DWP Festival of Lights- Holiday Light Festival at Griffith Park

One of the places I take the kids every year for the holidays is the DWP Festival of Lights at Griffith Park. It's a must if you live in the Southern California area and well worth the drive. We have been a couple of times and have decided to begin visiting it as a new family tradition. It's a really unique Angeleno experience.

The section of Griffith park runs about one mile with the displays of lights along Crystal Springs Drive. The displays even feature music. It is a must see. I'm planning on visiting sometime this weekend. If you will be attending this weekend and possibly beating the crowds make sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes, a jacket, and a stroller for the little ones. Most of all, bring your holiday spirit. If you are planning to be in the Los Angeles area this holiday season include this on your list of things to see and do. The festival will be vehicle from the kickoff date, Thursday Dec 3rd until December 17th. We  have walked it  as a family before and loved it. Visitors may park at the L.A. Zoo parking lot or the parking lots on the south side of the festival near the Merry-Go-Round, or the lots near the pony rides. Parking will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Walkers are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and to dress warmly to walk the full one-mile route each way. It is also recommended that walkers have outerwear, as it can get chilly. Shuttles will assist in bringing guests from the remote parking lots to the route. I would bring a thermos with hot chocolate and if you have little ones a stroller is a must!!! The festival will return to its traditional configuration on December  and continue until December 30, 2008. Automobiles will have access to the festival route from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pedestrians may also walk on the walking path and visit the festival, Shuttles will be available December 18th through 30.

I can't rave enough about this event. If your kids love Christmas lights and music and really who doesn't right????Make sure to take them. Trust me  on this, they will love it!  for additional information click here.

Etnies

 Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour Etnnies, headquarters in Lake Forest, with other mom bloggers. It was a fun experience to learn all about how these amazing shoes are made and the research and tests that go into the making of Etnies. 


My two kiddos, are going through shoes like crazy right now. It seems that they are outgrowing quickly and it can be expensive to keep buying new shoes. Etnies, has come up with a solution to this by introducing, "Grow with Me" shoes. The "Grow with Me" shoes, extend the length of the wear by  removing the insert that comes with the shoes and it gives your kiddos an extra half size. I snatched up a couple of pairs for my family and my kiddos love wearing them. I love knowing that when they are fitting a little snug, I can remove the insert and they can wear them for a little longer.

Etnies is doing a special promotion at Etnies.com. All you have to do is  enter the promotional code of "ETNIES FAMILY" and from November 17th through December 4th, you'll receive $10 off every $40 you spend, plus free shipping! It's an amazing deal.  If you've got Toddlers, be sure to check out their "Grow with Me" shoes.

Winners!!

Happy Monday!
I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday weekend! We had a great time in the mountains (well let me clarify, the rest of my family did as I was/am battling H1N1-not fun! ) and can't wait to post  about it. We spent sometime in Wrightwood and most of our time in Big Bear. The town received over a foot of snow on Saturday. The family had a great time playing in the white stuff.

I wanted to start the back to work/school Monday with some good news. The winners of the contests are as follows.
The five winners for Night of the Museum are

1. Spencer and Emily Nelson family who said...

My boys LOVE this movie!

2. Janette  who said...

Oh I have to pick just one. hmmmmmm. My daughters favorite is Childrens Museum in La Habra. Thank you for your fantastic blog!

3. Lin said...

You always have the greatest giveaways! I really enjoy The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. I always have a great time when I visit.

4. Lslouka said...

We love ANY kid's museum. We try to visit them in any town while on vacation. Can't wait to visit Pretend City here locally. and

5. Marsupial who  said...

We love the Temecula Children's Museum. There is nothing else like it in the country! the winner of the DS Game and Card is

Erin said...

Love your blog! :) I decided to extend the Wii Fit Board until Friday. You still have a couple of more days to enter if you have not. Winners can email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with their info. Thank you!

Kids Save the Beach- Family Cleanup Day

Are you looking for something  to do with the kids tomorrow that is not only fun but good for the environment and community? Look no further!"Kid's Save The Beach" . It is a family beach clean-up morning made possible by Kim of  saveourbeach.org in cooperation with one of my favorite gals and websites,  Kelly & Colleen of Just Spotted - The Orange County Family Guide & Carrie of This is Me - A Kid's First Keepsake Journal". The beach clean up will take place from 10am to noon.

