies and/or small children should definitely take advantage of the baby care center. It is located down a sidewalk at the end of Main Street on the right hand side just past the photo store. Disney's California Adventure baby care care center is located directly next to their first-aid station which is found by the Mission Tortilla Factory in the Pacific Wharf area. Inside, there are toddler sized toilets, changing tables and in my opinion best of all, glorious air conditioning. It is the perfect place to rest with the little ones on a hot summer day. There is a cast member that makes sure only a few people come in at a time to ensure this peaceful and non-chaotic place remains that way. They sell about every baby necessity you may need. Everything from bottles, pacifiers, formula, diapers, diaper rash ointment, baby food and more. There are even bottle warmers if you need them. It is also the perfect place to nurse a baby. I have nursed both of my babies at the center. It provides a calm private setting where you can lull the little ones to sleep. My son has sensory issues and he can be over stimulated easily and have horrendous meltdowns. The baby care center has provided an invaluable service to us. The place is a wonderful retreat when your baby or child has to calm down from a day of over-stimulation. I can't tell you enough how many times I have used the baby care center. It has been a lifesaver! If you go a bit past the baby care center, you will find the park first-aid center. I had to actually use the first aid center last week. I had met my family at the park and was using some pretty uncomfortable shoes that gave me a couple of painful blisters. I knew exactly what to do. I headed directly to the First Aid Center. They provided me a place to sit and just what I needed-band aids- without charging me a dime. It is also the perfect place to head when you have a headache. One of the registered nurses on staff will provide you with ibuprofen or Tylenol and a quiet place to lay down instead of having to leave the park. The first aid center can also provide you a place to store your medications that need to be refrigerated. The best part is that Disney will provide all of this free of charge! If the unexpected happens when you are at either park rest assured that you will be able to find everything from formula at the baby care center to a pack of ice at the first aid center. Have a great Sunday!!

The Greatest Show on Earth!!

We had the opportunity to attend the opening night of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey at the Honda Center this week. Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey presents Zing Zang Zoom is a show that is not to be missed. It was the kiddos first trip to the Circus and boy were they excited! I had not been to the circus in ages(think decades!) and was just as excited as the kiddos. If I only had one word to describe our experience it would be unforgettable! It was an unbelievable night and the kids have yet to stop talking about it. From the moment we walked to our seats the kids were in awe. There is an all access pre-show that is available to the general public an hour before the show. The pre-show allows you to view some of Zing Zang Zoom's performers up close and on the arena floor. We were able to catch some of the pre -show and my kids almost came unglued! They were in love before the show started. If you can make sure to get to the show at least an hour before show time to be able to enjoy the amazing pre-show. Once the pre-show was over, we headed back to our seats and sat back to enjoy a magnificent show. This is definitely not the Circus that I watched as a child! It is magical, hip and the performers were out of this world. If you are a fan of aerialists and acrobats- this is the show for you. My kiddos were in absolute heaven! I think one of my favorite aspects of parenting is being able to see a new world through my children's eyes. You can imagine how I felt as I watched them experience the circus for the first time. I have never seen them as excited and amazed as I did last Wednesday night. They loved everything about the show and this sappy mom even shed a tear as she watched her two year old jump in delight as the beautiful elephants marched into the arena. They loved everything about the circus,from the yummie treats to the amazing tight rope walks. We made some wonderful memories! I can't rave enough about what an amazingly good time we had at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Zing Zang Zoom. It is indeed the Greatest Show on Earth!! Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey presents Zing Zang Zoom Honda Center- Anaheim July 15 - July 26-various performances Citizens Business Park Arena- Ontario July 29-Aug 2- various performances Don't forget to use the code MOM when purchasing your tickets on Ticketmaster or at the box office. You will be able to purchase tickets for only $11 when you purchase 4 or more. You will have a fantastic time! I promise!!

