Museum Free-For-All- Free Admission Days Oct 3rd and 4th!

I love sharing Free events and the Los Angeles Museum "Free-For-All" is one that is not to be missed! I have a little dinosaur lover that would absolutely love to visit the Natural History Museum in LA. I can't wait to take him. It's going to be a busy and Free weekend for us! Let me share a little about the "Free-For-All". In a joint effort to present the arts and culture to the diverse and myriad communities in Southern California, the Museum Marketing Roundtable announces the fifth annual "Museums Free-For-All" on Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2009. The following museums - presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science - will open their doors wide and invite visitors free of charge.*

Participating Museums:

• Armory Center for the Arts - Both Days
• The Autry National Center - Sunday, October 4th ONLY
• Bowers Museum - Sunday, October 4th Only
• California African American Museum - Both Days
• California Heritage Museum - Saturday, October 3rd Only
• California Science Center - Both Days
• Craft and Folk Art Museum - Both Days
• Fowler Museum at UCLA - Both Days
• The Getty Center - Both Days
• The Getty Villa**- Both Days
• The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live - Sunday, October 4th Only
• Hammer Museum at UCLA - Sunday, October 4th Only
• Japanese American National Museum - Saturday, October 3rd Only
• Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial - Saturday, October 3rd
• The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) - Sunday, October 4th Only
• Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA) - Both Days
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - Sunday October 4th Only
• Norton Simon Museum - Sunday, October 4th Only
• Orange County Center for Contemporary Art - Both Days
• Orange County Museum of Art - Both Days
• The Paley Center for Media - Both Days
• Santa Monica Museum of Art - Saturday, October 3rd Only
• Skirball Cultural Center - Sunday, October 4th Only
• The Studio for Southern California History - Both Days

Miramar Air Show- Free General Admission and Parking

Have you ever wanted to attend the best air show in the nation? You are in luck because San Diego is home to the best air show in the country, the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show. The Miramar Air Show will be taking place from October 2nd to October 4th. The theme for the 2009 air show is “A Salute to Teamwork” and is dedicated to the magnificent men and women who are the heart and soul of Marine Aviation and the inventory of aircraft they fly and maintain.

It is a truly a fun family event that is not to be missed. Everyone needs to see this show at least once in their lifetime. The best part is that General Admission, Parking and blanket seating are free of charge! You can also purchase tickets if you would like reserved seating. There are different preserved seating options that range from around $5 for adults and $3 for children. There is something available for every budget. You can also just bring a lawn chair and enjoy the show for free!

I can't wait to take my son to this. He is going to love it. We are going to try to catch the twilight show on Saturday night. To read all about the show, including what you can bring and other questions you might have and ordering your prefered tickets online head over here.

MCAS Miramar Air Show October 2,3&4, 2009 Marine Corps Station Miramar, (San Diego)California

Free Fun Event- Orange County Children's Book Festival

I love Fun, Free and Educational Events. I wanted to share one with you that is not to be missed! The Orange County Children's Book Festival is on Sunday October 4th from 9:30 am to 4:30pm at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. There really is something for children of all ages to experience at the Orange County Children’s Book Festival. Everyone will be able to enjoy the multiple stages with author and illustrator presentations and of course professional storytellers. From the OC Family Main Entertainment stage you can relax and enjoy family friendly entertainment and hear celebrity authors share “inside scoop” about their latest books. There will be absolutely something for everyone!

There will be trackless train ride around the OCC campus for kids and parents and a children's craft corner where kids make their own book markers, visors and other “make it take it” keepsake items. There will also be face painting, crazy hair styling, petting zoo, musicians, dancers, balloons, readings, drawings and so much more.

It sounds like an incredibly good time for the entire family and it's absolutely Free. To learn more about the different authors featured and for a complete schedule head over here. We are hoping to try to catch a bit of this fun event. Hope to see you there!

Mommy & Me Mosaic Music School Giveaway

I have been looking for something to do with my two year old son Mikey. When I read about Mosaic Music Studio's Mommy & Me classes from Carrie, the owner of Mosaic Music , in Yorba Linda I just knew I had to share. Mosaic Music's Mommy & Me teacher, Michele Ehrenberg, is a well-established toddler teacher and has worked for MyGym, Gymboree, KinderMusic and did Storytime at Borders in Brea. She has taken her favorite elements from all of these classes to form the Mommy & Me class. Kids remember her signature pink guitar and fun, bubbly personality!

The first class is always free, so anyone who is interested can come and check it out. It's for ages 0-4, and they have three different class levels available: Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers. It's $65/mo for weekly 45-minute classes.Classes are held every Tuesday morning.

