Summer Bucket List - Beach Day (Semi- Wordless Wednesday)

My boys are out for Summer vacation already!  Loving the early Summer!  Yesterday we had the chance to head down to our favorite beach - Crystal Cove State Beach in Newport Beach.  The boys had tons of fun exploring.

A beach day was number one on our Summer Bucket list.  What's on your list of must do activities for the Summer?  I'd love to hear about them and share them in guest posts!  Send me an email at OCMomActivites (at) Gmail (dot) com.

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Free App for Finding the Perfect Outdoor Adventure!

Getting outside and enjoying nature has always been one of my favorite things to do.  Whether it's relaxing at the beach listening to the waves crash, walking on a trail through a forest listening to birds chirp or any of the other countless ways to enjoy nature - I love it!

Unfortunately it can be time consuming to track down the right trail or other outdoor adventure so the Sierra Club is now offering a FREE app on the iTunes store called Trail Explorer.  It's free and easy to find (type Sierra Club in the search bar and it should be one of the first two to come up).  There are over 40,000 trails listed.  

Allow it to use your current location and it will tell you how far you are from it, the types of recreation allowed, whether dogs are allowed, the features, popularity and other key information (like distances!).

I've been playing around with it and honestly think this is one of the coolest apps for outdoor adventures I have ever seen!

It will even track you by GPS and show you the distance you have traveled and where you are.

So head on over to iTunes, download it and get outside to explore something in celebration of Earth Day!  For more information about the Sierra Club you can head here.

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Top 6 Spring Break Family Fun Ideas in Southern California - Our list

We've been busy enjoying the first week of spring break in our house.  I feel so lucky to have an entire two weeks with my boys this year for spring break.  This is the first time since the boys became school age that I have not been working and have been able to dive in to adventures!  So far we've been busy and have lots more planned for this next week but I wanted to share some of our favorite spring break adventures in Southern California! Adventures don't have to cost a fortune our list includes more expensive and easy on the wallet days!


1.  Beach Time!  

Our favorite spring break adventure is by far a trek to the beach!  We love tide pooling, wave chasing, sand castle building and other fun activities.  Our favorite beach by far is Crystal Cove State Beach in Newport Beach.  It's never busy and is great for tide pooling if you catch it as the tide is going out.  Only drawback is that parking costs a flat $15 and there is quite a trek down the stairs to get to the beach, but it is worth it!  The above picture was taken just yesterday on our beach day.  You can also check out my original post on it here.  Bring plenty of water and dose up on the sunscreen!  We also love going to Ruby's Shake Shack near the beach as an after beach treat!



2. Zoo Time!

Here in Southern California we are so lucky to have world class zoo's right in our own back yard.  Whether it's the LA Zoo, the Santa Ana Zoo, San Diego Zoo or San Diego Safari Park you know you can pack in an animal filled day that is easy on your wallet.  We have had passes to the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park for the last few years (it's less than $200/year for the entire family and is tax deductible!).  We love going and every time see and learn something new.  Couple of tips for the Zoos, head there early as the animals are more active in the morning hours when it isn't so hot out.  Bring plenty of water to drink as the sun can be scorching.  And the above picture?  I snapped it on our recent trip to the San Diego Safari Park!



3. Disneyland Resort Time!

Yes, the crowds are crazy, but with a little advance planning you can still have an amazing magical day!  Plan on getting there when the park opens, have a plan for what rides/areas are most important to get done during the day and do those first.  Grab and fastpasses whenever possible.  And the most important piece of advice I have?  Don't leave home without the MouseWaits app on your phone.  It's free and has proven to be my favorite day planning tool for every Disneyland Resort trip we have made in the last couple of years.  It's pretty accurate and allows you to check wait times on all of your favorite attractions without having to schlep all around the park!  Love love love it!  If you don't have passes be sure to head here for special Southern California resident discounts.


4. Sea World San Diego Time!

We've never had a time where we didn't have an amazing time.  Whether you have a penguin lover, a polar bear lover or just want to touch the sea stars - you are sure to have an educational and fun filled day!  Yearly passes are very reasonable and there are frequently great discounts to be had.  Check their website here for current offers.




5. Hit the Trails!

Here in Southern California we have so many trails, parks and other outdoor playgrounds.  Park fees are normally very reasonable (and fees can be accessed on their website - even State Parks have websites these days!).   Google your city for the closest park to you or the area you want to hike in - we have so many options in So Cal, I can't list them all here!

