Orange County Children's Book Festival

The Orange County Children's Book Festival is an event that I highly recommend for families with children. The one day festival brings the joy of reading to children and features over 80 children's book authors and vendors.

Not only is this an educational event, it is an absolute fun event! There will be so many fun activities for the kiddos including free train rides, a kids craft corner, face painting, petting zoo and much more. There will also be storytime, entertainment and if your kiddos love the Wonder Pets there will be a live performance. There will be art demonstrations and live entertainment. It's one event you do not want to miss!

The best part is that the event and parking to the event are free.
The Orange County Children's Book Festival
Sunday, October 3rd
9:30am to 4:30pm
Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview
Costa Mesa

For additional info head here.

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.

The Slam OC- Free and Fun event

If you have skateboard lovers in your family, you won't want to miss Slam OC at Volcam Park, in Costa Mesa, this Sunday June 27th. The skateboarding  festival  promises to be a fun and jam packed event.

There will be a free skateboard contest with bands, djs, kid zone, food vendors and more. The Kid’s Zone wll feature bounce houses and  also plenty of craft projects for the kids. Inside the Outdoors, a non-profit with the Orange County Department of Education, whose sole mission is to foster awareness concerning the rich biodiversity of Orange County and surrounding areas, will be running educational classes and art activities for the kids throughout the event.


Throughout the day, 10 local and regional bands will play during a full multi level skateboarding contest for both street and bowl. A "Battle of the Zones" high school skateboard team contest will also take place.


Slam OC
Volcom  Skate Park
11am to 8pm
970 Arlington Drive,
Costa Mesa

For additional info head over here. 

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Frogs: A Chorus of Colors: A live frog exhibit at MUZEO

My son loves frogs. If he could catch one a day, he would be a happy boy. You can imagine how excited he was when I took him a few weeks back to Frogs: A Chorus of Colors, a live frog exhibit at MUZEO in Anaheim. There are over 150 live frog exhibits on display and my boy was in frog heaven!

 

 There are 15 live habitats and 12 interactive stations. It was interesting to learn about the different types of frogs and their habitats. My son was in a frog wonderland. It was hard to get him to budge from one area to the next!  We had a fantastic time. If you have little explorers you are definitely going to love this exhibit. I mean we literally could have stayed there for hours just watching all of the different varieties of frogs. 

 

Frogs: A Chorus of Colors will be on display from now until September 5, 2010 at Muzeo. My family loves visiting MUZEO. It is a smaller museum but their exhibits are top notch!This one definitely lives up to our past experiences. I also love its location in the new revamped area of Anaheim. There are a couple of cute little shops and the fountains around the museum are a big hit with my kiddos. They could just run and play around the courtyard for hours. 

I hope you have the time to check this exhibit out! You are going to love it! 

MUZEO

241 S. Anaheim Blvd

Anaheim, 92805

                                               10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 7 days a week
                                                         
                                                                        Admission:
                                               Adults $13, Children $9, under 3 are FREE!
                                                To learn more head here.

OC Parks Annual Pass for Regional/Wilderness/Beach Parking pass

Do you know about OC Parks Annual Day Pass for Regional Parks, Wilderness Parks and Beach Parking? I didn't until a couple of weeks ago and now I can't imagine not having an annual pass to OC Parks Regional and Wilderness Parks. OC Parks gave my family an annual pass for the year and I find myself using it at least on a weekly basis. I imagine we will probably use it on a daily basis once it starts to warm up.

The OC Parks Annual Combination Pass is $80 and gives you access to all of the regional and wilderness parks in the area. It also gives you beach parking to 4 of my favorite beaches- Aliso Beach(my absolute favorite beach), Capistrano Beach, Salt Creek Beach(gorgeous beach!) and Dana Point Harbor.

 I live about a mile away from Yorba Regional and have found myself going a couple of times a week(before the rain). The kiddos love the park grounds and before it started raining asked at least once a day if we could head over to the beautiful park. We are also huge fans of Irvine Regional Park. We easily spend an entire  day there. We pack a picnic, ride the train, walk the grounds, play, feed the ducks and then head over to the OC Zoo.   The Regional parks are gorgeous and the annual pass is an incredible deal.