The first class is always free. Mosaic Music studio in Yorba Linda, also offers private lessons for all ages in violin, viola, cello, guitar, piano and voice. Mosaic Music's teachers are the very best available and have been trained at universities like Juilliard and USC. In addition to Mommy & Me classes, they also have Musical Theater and Music Theory classes available. For additional info head on here. You can also contact them by email at info@mosaicmusicschool.com The best part is that I have a free month of lessons to giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment and you are automatically entered. Good luck! You have until Sunday to enter. Good luck! Mosaic Music 18032 Lemon Drive(Across from the Post Office) Yorba Linda

Winners of giveaways!

Yipee! We survived Monday! I wanted to share the two winners for the giveaways. The first lucky winner to receive a family pack to Irvine Park Railroad is Erin Wright , who wrote "sounds great! would love to go!" The winner of the Zula Patrol DVD giveaway is Jen R who wrote "We never seen it, but we would love to check it out!" Please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info

Port of Long Beach Green Port Fest and it's FREE!

Have you heard of the Port of Long Beach Green Port Fest? If you haven't, here is the scoop. Green Port Fest is the Port of Long Beach's annual open house. It's a chance to educate the community about the port's vital role in the economy and ground-breaking environmental programs. There will be more than 70 booths and exhibits, children’s activities, entertainment, food, boat and rail tours and much more. The best part is that the Fest is FREE!

Some of the activities featured at the festival will be a children's playground with face painting, eyes under the sea - spotlighting underwater robots, big machines-checking out the yard hostlers that move the heavy containers under the sea and what lives in the harbor spotlighting the wildlife that calls the Port of Long Beach home.

When I first read about the Festival last year, I couldn't wait to share this with you. The Long Beach Green Port Fest will be held on Saturday, October 3rd from 1oAM to 3PM. Green Port Fest is held at the Port Administration Building, but there is no on-site parking. Instead, park at the Long Beach Convention Center and hop on one of the free shuttles.

Make sure to arrive there early to reserve a spot on one of the many boat tours. It's going to be so fun!

Port of Long Beach Green Port Fest

Saturday October 3rd

10am to 3pm

There will be a limited amount of free parking at the Long Beach Convention Center. If you are coming from the 710 South Freeway, be sure to use the "Downtown" exit. Enter the convention center parking lot at Shoreline Drive and South Linden Avenue and look for our Green Port Fest shuttles. See the map for more details.

For additional information head on over here

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch and Giveaway

Happy Sunday! I still can't get over the fact that is summer almost a thing of the past and that fall is here (it doesn't feel that way with this weather), that is until this weekend. My family had the opportunity to visit the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch this weekend and we had such a great time. We are big fans of the Irvine Park Railroad and love their seasonal events! I have to say that the pumpkin patch is my absolute favorite event. Every single member of my family had fun this weekend. Admission to the pumpkin patch is free (you do however have to pay an admission fee to enter the park $3-$5, although we didn't pay a fee because we arrived around 4pm). One of my favorite things about this pumpkin patch are the very reasonable price for pumpkins and activities. You can find a pumpkin to fit your budget, from $3 for a smaller pumpkin to $22 for a super duper large one. It's also the perfect place to take Halloween pictures and also spend quality time as a family. We stayed until closing and had such a good time. We went on a hay ride, walked through a giant hay maze, toured a haunted house, the kiddos took part in the John Deere tractor races and finally no visit is complete to Irvine Park without a train ride. We had so much fun and I promise that you will too. The best part is that admission to the pumpkin patch is free as well as touring the Haunted House, Hay Maze and dozens of cute picture stands. The patch also features carnival games, face painting and so much more! The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch runs from September 19th to November 1st. It's open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm on weekends. Pack a picnic and head down soon before the crowds arrive. I recommend heading there early in the day or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds. Irvine Park Railroad has graciously offered a 15 pack of tickets for one lucky family to enjoy at the pumpkin patch. It's a $60 value and sure to make your visit to the patch extra special. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment under this post. You have until next Saturday night to enter. Good luck and head to Irvine Park Railroad for a fantastic time. Almost forgot, I extended the Zula Patrol giveaway until next Friday. You still have time to enter if you have not already done so! Irvine Park Railroad Irvine Park

1 Irvine Park Rd.

Orange, CA 92869

Additional info

Coastal Cleanup Day

Did you know that tomorrow is Coastal Cleanup Day? The California Coastal Commision invites you and your family to join them at one of dozens of locations throughout Southern California and help clean our local beaches. There are two ways of participating. You can pre-register here or drop in at one of these locations in Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Diego County. The clean up will be from 9 am to noon. Waivers are required to participate. This is the perfect thing to do with older children and teenagers!