Couple of tips I recommend when hiking with kids...
   -Bring several protein bars and be sure everyone has a good protein filled meal before hiking.  (This makes a HUGE impact on every one's energy level and can make or break the hike experience!).
   -Bring one full water bottle per person but don't hand them out until about halfway through the hike. 
   -Plan your route and know your limits. 
   -Know your kids.  For example on a recent hike I noticed my oldest was getting fatigued and it was causing him to walk slower and continuously ask how much longer.  In an effort to keep him distracted I got him talking about his favorite subject and kept asking follow-up questions.  He started walking normal speed and was shocked by how fast the last 15 minutes of the hike went!

6. Explore a Museum!

Here in Southern California we have countless museums to explore!  We love the California Science Museum.  Read more about it here.  Another favorite is the San Diego Natural History Museum.  For more information you can go here (or read my post about it here.)  We also love heading up to Griffiths Observatory in Los Angeles.

Whatever you do during Spring Break, have fun and enjoy the time!

What's on your agenda this week?  I'd love to feature any guest posts about your favorite adventure!

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Southern California Elementary School Smashes World Record and Shows Commitment to Arts

Nestled in Southern Riverside County, California is an elementary school that should be a model for all public schools.  Amidst the seemingly never ending California State budget cuts, Lisa J. Mails Elementary School in Murrieta showed how important the arts are.  Last Friday the school set out (and succeeded in!) breaking the World Record in the largest art lesson!  Correct that - it SMASHED the World Record by more than 200 participants! 

Lisa J. Mails didn't start out to be a performing and visual arts magnate school, but through the extensive support of the school staff, the parents and the district, it has become exactly that school.   Parents will commute in for their children to be a part of the well rounded education that it offers.  Watching the focus and determination of the children in beating the world record (yes it will be in the Guinness Book of World Records!), it couldn't have been a more appropriate school to hold the record for World's Largest Art Lesson! 

The previous record was set by an elementary school in England last year.

As a child during the Prop 13 era, I remember how strongly my mother fought (with other fantastic parents) to help keep the performing and visual arts a part of schools.  As school budgets shrunk, the arts were some of the first big cuts made to schools.  Back then it was ingrained in me how crucial the arts are to a child's education.  I was privileged to be able to participate in countless Broadway style (ok, so it wasn't really Broadway, but to us kids it felt like it!) stage productions like Hello Dolly, Bye Bye Birdie, Lil' Abner and more.  All of those productions were funded by the die hard parent organization that was determined to keep the performing and visual arts a part of childhood. 

Did they form the person who I grew up to be?  Absolutely.  Are the visual and performing arts valuable to raising well rounded kids?  Without a doubt.

Congratulations Lisa J. Mails Elementary School in showing the World how dedicated you are to providing a well rounded education for our children!


(Actual sign in the courtyard garden of Lisa J Mails Elementary School)

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Why I LOVE rainy Wednesdays...

And this is why I love rainy Wednesdays during the school year at Disneyland... The ride wait times are hard to beat!

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7 For All Mankind Warehouse Sale is Coming to LA!

Are you ready for it?  The 7 for All Mankind official warehouse sale will be open to the public this weekend at the LA Convention Center!  Running October 1-3 at the LA Convention Center, this is THE time to stock up on everyone's favorite jeans at up to 80% off.  Yes, you read that right!

There isn't a better time of year to stock up on the selection of over 30,000 pieces of pure luxury like tops, sweaters, jeans, shorts, skirts and jackets.  During the period of October 1-3, the venue will be open from10am-8pm and you are encouraged (but not required) to register in advance to speed up the registration at the door.  You can go here to register.

After Los Angeles, the 7 for All Mankind Warehouse Sale will be making stops in San Francisco (October 8-10), New York City (October 14-17) and Chicago (October 22-24).

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Seasons 52 in Costa Mesa is a Must for Foodies

The evening began with this amazing Black Mission Fig and Chevre flatbread and I knew we were in for a treat.  Clifford Pleu has done a masterful job creating a seasonally inspired, healthy yet sophisticated menu.  Seasons 52 features wood-fire grilling, brick oven cooking and absolutely no fryers.

I also tasted the Goat Cheese Ravioli, Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon

 and stuffed artichoke... 

 It was all absolutely amazing!

Dessert was served in small shot glasses and was absolutely scrumptious.  I  would have thought the Mocha Macchiato would be my favorite, but the Key Lime Pie and Meyer Lemon Pound Cake ended up being my favorites if I had to name my favorites (but they were all delicious!!!).

