US Open of Surfing

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

San Clemente Ocean Festival

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

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

Wild Animal Park’s Festival of Lights

The 2008 holiday season is the last opportunity to enjoy the glow of the Wild Animal Park’s Festival of Lights! Next year, the event will move to the Zoo under the new name "Jungle Bells." So this December, on the 20th anniversary of the first winter lights at the Park, gather the family and visit for the final Festival of Lights celebration. Brand-new holiday and animal-themed light features created specifically for the Wild Animal Park will set the atmosphere for family fun, which includes Snow Hill (open daily from 4–8:30 p.m.), new craft activities, a Light Magic Show in Discovery Station, and a Black Light Puppet Show in Benbough Amphitheater. Dates and Times: From 4 to 9 p.m., December 13–23 and 26–30, 2008; January 2 and 3, 2009 More information: SanDiegoZoo.org

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in Southern California 2008

I'm loving this holiday season and it would not be complete without a post about outdoor ice skating rinks in Southern California. All are open and running through January. Here is a list along with admission prices. Happy ice skating!!! Los Angeles County Downtown On Ice- Downtown LA- Nov 20,2008-Jan 19,2009 Admission price $6.00- skate rental $2.00 ICE at Santa Monica-1324 Fifth Street-Nov 7,2008-Jan 19,2009 Admission price $10.00 (includes skate rental) Seaside Ice- Redondo Beach-Seaside Lagoon, 200 Portofino Way, Redondo Beach. -Nov 18,2008-Jan 11,2009 Admission price $14.00, children $12.00 Orange County Irvine Spectrum-Nov 1,2008-Nov 19,200 Admission price $11.00-skate rental $4.50 Riverside County Festival of Lights Ice Skating -Mainstreet Pedestrian Mall- Riverside -Nov 28,2008-Jan 04 Admission price $10.00- skate rental $3.00 Ventura County The Lakes Ice Rink- Lakes Mall- Thousand Oaks Dec 8,2008- Jan 4,2009 Admission price $8.00- Skate rentals $3.00 San Diego County Skating By The Sea-Hotel Del Coronado-San Diego-Nov 22,2008-Jan 3,2008 Admission prices- Adults $15(2hr) $20(3hr)- Children $15(3hr), $10(2hr)- Skate rental $5.00 Fantasy on Ice-Horton Square-San Diego -Nov 20,2008-Jan 4,2009 Admission prices-Adults $12.00-children $10.00(includes skate rental)

Free Admission at the OC Marketplace

I know you've seen me blog about this place before, but this time its for something really special:

FREE ADMISSION FOOD DRIVE - to support South County Outreach www.sco-oc.org

Shop for the holidays at the Orange County Market Place and help children and families in need. Bring a canned good or dried food item any Saturday or Sunday through Dec. 21, 2008 and receive FREE ADMISSION (Ages 13 years and up) Kids get a FREE photo with Santa Claus this holiday season every weekend through Dec. 21, 2008. Photos with Santa are 10 AM. to 2 PM. The Orange County Market Place is held every Saturday and Sunday at the O.C. Fair Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Hours: 7 AM. to 4 PM See you there!

Los Angeles Fire Department Museum

This past weekend we had the pleasure of daytripping in San Pedro and we discovered a little gem of a museum. It's the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and your little ones are going to love it. There are actually two fire department museums - one in Hollywood and the other in San Pedro. The San Pedro museums is located across the street from the Los Angeles Maritime museum and is only open on Saturday from 10am to 3pm. The Hollywood museum is also only open on Saturdays from 10 am to 4pm. The Hollywood museum is located near the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood museum (Old Fire Station 27) is housed in what was once the largest fire station west of the Mississippi. With more than 20,000 square feet of space, a number of famous pieces of firefighting apparatus, and hundreds of artifacts on display, there’s something for the entire family. If you're interested in local L.A. history then you must visit the San Pedro Harbor Museum (Old Fire Station 36). There is no better place to get the genuine feeling of what it was like to work in a small community fire station. Much of the interior is just as it was 75 years ago. Not only that, but inside, you'll find a perfectly restored 1923 Seagrave Fire Engine that actually served at 36s in the early 1900s. The museums have a group of dedicated, friendly retired firefighter docents who can show you around, tell you a story or two. It's a great little place and all the little ones will leave with their very own fire fighter hat which they will love!! If you visit the one in San Pedro hop on the red car and make a day of it by visiting the maritime museum and the water show. Trust me your kiddos will love it. San Pedro Museum 638 Beacon Street San Pedro, CA 90731 323-464-2727 Open Saturday 10am to 3pm Hollywood Museum 1355 N Cahuenga Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 323-464-2727 Open Saturday 10am to 4pm

