OC Kids Consignment Sale

I am always on the lookout for a great sale and if you have little ones or are expecting, you won't want to miss this one. OC Kids Consigment Sale is taking place this weekend in Anaheim. Check it out if you can!

First Tuesday of the month - Free Museum Admission

Friday is here and also the end of the month! With the end of the month, comes the beginning of a new month. Last month, I was asked to make sure to post a reminder for the First Tuesday of the month, a couple of days in advanced to help plan. I want to make sure all of you take advantage of the free admission.

Any of the museums would be perfect if you have some bored kiddos on summer break at home. 
Here is the list of museums that offer Free Admission The first Tuesday of the month.

1. Museum of Natural History- Los Angeles
2. George C Page Museum at the La Brea Tarpits- Los Angeles
3. Kidspace Science Center- 4pm-8pm - Pasadena

If you are heading to the Museum of Natural History make sure to make a day of it by heading next door to the California Science Center! Have fun!

Winner of Sid the Science Kid Event at Discovery Science Center

The winner of Sid the Science Kid Event at the Discovery Science Center is

GlamGalB  who said...We love the Sid in this house and dad says this will be a daddy/daughter day for them if we win.

July 29, 2010 4:48 PM

Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com. Thank you all for entering! Stay tuned for some very fun giveaways coming soon!

Sid the Science Kid & First Five California Hands On Health Express at The Discovery Science Center + quick Giveaway!

If you have a Sid the Science Kid lover at home, this is something, you do not want to miss! Sid will be making a special appearance at Discovery Science Center this Sunday, August 1, 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.  

The First 5 California Hands-On Health Express is a traveling exhibit and the first stop for everything related to children ages 0-5, with an array of educational activities promoting children's healthy development and overall well-being.

At this event kids can participate in interactive learning activities while parents learn about health services, school readiness, nutrition programs and other local resources.

It looks like it will be fun for the entire family! 

It's giveaway time! A very quick one at that. I have a pair of tickets to Sunday's Sid the Science Kid/First 5 California Event. It would be perfect for a mommy/kiddo or daddy/kiddo date. All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know why you would want to win. You have until tomorrow night, Thursday the 29th at midnight to enter. Winner will be selected at random Friday morning. 
For additional entries:

"like" Discovery Science Center on Facebook

"like" me on Facebook

Good luck!

FiRE + iCE Anniversary Celebration and Giveaway!

I am always on the lookout for fun restaurants and FiRE + ICE certainly fits the bill. FiRE  + iCE is located in the Anaheim Gardenwalk and features an open grill, i where pro grillers cook each meal as selected by the guest. FirRE + iCE will be celebrating their 1st year anniversary with a birthday bash on Saturday July 31st. The birthday celebration  will be going on all day, starting at 11:30 a.m..

The one-year anniversary event will be packed with activities and giveaways for all ages.  The giveaways will take place all day long and the celebration will include:
•    Free cupcakes
•    Music on the patio
•    Free face painting for children
•    A raffle for a FiRE + iCE Patio Party for 25 People ($675 Value - includes unlimited grill trips, soft drinks, tax & gratuity)
•    Drink specials and other goodies.

FiRE+iCE
Anaheim GardenWalk - Upper Level
321 West Katella Avenue, #315
Anaheim, Ca 92802
714-808-9757

For additional info head here. 


It's giveaway time! I have one $25 gift certificate that would be perfect for a date. All you have to do is leave a comment on why you would want to win and you are entered to win! You can earn additional entries by "liking" me on Facebook or following on Twitter. Winner will be selected on random on Sunday, August 1st. Good luck!

OC Fair book drive - free admission

Book Drive Wednesday, July 28 Noon – 6 p.m.
One FREE admission and one carnival ride per person with donation of one new children’s book or three gently used children’s books. Benefits the Orange County Department of Education and BookEnds.

A Look Back at the Orange Empire Railway Museum

Orange Empire Railway Museum

I first posted about the Orange Empire Railway Museum last year, but had to share again. This is a fantastic place and you can visit free of charge! It is a must visit for train lovers, young and old! 


I had the opportunity to take my family to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris. Words can't begin to describe what an amazing place this is for kids and adults alike. It's an incredible place that will not soon be forgotten by our family. In fact my husband and I are going to plan a date around it just to go out and explore the grounds. 

The Orange Empire Railway museum is 88 acres and quite extensive- so make sure to bring great walking shoes, sunscreen, hats, water and if you have the really teeny tots a good sturdy stroller.The Museum grounds are quite large and contain numerous buildings, parks and outdoor areas to explore. The grounds are quite large and there's a lot to see! Our kids just loved running in the open space (although we were a little paranoid with the trains running around). You will have exhausted kids from exploring all day. 

The museum is home to the West's largest collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars, interurban electric cars, buildings and other artifacts dating from the 1870's (they even have old Disneyland ticket booths there!!) Your little trains enthusiasts will have the opportunity to learn all about locomotives, steam engine and my absolute favorite (I'm a Los Angeles history buff) - the old Pacific Electric red cars and Los Angeles Railway yellow cars. We were able to walk around the hangers and see the trains that are in the middle of restorations by the dedicated volunteers. We were also able to explore different railway cars and locomotives which the kids went bonkers over. They loved shouting all aboard and manning the controls. My son was in train heaven!!There was so much to explore and although we spent 3 hours,  it really was not enough time. 