US Open of Surfing

It's going to be scorching this weekend and if you are looking to cool down and do something out of the ordinary - head down to the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach. Surf City will be hosting the premier surfing competition from July 18-26. We won't be able to make it this weekend but I'm planning on taking the kids Monday. My son loves watching surfers hit the waves and if you have surfers in your family or aspiring surfers this is the event to attend. For additional info head on over here US Open of Surfing July 18th-26th Huntington Beach Pier

San Clemente Ocean Festival

If you are looking to cool down today and do something fun with the kids this weekend-check out the "Greatest Show on Surf"- The San Clemente Ocean Festival. The festival which runs July 18-19 is geared towards families and features bodysurfing clinics, art show, crafts, athletic competitions, free concerts, a woody car exhibit ,a great big rubber duck race, food entertainment and much much more!! It sounds like the perfect place to cool down and enjoy some good family fun. For Additional info head here San Clemente Ocean Festival July 18-19 San Clemente Pier : FREE PARKING & ROUND TRIP SHUTTLE SERVICE FROM SAN CLEMENTE HIGH SCHOOL (700 Avenida Pico, SC 92672)!

Saturday 6:30a.m. - 8:30p.m. Sunday 6:30a.m. - 5:30p.m.

A last minute getaway-roadtrip and a little giveaway

I'm going to be heading for a quick roadtrip down south this weekend. This year because of the economy and changes in my job we will be skipping a traditional "vacation" and doing a little weekend getaway or two instead of a traditional week long getaway. Country Inns & Suites by Carlson is actually providing me with two free nights and a fun roadtrip itinerary in San Diego. We will be heading down south for a quick, fun and hopefully inexpensive getaway. The roadtrip itinerary that was provided by Country Inns & Suites has us heading off to explore Balboa Park and other excursions that are inexpensive and some that are off the beaten path. I want to pose a question to you - What’s your idea of the best last-minute vacation? I want to hear from you! Just leave your answer under comments and you will also be entered to win a family 4 pack of Angel tickets to a Big Bang Friday game. Thank you in advance! Looking forward to reading about your favorite last minute vacation tips!! I forgot to add you have until Sunday to enter. Thanks!

Fun Family Friday at The La Habra Children's Museum

I'm always on the lookout for fun and different outings for our family and I found one that I will for sure be stopping by. The La Habra Children's Museum is hosting a Fun Family Friday on July 17th. Fun Family Fridays are held once a month in the summer and feature late play at the museum- from 6pm to 8pm, a light dinner, romping through the exhibits of course and a show. This upcoming Family Friday features an interactive bubble show. The cost of Family Fridays is $7 per person and that includes dinner!! You can't beat that!! Reservations are required and are on a first come, first served basis. Please call (562)905-9793. It's a great alternative to movie night.

Kidspace Children's Museum- Pasadena

We had the opportunity to visit the Kidspace Children's Museum last week and I can't wait to head back in the next couple of weeks for another visit. We were only there for two hours and easily could have stayed for another two. My children loved everything about this museum.

The Kidspace Children's Museum is located in Pasadena and is adjacent to the Rose Bowl. You will park in Rose Bowl Parking Lot I and walk through Brookside Park to find a fun land of

exploration. I love museums that incorporate indoor and outdoor exhibit areas and Kidspace is able to do both.

We had the opportunity to explore the Early Childhood Learning Center, which is geared for children ages four and under. My son Mikey, who is a two and a half, was in tot fantasyland. He loved everything about the exhibit, especially the stuck together area, where the tots can interact with Velcro walls to create designs with large foam blocks. We had to coax him out of the area with a promise(aka "bribe") of an Popsicle.

My daughter Lauren's favorite exhibit was the Digging Deeper Gallery. She loves make believe and had a great time serving up patrons in Bugsy's Diner. The Diner will teach your kiddos about the feeding habits of insects. Another favorite of my kiddos was "The Dig" and "The Shake Zone". They are both interactive experiences that will not only educate your children but also provide them with hands on fun! I could not get either one to budge from this area. I had to tear them away in order to discover the other exhibits and areas.

After some inside play, we headed to the outdoor exhibits. The kids had a fun and very wet time playing in Kirby's Kids Corner. It is an area that is designed for the four and under crowd and boy did they have a great time. They were completely drenched by the end of the night but also grinning from ear to ear.The kids also had a great time playing in the Splash Dance Fountain. If you are heading in the summer, make sure to pack a towel and extra clothes! I'm glad I packed some clothes because let me tell you -the kiddos were wet!!