No need to bring anything unless you want to stay at the beach after the cleanup.  They will be providing  all day parking passes ($10 value), garbage bags, protective gloves and community service certificates. All kids 12 & under will receive a coupon for a free meal at Ruby's in Seal Beach. All kids over 12 will receive a coupon for a free slice of pizza at ZPizza and adults will receive coupon for a free dinner at Finbars with purchase of a dinner ($10 value), free shake coupon at Ruby's in Seal Beach and Free coffee or $1 off any beverage at Bogart's Coffee House.

They will also have a raffle. One prize is  a free ticket to Aquarium of the Pacific.

To learn more about the event head over to Just Spotted or here

Kids Save The Beach Family Clean up
Wed November 25th
10am to noon

15 1st St Seal Beach, CA 90740 Get Directions * approximate times  -  Area served: - Show Category: Unverified listing

Street view

The Santa Ana Zoo

My kiddos love animals and we are lucky enough to live in Southern California and be surrounded by fantastic zoos and botanical gardens. Have you been to the Santa Ana Zoo? We love this little zoo and had been members for a couple of years. Last year I did not renew my membership and boy did we miss this great place. I decided to take the kiddos over yesterday afternoon and we had a wonderful time.


I like heading to the zoo in the afternoon when there are not many people around. We arrived at 1pm and by the time we left at 3pm, it seemed that we were the only ones left.

There are many reasons why we love this little zoo. First off because parking is convenient and FREE. You cant' beat FREE! We also love the zoo because membership and admission is extremely reasonable. A family membership for two adults and up to four children is $55 and includes member appreciation days, discounts and my favorite part- they participate in a reciprocal admission program with over 150 zoos and gardens throughout the country. That means that you could get into the Santa Barabara Zoo for free and also receive 50%off admission at the Los Angeles Zoo.

Our family also loves the playground area. It is shaded and there is plenty of seating for parents to watch and have their kids play to their hearts desire. My kiddos love this area and could stay for hours. There is so much to love, from their aviary to the monkey exhibits and farm area, this is the place to have a nice and relaxing time with your kiddos.

For additional info head over here.
Santa Ana Zoo

1801 East Chestnut Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92701
The zoo is open every day except Christmas Day and New Year's Day

Family Holiday Hike

Thanksgiving is only a few days away and that means delicious food and plenty of seconds and thirds. To help with the feeling the day after your Thanksgiving feast, the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center  in the Newport Back Bay are holding a fun family hike. After a day of feasting and  shopping, you can take the kiddos for a fun, scenic and family friendly hike along the bay. Discover the unique attributes of the wetland and create a holiday keepsake to take home! Trails are narrow and steep. Dress accordingly for an exciting outdoor experience. Strollers may not be suitable for the walk – baby carriers  are highly recommended. This hike is for all ages and the best part is that it is absolutely FREE! 

Pre-Registration is required. You can  Call (949) 923-2275 or mailto:unbic@ocparks.com. For all programs space is limited and confirmation number may be required.

For additional info and to learn more about the Interpretive Center head here.

Holiday Season at the Dinseyland Resort

I think if you have read this blog for some time you know hat my family loves Disneyland. We live about 20 minutes away from the park and it is one of our favorite destinations. I think my favorite time to visit Disneyland has to be the holidays. There are so many reasons why I love Disneyland during the Holidays. I love the firework show, snow falling on Main Street, the beautiful decorations, Small World Holiday and sipping on some delish hot chocolate. The official season kicked off on the 13th of November and will continue until January 3rd, 2010.

This past Saturday  bloggers were invited to experience the Magic that Disneyland presents for the Holiday. I was able to round up my family for an incredible night. We try to head out  weekly but had not been able to catch the firework show and snow until Saturday. I still get goosebumps thinking about Saturday evening. The firework show is just beautiful and Sleeping Beauty's Castle is breathtaking lit up. We also had the opportunity to experience Small World Holiday. It was just beautiful and my family loved it. I think my kidlets are at the age where they are really starting to understand Christmas and they were in awe. They have been singing Christmas songs and "it's a small world" for the past day.  Although it tends to be busy around this time of year, I would definitely recommend making a visit or two. Disneyland  is truly a magical place.

Our Fun and Free Picks for this weekend

The weekend is upon us and here are some fun and Free events/places to visit this weekend.