While admission and parking for the Museum is free, a ticket must be purchased to ride on the Museum Railway. The ticket is good for the entire day, for as many trips as you wish. Your fare goes directly towards meeting Museum operating expenses. On regular weekends, an all-day pass to ride the trains costs $12 for adults, $8 for children 5-11, free for kids under 5. 

We could not resist and opted to purchase a day pass and boy was it worth it. We rode two pacific electric cars, two southern pacific trains and a trolley all for about the price of a movie. It was an amazing experience and the kiddos of course were thrilled. I would say that this most definitely is an outing that would take a couple of hours. There is a park/picnic area where you can enjoy lunch under the shade. Pack drinks and a picnic and you will be set!! 
There is also a snack shop with food that not only was tasty but quite reasonable. I would also make sure to pack a camera because this is photography heaven! 

The museum is open everyday- however most of the exhibits and the railway are closed weekdays. The best day to visit is on the weekends from 9 am to 5pm- although the railway runs from 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. 

The museums is located at 
2201 South "A" street
Perris, 92570 

We had no problems with our directions from mapquest and our navigation system. It led us right to the entrance. You can learn more about the museum here.  I hope you can all go out and explore this hidden gem. It is an experience that your family will always remember- I promise!!

Fun at the Tide with Acti-Lift's screening of Ramona and Beezus

Waiting for the screening

This past Saturday morning, I had the opportunity to host Tide with Acti-Lift's screening of Ramona and Beezus. The screening was held at the Century 25 Stadium in Orange and it was an absolute blast! Over 200 readers and their families of this blog had the opportunity to watch a fantastic movie and also participate in many fun activities.

Community mural before it was painted

Kiddos adding their own special touch to the mural

Inspired by the film’s message, families were able to get a little messy by adding their creative touch to our gigantic mural. Tide will be donating $2500 to The Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center.The Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center, is an organization, that offers unique programs that combine the arts, academics, and creative therapies to help at-risk youth and children with special needs of limited resources.

The kiddos had a blast being able to paint in their Tide with Acti-Lift tees! Families were also able to capture the day by having their picture taken. Families also received shirts and Tide with Acti-Lift samples to help clean those messy shirts!

We had an incredible time thanks to Tide with Acti-Lift! Make sure to stop by next weekend from 10am to 6pm at the Century 25 Stadium in Orange, to partake in the fun activities!

Fun Friday Eats- Rainforest Cafe

Yay for Fridays! One of our favorite things to do on the weekends is eat out at a family. It's always fun to take the kids somewhere fun. This week's installment of Fun Friday Eats comes to us from Katie, from OCMomActivities. She tells us about her recent experience at Rainforest Cafe

 One of our family favorite destinations for a dinner is the Rainforest Café.  Dinner at the Rainforest Café is guaranteed to be an exciting adventure in to the realistic feeling jungle.  Complete with moving Elephants, chest pounding Gorillas, rainstorms (with real falling water) and elaborate salt water tanks, the kids will have a ton of fun just exploring and soaking in all the sights.

Rainforest Café has also recently made some new mouthwatering additions to the menu that I think you’ll enjoy (we certainly did on our last trip!).  Don’t forget to top off the night with a Volcano dessert (especially if you have a birthday at your table!).  One thing we love is that it doesn’t cost a fortune to feed a family of four there.  I highly recommend the lava nacho appetizer… it is super yummy and we get it every time we go

Rainforest Café has locations all over North America so go here to find one near you or your destination.  Of course one of our favorites is the one at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, but there are locations in Costa Mesa, San Francisco, Disney World, Mall of America and many other tourist destinations throughout North America.

Rainforest Cafes have kids nights every week where kids eat for $2.99, so check ahead of time which night your Rainforest Café is doing this, most of the locations do this on Wednesday nights.

What’s your favorite Rainforest Café you’ve been to?

More about Katie (aka OCMomActivities):
Katie is a full time working wife and mother of two active boys. When they aren’t riding the roller coasters at Disneyland or exploring the beaches, you can find Katie writing over at her blog OCMomActivities. Find her on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Barnum's FUNUNDRUM Deal!!

I just had to share this great deal! The Circus is coming to the Honda Center in Anaheim on July 28th, and it is currently playing at  the Citizens Arena in Ontario until Sunday. You can take the entire family to the circus, including weekend performances with this great deal.

You can get a Family 4-Pack of tickets for  $48

Regular ticket prices  are  $15, $20, $25

To redeem, use the code MOM by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com to redeem your savings!

www.Ringling.com

Have fun! 