Shark Lagoon Nights are back & FREE at the Aquarium of the Pacific!

If you are looking for something to do with your family that is FREE and absolutely fun, look no further! The Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting Shark Lagoon Nights, every Friday night, from 6pm to 9pm.

The public is invited to get up close with the ocean’s ultimate predators at the Aquarium of the Pacific for FREE during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and see large sharks such as sandtigers as well as rays in the Aquarium’s Shark Lagoon. There will also be live entertainment and fun for the entire family.

This is the perfect outing for a fun Friday night. For additional information head on over here.

The Zula Patrol Review and Giveaway

I'm always looking for something fun to pop into our DVD player as we head to our outings. I received a copy of The Zula Patrol's Animal Adventures in Space and Moon Mayhems. I had never watched an episode of The Zula Patrol before and I was hooked from the moment I started watching. My kiddos have been watching The Zula Patrol, every Saturday morning on NBC. You can also catch the show on PBS.

I love that the show teaches children about science and the eco system in a fun and wacky way. Your kiddos will learn about planetary orbits, planet characteristics and so much more. It's a really fun show that the entire family will enjoy. I loved that after watching this my 4 year old daughter has shown an interest in visiting the observatory to learn about the planets and the Solar System. I wish they had shows like this when we were growing up!

Here is the scoop on the show and DVD. “The Zula Patrol” features a gang of lovably wacky alien characters including stalwart Captain Bula, brainiac Professor Multo, feisty hot-doggin' space pilot Zeeter, the amazing space pet Gorga, and twin flying explorers Wizzy & Wigg. They take kids on a roller coaster fun ride across the Universe, helping them discover interesting facts about science and astronomy in the process.

The Zula Patrol: Moons Mayhem follows the intrepid team from Zula in six humor-filled stories that begin with a challenge, and end with a resolution, as they explore the fascinating, often volatile world of moons. The episodes include: Moon Struck, Blue Moon, Going Through a Phase, Moons Mayhem, Three Ring Gorga and Me, Myself and Io. It’s non-stop lunar adventure for The Zula Patrol, as they as they rescue a turbulent Venus, who is on a quest to acquire a moon of her own; discover the many moons of Jupiter during Jupiterfest; explore the composition of the surface of Earth’s moon; help save Bula from an awful Were-Mouse curse, and thwart Dark Truder’s nefarious plan to steal all the moons within the solar system.

In The Zula Patrol: Animal Adventures in Space!, the team explores how insects, reptiles, mammals, plants and rocks form and interact with each other. In Larvae or Leave Me (the first episode), Skip the grasshopper can’t find his friend Wriggly the caterpillar – until he discovers, with help from The Zula Patrol, that Wriggly has transformed into a beautiful butterfly! Four additional stories on the DVD are: Egg Hunt, There Goes the Neighborhood, Choosing Sides and Camp Worm . No job is too big for The Zula Patrol, as they search for stolen frog eggs, help restore life to a canyon ecosystem, solve the mystery of the missing honey, and tunnel through dirt with their worm comrades to help the trees grow – and end up thwarting a threatened “alien invasion” from another planet.

I have one set to giveaway to a lucky winner. All you have to do is leave a comment- any comment and one lucky winner will be chosen at random. Contest is open until Sunday night. Good luck!

Museum Day 2009- Free Admission to your favorite museum

I love almost anything that is free. As I was researching a future post, I stumbled upon Museum Day 2009, which will take place on Saturday, September 26th. Museum Day 2009 is sponsored by The Smithsonian.

Museum Day 2009 will offer you and a guest(all you have to do is head to this link and print out a free card) FREE general admission to hundreds of museums and cultural venues nationwide. California has over 90 participating museums! This is the perfect opportunity to make that visit to a particpating museum that you have been wanting to visit. No excuses!

All you have to do is head here and print out your Free card. It allows you and a guest admission to participating museums. Simple as that!

Here is a list of participating museums in Southern California.

• Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Palm Springs
• American Museum of Ceramic Art Pomona
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps La Jolla
• California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum Escondido
• Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert Rancho Mirage
• Corita Art Center Los Angeles
• Craft and Folk Art Museum Los Angeles
• El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park Santa Barbara
• Elverhoj Museum of History & Art Solvang
• Escondido History Center
• Fowler Museum at UCLA Los Angeles
• Fullerton Museum Center Fullerton
• Historic Mission San Juan Capistrano San Juan Capistrano
• Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum Huntington Beach
• Japanese American National Museum Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust Los Angeles
• Millard Sheets Center for the Arts Pomona
• Mingei International Museum Escondido Escondido
• Mingei International Museum San Diego San Diego
• Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego La Jolla and San Diego
• Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) Long Beach
• Museum of Making Music Carlsbad
• Museum of Neon Art (MONA) Los Angeles
• Museum of San Diego History San Diego
• Museum of Ventura County Ventura
• Oceanside Museum of Art Oceanside
• Palos Verdes Art Center Rancho Palos Verdes
• Pasadena Museum of History Pasadena
• Point Fermin Lighthouse San Pedro
• Quail Botanical Gardens Encinitas
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center San Diego
• Reynolds Gallery Santa Barbara
• Riverside Metopolitan Museum Riverside
• S.C.R.A.P. Gallery - The Art Museum for the Environment Indio
• San Bernardino County Museum Redlands
• San Diego Air & Space Museum San Diego
• San Diego Archaeological Center Escondido
• San Diego Chinese Historical Museum San Diego
• San Diego Natural History Museum San Diego
• San Mateo County History Museum Redwood City
• Santa Monica Museum of Art Santa Monica
• Skirball Cultural Center Los Angeles
• The Adobe Chapel Museum San Diego
• The Whaley House Museum San Diego
• University Art Museum Santa Barbara
• Victor Valley Museum & Art Gallery Apple Valley
• Watts Towers Arts Center & Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center Los Angeles
• Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology Hemet

The Los Angeles Museum of Holocaust will offer Free admission on Sunday September 27th , since the museum is closed on Saturday.

There are hundreds of museums participating nationwide. Make sure to tell your friends and family because this is an amazing opportunity. For additional information head on over here.

Kids Free Days at The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park in October

Happy Sunday everyone! Can you believe it is already the middle of September? Time sure flies by. That being said October is just around the corner and now is the perfect time to plan to spend a day at either the San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park. You want to know why? Not only are both the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park incredible places to visit with your kiddos, but for the entire month of October, children 3-11 are FREE! Yes Free! It is the perfect reason to head down to the SD Zoo or Wild Animal Park. It's also the perfect time of the year. The weather is a bit crisp and the tourists have headed back home. If you would like to read about the special events at the SD Zoo or Wild Animal Park head on over here.

Taking your kids to Disney's D23 Expo- Our first day

Yesterday I packed a bag, stroller and costumes and headed to Disney's D23 expo with the kids. The kids were super excited to head out. I don't really know what they were expecting but they knew it had to do with Disney and they were beyond excited. We spent three hours but could have easily spent more. I'm not exaggerating here- The kiddos did not want to leave the main exhibition hall floor. We spent hours walking through the Disney Consumer Product Pavilion and the kids couldn't get enough! My daughter fell in love with the Disney Beauty Booth and begged for a makeover. We didn't have to wait for very long and my princess received the royal treatment. My son, a Toy Story fanatic, could not get enough of the Crayola Animation Booth which featured Andy's Bedroom from Toy Story. An animator will lead you and your kiddos through a 45 minute lesson on drawing your favorite Disney Characters. We had a blast. The kiddos loved dancing at Radio Disney's booth. They were in their own kiddo dance heaven! Fun music played while Radio Disney stuff handed out Disney "swag" to those on the dance floor. There is also two rooms that every parent of young children should be aware when heading to the expo. First is the Expo's baby care center located on the second floor and the Baby Einstein Room which is a perfect place to decompress and let the kiddos play and relax. It's the perfect place to hang out with he kids in between events. There are plenty of restrooms, bathrooms and even a place to rent strollers, if you don't feel like bringing yours.Parking is plentiful and $12. I would bring cash for parking and snacks. Better yet, pack some snacks and save some $. We had an incredible time and I hope you do too! I will be heading back with the kiddos tomorrow afternoon. If you see me, please stop and say hello. Have an incredible time!

Fantasmic Dragon is here and he is AMAZING!

I had the opportunity to catch Fantasmic and the much anticipated new dragon this weekend. Let me just say this- He is absolutely amazing! The crowd went wild with excitement as the dragon made his grand appearance and he did not disappoint. The new dragon who was originally set to appear in the summer nightastic shows has had some pretty major technical difficulties. He is absolutely worth the wait. The addition of the dragon takes Fantasmic to a new dragon. I wanted to include my pictures of the dragon and a video courtesy of the Disneyland Resort. Catching the Dragon is a great reason to head to Disneyland. You will not be disappointed!