Browsing Tag

LA county things to do

Rancho Los Alamitos

Posted on March 15, 2019

What is it?:  Rancho Los Alamitos is a 7.5 acre historic site that was donated to the city of Long Beach in 1968.  It used to be a working ranch and has a rich history.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Bring a magnifying glass to check out the cool flowers, leaves, and bugs in the gardens.
  • – Pack a lunch and eat at the picnic tables
  • – When you get to Anaheim and Palos Verde, you need to go through a residential security gate.  Just tell them you are visiting Rancho Los Alamitos.

Cost:  Free

Hours:  Currently closed while they are undergoing renovations!  They are scheduled to open Feb 28th but this could change.  I would highly suggest calling before visiting because they also host private events there sometimes and will close to the public.

Stroller Friendly:  Yes, mostly.  There are some parts of the gardens that may not be easily accessible with a stroller.  Unless you really need it, I would leave it in the car.

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol:  No

Parking: Yes, free on site.

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed to bring food but it must be eaten at the picnic tables near the parking lot.  Make sure you do not feed the animals and that you pick up all trash.  No food is sold here.

Read more about it: There are beautiful gardens onsite that were established in the 1920s and walking through them makes you feel as if you were transported to another land.  You would never guess the high-rises of downtown Long Beach are merely a few miles away.

There are pieces of old farm equipment and live farm animals such as horses, ducks, sheep, and chickens.  The live animals and room to run make it an ideal place to bring toddlers, and the old farm equipment and ranch house are great talking points for older kids about how life used to be.

They are currently undergoing renovations so they are not offering afternoon tours, but walking around on your own is well worth it.  I know my words don’t do it justice, but this is such an amazing place to visit.  We go once or twice a month and my kids love it.  I would definitely recommend taking a trip there.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Rancho Los Alamitos.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Rancho Los Alamitos and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Long Beach Museum of Art

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  The Long Beach Museum of Art is an art museum.  They have free days every Thursday from 3-8, all day Friday, and every 3rd Sunday of the month from 11-3 there is an arts and crafts session for children on the lawn and if the children participate, their admission is free for the day as well.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Bring a sketch pad for older toddlers and children and encourage them to sit and sketch some of the art they view (just be sure you watch them with writing utensils to make sure they don’t draw on anything but their papers!)
  • – Bring a magnifying glass and let your kids look at the different brush strokes on different pieces of art
  • – Pack a lunch and eat on the lawn to stretch out the afternoon
  • – There is a beach behind the museum and a playground across the street and down a block for additional stuff to do after you visit.  (But be sure to move your car from the museum lot to be considerate of other museum patrons.)

Cost:  I have posted the hours for the free days, but normal cost outside these times is $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under.

Hours: See above for free days, normal hours are Thursdays 11 am – 8 pm, and Friday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.

Stroller Friendly:  You can push a stroller around here, and there are elevators.  I would leave the stroller for an older toddler as the museum is not that big and it isa bit cumbersome to push around, however, if I had a younger toddler who is not yet capable of following directions, I would bring a stroller or carrier just so I had something to strap them into so they didn’t run around touching the art.

Inside/Outside: Inside

Alcohol:  No – unless you go to Claire’s next door and get cocktails.

Parking: Yes. There is a parking lot less than a block from the museum, and parking is free.  There are metered spots along Ocean or at the beach as well if the lots is full.

Active family:  No.

Food:  You may not eat inside of the museum, however, there is a large grassy patch outside that you can eat on.  It would be nice to bring a blanket and have a picnic lunch on the lawn before or after walking around the museum.  Additionally, there is a restaurant on site, Claire’s, with great food and amazing Ocean views.  It is a nice restaurant with breakfasts, soups, sandwiches, and cocktails.  They have a happy hour on Thursdays from 3-6 pm.

Read More: This is an excellent place to take your children to let them experience art and talk to them about what they like/dislike about each piece and how it makes them feel.

The exhibitions rotate so be sure to call ahead to see if they are open because they often close for a few weeks between exhibitions.  This rotation makes it a great place to visit more than once.