Tide with Acti-Lift Ramona and Beezus community mural at Century Stadium in Orange

I am so excited and looking forward to meeting all of you tomorrow at the Tide with Acti-Lift's Ramona and Beezus screening!!! If you were unable to reserve a ticket please feel free to stop by for the community mural that we will be painting and other fun activities  that will be taking place from 10am to 6pm . The kiddies will be able to add their creative touch to a community mural, inspired by a similar mural in the film,   Free t-shirts to wear while painting and take home after,  Pictures with props from the movie,  Demos of Tide with Acti-Lift technology and  Tide with Acti-Lift samples (while supplies last). and other goodies. If you can't make it to the movie, make sure to stop by and participate. It is going to be messy fun!


Community Mural Painting
Century 25 Stadium
1701 West Katella Avenue
Orange, CA 92867-3490
 10 am to 6pm.

Fridays at the OC Fair

Don't forget about these deals!

$1 Food Tastings Every Friday, Noon - 4 p.m.

$1 Rides (Fridays) All rides and games are $1 each. Valid until 7 p.m.

Action Sports Weekend at Downtown Disney- Fun & Free Event

Can you believe the weekend is almost here? If you are looking for something fun to do with the entire family, you don't want to miss this.


Action Sports Weekend is coming to Downtown Disney from Friday, July 23 to Sunday, July 25 featuring appearances and performances by some of the world’s top skate and BMX athletes. If you have a skateboarer in your family, this is one event, you will not want to miss! Why? Because Tony Hawk and friends will be putting on quite a show!

Headlining the weekend’s events will be ‘Quiksilver Presents The Tony Hawk Skate Jam,’ a skateboarding exhibition by Tony and friends on Saturday, July 24 at 6:00 p.m. These top skateboarders will hold a ‘jam’ format skateboarding and BMX exhibition on a giant vert ramp located directly in the middle of the Downtown Disney District main plaza. Some of the the featured skaters  include Tony Hawk, along with Lincoln Ueda, Josh Stafford, Jesse Fritsch, Kevin Staab and Lyn-Z Adams.

Saturday morning, guests may also participate in a “Spin the Wheel” contest at the Downtown Disney Quiksilver store, where they have a chance to win a private meet-and-greet with Tony Hawk. Activities taking place throughout the weekend include BMX demos, live musical entertainment, specialty merchandise, live art demonstrations, street team performances and games. The best part is that admission to Action Sports Weekend is absolutely Free!

OC Fair Thursdays

KIDS FREE THURSDAYS
Kids 12 and under receive FREE admission every Thursday. Valid all day. (Kids 5 and under are always free)

Wednesday at the OC Fair

Today, July 21, 2010 at the fair - bring 5 cans of food per person and receive FREE admission and a FREE carnival ride. Benefits OC Food Bank and Second Harvest. Noon-6 p.m.

Pageant of the Masters Deal - Two for one Tickets!!!

I love Pageant of the Masters! I look forward to it every single summer. This year we will be taking my 5 year old. I've decided that she is ready for it and we are pretty excited!


If you don't know what Pageant of the Masters is all about, let me tell you. It is fabulous! Pageant of the Masters is 90 minutes of "living pictures". These "living pictures" are incredible re-creations of  classic and contemporary works of art. Real people pose to look exactly like their counterparts in a larger than life setting. It is incredible and I'm really not doing it justice in my description. It is one of those things that you have to see with your own eyes to believe! It is a perfect date night or family night with kids 5 and up. I can't recommend it enough. It is set in a beautiful amphitheater, under the stars in Laguna Beach. You can almost hear the waves crashing from it's beautiful location.

The show sells out quickly but there are seats in the upper tier and directors tier and they are dirt cheap! You can buy one and get one for free for performances in July. I just bought two tickets for Friday night's performance for $23 total! It is the perfect way to spend a summer evening.

If you would like to attend and purchase tickets under this deal head here... hurry because these tickets will go fast! Have fun!


UPDATE Tues Night 7/20: Tix are still available for this Friday, Sunday and Monday nights for this deal!

Tide with Acti-Lift presents an exclusive screening of "Ramona and Beezus" for Daytrippingmom readers

I am so excited about this special event and I hope you can all join me! Tide with Acti-Lift is asking Orange County families to Get Messy with a  special screening of “Ramona and Beezus”. It is an exclusive screening for Daytrippingmom readers. I will be hosting the event and would love love to meet you and your families. 

The screening of Ramona and Beezus will take place on Saturday, July 24th at the Century Stadium 25 Theaters in Orange.  In addition to the special screening there will be fun activities for the entire family between 10am to 6pm. Some of the featured activities include,  a chance for kiddos to add their creative touch to a community mural, inspired by a similar mural in the film,   Free t-shirts to wear while painting and take home after,  Pictures with props from the movie,  Demos of Tide with Acti-Lift technology and  Tide with Acti-Lift samples (while supplies last). If you can't make it to the movie, make sure to stop by and participate. It is going to be messy fun! Throughout the weekend of the July 24^th and July 30^th Tide with Acti-Lift is encouraging all families to paint a community mural inspired by the one in the film.  

All you have to do for your reserved VIP passes is log onto,  http://cinemedia.regsvc.com/T57, reserve your tickets and you will be set for a fun filled morning complements of Tide with Acti-Lift.   