Friday November 20th
1. Shark Lagoon Nights

Saturday, November 21st
1. Orange County Model Engineers - 10am to 3:30pm
2. Lowe's Build and Grow Free Clinics- Snowman  Free Projects- 10am to 11am
3. Griffith Park Observatory- Star Party- 2pm to 10pm

Sunday November 22nd
1. Los Angeles Live Steamers Museum and Walt's Barn
2. Orange County Model Engineers- 10am to 3:30pm
3. Free Target Family  Sunday's at the MOLAA

Our visit to Konami and Giveaway

Last week my kiddos and I had the opportunity to visit Konami Games. We had the opportunity to check out some fun games like Dance Dance Revolution, which can now be played on the Wii Fit Balance Board,(click here to enter our giveaway), an updated Frogger (which I absolutely loved playing!), a fun game for the Wii fit called Walk it out which was way fun and our absolute favorite as a family, Storybook Workshop, which is perfect for your preschool or early reader.

My kiddos absolutely were mesmerized by this game. It allows them to participate in their favorite story and play their favorite character. My daughter and son were giggling every time they repeated a word in Little Red Riding Hood and their voice was transformed into either Little Red Riding Hood or the Big Bad Wolf. It is a fun game to play as a family  and it encourages reading.

Now here is the fun part. Giveaway time! I have a Wii /Nintendo DS 2000 Points Gift card to give away along with a Mario Bros DS Game. All you have to do is leave a comment. Any Comment will do. You have until Next Friday November 27th to enter. Good luck!
.

Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum

Orange County isn't the only home to free train rides on the weekends. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum offers fun and free train rides to the public.  It's located in Griffith Park and is a must if you have little railroad enthusiasts. There are train exhibits that everyone will enjoy and every Sunday the museum operates 7½" gauge model trains for the general public free of charge from 11 am - 3 pm (weather permitting). except for the Sunday before Memorial Day and the first Sunday in October. The gate is open from 10:45 am to 3 pm. Train rides begin at 11 am. The museum is home to Walt Disney's Barn. It's the actual barn that was in Mr. Disney's backyard in Holmby Hills, California. The barn is where Walt , who was a member of the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum had his workshop and ran the switches for his home railroad. The barn is open on the third Sunday of each month and features displays of Disney, LALS and railroad related memorabilia. Guided tours are provided by members of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society. The museum and railroad are open every Sunday weather permitting from 11am to 3pm and admission and train rides are FREE of charge. For additional information click here.

Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum
 5202 Zoo Drive
 Los Angeles, California 90027

Orange County Model Engineers- Free Train Rides the 3rd weekend of the month.

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kiddos that won't cost you a penny and provide plenty of fun, check out the Orange County Model Engineers public train rides. Public ride days are the highlight for the club. They are conducted on the 3rd Saturday and Sunday of each month from 10 am until 3:30 pm. The club has a variety of engines and riding cars. Trains on public ride days are made up of 5 to 6 bench cars that seat 5 to 6 adults and children. Rides are free however, donations are welcome and help with the upkeep of the railroad.



A typical trip takes about 12 minutes and covers two loops of the park. Bridges and terrain variations are just part of the scenery as is the back end of the Costa Mesa Golf Course.

for directions and additional info head over here.

Night at the Museum Battle of the Smithsonian DVD and Giveaway

Last week, I had the opportunity to take my hubby and daughter to the Fox Studios in LA for a preview of the Night of the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian DVD. It was fun to hear the director, Shawn Levy, talk about the fun extras (including a fun Jonas Brothers cherub boot camp extra- so funny!) included in the Night of the Museum DVD which will be in stores December 1st. We also were able to take pictures with the monkey from the movie. It was hilarious! I wish I could post the pictures but my scanner isn't working. We had an unbelievable time.

I think if you've read my blog for some time now, know that I love a day at the museum. I loved the first movie and I actually think that the Battle of the Smithsonian is even better! It's cute, funny and my daughter and I laughed throughout the entire movie. It's a fun family movie that your entire family will enjoy.

There is an amazing deal going on at Walmart.com. . Basically, if you pre-order the DVD on walmart .com it’s only $9.98 AND there is FREE shipping. Since the retail value is $29.98 – it’s 20 bucks off and you don’t even have to step into a store. It would be a great Christmas present!

I also have 5 copies to giveaway! All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know your favorite museum and you are entered to win. You have until next Friday 11/27 to enter.

From A to Zoo at The Santa Ana Zoo

Here is a fun event that your little ones will enjoy

On Friday, November 20th, from 10am to 2pm, kids and their families will go “wild” for books at the Santa Ana Zoo as the Children and Family Commission hosts “From A-to-Zoo” in honor of Child Literacy Month. The special one-day event hosted by the Children and Families Commission will feature the Commission’s Big Books Booth – giant children’s books flanked by colorful beanbag seats and shelves of classic page-turners – located in the Zoo’s Amphitheatre Park.