As the weather warms up the parking pass for OC beaches will really come in handy. We head to Aliso Beach on an  almost weekly basis in the summer and this year I won't have to worry about parking! Wohoo! I can't wait.

You can find more about the OC Annual Parks by heading here and you can purchase your pass by heading here.

The annual pass is  a really good deal for families especially as the weather warms up. We are having a blast with our pass and I can't wait for the weather to warm up and really put it to good use!

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.

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

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

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!

Boo at the Santa Ana Zoo

We love Halloween and my kiddos want to wear their costumes almost every night. We have been looking for family friendly events at night and I can't wait to take my kiddos to Boo at the Santa Ana Zoo.

This family-friendly costumed extravaganza will bring FUN, SAFE, trick-or-treating in a "Merry not Scary" Zoo atmosphere, with educational animal presentations, storytelling, and entertainment throughout the evening, with a grand finale costume parade!

For the older kids, they also offer "Teen Scream," a haunted house filled with thrills and chills. This ghoulish attraction has a separate entrance, but is included with the price of admission.

Boo at the Zoo is held on weekend nights from now through Oct 30th. The event is held from 5;30 to 8pm.

Tickets are $12/person (only $6/Member) ages 2 & up. Children under 2 are free. You can join the Zoo as a Member to get half price by clicking HERE Admissions are good for any night! Admissions are available at the front entrance on the night of the event. You can also purchase tickets online here

Free Fun Event- Orange County Children's Book Festival

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

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

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

Pretend City- A New Children's Museum in Irvine

I had the opportunity to take a sneak peek at Pretend City, a new and AMAZING Children's Museum that will be opening to the public on August 30. Pretend City is a place where Imagination and Education come to Play! Your kiddos are going to love everything about Pretend City.

Pretend City Children's Museum is an interconnected city designed for children ranging from infant to eight years old and their families. The city is comprised of a grocery store, farm, doctor's offices, art studio, amphitheater, beach, marina, construction site, cafe and much much more. Children will learn through role-play based on real world exhibits as they dress up as a police officer, deliver the mail, create art or put out a fire.

What I love about the museum is that all of the exhibits are connected and every exhibit is hands on. Pretend City is a unique museum and I have seen nothing quite like it. Your kids are going to love it! I can't rave about this place enough! I can guarantee that your kiddos will have an incredible time at Pretend City. For additional information head over here. I'm planning on buying a membership and trying to make a visit at least once a week. I hope you can all go out and enjoy this amazing place with your family.

Pretend City

29 Hubble

Irvine, CA 92618

Admission

Infant to 12 months $2

Child $10

Adult $10

Military and Family Members $8

Hours

Monday 10am -1pm

Tue-Sun 10am -5pm

Everyday 9am-10am Members only

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

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

Free Movie Mondays under the stars at the Orange County Performing Art Center

I keep stumbling upon so many free fun things to do this summer that I'm going to have to post at least twice a day. I received an email from the Orange County Performing Art Center and had to share about their Free for all under the stars Movie Mondays. Movies start at dusk(approximately 8pm) and guests are invited to bring beach chairs and picnic dinners/snacks. You can start staking your spot around 5:30pm. The dates/movies are as follows- July 13th- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory July 20th- Annie July 27th- Footloose August 3rd Momma Mia I have already saved the dates and plan on picnicking with the family. Hope you will too! If you would like to know more head over here.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Discount

The circus is coming to town (I know I have posted about this before - I'm super excited)!! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus proudly present Zing Zang Zoom, which will be playing the Southern California area from July 8th to August 2nd. I can't wait to take our family! I wanted to share with you an offer that is too good to pass up!! You can purchase a 4 pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto Ticketmaster and entering the coupon code MOM. You can use the promo code when purchasing tickets at Arena Box Offices, Ticketmaster or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Enter the code in the "MC Promotion Box" on Ticketmaster. A minimum purchase of 4 tickets is required and you can buy additional tickets above 4 for $11 each. Offer is not valid on VIP, Circus Celebrity or Front Row tickets. The offer is good for all dates. Can't wait to see you all there!!