In addition to exhibitions by many famous artists, they have a kid’s exhibition in the basement where all the work is done by local elementary school students.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Long Beach Museum of Art.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at the Long Beach Museum of Art and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

The Pike Outlets

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  The Pike is a shopping and entertainment district downtown.  There are plenty of restaurants and retail stores, but there are also a lot of activities even if you don’t want to shop or eat. The ferris wheel is $4/person and the carousel is $2/person.

Tips: 

  • – Ride the carousel ($2/person), walk around the shopping area, and then split a movie theater popcorn with the kids and eat it at the table outside (smalls are about $6) for a fun and inexpensive afternoon.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, the Long Beach aquarium, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Queen Mary, and Rainbow Lagoon.
  • – There is a brand new pedestrian bridge above downtown Long Beach to check out!

Cost:  Free

Hours:  10 am – 9 pm Mon – Sat, and 10 am – 8 pm Sunday

Stroller Friendly:  Yes!  Although some of the stores might be hard to navigate with larger strollers if you plan on shopping

Inside/Outside: Outside with stores/restaurants having indoor space

Alcohol:  Only if you go in a bar/restaurant to eat

Parking: Yes, $1.50/every 30 min with a $24 max

                  Cinemark validation $8/day

                  Retail validation: 90 minutes free, $2 up to 3 hours, $3 up to 4 hours, $2.75 every additional half hour

                  There are meters off of Shoreline Dr with a 2 hour max

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks and there is a grassy area you can sit down in to eat

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official The Pike Outlets.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at The Pike Outlets and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Shoreline Village

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  Shoreline Village is a collection of shops and restaurants with an old-timey vibe that overlooks Rainbow Harbor.  You can stroll along the water and enjoy the marina or check out the various shops like the chocolate shop, comic book shop, or jerky shop.  There are a couple cute quarter rides for kids, as well as a full-size carousel at Pelican Pier Pavillon that only costs $2.  This arcade features skee-ball, claw machines, and other fun arcade games too.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Avoid parking fees by walking, biking or taking the bus.  If you can find a meter somewhere along Shoreline drive, you can park for 2 hours for less than the parking lot fee.
  • – For a cheap family friendly afternoon, we like to do the carousel ($2/kid), get $5 in tokens to play a few games, go for a walk and check out the view and the shops (free), eat a packed lunch at one of the picnic tables (free), and get a little bit of candy from the candy store ($2).  This could be less than a $10 afternoon if you use public transportation.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and the Long Beach Aquarium, The Queen Mary, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Pike Outlets, and Rainbow Lagoon.

Cost:  Free

            *Purchases at shops and restaurants have costs

Hours: June – August: 10 am – 10 pm

              September – May: 10 am – 9 pm

              *Restaurant hours may vary

Stroller Friendly:  Yes, it was easy to navigate with the stroller or wagon, even double stroller, and not to crowded to navigate with a stroller.  Some of the shops and restaurants are difficult to get around with a larger stroller though.  If you are only going to shop or eat, perhaps leave the stroller in the car or bring an umbrella stroller.

Inside/Outside: Mostly outside.  Many of the shops and restaurants have inside and outside.

Alcohol:  Inside the restaurants that serve it only.

Parking: Yes. $2 every 20 minutes without validation, or $1/hour for up to 2 hours with validation (after making a $10 purchase.)

                  After 2 hours, with validation, rate is $2 every 20 minutes with a $16 maximum.

                  Lost ticket fee is $24.

Active family:  Not really unless you plan on renting bikes.

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks anywhere besides the shops and restaurants.  There are picnic tables in a common area with some shade.  There are plenty of stands to buy food and drinks from, in addition to sit-down restaurants.

Read More: Even when they aren’t holding an event (of which they hold several), there is always a lot to do here.  There are several sit down restaurants of all types from Mexican at Tequila Jacks, Irish at Shenanigan’s, and Mediterranean at Cafe Dia.

In addition to the sit down restaurants, there are multiple stands that offer fair-type treats like funnel cakes and ice cream.

At Wheel Fun Rentals, you can rent segways, bikes, and surreys for a day of fun.  Most bikes are around $12/hour and kid’s bikes are $8/hour.