Commission staff will lead story time readings and distribute free books to children age 5 and younger, as well as parent resources, and library card applications. Admission to the Santa Ana Zoo is free for children age 3 and younger, $5 for children from 4-12 years old, and $8 for adults (ages 13+).

This looks like a super fun event for the little ones and well it's inside the Santa Ana Zoo. We love heading there, walking around, playing in the farm area and then getting the wiggles out in the play area. It's an event that your kiddos will love and you can make a day of , pack a lunch and have fun exploring the zoo!





 Santa Ana Zoo
Amphitheatre Park
1801 East Chestnut Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Sports Authority Wii Event and Wii Fit Plus Board Giveaway!

Sports Authority is  teaming up with Nintendo to create a new way to experience fitness gaming. Sports Authority is launching this experience on Thursday, Nov. 19 at its store in Torrance (located at 3610 Torrance Blvd) starting at 9:30am.



The event will feature Jillian Michaels, from "The Biggest Loser," and we will be giving away copies of her new Wii game "Fitness Ultimatum 2010" and 25 Wii Fit Plus boards, as well as other prizes from Sports Authority, Nintendo and Nike.The collaboration will allow Sports Authority to sell Wii gaming consoles, Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus, as well as various accessories and games for the Wii, in its stores. To launch the product and to help customers get to know the Wii better, Sports Authority will create a "We know fit. We know fun." experience at 102 of their stores. Stores will feature a dedicated area with a demo unit and knowledgeable trainers to help customers try the Wii and Wii Fit Plus before they buy. This new approach helps moms trade static workouts for ones that involve fun and fitness for the whole family.



 I am a Biggest Loser addict and if you are too this should be a super fun event! The giveaways look amazing, but guess what? I also have one copy of Jillian's Fitness Ultimmatum 2010 and a Wii Fit Plus Board to giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment on why you need or love the Wii Fit and you are entered to win. You have until Friday at midnight to enter!  Make sure to check out this event. It looks like a lot of fun!

Sawdust Winter Family Art Festival

We love the  Sawdust Festival and their Winter Family Art Festival starts this Saturday November 21st.  The festival grounds will be transformed into a winter wonderland where exhibitors create, display and sell original creations.

You can oarticipate in a 60-90 art or craft class with the Winter Art Series (Classes included painting & wreath making). They also will offer FREE to  low-cost art projects for the kiddos. When I mean low cost- I'm talking about $1 art projects that your kiddos will love!

There will also be  demonstrations by artists  which include glass-blowing, holiday entertainment, community performances, four outdoor cafés, and visits with Santa!New this year will be a small farm animal petting zoo presented by Zoomars, where guests can get up close and personal with their favorite furry friend.

The classes and projects are amazing and most are Free. Trust me you will absolutely love the Sawdust winter festival!

for additional info head over here.

Show Dates


Open weekends only:

November 21 & 22

November 27*, 28 & 29 (*open Friday after Thanksgiving)

December 5 & 6

December 12 &13



Hours

10 am - 6 pm weekends only (open rain or shine)





Admission



$6.00 Adult one-day

$5.00 Senior one-day (65+)

$3.00 Children (6-12)

FREE Children (5 & under)

$9.00 Season pass

Griffith Observatory- Always Free and Public Star Parties

Have you heard of Griffith Observatory's  Public Star Parties? The Free public star parties are held monthly with the assistance of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers at the Griffith Observatory from 2:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. They are a chance for the whole family to look at the sun, moon, visible planets, and other objects, to try out a variety of telescopes, and to talk to knowledgeable amateur astronomers about the sky and their equipment.



The Public Star Party for the month of November will be this Saturday November 21st. If you have yet to visit the observatory with the kiddos, this might be the perfect day to head out. Admission and Parking are always free! Pack a lunch and enjoy a fantastic day/evening ath the Grifitth Observatory.

For additional info head here

Giveaway Winners!

Happy Sunday everyone!
I hosted 3 giveaways this week and here are the lucky winners  as selected by random.org

The 3 winners for the Elmo 40 years DVD are ...
1.Rosa Payan who said thank you for everything my son loves elmo's world and would be bless if he wins on. God bless you!