Free - Shark Lagoon nights

Just a little reminder with Friday almost upon us - If you're looking for something fun and free here it is- Shark Lagoon Friday nights are back on. 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. Shark Lagoon nights will be held every Friday night from 6-9pm for additional info click here Aquarium of the Pacific 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach, CA 90802

Museums - Free-For-All

This weekend the museum marketing round table of Southern California will be offering it's fourth annual museum free weekend. Some museums will offer free admission on one day but most will offer free admission on both days. This is a great deal if you have wanted to make that visit to that special museum. We can't wait to visit the Natural History Museum. I wanted to post a couple of the museums that might be of interest to families. Enjoy!! Bowers Museum- Free on Sunday the 5th- Great Terracotta Warrior exhibit Natural History Museum of Los Angeles- Free on both days The Museum of Contemporary Art- Free on both days Peterson Automotive Museum- Free on both days Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum- Free on Sunday the 5th Norton Simon Museum- Free on Sunday Oct 5th Hope you can make it out and enjoy free admission!!!

Pasadena Symphony's Musical Circus

If you read my page on a regular basis then you are probably well aware that I'm always on the lookout for fun and free things to do with my kids. I found something that is not only fun and free but also educational. The Pasadena Symphony offers a monthly FREE program designed for kids 10 and under. The Musical Circus begins at 8:30 am with a musical "petting zoo" of orchestra instruments. The kids are able to touch tables full of every instrument imaginable. The "petting zoo" is followed by a concert that is geared for the little ones. The concerts range from classical to folk music. The concerts are usually held on Monday mornings at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. For additional info click here.

Centennial Farm at the OC Fairgrounds Revisited

The Centennial Farm at the OC fairgrounds is open year-round and has free admission (except during the fair when your fair admission also admits you to the farm area). The farm is located just do the left of the main entrance to the fair as well as being just outside the rear entrance to the Pacific Amphitheater. The Centennial Farm is a real working farm. They have cows, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and other animals. You can get up close and pet many of them. There are live demonstrations during the week. Call (714) 708-1619 for schedule information and hours of operation. Now through September 21st the farm is open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 4 PM. Here are some fun farm activity sheets that you can download: http://www.ocfair.com/ocf/centennialfarm/Docs/Farm%20Booklet.pdf

Bowers Museum - Free Admission Friday Nights

I'm always looking for something fun , inexpensive and educational to do with the kids and this definitely hits the mark. The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana with a sponsorship from the PIMCO foundation will extend its evening hours and cover the cost of admission on Friday evenings during the exhibition, Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor. To make the museum more accessible, PIMCO’s Free Friday Nights offers free admission to the exhibition for up to 100 visitors per hour at 4, 5, 6, and 7 pm, and the museum will stay open until 8 pm. In addition to seeing the famed terra cotta warriors, visitors can roam around the museum, and explore other special exhibitions and collections on view in the galleries, see a film in the auditorium, or purchase specialty drinks and dinner at Tangata Restaurant. Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor runs through October 12th, 2008

Olvera Street

In honor of Cinco de May- I wanted to blog about one of my favorite places in Los Angeles, La Plazita Olvera or Olvera Street. I have great memories of this LA treasure. My parents both came to the States at a young age and yearned for a piece of back home. We visited Olvera Street often on Sundays to have dinner and listen to Mariachis playing in the plaza.

Olvera Street is the birthplace of Los Angeles. It's also known as El Pueblo Historical Monument. Olvera Street is fantastic place to visit as a family. It's rich history and buildings make it a perfect family day trip. The colorful village features 27 historic buildings with a traditional Mexican Style Plaza Area. On the weekends you can enjoy live traditional Mexican music and dancing.

The Marketplace area is home to many shops where you can find anything from traditional Mexican attire to a comal(tortilla warmer). My kids love taking in all of the beautiful colors and smells from the various shops and restaurants. Make sure to come hungry, as the food is fantastic!!! You will find the best flautas(taquitos) in town here and I can't remember the name of the restaurant but it lies directly across from the plaza has the best tamales and champurrado(Mexican Hot Chocolate) in town.

Make sure to stop at El Pueblo's Visitor Center for a brochure or better yet, Las Angelitas, El Pueblo's Docent Organization provide free tours to groups Wed-Sun from 10am to noon.I love this place and I know your family will too!!

Olvera Street is open everyday from 10am to 7pm and is free to the public.