Bizarre Guitar Hero Competition at The Muzeo

I wanted to share with you an event that your kiddos- especially if they are into Guitar Hero(and really who isn't?) -will absolutely love. The Muzeo in Anaheim will be hosting a "Bizarre Guitar Hero" competition that is sure to be a hit with your little gamers. The "Bizarre Guitar" participants will receive points for their Guitar Hero scores, wearing a costume, bringing a friend and answering trivia questions about the Bizarre Beasts exhibition at Muzeo. The best part is that everyone wins!!Prizes will range from tickets for future exhibitions to a $100 grand prize drawing. The "Bizarre Guitar Hero" competition will take place on Saturday June 27th from 10am to 4pm. Winner will be announced at 4:30pm. Admission is $13 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under to participate and also enjoy the exhibits. When you are there make sure to check out the Monsters and Beasts exhibit. It's pretty amazing and not to be missed. Your kiddos will love it!! For additional info click here Bizarre Guitar Hero Competition Sat June 27th 10am-4pm The Muzeo 241 S Anaheim Blvd Anaheim, CA 92805

AMC Theaters Summer MovieCamp

I've been meaning to post this for some time and keep forgetting. I am always looking for a great deal and when a great deal just so happens to support a great cause - it sweetens the deal even more. If you are looking for something to do this summer make sure to check out AMC Theaters Summer MovieCamp. Every Wednesday morning at 10 am from June 17- Aug 5 you can enjoy a fun family flick for only $1.00. The proceeds from admissions and concessions from the Summer MovieCamp will benefit Variety- The Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute. It's a fantastic deal and a sure way to keep the kiddos entertained and beat the heat. The best part is that you will be helping two great organizations. Here is the upcoming schedule

June 17: Space Chimps

June 24:Kung Fu Panda

July 1:Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

July 8: Tale of Desperaux

July 15: Horton Hears a Who

July 22: The Spiderwick Chronicles

July 29: Nim's Island

August 5: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

For additional info click here. To learn more about the Regal Entertainment Group's Free Summer Movie Deal on Tues and Wed mornings -click here

Summer Nightastic at The Disneyland Resort

I want to start out a new feature every Monday called Disney Mondays. It will be a tip or something new I've learned from my weekly visit to Disneyland Resort. Here is the first installment in my soon to be weekly series (sounds fancy- haha!!).

I was invited last Thursday to attend the media preview of the Summer Nightastic at Disneyland and DCA . It was seriously so much fun!! Disney's new offerings this week are quite a treat. The new fireworks show, "Magical" features a new song sung by Orange County's own Eden Espinosa from Wicked and the real flying elephant, Dumbo. Tinkerbell also makes two appearances. The new show is very entertaining and I absolutely love the music. The shining star of the show in my opinion is Dumbo. He makes an appearance that will have your family oohing and ahhing. You will have to see for yourself. Dumbo is not to be missed!!

Fantasmic is back for its 17th year. It now features new digital video projectors which provide a much sharper picture on the water screens. There is also an appearance of the all new Flotsam and Jetsam floats from The Little Mermaid, who are quite scary but a fantastic addition! Later this summer, the evil Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty" will transform into the new fully animated, 40-foot-tall dragon. In my opinion, the best thing about this summer is Disney's Electrical Parade at DCA (what can I say - I'm an absolute fanatic of the Electrical Parade). The show now features a new Tinkerbell float who leads the parade, taking the place of the Blue Fairy. Also back are new versions of the lost seven dwarfs mine float and the Pinocchio floats. The soundtrack has also been slightly updated for the better. There is plenty to see at both parks, so take the kiddos. These shows will be played nightly through August 23rd and then weekends through Labor Day. A big thank you to Disney for making my dreams come true!!

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival

I know it's only Tuesday but I'm already looking forward to Memorial Day weekend. I can't wait!! If you are staying in town and are looking for something fun to do with the family make sure to check out Garden Grove's Strawberry Festival. It's taking place this Memorial Day Weekend from Friday May 22nd to Monday May 25th.

There will be carnival rides, games, a parade, live entertainment and of course lots and lots of tasty strawberry treats.

The festival will run on Friday from 1pm to 10pm, Sat and Sun from 10am to 10pm and on Monday from 10am to 9pm. Admission is free!!

For additional information click here