2.Julie Nuno said i always always loved when grover was a waiter in the restaurant, and the round-bald-headed (blue)customer would order soup and it would have a fly in it..........grover was always my favorite.....also when oscar the grouch would take private time to read a story to 'slimey' the worm each night before the episode was over......showing oscars not-so-grouch side.



3. MJmommy said...


we follow you on blog and on facebook. my son love sesame street and love elmos world he sings the elmo song and loves elmo and big bird too. i hope that my son wins one but if not its ok. thank you for everything and all the info you are always sharing with us.

 
The winner for the Irvine Railroad is...
Chelsea who  said...


I'm looking forward to all the holiday shopping. I love the holiday music they play in the stores and looking for gifts for my kids and loved ones

and the winner of the etnies giveaway is...
Janette said...


Pick me pick me :).

Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with all of your info. Thanks for entering and stay tuned this week for a very very fun Nintendo gift card and DS Game!

Our visit to Pretend City

I had the opportunity to preview Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine a couple of weeks before it officialy opened their doors. I was very impressed and could not wait to take my children. Things have been busy around our home and we finally were  able to make that visit  with the fabulous Kara-Noel from Eli's Lids  and her two very cute kiddos last week. If you have kiddos that are 2-7, this is the place for your family. Your little ones will love it! My son has sensory processing disorder and requires occupational therapy to deal with his wiggles and sensory seeking behavior. This place was perfect for him! I think I almost cried watching my son be entertained for 3 full hours with no meltdowns. This was a huge milestone for us!  If any of you have children in the Autism Spectrum, I definitely recommend Pretend City.

  My 4 year old daughter was in wonderland. She loved being able to have a "job", make money, and live/work/play in Pretend City. She could have spent hours playing in the farm(where the kids can play with real fruit/vegetables) or  at the grocery store. I love that the kiddos can imagine and play with everything from water tables to picking up balls . There is also an arts and craft room when they are ready to unwind a bit and  participate in a quieter activity. The best part is that the craft/art projects are offered everyday and at no extra charge.

It's a perfect place to spend half the day. Bring your lunch and enjoy watching your kiddos have the time of their lives. There are tables and even microwaves to heat up your lunch. We visited on a Wednesday afternoon and it was a perfect time. It was not too crowded and the kiddos were able to play with everything they wanted. I talked to some of the employees and they said weekday mornings or early afternoon are the best time to head out and play. They also mentioned that weekends are extremely busy, so plan accordingly.

We loved Pretend City so much that we bought a membership. It was a little pricey ($200) BUT watching my kiddos have such a fun time and my son emerge calm and happy after his play session was priceless!  I also loved that members are able to enter the museum an hour  before the general public. To learn more head here.

You can receive $2 off admission from now until November 30th if you bring canned food items and will benefit the Families Forward foundation.

Pretend City
29 Hubble
Irvine

Monday 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.
Tuesday – Sunday 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. daily

Member Hours: 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. daily

etnies behind the scene tour Giveaway

Come join me and other  OC Family Bloggers as we take a behind the scene tour of  the skate and sportswear brand etnies on Tuesday November 17th from 10:30 am to 12:30.  You will join us for a behind the scene tour, lunch, and the opportunity to purchase from the company store at wholesale prices. I almost forgot - childcare will be provided!. All you have to do is leave a comment  and you are entered to win. You have until tomorrow at midnight to enter! Good luck!

Outdoor Ice Skating rinks in Southern California

Can you believe that Thanskgiving is right around the corner? It seems like we were just trick or treating, but before you know it, Christmas will be here ! One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the outdoor ice skating rinks. There are a couple in the area and all are up and ready to have you skate! Here  is a list of outdoor ice rinks in Southern California

Los Angeles County
Downtown on Ice- Pershing Square- Downtown LA- Nov 19, 2009 to January 18, 2010
Ice at Santa Monica- Santa Monica Promenade- Now through January 31,2010
Seaside Ice- Redondo Beach- Now through January 18, 2010

Orange County
Holiday on Ice- Irvine Spectrum- Open now until January 18, 2010

Riverside County
Festival of Lights Ice Skating- Riverside- November 30 through January 2nd

Enjoy!

Sesame Street: 40 years of Sunny Days Collectible Set Review and Giveaway

We love Sesame Street in our home. I watched Sesame Street growing up and now my children watch it. Sesame Street holds a special place in our home as I'm sure it does in yours.