We didn't have the opportunity to explore the Gardens, Kids Basin (another wet area) and the climbing area. I can't wait to head back and discover the areas that we missed.

Make sure to take advantage of their Free Family Nights- which are held on the first Tuesday of the month. Admission is free!! Pack a picnic and be prepared for a great time!!

Hours

September through May-.

Tuesday through Friday, 9:30am to 5pm

Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm

June, July and August-Open 7 days a week!

Monday - Friday, 9:30am - 5pm

Saturday and Sunday, 10am - 5pm

I was able to visit on their Free Family Nights which are held the first Tuesday of the month from 4pm to 8pm.

Admission on any other day is

Children.$10.00

Adults$10.00

Infants (under 12 months)Free

Kidspace Children's Museum

480 N Arroyo Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91103

For additional information head on over here.

winner of sealife aquarium giveaway

Happy Monday to all! Is it wrong to already be wishing for the weekend? I'm already looking forward to this weekend and a little getaway that I can't wait to share with you all. We received many entries to the Sealife Aquarium contest and I wish I could give a 4pack to everyone who entered. Unfortunately I can only pick one. Using Random.org- the winner is comment # 10 by Jennifer B who said... I would love to take my two little ones to the SEALIFE Aquarium! They both grew up on the Fisher-Price Aquarium Crib toy - my son still can't go to sleep without it! Pick me! Pick me! : Jennifer please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com Have a fabulous Monday and stay tuned for a review of a great little place for the little ones in Pasadena. We had the opportunity to visit the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena last week and absolutely loved it! Can't wait to share.

Dinsey Sunday- Freebies at Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure

Hope you are all having a fun and relaxing Sunday. On the second weekly installment of Disney Sunday I wanted to list a couple of fun and FREE things you can pick up while visiting Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure. Make sure to try or pick up one of the freebies next time you are at the park. Enjoy!! 1. Free entrance to either park on your birthday. Just register online and show up with your birth certificate or ID. If you already have an annual pass- head to the ticket booth to pickup your $69 gift card for merchandise or a family pack of 6 fast passes to every attraction at the park of you choice. Another tip- turn your free admission at the end of the day into an annual pass. All you will have to do is either pay the difference or sign up for the installment plan. It's a great deal!! 2. Pick up a free pin from City Hall in Disneyland, DCA guest services or the information booth. You can get a Happy Birthday pin, Happy Anniversary,Just Married,Family Reunion,1st Visit,Happily Ever After and the I'm Celebrating button which could be used anytime! 3. Pick up a fresh, warm and delicious tortilla from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour in Disney's California Adventure. If it's your birthday make sure to pick up your free dozen. 4. Try a taste of Sourdough bread from The Boudin Bakery tour in DCA. It's located right across from the Mission Tortilla Factory Tour. 5. Animation Academy- Head over to DCA's Hollywood Backlot and try your drawing skills at The Disney Animation building. You are provided with drawing pencils and pads and taught by Disney animators a series of simple steps that enable you to create your own character drawings. You can take your drawings home or better yet- ask nicely and usually the Disney Animator will be more than willing to give you their fresh character sketch. 6. Head over to Disneyland's Tomorrowland and ride Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. While you ride you will have your photo taken and at the end of the ride you can e-mail your Astro Blaster score and photo home. It's a fun and free souvenir! 7. Free stickers - make sure to head over to Toontown and meet Mickey and Minnie. You will receive a free sticker when you meet them. 8. Free beads at New Orleans Square- Head on over to New Orleans Square when the bands are playing. The beads are usually thrown out by cast members and are a fun treat. Best of all they are Free!! 9. Last but not least- My daughter's Favorite- Head over to Autopia and pick up a Free License. This is sometimes hit and miss. However, I've received one every time I have ridden Autopia.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro

I have the perfect place to head to today that is not only fun and of course educational- it will only set you back a couple (think $5 or less) of dollars and provide you and your family with a memorable experience. My kiddos have been obsessed with marine life recently as you can probably tell. I believe that learning should be through immersion and when my kids show an interest in something, I want them to experience things hands on. This past Friday we had a couple of hours to play and decided to take them to the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Pedro. The Cabrillo Aquarium is a smaller aquarium that is steps away from the ocean. Many people are unaware of it's existence. It was great because even on a busy 3rd of July, the aquarium was easy to maneuver around with a double stroller and it was nice not to bump into other people or strollers. The Susan Lawrencz Miller Exhibit hall is home to three major environments- rocky shores, beaches and mudflats and open ocean. Your kiddos will be able to learn about the different marine life that lives in each habitat and much more. The aquarium is also home to an aquatic nursery and this was a big hit with our family. The nursery at the aquarium is staffed by the friendliest and incredibly helpful volunteers. The volunteers were able to answer all of the kids questions and also explained what was going on in each tank. There is also a fun little craft area designed specifically for the kiddos, which was also a bit hit with our family. I would have to say however, that our favorite part of the aquarium was the exploration center. The kids loved the ecological play area. They were able to dress up as different sea life and also able to put on a sea life puppet show. My personal favorite was the crawl in aquarium. You can crawl into a real life aquarium and be surrounded by different ocean life and never get wet. It's the perfect photo opportunity. There is also a naturalist corner where you can study the different organisms through a microscope. My 13 year old niece absolutely loved this area. We had a fantastic time learning about the wonderful sea life found in Southern California waters. You want to know the best part- we had a great time for only $7.Admission to the aquarium is FREE but donations are suggested. The suggested donation is $5 for adults and $1 for children or seniors. We had an incredible couple of hours for only a little more than $5. Parking is a $1 an hour - make sure to take cash with you. The Cabrillo Aquarium is open Tue- Sun. The hours of operation are 12-5 Tue- Fri and 10am to 5pm on the weekends. Cabrillo Marine Aquarium 3720 Stephen M White Drive San Pedro -90731 For additional information head on here. Have a wonderful weekend!!

2009 OC Super Fair

We had the opportunity to take a sneak peek last night at the OC Super Fair and let's just say I can't wait to go back- hopefully today. This year the fair is back and better than ever. We had the opportunity to check out Al's Brain which is a fun 3d experience through the human brain featuring Weird Al. You won't want to miss this and it's free with admission. We also had the opportunity to meet Weird Al yesterday. My husband and I grew up listening to Weird Al and it was a treat to talk to him and to have him take a picture with our daughter. She insisted on talking a picture with the guy that was on her ticket and billboard! She is too funny!

I think when we think of the fair we think of the food. Boy oh boy is it good. Good as in tasty but probably not good for the waistline! We were able to try out fried oreos and fried snickers and they were delish!! Not to be missed. Well if you are a fair foodie you might want to head over to the fair on Thursdays. You can have $2.oo food tastings every Thursday from 12-4pm. Featured in the tastings are funnel cake, sliders, baked potato, hot wings, pizza, onion rings, corn dogs and cinnamon rolls.

There are some great admission deals. Every Thursday kids 12 and under are free. Seniors are admitted for $4.00 on Friday, plus Free ferris wheel and merry go round rides all day long. You can also buy a super pass that gives you 23 days of admission with special perks. Super passes are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for children 6-12.

Every Thursday in addition to the kids get in free and $2 tastings you can also take advantage of $1 carnival rides. In addition take advantage of the Care Wednesdays which offer free admission when you participate in any of the 4 drives. Wed July 15 Free admission and carnival ride with 5 canned food items. Wed July 22 Free Admission and carnival ride with one new children's book. Wed July 29 one free admission and one carnival ride with one new toy and Wed Aug 5 one free admission and one carnival ride with donation of one new school item.

Admission to the fair is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for kids and 5 and under are free.

Hours are Wed-Fri -Noon to Midnight and Sat-Sun 10am to Midnight. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Parking is $5.

For additional info head on here

10 under $10 or Free!!