There are various day cruises that depart out of Shoreline Village as well.  Whether you just want a quick lunch cruise or to go whale watching, there is surely a cruise for you.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Shoreline Village.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at Shoreline Village and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  This aquarium is a great place to spend a day with the kids!  There are penguins, sharks, otters, jellyfish, sea lions, and plenty of other aquatic life to see.  There are large touch tanks for sting rays, jellyfish, and small sharks such as leopard sharks.  There are also smaller touch ponds with sea anemones and starfish.

Tips: 

  • – Bring a change of clothes and shoes if you plan on letting your kids play around in the splash pads outside.
  • – Pack a lunch to save on the cost of buying there and eat it at the tables at Shoreline Aquatic Park!
  • – Bring everyone sweaters, especially in the summer!  They keep the AC on high inside!
  • – Come exactly at 9 am during the week to avoid the crowds!  Before 10 or 1030, it’s usually super empty and you can easily view all the inside exhibits without having to wait your turn.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, The Queen Mary, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Pike Outlets, and Rainbow Lagoon.

Cost:  $29.95 for adults, under 3 is free, $17.95 for children ages 3-11, and $26.95 for seniors ages 62+.

I know, I know, this page is supposed to be free or cheap events.  But hear me out.  

The annual membership is totally worth it.  It’s a big initial investment at $139 for 1-2 adults and all children living in the same household (aged 17 and under).  But if you plan on going with your family even twice in one year, it pays for itself.

The pass also includes access to special members-only events, including a couple fun adults-only evening events.

Hours: 9 am – 6 pm, every day except Christmas Day.  

The lorikeet forest is open 10:30 – 4:30 and the moon jelly touch lab is open 10 – 5.

Stroller Friendly:  There is definitely room for strollers, but it can get harder to maneuver them when the aquarium gets crowded, which is typical during midday or on the weekends.  

There is stroller parking if you want to bring your stroller and not have to push it all around the aquarium, but as always, leave valuables at your own risk (although we have never had a problem.)

Inside/Outside: Inside/Outside

Alcohol:  Yes

Parking: Yes, $8 for the day for aquarium guests in the structure, WITH validation.  There are a few cheaper meters in the street but most are 2 hours max.

Check out additional parking information here.

 Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks but you can purchase them here as well.  There is a cafe upstairs, a smaller food counter downstairs, and a few stands outside with foods like hot pretzels and smoothies.  The outside stands are not always open during off-peak hours but there is always food available for purchase inside.

Read More: This is an awesome place to visit in the summer because the inside is air-conditioned and the outside has a few splash-pad type areas for the kids to run around and get wet.

There are a few movie-shows for an additional fee and live shows such as a story time and multiple animal feedings.

There is a lorikeet forest that you can walk through and look at the lorikeets and you can purchase cups of nectar to feed them for an additional charge.

There is also a coloring area with coloring pages and crayons near the lorikeet forest.

 Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Palos Verdes Trump Trails

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  Trump Trails is a series of gorgeous hiking trails adjacent to Trump Golf Course.  There is a decent stretch of paved trail that is stroller friendly at the beginning and then it goes off into a gravel path.  There are various paths that lead down to the water where you can see tide pools with sea anemones, crabs, and even starfish at low tide. This path down is steep so perhaps come alone first and try it out to see if you think your kids are capable.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Bring sunscreen – there is no shade
  • – There are no bathrooms on the trails so go at the golf course before you start
  • – Bring plenty of water!  Along with no shade, the sun reflects off the ground so it can feel warmer than it is, even with the breeze

Cost:  Free

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Stroller Friendly: Some parts are.  You can probably go about a mile with a stroller on the paved area until it narrows and turns into gravel.  We usually leave the stroller in the car.

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol: No

Parking: Yes – at Trump Golf Course. 

Active family:  Yes.