UPDATE: 4 PM 7/10/10 - Thanks to everyone who registered.  All the tickets have been spoken for and registration is now closed.

Walk in registration is from 10:00 – 10:30 am for those who have passes
Movie Starts: 11:00 am
Movie Ends: 1:00 pm (approximately)

Mural painting happens between 10am and 6pm. Please stop on by to participate!  Everyone is welcome to paint the mural, even if you did not make it to the movie screening.

 

Century Stadium 25 Theatres

Orange Stadium Promenade

25 1701 W. Katella Ave.

Orange, CA 92867

Remember that you have only 48 hours to reserve your passes!  I can't wait to see you all there! 

About Tide with Acti-Lift:

 Have you ever noticed how difficult it can be to remove stubborn, dry stains?  If only dry stains could be lifted with ease, your favorite outfits would be free from tough stains and your laundry routine a bit simpler.  Tide® with Acti-Lift™ technology, is designed to soften and break up dry stains, lifting them off with ease.  Tide with Acti-Lift allows you and your family to wear what you love, without the worry of tough stains.

*This post is part of a compensated campaign with Tide. 

Kids Garden Concerts at the Getty Museum

One of my favorite places in Southern California is the Getty Museum. They offer the public some amazing programs and this is one that you do not want to miss! 

The J. Paul Getty Museum presents Garden Concerts for Kids this August, a free outdoor music series for kids and their families in the Getty Center's Central Garden, featuring some of the best children's musical artists from across the nation.

Garden Concerts for Kids kicks off this summer with Milkshake on August 7 & 8.  Led by alt-pop and rock veterans Lisa Mathews and Mike Gehl, Milkshake is a band on a mission: to create great rock music for kids. Milkshake's lively attitude and lyrically lighthearted songs have won fans of all ages and will get you dancing with their authentic rock-and-roll spirit.

The following weekend, August 14 & 15, Elizabeth Mitchell and Family take you on a joyous musical adventure with vibrant reinterpretations of cherished American folk and rock songs from the new album Sunny Day. Joined by her husband Daniel Littleton and daughter Storey, Mitchell's lovely vocals and breathtaking arrangements bring a fresh sound to the classics we thought we knew so well.

Closing out the season on August 21 & 22, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Family bring charm and heart to their alt-country music for children and families. Accompanied by her husband Johnny Irion and kids, Guthrie continues the song-making tradition forged by her grandfather Woody and father Arlo, presenting thoughtful, playful music inspired by folk traditions, as well as bright new compositions.

The Garden Concerts for Kids are held in the Central Garden at the Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, from 4-5:30 p.m.   Admission is free, and no reservations are required.  Parking is $15.

Fun Friday Eats- Farrells's Ice Cream Parlour

Happy Friday everyone! Today I wanted to introduce a new weekly series, that will feature local family friendly restaurants or dining experiences. Our first post is a guest post from Katie, who has a very fun blog, OCMomActivities. Katie took her kiddos to Farell's last week and this is what she had to say.

What is it about Farrell’s Ice Cream in Mission Viejo that makes the lines to get in almost constant?  I had to find out. 
Almost instantly it was clear that Farrell’s isn’t your ordinary ice cream store, it’s an old school ice cream parlor with a full service restaurant.   The food looks amazing (honestly… we decided to save all our room for desserts and skip the main course).   The overall feel of Farrell’s is festive and a party atmosphere.  There are outbursts of song and dance from the waiters and waitresses every few minutes celebrating a birthday at one of the tables.  You can’t help but laugh and get caught up in the festivities. 

The countless mouth-watering desserts will have you ready to skip to dessert!  I opted for the Rocky Road Sunday and both my boys had the clown sundae.
Definitely a great place to go for birthday lunches or dinners.  Have someone get there ahead of time to get a place in line or what we found was there was a pretty short wait at the 3:30-4:30 time slot during the week.
Farrell’s is also a great place to have birthday parties (contact them to find out rates).  You can also go here to learn more about the menu and other services.
After your dessert… be sure to head over to the candy shop and load up on some hard to find candies!
Have you been in to Farrell’s?  What is your favorite dessert there?

To learn more about Farell's head here
799A The Shops at Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
949-364-5411
More about Katie (aka OCMomActivities):
Katie is a full time working wife and mother of two active boys. When they aren’t riding the roller coasters at Disneyland or exploring the beaches, you can find Katie writing over at OCMomActivities. Find her on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Do Good Day with 77 Kids

*images courtesy of Stephanie

 Yesterday, I had the opportunity to participate in a fun event, called Do Good Day LA. The event was  sponsored by 77Kids by American Eagle and  The Motherhood. Good Day LA took place in 11 cities across the country. Each city  had  a group of 7 bloggers participating  and gathered to Do Good and encourage kids to pay it forward with simple acts of service. Team LA was made up of Caryn, Ciaran Elizabeth, Linda, Liz, Stephanie and yours truly, along with our children. We met at Seaside Lagoon and Redondo Beach and set up a table where kids could  make cards for  kiddos at Children's Hospital Orange County. The kids had a blast making get well cards and at the end they were rewarded with a packet from 77Kids which included a dollar with a list of things to Do Good and pay it forward.