I love love Newport Beach and I wanted to pass along a list 10 fun things that you can do in Newport Beach for Under $10 or free!! This is perfect ! Some outings you can do with the kids and some are perfect for a fun date night! Check it out! 10 Under $10 (or FREE) for Summertime Fun in Newport Beach 1. Across The Seas: A History of Navigation at Newport Harbor Nautical Museum Learn how to navigate across the seas with an all-new exhibit “Across The Seas: A History of Navigation,” a comprehensive multimedia exhibition that highlights the history and practice of the art of sea navigation. The exhibit combines modern technology with a historic setting, giving visitors an exciting new way to explore history, from the earliest days that seafarers looked to the skies to guide them, to the latest satellite guided systems. Visitors can also experience a fully equipped planetarium, which will offer them a chance to learn about celestial navigation. Dates: Now through December Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors. Children under 12 and NHNM members get free admission. 2. Astronomy Night at the Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center Join members of the Orange County Astronomers in the Newport Back Bay for Astronomy Night, an inspirational 2-hour tour of the night sky. This program is open to all ages and will include a presentation and observation with telescopes. There is no fee for this program, only a suggested donation of $2 per participant. Dates: July 17 (8 pm), August 14 (7:30 pm) Cost: No fee, suggested donation of $2 per participant 3. Balboa Island Evening Stroll Discover the charm and nighttime delights of Balboa Island as its merchants stay open later-than-usual and offer refreshments to visitors during the first Friday of every month from 6pm to 9pm. Dates: First Friday of the month; ongoing Cost: FREE 4. Cinema Orange Documentary Film Series Co-sponsored by the Newport Beach Film Festival and The Orange County Museum of Art, the 2009 Cinema Orange summer series showcases documentaries celebrating art, architecture and design from the recent Newport Beach Film Festival. This season's programming includes a collection of films that explore art, architecture, design, advertising, modernism and photography featuring prominent artists such as Milton Glaser, John Lautner and Julius Shulman. Click for Movie Schedule Dates: Now through October 29 Cost: FREE 5. Corona Del Mar Fashion Walk For an evening of fashion, food & fun journey to Corona del Mar Village Shops for the inaugural season of the Corona Del Mar Fashion Walk, a hip new tradition that brings together the Village's premier fashion boutiques and restaurants along PCH. Hosts for the event include Recycled Rags, On Que Style, Mottini, Bellissima Consignment, Oysters Bar & Grill, Bungalow Restaurant and Landmark Steak House. Dates: Second Thursday of the month; ongoing Cost: FREE (except for whatever impulse shopping occurs) 6. First Fridays Comedy Sapphire Lounge at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach Every first Friday of the month follow the sound of laughter to the Sapphire Lounge at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach where “First Fridays” Comedy Night starts at 8:00pm (now thru Dec. 25, 2009). Featuring professional comedians and stand-up comics in the intimate setting of the Sapphire Lounge, "First Fridays" is Orange County's new comedy hot spot. This is a no drink minimum and a full menu is served until 10:30pm, plus free parking. Please visit: www.myspace.com/firstfridayscomedy for more information. Dates: First Friday of every month: ongoing Cost: $10 at the door for the 90-minute show (Radisson hotel guests are free - must show room key), 21 and up with ID. 7. Movie Mondays at Orange County Performing ArtsCenter The alfresco “Movie Mondays” offers the biggest and most popular musical films under the stars and all for free. Held at Segerstrom Hall’s 46,000 sq. ft. plaza where guests can bring beach chairs, snacks and beverages. This summer's movies include: the original classic version of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” with Gene Wilder, the 80’s smash-hit “Footloose” starring Kevin Bacon, and the international sensation “Mamma Mia!” with Meryl Streep, among others. Click for Movie Schedule Dates: Every Monday through August 3. Movies begin at dusk (around 8pm) Cost: FREE 8. Movies on the Beach at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina Families of all ages can enjoy watching classic movies on the giant inflatable screen on the beach at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina. Movies start once the sun goes down. Arrive early to reserve a great spot and munch on your favorite movie treats! Movies begin at dusk (7:30 pm). Click for Movie Schedule Dates: Now through August 28 Cost: FREE; parking $10 9. Target® Free Second Sundays at Orange County Museum of Art OCMA visitors can enjoy free admission to the Museum and access to family-friendly activities and programs on the second Sunday of every month, courtesy of the Target® Corporation. Group discounts are not available during special exhibitions. Dates: Second Sunday of the month; now through end of 2009 Cost: FREE 10. Shorty’s Historic District Fun Tour This one didn’t exactly meet our price cap but it’s so cool, we had to include it! This fun 2.5-hour educational tour is a fun combination of group theatre and ‘who-done-it’ mystery as participants go back in time to see what really happened in the Crystal Cove Historic District. Read for a part in a 1930’s Crystal Cove film shoot, investigate the case of the ‘missing’ cottage, shop for candy from a 1935 beachside store, and determine if the Crystal Cove resident named “Shorty” really had a pet sea lion that lived in his bathtub. Crystal Cove’s beach cottages were built between 1920 and 1935 and are a rich part of California seaside history. This Living History program is a fun introduction to the colorful characters that lived in Crystal Cove’s Historic District. Class size limited to 20. Dates: Fridays, 9 am – 11:30 am; July 1 through September 15 Cost: $25 for adults/$20 for Crystal Cove Alliance Members For more ideas on summertime activities and visitor information in Newport Beach, contact the Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau at (800) 94-COAST (26278) or visit www.visitnewportbeach.com.