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks but there are few places on the trails to have a picnic.  There is 1 picnic table and the beach is rocky so even if you hike down, it is not the best place for a blanket.  If you want to eat here, I would suggest leaving the food in a cooler in the car and getting it after your hike.  There is a large grassy patch to put a blanket on at the beginning/end of the trails.  There is a restaurant here as well if you prefer to buy a lunch.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Trump Trails.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at the Trump Trails and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Colorado Lagoon

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  The Colorado Lagoon is a 13 acre urban wetland located in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach. You can see all types of aquatic life here including jellyfish, birds, turtles, and fish.  There is a walking path around the edge of most of the lagoon, and a pedestrian bridge that goes across it. The beach area is great for kids because the water is shallow and has no real waves.  There is a playground here with a jungle gym and plenty of sand to dig in.  There are picnic tables to eat at, and plenty of shade.

Tips: 

  • – Don’t forget the sand toys!
  • – Check water quality if you want to swim.
  • – No barbecues
  • – Don’t feed the wildlife
  • – Pick up all trash
  • – The on-site bathroom were under construction at press time so there was a Porta-potty.  I would suggest bringing a few napkins in case it runs out of toilet paper.

Cost: Free

Hours: Daily 8 am – 10 pm.

Stroller Friendly: You can push a stroller on the path around the lagoon and across the bridge, but when the path ends, it’s sand.  Unless you plan on a short walk, I would leave the stroller in the car.

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol: No

Parking: Yes, there is street parking but not a parking lot.  During busy times, you may have difficulty finding a close spot and may need to take a couple trips from the car if you brought a picnic or beach stuff, so pack things into easy-to-carry bags

Active family:  Yes

Food:  You can bring food and there are shaded picnic tables to eat at. 

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Colorado Lagoon. The information I provided is based upon my own experience at the Colorado Lagoon and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

El Dorado Trails and Nature Center

Posted on March 15, 2019

What Is it?:  El Dorado Park is a park with both trails and a nature center (there are actually several other activities to do there, as the park is huge, but I am focusing on this portion of the park and nature center in this article.) . There is a quarter mile trail, a one mile trail, and a 2 mile trail. All trails are stroller friendly (even double stroller) and easy enough terrain for the little ones to walk some of it too.

Fun Tips: 

  • – There is a scavenger hunt for kids on the trails (pictured).  You can pick up your card at the nature center and if you bring it back completed at the end, you get a sticker or prize.
  • – Dress the kids in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
  • – Bring some crayons and paper to do leaf rubbings
  • – Bring a magnifying glass for an up-close look at leaves and bugs
  • – Most of the trails are shaded but it never hurts to bring sunscreen

Cost:  Free

Hours: Fall/Winter 7:00am-5:00pm Nov 1- Feb 28

              Spring/Summer 7:00am-8:00pm Mar 1 – Oct 31

              Closed Mondays

Stroller Friendly:  Yes, it was easy to navigate with the stroller or wagon, even double stroller, and not too crowded to navigate with a stroller.

Inside/Outside: Outside

Alcohol:  No

 Parking: Yes. $5/car Mon-Thurs, $6/car Fri, $7/car Sat/Sun, $8/car on holidays.

                 You can also get an annual pass for $60/year for the general public or $35/year for seniors/disabled

                 *Bike, walk, or use public transportation to avoid Parking fee!*

Active family:  YES!

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks and there are picnic tables by the parking lot to eat at.  They prefer you don’t eat on the trails.

Read More: There is a ton of wildlife in these trails.  The lakes always have turtles in them and in the summer, the turtles are usually basking on logs.  We have also seen lizards, Ospreys, hawks, ducks, egrets, and plenty of bugs.

There is a nature center at the beginning/end of the trails that has some live animals in terrariums as well.  There are some sensory bins full of pinecones and antlers from various animals that you are able to touch (this was great for our toddler who loves touching!!)

This was a great place to spend a free afternoon.  My kid loved that she could run around on the trails and burn some energy and then finish up the visit looking at animals and playing with nature things. 

 Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official El Dorado Park.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at El Dorado Park and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

Long Beach Museum of Art

Posted on March 14, 2019

What Is it?:  The Long Beach Museum of Art is an art museum.  They have free days every Thursday from 3-8, all day Friday, and every 3rd Sunday of the month from 11-3 there is an arts and crafts session for children on the lawn and if the children participate, their admission is free for the day as well.