For 40 years, sunny days have swept the clouds away and inspired preschoolers to learn, grow and achieve their highest potential. Relive the best-of-the-best when SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS debuts as a two-disc DVD set November 10 from Vivendi Entertainment and Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street. Premiering on November 10, 1969, Sesame Street is the longest running children’s series and “…arguably, the most important children’s program in the history of television” . Featuring nearly six hours of everyone’s favorite Sesame Street stories, songs, Muppets™ and celebrity segments, the SESAME STREET: 40 YEARS OF SUNNY DAYS collectible set spans the renowned show’s four decades, includes never-before-seen archival footage and a limited-edition hard covered commemorative book.

Three lucky winners will win one of these incredible sets. All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know what your favorite Sesame Street character or episode is and you are entered to win. You can also receive an extra entry by:

• becoming a fan on Facebook
• Following me on Twitter
• or by following the blog.

If you already do, make sure to leave that in your comment. Contest runs until Sunday evening. Good luck!

Disney on Ice Presents World of Fantasy

Disney On Ice Returns to the Southland

December 17th-January 10th

Los Angeles, Anaheim, Ontario and Long Beach



My family loves Disney on Ice and we are super excited to be able to watch this fun show next month. On December 17th, Disney On Ice returns for its annual Southland engagement with the brand new, Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy. Presenting classic Disney stories, the ice spectacular features Disney Pixar’s CARS, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Tinker Bell.

Prior to each performance, families will be treated to the Disney Princess Pre-Show, an exclusive collection of enchanting ball gowns and mementos from the Disney Princess stories. This bonus experience is free with ticket purchase and includes a special appearance by a Disney Princess.

You can receive a special offer if you enter the  coupon code MOM and  you will be able to receive 4 tickets for $44  on weekday performances or $4 off single weekend tickets. You can order online by heading to http://www.disneyonice.com/ or http://www.ticketmaster.com/. You can also order tickets by phone: 800-745-3000 or at the venue box office.
Below is the show schedule




SHOW SCHEDULE:



· STAPLES Center, December 17-20



· Honda Center, Anaheim, December 22-27



· Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario; December 30- January 3



· Long Beach Arena, January 6-10, 2010

The $44 offer  is fantastic. For the price of movie tickets - you can take the kiddos out for a very special night!

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum will offer free admission on Veterans Day

If you are looking for something to do with the kiddos on Wednesday, in honor of Veterans Day, you might want to check out the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. The Library will offer free admission and a special Veteran's Day Celebration. We live in Yorba Linda and always take advantage of this fantastic celebration. The kiddos love touring the grounds and the helicopter display.Visitors can enjoy free admission all day and a special program saluting the military (11am) in celebration of Veterans Day. There will also be live music and entertainment. We love the museum and the exhibits are quite interesting.  The best part is that admission will be Free in honor of Veterans Day.

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd
Yorba Linda, CA 92886

10am to 5pm.

For additional info head on here.

Aliens in the Attic Giveaway winner

The winner of the Aliens in the Attic Giveaway is ......as selected by Random.org - comment #1
Lin who  said...


Thanks for the great giveaways!

Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com. Thanks for participating and lookout for a very fun giveaway during th next couple of days!

Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris

If your kiddos love trains and or Thomas the Tank Engine there is a special event this Wednesday the 11th and Saturday and Sunday November 14-15 at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris. Day Out With Thomas is a family event that offers children and their grownups the opportunity to ride with classic storybook friend Thomas the Tank Engine™ at heritage railroads nationwide. Parents.  The Day Out With Thomas experience will introduce your kiddos  to the timeless excitement of railroading.

A ticket for Day Out With Thomas includes the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as a variety of Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, including Storytelling and Video Viewing, Temporary Tattoos of Island of Sodor friends, and an Imagination Station with Arts & Crafts and more. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, the Chairman of the Railway on the Island of Sodor.

Tickets are avilable online or by calling Ticketweb 866 468 3399. There are also tickets available at the gate.
All event tickets are $14- $18  Children under two years old are free,

This event is fun for the entire family and you will love exploring the Orange Empire Railway Museum. We love the place. You are guaranteed a great time! For additional info head here.

Orange Empire Railway Museum, 2201 S. "A" St., Perris California 92570

Free Parking

Irvine Park Christmas Train and Giveaway

Our family loves Irvine Park and although it is only the first week of November, we are super excited about Irvine Park's Annual Christmas Time. The train will depart from the brightly-lit Train Station and drop passengers off at Santa’s Village.Christmas Train tickets may be purchased to board the train between 5:00 - 6:00, 6:00 - 7:00 or 7:00 - 8:00 PM -- get in line when it is your time to board the train. Tickets may be purchased online beginning Monday, November 2rd. Visit http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com/ for details. The Christmas Train begins Friday, November 27th.