The list included



7 Good Things to do with a Dollar
1. Buy from a lemonade stand, a bake sale, or another fundraiser
2. Leave a dollar in a vending machine for someone else to find it
3. pay the toll for the car behind you
4. buy a sheet of stickers and hand them out to kids
5. put four quarters in parking meters
6. tip a street musician
7. send a thank you card to someone who made a difference in your life
 
7 Fun things that won't cost a thing!

1.  Open the door for someone, offer up a seat, let them go in front of you.
2.  Sweep off (rake, shovel) the whole sidewalk.
3.  Smile at people you pass by.
4.  Offer a free car wash to your neighbor.
5.  Leave a note of support or appreciation for someone who could use it.
6.  Visit with someone you know who is in a nursing home.
7.  Tell the people closest to you (especially, your kids!) why you love them.

The kiddos also received a free shake and kids meal from Ruby's Dinner and a gift card from Cold Stone Creamery.

The pay it forward packets included a coupon for 15% off your next 77kids.com purchase. You can code 34532276 and receive this same discount! Their clothes are absolutely darling! .  This code is valid until  August 10, 2010. It was a fun event and my daughter loved being able to participate. She said it felt good to be able to make a card and be able to make someone smile.


*Disclosure- I was compensated to participate in Do Good Day. I was not compensated for this post.

Ramona and Beezus Movie Celebration at Borders

If you are looking for something fun to do this Saturday with the kiddos, you might want to check out, Border's Bookstores, Ramona and Beezus Movie Celebration.

You can  help celebrate Beverly Cleary's classic books made into a brand new movie. The kiddos will be able to enjoy games, activities, giveaways (while supplies last) and more at participating stores.I checked in my local area and all local stores are participating, but you might want to check here to see if your store is participating, just to be sure. 

The celebration starts at 2pm at most stores. It's a nice way to keep cool on what is sure to be a hot afternoon!

OC Fair for free!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I just wanted to remind you that this Friday you and the entire family can get in for free at the Orange County Fair. You can get in for free and receive free parking during the first hour of the fair.
A couple of years ago, my husband and I did this and we had a blast! The trick is not to try  entering off the freeway.We had to wait in line for maybe 5 minutes. Have fun!




Orange County Fair OPENING HOUR
FREE admission and parking from Noon – 1 PM.

For additional info head here.

Winners of Despicable Me

I really wish I had more passes to give away. This looks like such a fun movie. Plus I can't wait to meet you all!

The winners of the Despicable Me giveaway are

Richelle Rosas
Mellisa Leech
Dannene
Amber
Oahn S
Lisa Yarnell
The Salcido Family

Please email me asap at mom@daytrippingmom.com for instructions. Thank you all for participating and I promise there are more fun summer goodies to giveaway soon!

Growing the Park at the Orange County Great Park- Fun Free Event

                                                                 image courtesy of OC great park 
The Orange County Great Park will celebrate 5 years of progress this Saturday, July 10th.  The Growing the Park family event will cover 5 different themed areas, each focused toward a part of the Park’s heritage and its future. .Gates open at 2 p.m.and the event is open from 3 to 9:30 p.m. 

 

The free family event will include live music in three areas, a vintage air show, rarely-seen electric and plug in hybrid vehicles, military equipment, pony rides, a petting zoo, sports activities, kids’ crafts, an outdoor art gallery, healthy food demonstrations and food vendors. The event wraps up with a laser light show beginning at 9 p.m.  Growing the Park is free and open to the public. 

The five themed areas featured will be- 

 

1. The Back Forty: Agriculture & Environment – Whole Foods Market will demonstrate how to make fresh summer salads using ingredients from the Great Park Farm + Food Lab.  Tierra Verde Industries will show you what the inside of your TVs and electronics look like and explain how e-recycling works. The Discovery Science Center will present hands-on children’s science activities, and the OC Zoo will have insects, reptiles and other critters. New West Country band will entertain visitors as they enjoy guided farm tours and agricultural craft activities.

 

2. Great Park Gallery: Arts & Culture – Bring out the potential in your little artists with hands-on arts activities coordinated by Arts Orange County .  The Orange County Performing Arts Center’s Italian street painters will invite families to create art on asphalt, the Philharmonic Society will highlight its Music Mobile, and the Bowers Kidseum, OC Museum of Art and Chuck Jones Center for Creativity will feature hands-on art activities.  In addition, the Orange County Performing Arts Center presents Vybration, a 6-person a capella group featuring vocals and vocal percussion.

3. The Runway: Technology & the Future – Get ready for the Great Park ’s first laser light show. The Runway is also home to great food, with five-dollar food deals from local favorites such as Chick-fil-A, Tacos & Company, Sprouts Market, Al’s Bar-B-Que, Joe’s Italian Ice and Pinkberry.