Free Admission to the Raymond M Alf - Museum of Paleontology

Do you have a little dino lover in your family? We have two dino lovers in our home and I can't wait to take them to Raymond M Alf Museum of Paleontology in Claremont. I am going to try to take a trip down to check it out today or next Wednesday. I thought I would give you the heads up on this great little place. I also wanted to pass on that admission is free every Wednesdays. If you are looking for something to do with your kids today- you might want to check this out! for directions and other info head over here Also you still have time to enter our SEALIFE 4 pack giveaway. I extended the deadline until Sunday. Just head on over here and leave a comment!! A BIG THANK YOU to the wonderful reader that tipped me about the museum. Keep those tips coming!!

The OC Fair is almost here and how you can get in for FREE!!

One of my favorite things about summer is the Orange County Fair. We try to make at least two visit while it is in town. It's become a family tradition and something that we look forward to every year. Well that time is finally here!! Wohoo!! The 2009 OC Super Fair will open it's doors on July 10th at noon. The fair will run through August 9th. I will have the opportunity to preview the fair on the 9th and can't wait to share with you all of the new and exciting additions to this year's lineup. Stay tuned for a post on Thursday night! If you are planning on attending and want to get in for free check out these 5 options. Four of the options benefit a charity and all will get you in free of charge. 1. Make your way to OPENING HOUR -Free admission and parking from Noon – 1 PM. Valid only July 10, 2009. 2. Wednesday, July 15 Food Drive, Noon - 6 PM-One free admission ticket and one carnival ride in exchange for five (5) canned food items. One ticket/carnival ride per person.Benefits Second Harvest Food Bank and Share Our Selves. 3. Wednesday, July 22 Book Drive, Noon - 6 PM-One free admission ticket and one carnival ride in exchange for one NEW children’s book for grades kindergarten through third (ages 5-9). One ticket/carnival ride per person. Benefits OC public elementary schools via The Los Angeles Times’ Reading by 9 program. 4. Wednesday, July 29 – Toy Drive, Noon - 6 PM-One free admission ticket and one carnival ride with donation of one new toy valued at $8 or more. One ticket/carnival ride per person. Benefits Share Our Selves. 5. Wednesday, August 5 – School Supply Drive, Noon - 6 PM - One free admission ticket and one carnival ride with donation of one school item valued at $5 or more. One ticket/carnival ride per person. Benefits OC public schools via Rotary Club International. View Wish List Hope to see you all there! I can't wait!!