While waiting to board the train, there are many activities for the kiddos to enjoy in Santa’s Village located next to the train station.



 Story Time with Mrs. Claus

 Christmas Cookie Decorating

 Carnival Games

 Santa Claus Moon Bounce

 Christmas Coloring Corner

 Picture Stands

You can take your own pictures with Santa or you can purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera and arrive early to avoid crowds.

The Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train is open from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the following dates:
November 27th, 28th and 29th
December 4th, 5th and 6th
December 11th – `8th
December 19 and December 20- 2-8pm
December 21st, 22nd and 23rd -5pm to 8pm



The cost to ride the Christmas Train is $8.00 per person. Children younger than 24 months ride free.
The parking for Irvine Regional Park is $3.00 per vehicle on weekdays and $5.00 per vehicle on weekends. Parking for the Christmas Train is free after 5:00 PM.

It's giveaway time! Leave a comment sharing what you are looking forward to this Holiday Season and you are automatically entered to win a family pack of tickets. Here is what you will win - 6 train tickets ($8 each) and 12 activity tickets($4each )= ($98 value!). You have until Sunday November 15 to enter. Good luck!

Discovery Science Center's Science of Gingerbread Competition- Fun for the Family and Free to enter!

I have to share with you something super fun that I plan to enter with my family. The Discovery Science Center is hosting their annual Science of Gingerbread Competition.  The Discovery Science Center is seeking out creativity from children, adults, businesses, and organizations. All participants will be invited to an exclusive Gingerbread party on Dec 2 to kick off the festivities. You also have the opportunity to display your creation at the DSC for 6 weeks! You also could win cash prizes. I  think it would be fun for the kiddos or a  family to create something and enter it.

The categories are

• Most Realistic 
• Best by a Corporation 
• Best Toy Replica
• Best Youth (under 15) 
• Most Festive/Holiday Themed 
• Most Original 
• Best by Youth Group 
• People's Choice
• President's Award

Bring Your Entry to Discovery Science Center: November 23 - 30, 2009; 11am - 4pm
Gingerbread Houses will be on Display: November 23, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Judging and Winner Announcement: December 2 & 3, 2009
 
To enter or learn about this very fun competition head here.
You have until Nov 30th  to enter but the earlier you do it the better!

Noche De Altares- A celebration of Day of the Dead/Dia De Los Muertos

If you are looking for something a little different to do this Saturday, you should check out the 7th Annual Noche de Altares. The

Celebration will be the largest Day of the Dead Celebration in Orange County. The event will

take place on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm at Fiesta Marketplace

in the City of Santa Ana (3rd and Bush Streets).

Organized by non-profit organization El Centro Cultural de México and local business

Calacas Inc., Noche de Altares is a free, family-friendly community event. Throughout the

day there will be arts and crafts workshops, face painting, local artists selling their wares, and

delicious food from local restaurants and vendors. There will also be live music and

entertainment from local and international musicians

 

You can make it a day by doing the Santa Ana Artists village Art Walk. Artists through the Village open the doors to their studios and you

 

can admire their work in a very carefree enviroment. It's a perfect event for older kids or as a date night. My husband and I have had some

 

great date nights at Art Walk.

 

For additional info head over here.

Reminder of First Tuesday of the month and Free admission to many museums Today!

Good morning! Today is the first Tuesday of the month and below is a list of Museums that offer Free Admission today. Enjoy!



•Natural History Museum- Los Angeles (make a full day of it by visiting their next door neighbor- the California Science Center, which offers FREE Admission every day)

•Autry National Center- Los Angeles

•George C Page Museum and the La Brea Tarpits- Los Angeles

•Kidspace Museum - Pasadena- 4pm to 8pm.

These are perfect outings if your kiddos are home schooled, as an after school activity or if you have preschoolers. Happy Exploring!

Fun Orange County Parks

If you live in Orange County and are looking to find a fun park to play in, you have to check out Fun Orange County Parks. Michele, the creator of the site, has just recently revamped the website and it is amazing! It is a great resource for Orange County parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and those that take care of children.