 

4. The Outfield: Sports & Recreation – Children can pick up some new soccer moves from the Los Angeles Galaxy Futboleros. Captain Fitness will award a certificate to all those kids who take on a fitness challenge to run an obstacle course and perform sit-ups and jumping jacks, and Inside the Outdoors will teach kids how to read nutrition labels.

 

5. Sky’s the Limit: Military & Aviation – The Great Park ’s military history will be on display in a “museum without walls,” with vintage airplanes flying overhead, then landing for an ground-level view. Last year’s popular wing walkers will soar overhead this year as well.  The 2/11 Marine Battalion from Camp Pendleton will display artillery equipment, and kids can try on Marine Corps gear. 

  

For additional info head here.

Meet our Sponsor- Mission Montessori

We would like to introduce our newest sponsor, Mission Montessori.

Mission Montessori encompasses nursery, preschool and kindergarten programs for young children in a beautiful environment run by owner and director Sara Hooper along with other compassionate, dedicated Montessori educators. Here children discover a passion for learning and a joy for the newly discovered independence as they work with others in the family-like community of a Montessori environment. The thoughtful child centered curriculum fosters self-motivation, confidence and empathy for one another. Children's hearts and minds are nurtured by providing a Christian foundation together with the Montessori philosophy.  Natural, organic hot lunches that include fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables are prepared daily in the school kitchen.  Children are introduced to healthy foods from a young age as they work together to plant and harvest the school garden followed by preparing meals to be shared together.  At Mission Montessori, the "follow the child" philosophy of Maria Montessori is embraced as the uniqueness of each child is celebrated. Discover for yourself what makes Mission Montessori a peaceful place where children are loved and respected as individuals.  

Mission opened it's doors to 7 children in Mission Viejo, Ca. May 4th , 2009 by Montessori educator and director Sara Hooper. In one year the school has grown to 100 children and is currently accepting waiting list applications for it's infant and toddler programs and enrollment applications for limited fall 2010 openings. Tours are offered daily by appointment at 9:30, 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. 

For additional info head here. 
 

First Tuesday of the month means Free Admission to some fun museums!

Today is the First Tuesday of the month and it is the perfect day to head out to these fun museums, especially if you have some bored kiddos on summer break.

Here is the list of museums that offer Free Admission The first Tuesday of the month.

1. Museum of Natural History- Los Angeles
2. George C Page Museum at the La Brea Tarpits- Los Angeles
3. Kidspace Science Center- 4pm-8pm - Pasadena

If you are heading to the Museum of Natural History make sure to make a day of it by heading next door to the California Science Center! Have fun!

Summer Fun at Discovery Science Center- Grossology, Tinkertoy, Rocket Lab and much more!

One of my favorite places and also my children's, is the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana. The Science Center/Cube is the perfect place to spend exploring on a hot summer day. I was just there a few days ago to explore their new exhibits, Grossology and Tinkertoy.

My kiddos are currently obsessed with learning all about bodily functions. My son was in heaven as he toured Grossology. I have a sort of weak stomach and thought it was well gross..hahaha! It is a pretty "gross" exhibit and one that will delight your little explorers. My kiddo loved learning all about the "ins" and "outs" of the human body. The exhibit, is based on the best-selling book Grossology and  uses sophisticated animatronics and imaginative exhibits to tell you the good, the bad and the downright ugly about runny noses, body odor and much more..

I have to admit that the exhibit definitely grabbed my attention and  although I was a bit hesitant, I actually enjoyed learning about "gross" stuff. There are a couple of different "icky" interactive areas including,

• Take a “Tour du Nose” to explore 10 nasal features, including how your snoot acts as an air filter, a smell sensor and a mucus producer.
• Play the pinball game “Gas Attack” by scoring off bumpers dressed up as food items that cause gas.
• Mimic the build up of acid indigestion by causing the “Burp Machine” to release a giant belch.
• Explore the role of the kidney in a virtual reality experience in “Urine: The Game.”
• Take a ride on the GI slide, climb a large-scale replica of human skin, and discover other mysterious ways your body’s biology does what it needs to do to keep you healthy.

My son absolutely loved taking a ride on the GI slide. I actually had to tear him off the display. 

We then headed upstairs to check out the Tinkertoy exhibit. The traveling exhibit will be at The Cube until September 26th. The exhibit features TINKERTOY^® in educational and fun activities inspired by GE’s successful “Imagination at Work” campaign – showing how innovation can positively influence everyday life and create solutions to real work challenges. My son absolutely loved building his own creations and he could have spent hours "tinkering". We only were actually able to move away because the museum was closing for the day. He could have spent the entire evening there if we allowed him to. There are plenty of exhibit stations that can keep your little ones busy and using their imaginations for hours!


I was there a few days before Discovery Center's newest permanent exhibit, Boeing Rocket Lab. This is the first exhibit inside the Cube. The exhibit, which opened July 2nd, allows you to discover your inner astronaut.

Boeing Rocket Lab is designed for kids (and kids at heart) who love all things space, and want to learn about the science of space, rockets, and engineering. I can't wait to head back and explore this newest exhibit. 

For additional info head here. 