Our visit to The Birch Aquarium at The Scripps Institution of Oceanography

My family had the opportunity to visit the Birch Aquarium at The Scripps Institution of Oceanography this past weekend. We have been on a marine/sea life quest recently and from what I had read on the net the Birch Aquarium is THE place to visit. Let me tell you folks- It most certainly is. The aquarium is absolutely breathtaking. The Birch Aquarium is nestled on an ocean bluff and overlooks beautiful La Jolla Shores. I was in love from first sight and so was my family.

We parked our car in the aquarium's adjacent parking lot(which had plenty of parking and was complimentary) and walked over to the entrance of the beautiful aquarium. From the moment we walked in we were greeted by a friendly volunteer who was tickled by my kids excitement. She offered us a map and encouraged us to explore the Hall of Fishes.

It was the perfect suggestion for our little family. The kids loved learning about the different types of marine life. My husband and I were equally thrilled. We made a promise that we would definitely be coming back on a date sans kids. We learned about the sea life that inhabits the waters of the Pacific Ocean from the Pacific Northwest, through the California coast and ending in the tropical waters of Mexico. We could have strolled through the Hall of Fishes for hours!! The kids loved all of it!! You can also observe animal feedings - which we sadly missed by a half hour. Next time we will make sure to get there with plenty of time and be able to catch a glimpse.

We then headed out to the Tide Pool Plaza and let me tell you- my kiddos were in tide pool heaven. I was not only in love with the tide pools but also with the spectacular view of the California Coast. The view from the Tide Pool Plaza has to be one of the most breathtaking and beautiful views of the California Coast. I could go on about the view but trust me on this- It is something you have to see for yourself. You will not be disappointed!!

The Tide Pool Plaza featured three living tide pool displays which my kiddos loved. They had the opportunity to get up close in personal with a starfish and a sea cucumber. We had an unforgettable moment and one that I know my daughter Lauren will remember forever. One of the volunteers brought out a starfish for Lauren to touch. The look on my daughter's face was priceless. She loved not only being able to touch the starfish but to also learn about it's body structure and how the starfish lives and feeds. Lauren was in heaven and has not been able to stop talking about her magical experience.

We were all so impressed with the individual attention we received from the staff. Everyone had a bright smile on their face and was happy to be working there- and yes this was the 4th of July. I can't rave enough about the amazing staff!! We had to tear the kiddos away from the tide pools- they could have stayed there for hours.

After exploring the tide pools we made our way to my children's favorite exhibit, The Wonders of Water in the Smargon Courtyard. The exhibit is made up of two outdoor water playstations. My husband and kiddos spent at least an hour playing with the water tables. I coudln't blame them ,it was addicting!! My son Michael, who is only two and a half, was able to use the panels in the water table and able to make a path for his boat. He was mesmerized by the water station and there were plenty of tears when we told him that we had to leave. We did manage to catch a glimpse of the Shark Reef on the way out. It was amazing and I wish we had additional time to observe the sharks.

Closing time was upon us and we had to leave. We spent almost 4 hours at the Aquarium and yet if felt like one. Time just flew by. We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the 4th of July. I have been on many outings and this will definitely now be on the top of my list . It is in my opinion that the Birch Aquarium is one of the MUST places to visit in Southern California. From the beautiful setting to the wonderful staff - The Birch Aquarium is a shinning star.

The best part is that for the price of a movie ticket, you can explore another world and make priceless memories. I had a reader recently email me that she wants her son to make memories of exploring sealife and not just have memories of playing on his playstation or surfing the net. This really stuck with me and I couldn't help but think of this as we were exploring the Aquarium. I promise you that your entire family will fall in love with the Birch Aquarium and make priceless memories!!

Admission is $11.00 for adults, $7.50 for 3-17 year olds and Free for kiddos 2 and under. The Birch Aquarium is part of Museums on Us - which gives you free admission with your B of A debit or credit card on the first weekend of the month. We actually paid only $7.50 for my daughter since my husband and I both bank with B of A and were able to get in for free. It is an incredible deal!! You can also receive $1.00 off each admission with your AAA card.

Hours: 9am to 5pm daily

Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day

3 hour courtesy parking provided

Birch Aquarium at Scripps

2300 Expedition Way

La Jolla, California

For additional information head over here