Fun Tips: 

  • – Bring a sketch pad for older toddlers and children and encourage them to sit and sketch some of the art they view (just be sure you watch them with writing utensils to make sure they don’t draw on anything but their papers!)
  • – Bring a magnifying glass and let your kids look at the different brush strokes on different pieces of art
  • – Pack a lunch and eat on the lawn to stretch out the afternoon
  • – There is a beach behind the museum and a playground across the street and down a block for additional stuff to do after you visit.  (But be sure to move your car from the museum lot to be considerate of other museum patrons.)

Cost:  I have posted the hours for the free days, but normal cost outside these times is $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under.

Hours: See above for free days, normal hours are Thursdays 11 am – 8 pm, and Friday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.

Stroller Friendly:  You can push a stroller around here, and there are elevators.  I would leave the stroller for an older toddler as the museum is not that big and it isa bit cumbersome to push around, however, if I had a younger toddler who is not yet capable of following directions, I would bring a stroller or carrier just so I had something to strap them into so they didn’t run around touching the art.

Inside/Outside: Inside

Alcohol:  No – unless you go to Claire’s next door and get cocktails.

Parking: Yes. There is a parking lot less than a block from the museum, and parking is free.  There are metered spots along Ocean or at the beach as well if the lots is full.

Active family:  No.

Food:  You may not eat inside of the museum, however, there is a large grassy patch outside that you can eat on.  It would be nice to bring a blanket and have a picnic lunch on the lawn before or after walking around the museum.  Additionally, there is a restaurant on site, Claire’s, with great food and amazing Ocean views.  It is a nice restaurant with breakfasts, soups, sandwiches, and cocktails.  They have a happy hour on Thursdays from 3-6 pm.

Read More: This is an excellent place to take your children to let them experience art and talk to them about what they like/dislike about each piece and how it makes them feel.

The exhibitions rotate so be sure to call ahead to see if they are open because they often close for a few weeks between exhibitions.  This rotation makes it a great place to visit more than once.

In addition to exhibitions by many famous artists, they have a kid’s exhibition in the basement where all the work is done by local elementary school students.

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official Long Beach Museum of Art.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at the Long Beach Museum of Art and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.

The Pike Outlets

Posted on March 14, 2019

What Is it?:  The Pike is a shopping and entertainment district downtown.  There are plenty of restaurants and retail stores, but there are also a lot of activities even if you don’t want to shop or eat. The ferris wheel is $4/person and the carousel is $2/person.

Tips: 

  • – Ride the carousel ($2/person), walk around the shopping area, and then split a movie theater popcorn with the kids and eat it at the table outside (smalls are about $6) for a fun and inexpensive afternoon.
  • – You can take either the Aquabus (a water taxi that runs April to October and costs $1/person, 2 and under are free) or the Passport (a free bus) to get between here and Shoreline Village, the Long Beach aquarium, Shoreline Aquatic Park, The Queen Mary, and Rainbow Lagoon.
  • – There is a brand new pedestrian bridge above downtown Long Beach to check out!

Cost:  Free

Hours:  10 am – 9 pm Mon – Sat, and 10 am – 8 pm Sunday

Stroller Friendly:  Yes!  Although some of the stores might be hard to navigate with larger strollers if you plan on shopping

Inside/Outside: Outside with stores/restaurants having indoor space

Alcohol:  Only if you go in a bar/restaurant to eat

Parking: Yes, $1.50/every 30 min with a $24 max

                  Cinemark validation $8/day

                  Retail validation: 90 minutes free, $2 up to 3 hours, $3 up to 4 hours, $2.75 every additional half hour

                  There are meters off of Shoreline Dr with a 2 hour max

Active family:  No

Food:  You are allowed outside food and drinks and there is a grassy area you can sit down in to eat

Disclaimer:  The views expressed here are my own and are in no way affiliated with the official The Pike Outlets.  The information I provided is based upon my own experience at The Pike Outlets and the hours, fees, location, and anything else is subject to change in subsequent years.  Please call ahead to verify any information given before planning your trip.