Discovery Science Center is open 7 days a week. 

Hours Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am - 5:00pm


2500 North Main Street 
Santa Ana, CA 92705 - You can't miss it! It's right off the 5 and near the 57 interchange.

Raging Waters Coupon

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is head over to a water park and have some fun in the water with my kiddos. I received a coupon for $7 off admission for Raging Waters if you purchase online or $5 if you purchase at the park. The best park is that while I was at CVS last week, I noticed a couple of Free Raging Waters Child's Admission tickets on coke products. You can have a day out at the water park for a great price. If you plan on using the online coupon use code 1067.  To purchase online head here. Have fun!

Winner of OC Super Passes

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed almost every single minute of it!

The winner of the 4 pack of OC Super Passes as selected by Random.org is comment #13 

HappyMom  who said...

Wow, my family loves the OC Fair!! We are most looking forward to the pig races & the giant ferris wheel! We would LOVE to win these tickets...and I promise to make good use of them if we win!

Congratulations Happy Mom. Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info.

Thank you all for entering and check back this week for some other fun giveaways!

Fireworks Displays in Southern California

I hope you are all having a very happy and safe 4th of July. If you are looking for a firework show near you, here is a list of firework displays in the area.

Orange County

Aliso Viejo
Grand Park, Aliso Creek Road and Pacific Park Drive, dusk

Anaheim
Disneyland, 1313 S. Harbor Blvd., will have fireworks display  in addition to their nightly show at 9:30 p.m.

Buena Park
Knott's Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd., 9:15 p.m

Cypress, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach
Joint Forces Training Base, 11200 Lexington Drive, Los Alamitos, 9 p.m. 

Dana Point
Dana Point Harbor, 34624 Golden Lantern St., 9 p.m.

Fullerton
Fullerton High School Stadium, 700 N. Lemon, 9 p.m.

Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach Pier, 400 Pacific Coast Hwy, 9 p.m. 

Irvine
Irvine High School, 4321 Walnut, 9 p.m.

Verizon Wireless Ampitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive,

Ladera Ranch
Founders' Park, 28243 Sellas Rd. North, dusk

Laguna Beach
Monument Point at Heisler Park on Cliff Drive, best viewing from Main Beach, dusk

Laguna Hills
Community Center and Sports Complex, 25555 Alicia Parkway, 9: p.m.

Laguna Niguel
Laguna Niguel Regional Park, 28241 La Paz Road, 9 p.m. For information, (949) 495-3622.

La Habra
La Habra High School, 801 Highlander, 9:15 p.m. 

Mission Viejo
Olympiad Road and Marguerite, 9 p.m. For information, (949) 830-7066.

Newport Beach
Newport Dunes, 1131 Back Bay Drive, 9 p.m. 

Placentia
Bradford Stadium, 500 N. Bradford, 9 p.m. For information, (714) 993-8204.

Rancho Santa Margarita
Lago Santa Margarita Beach Club, 21472 Avenida de Las Fundadores, 9 p.m.

San Clemente
San Clemente Pier, 611 Avenida Victoria, dusk

San Juan Capistrano
The Sports Park, 25925 Camino Del Avion, 9 p.m.

Tustin
Tustin High School Northrup Field, 1171 El Camino Real, 9 p.m. 

Villa Park
Irvine Lake, 4621 Santiago Canyon Road, Silverado.

Yorba Linda
Veterans' Park/Yorba Linda Middle School, 4756 Valley View St., 9 p.m.

Los Angeles County

Alhambra
Almansor Park, 800 S. Almansor St., 9 p.m.

Artesia
Artesia Community Park, 12000 block of South Street / Elaine, 9 p.m.

Baldwin Park
Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier Ave. (Field behind bleachers), 9 p.m.

Burbank
Starlight Bowl, 1249 Lockheed View Drive, 9 p.m.

Calabasas
Calabasas High School, 22855 W. Mulholland Hwy., 9 p.m.

Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake Recreation Area (Lower Lake), 32132 Castaic Lake, 9 p.m.

Cerritos
Cerritos High School, 12500 E. 183rd Street, 9 p.m.

Claremont
Pomona College (Strehle Track), 6th Street / N. Mills, 9 p.m.

Commerce
Rosewood Park (Parking lot of Youth Center), 2535 Commerce Way, 9 p.m.

Culver City
Culver City High School, 4401 Elenda Street,9 p.m.

Diamond Bar
Diamond Bar High School - Baseball Field, 21400 E. Pathfinder Rd. (Pathfinder & Brea Canyon), 9 p.m.

Downey
Downey High School, 10410 Brookshire (Brookshire and Firestone), 9 p.m.

Gardena
Rowley Park (Baseball Field), 13220 S. Van Ness Ave., 9 p.m.

Huntington Park
Salt Lake Park (Northwest Soccer Field), 3401 E. Florence Blvd., 9 p.m.

La Crescenta
Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Ave., 9 p.m.
Enter via La Crescenta Elementary
Tickets are $5 each; children under 2 get in for free.

La Habra
La Habra High School (Baseball Field), 801 Highlander, 9 p.m.