El Pueblo De Los Angeles Historic Park

845 N. Alameda Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012
For more information:(213) 680-2525

1st Thursday Art Walk- Laguna Beach

My kids love going for long walks in Laguna Beach. They also love taking in all of the different art work displayed at the many galleries the city has to offer. Well I just recently discovered that the two can blend together at Artwalk- Laguna Beach. Artwalk takes place the 1st Thursday of every month. There are over 40 participating galleries and it sounds like a fun night. This would be perfect in the summer months. The ArtWalk is held from 6-9pm. There is a free shuttle to participating gallery locations starting at 6:15 p.m. at the Laguna Art Museum (corner PCH and Cliff Dr.) and Bluebird Center (1590 S. Coast Highway) Shuttles run until 8:45 p.m. For additional information: info@firstthursdaysartwalk.com or call (949) 683-6871

The Getty

The Getty Center/Museum has been around for quite sometime and we finally made it out for a great visit yesterday. I have wanted to visit for years, but something always came up. I woke up yesterday and decided that was it. We were going to visit the Getty and we did. It was scorching hot yesterday but the Getty's location perched above the city and with a great view of the Pacific Ocean provided an ideal setting. It felt at least ten degrees cooler than the rest of Southern California.

I was impressed from the moment we arrived at the Center. There were two very organized lines to lead us into the parking lot. Parking is $8.00 and the only thing that you will have to pay for when visiting the center. We found a spot and headed up to load the tram that would lead us to the museum. Here's a good tip if you don't want to bring a stroller, The Getty provides complimentary use of strollers on a first come, first serve basis. They are located at the Lower Tram Station or at the coat check desk in the Museum Entrance Hall. I noticed that there were quite a few around while we were waiting for the tram and thought I would pass the tip along. The tram was a major hit with the kiddos and was spacey enough to hold the kids in a double front/back stroller. The kids loved the museum from the very start.

The Center is truly breathtaking and there are some many exhibits to take in. While we were deciding what to check out first- the kids started the chant that makes all parents around the world stop dead in their tracks.. hungry.. mommy I'm hungry.. Since the kids were " starving" we decided to have lunch first. We had a fantastic lunch at the Grand Terrace Cafe. The food was unbelievably delicious but a little on the pricey side. The Cafe offers pizza, grilled cheese, and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches that your kids will love. If you are on a budget or just want to have a picnic I would strongly suggest bringing a picnic basket and having a fun picnic with the family. You can enjoy your picnic on the lawn adjacent to the Central Garden or at any of the Getty Center's public seating areas. Picnic tables and lawns for lounging are located at the Lower Tram Station (T1). The picnic area is open every day until 30 minutes before the Museum closes. We will definitely be bringing a picnic lunch the next time that we visit.

After finishing up lunch we strolled through the museum's Central Garden. The Central Garden, created by renowned artist Robert Irwin, lies at the heart of the Getty Center. The garden is truly breathtakingly beautiful and although the kids loved seeing all of the beautiful flowers and admiring it's beauty I couldn't help but daydream of coming back for a wonderful date night with Daytrippingdad. It truly is a spectacular place. We wanted to take in all of the many exhibits but we were on a little bit of a time crunch and decided to spend a big chunk of our time at the Center's Family Room. The room is quite popular with families and there might be a little of a wait since only a certain number of people are allowed at a time. Here's the deal on the family room- your kids will LOVE it!! It's a great way to learn about art together and play together. You can make a mask or create a sculpture but to be honest my kids loved their bed display the most. It was a replica of a beautifully crafted french bed surrounded with children's art books and we had to literally tear them away from the exhibit. It's a must stop on your visit!!

There's a lot more for families to see and do together. The Family Fun at the Getty brochure, available at the Museum Information Desk and the Family Cart, offers ideas, tips, and clues to make your family's visit an adventure. All family materials and activities are free and most are offered in English and Spanish. You can also ask stop any of the staff (dressed in blue vests) and they will gladly answer your questions and provide useful tips. There are many programs at the center geared specifically for families. The Family Art Lab, Art Adventures for Families, Family Festivals, and Garden Concerts for Kids are just some of the special programs held throughout the year to engage the entire family. For more information, visit the Family Cart, the Museum Information Desk, or check the event calendar. There is also storytelling available on selected Sundays (January–May and October–December): 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m. Sign up at the Museum Information Desk the day of the program.

I have to be honest, I think the reason why we had not visited the Getty before was because the thought was a bit intimidating. I love taking the kids everywhere but for some reason I was afraid that a museum of art would be too much for them. I was way off base. The Getty provides a great experience for people of all ages and nationalities. It's a cultural wonderland and as we were riding the tram back to the parking lot I couldn't help but start planning our next visit. From now on it will be the first place I take when we have family and friends visiting fro out of town. I would also recommend it as a must visit for everyone in Southern California. If you've yet to experience the Center - run don't walk to The Getty. It truly is a national treasure.

The Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049


Opening Hours The Getty Center site and galleries are open:
Tuesday–Thursday
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Sunday
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Closed Monday and on January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving, and December 25.
Admission to the Getty Center is FREE—no tickets or reservations required for general admission. Parking is $8.

For additional information click here