Fun Orange County Parks features play areas throughout the county and also unstructured play ideas which are necessary for the kiddos! Every week, Michele, features various parks and gives you the rundown on each one. I can't rave enough about this fantastic site. The site thrives on recommendations and if you have a favorite park that is not featured you can recommend a park through an easy form. It is an easy to navigate site that is a valuable resource. You will love it, I promise!

I hope you can all check it out.
Head over here to discover this fun and fabulous site.

Family Night Hikes in the OC

I received an email about a fun program that is perfect for families and wanted to share. Enjoy an educational night and fun night out with the family.

The Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center, a one-of-a-kind themed outdoor learning facility in Orange adjacent to Irvine Regional Park, is pleased to invite families to Experience the Night Life.


Families can enjoy an evening of discovery during guided night hikes to see the diverse and interesting Orange County environment after dark. Participants (ages 6 and older) will be led by trained naturalists at an easy pace on previously inaccessible hiking trails. Guides will share interesting facts on nocturnal and crepuscular animals, adaptations of nocturnal versus diurnal animals and constellations. Registration is required. Fee is $5 per person.

Upcoming dates November 12, November 19, December 3, December 10. The hikes are from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.


LOCATION:

Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center

2 Irvine Park Rd.

Orange , CA 92867

(714) 923-3191


REGISTRATION:

The fee is $5 per person and includes refreshments. To register call 800-436-2119. This sounds like the perfect family night. I can't wait until my kids are a little older to participate in fun activities like this one. This  would be a great Family night out!

Aliens in the Attic Giveaway

If you are looking for a fun flick to check out with the older kiddos check out Aliens in the Attic.It's a fun movie and will be released on Tuesday November 3rd on DVD and Blu-Ray. To celebrate the release I'm giving away one copy.

The movie centers around the Pearson Family.  It’s summer vacation, but the Pearson family kids are stuck at a boring lake house with their nerdy parents. That is until feisty, little, green aliens crash-land on the roof, with plans to conquer the house AND Earth! Using only their wits, courage and video game-playing skills, the youngsters must band together to defeat the aliens and save the world -- but the toughest part might be keeping the whole thing a secret from their parents! Featuring an all-star cast including Ashley Tisdale, Andy Richter, Kevin Nealon and Tim Meadows, Aliens In The Attic is the most fun you can have on this planet!

I have one copy to giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment to enter and that's it! You have until Sunday November 8th to enter. Good luck!

Winners of Ice Age DVD's

Happy Monday. I am so excited to announce the winners of the Ice Age DVD. Winners were chosen randomly by a hat this time. I think I'm going to tape it next time- my kids participated and had a blast..




Danielle  who said... My 3 year old would love this movie. and

denkers  who said...

Okay with the first one Tyler sat there and made us replay the little cartoon short with Scrat over and over and over again. We never had the opportunity to see this one maybe we can borrow yours to watch if we don't win! and

Autie  who said...

woohoo! can't wait to see this one! My little guy loves Ice Age..and Dinosaurs, what could be better! enter me, enter me!

Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info. 

Last Tuesday, 20th Century Fox broke the Guinness World Record for the tallest Ice Sculpture in celebration of the release of Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs. The event took place at ICE Santa Monica rink. 


It really is  a cute and funny movie. If you did not win, I really recommend checking out  this flick. My kiddos have watched it over and over again. 


Thank you for participating and stay tuned later on today for another fun giveaway.

OC Family , Kids and Mice and a $50 Disney Dollar Giveaway

Happy Sunday! I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween filled with many fun treats! I just wanted to share with you something that I am very excited to be a part of. I will be blogging with 18 amazing Orange County moms at OCFamily.com. If you are a mom in Orange County you definitely have to check OCFamily out. You will be able to connect with other moms who will be writing  about everything you could possibly imagine about  living and raising a family in Orange County. You can find me blogging about my addiction to the Dsneyland Resort and  the adventures of being an AP'er (Annual Passholder).

  The other exciting news is that I have decided to launch a new website, called Kids and Mice. You will be able to read about the latest info at the Happiest Place on Earth, as well as discussing attractions, restaurants and other Disney fun.  To celebrate the launch, I'm hosting a giveaway at Kids and Mice for $50 in Disney Dollars. All you have to do is head over to KidsandMice.com and leave a comment under the post. You can also gain additional entries by becoming a fan on Facebook(1 additional entry) or becoming a follower(1 additional entry) of Kids and Mice. The contest will end next Sunday the 8th. Good luck and thank you for reading my site and your wonderful tips!