Lancaster
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 West Ave H, 9 p.m.

Lancaster
Lancaster Municipal Stadium, 2401 W. Avenue, 9 p.m.

Lynwood
Lynwood City Park (Baseball Fields), Bullis Rd./Century Blvd., 9 p.m.

Norwalk
Cerritos College, 11110 E. Alondra Blvd., Norwalk 9 p.m.

Pacific Palisades
Palisades Charter High School, 15777 Bowdoin Street, 9 p.m.

Pasadena
Rose Bowl "Americafest 2010," 9:30 p.m.
Tickets $13, Children 7 & under FREE, Active Military with ID FREE

Pomona
Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley, 9:15 p.m.
Reserved Box Seats $19.50, Trackside Bleachers $17.50, General Seating $14.00; Free, ages 2 and younger.

Redondo Beach
Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way, 9 p.m.

San Fernando
San Fernando Recreation Park, 208 Park Avenue, (4th Street and Park), 9 p.m., (818) 898-1290

Santa Clarita
Valencia Town Center, Top of market Parking Structure, 26735 Circle Drive, Santa Clarita (Citrus Dr/Magic Mtn. Pkwy), 9:15 p.m.

South Gate
South Gate Park, Corner of Pinehurst and Tweedy, 9:00 p.m.

Studio City
CBS Studio Center, Grand Ole 4th of July Fireworks Festival, 4024 Radford Ave., General Admission Adult: $15. General Admission prices go up on day of event ($20 for adults and $10 for children) and rooftop wristbands may be sold out by day of event.

Torrance
Barge off Coast of Torrance Beach, Palos Verdes and Via Rivera, 9 p.m.

Walnut
Walnut High School, South end of Baseball Field, 21207 La Puente Road,9pm


Riverside County/Inland Empire

Beaumont
Stewart Park, 650 E. 9th Street, 9 p.m.

Blythe
Colorado River Fairgrounds, 11995 Olive Lake Blvd., 9 p.m.

Corona
Santana Park, 598 Santana Way, fireworks show and program begins at 8 p.m.

Indian Wells
Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44500 Indian Wells Ln., 9 p.m.

Indio
Riverside County Fairgrounds, 46350 Arabia St., 9 p.m. (760) 391-4174.

Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore Storm Stadium, 500 Diamond Dr., 9 p.m.

La Verne
Bonita High School, 3102 "D" Street, 9 p.m.

Moreno Valley
Morrison Park, Morrison Street and Cottonwood Avenue, 9 p.m.

Palm Desert
Civic Center Park, 73510 Fred Waring Drive, 9 p.m.

Palm Springs
Palm Springs Stadium, 1901 E. Baristo Road, 9:15 p.m.

Riverside
La Sierra Park, 5215 La Sierra Ave., 9 p.m.

Mount Rubidoux, Aerial Fireworks Show, 9 p.m.

San Jacinto
Francisco Estudillo Heritage Park, 150 S. Dillon Ave., 9 p.m.

Valley Wide Recreation, 901 W. Esplanade Ave., 9 p.m.

Temecula
Ronald Regan Sports Park, 30873 Rancho Vista Road, 9 p.m.

Target Free Admissions/Museums of Us

The weekend is here! It is going to be a beautiful  long holiday weekend and the perfect time to go out and explore. I will be posting what to to celebrate the 4th later on today but for now if you are looking
  to spend some fun time with the family, make sure to check out the list below.

• Target Free Admission at La Habra Children's Museums- Saturday
• Target Free Admission at Bowers/Kidseum- Sunday
• Museums on us- First weekend of the month- Free Admission to museums/aquariums  with your bank of America card. Some of the Museums offering admission are- Discovery Science Center on Saturday only, Muzeo(currently there is an amazing live Frog exhibit there),LACMA, Autry Museum, The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, The New Childrens' Museum in San Diego
• Movies on the Beach- Newport Dunes-Chicken Little- Saturday

Despicable Me Giveaway

There are many things I love about summer. One of my favorite summer activities is heading to the movie theater and catching a family friendly film with the kiddos.

If you are looking for a fun and family friendly film to watch this summer, check out Despicable Me, which opens Friday, July 9th. The film stars Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, and Julie Andrews. 

Here is a brief synopsis of the film:
In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru, planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. (Yes, the moon!) Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

I can't wait to watch this movie. My kiddos have seen the trailer and have been asking me at least once a day if today is the day we will be heading to the movie theater.

It's giveaway time!
I have 10 family four packs of tickets to  a special screening next Thursday, July 8th at the Buena Park Metroplex. 10 lucky readers and their families will be able to watch this very fun film. All you have to do is leave a comment on why you would like to see this movie and you are entered. 5 of the lucky winners will also receive a very special prize pack from Universal.

 

1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

2. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis

*screening will be at 7 pm and is on a first come, first seat basis. If selected please arrive EARLY! 
Contest will end on Tuesday, July 6th at 11:59pm.


For 1 additional entry, you can..
Follow Universal Pictures on Twitter
"like" me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

 Good luck!