Nestles next to Bloomingdales on the outside of South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Seasons 52 Fresh Grill is is now open.  Serving up absolutely mouthwatering dishes (at less than 475 calories each!), you're sure to find something if not many dishes you'll fall in love with.  If you have food allergies or other diet restrictions you'll find the staff and menu to be refreshing and easy to still find something fantastic.  You'll also find that the prices are very reasonable with the entrees ranging in price from $12.75-$26.95.  Note that there is also complimentary valet parking.

Seasons 52 is perfect for a date night or girls night out.  There's nightly entertainment at the piano bar starting at 6:00 pm and you'll frequently find internationally known pianist/singer/songwriter Charlie Sleeth filling the bar with music.

You can also find other Seasons 52 locations in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and coming soon to Arizona, Texas, Florida (Coral Gables), Indiana and Maryland.  For more information you can go here.  I was treated to a media preview evening to sample the menu to facilitate the writing of this post.

Seasons 52 is located at 3333 Bristol Avenue Suite #2802, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626 and (714) 437-5252.  You can also find Seasons 52 on Facebook and Twitter.

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Fabulous Yet Frugal Friday - A Day of Education Fun for Next to Nothing!

Fabulous Yet Frugal Friday... A Day of Educational Fun for Next to Nothing!

We recently headed up to the California Science Center in Los Angeles (in the Exposition Park area, right next to the USC campus).  I was completely floored by how amazing it is.  As a family we could have spent hours and hours there.  Admission is absolutely free (parking cost is $8 and there is plenty of parking).  Special exhibits like the current Mummy exhibit and the IMAX movies cost extra, but there is plenty to explore without either of those.  We've now taken several trips to the Science center... so I'm going to break them up in to several posts because there really is that much to talk about!

The first exhibit we checked out was the Exploring Trees Inside and Out Exhibit, sponsored by DoubleTree Hotels.  The special (and not to be missed) exhibit runs through September 26, 2010.  We spent hours exploring.  There's a large variety of tactile learning stations for kids of all ages (that includes the parents!).  One aspect I loved is that there is one way in to this area and one way out, so parents can take a break, keep an eye on the exit and know that your little ones are safely exploring.  This totally comes in handy if you have a number of kids who like to head in different directions.

There is a giant tree play structure for the kids to explore.

There is an animal sound interpreting station.  Did you ever know where the Katydid name came from?  Listen in to its natural sound and you will!  (ok, so I'm a little biased towards this cricket, always thought it was named after me...)

We found this cute little hidden squirrel..

There's a birdhouse building station, a scent station, a picture creating station and giant acorn fort for kids to explore.  It's just a great place to allow the kids to explore on their own and to enhance your childs' love for nature.

We loved loved loved our afternoon there.  Have you stopped by the exhibit yet?

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Family Night Out at Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, CA

Looking for a fun way to spend a Friday night with the family?  Every third Friday of the month during the summer, the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach is hosting a family concert series.  K-Earth is there broadcasting and providing the entertainment.

Pull up a deck chair, order a plate of nachos and have a great evening watching the sunset across the water!  The even itself is free (including swimming!), but you have to order nachos, drinks, etc.

We had the chance to check out last month's event and here are a couple pictures from our fun night.  We had a great a time!  If you're in the area this Friday, be sure to head on over! Be sure to grab a jacket in case the winds kick up at sunset. For more information about the events go here.

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Beach Clean-up This Weekend in Huntington Beach

Looking for a fun family activity this Saturday (July 10th)?  Head on over to Huntington Beach from 9 a.m. - Noon for a beach clean-up.  It's a great way to teach kids to be more responsible about their trash, especially while at the beach.  Beach clean-ups were one of my favorite activities as a kid! 

• Meet where Beach Blvd meets the sand, and help us keep trash off of our beach and out of our ocean. Pull into parking area at Magnolia and drive towards Beach Blvd until you see blue canopy in the sand. As always, we provide parking passes, garbage bags, protective gloves (AND certificates for school credit).
• Please bring a light jacket - could be 55 to 80 degrees depending upon weather. Please bring your own sunscreen, work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles and trash grabbers so we don't create more trash.

For more information go here.

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Wild Rivers Discount!

Fabulous Yet Frugal Friday...

Live in Orange County, CA?  If you do... I bet you know exactly where Wild Rivers is and frequent it often during the Summer months!  Print out the coupon below to receive $5 off admission to the park or head over here to purchase tickets online with the special code of: SUN2.

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World of Color is Now Showing!

In case you hadn't heard about how the World of Color is now showing at California Adventure / Disneyland Resort, here's a video of the entire show to tide you over until you have the chance to see it!  Enjoy!

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And that is why... Wordless Wednesday

You don't swim in the outlet of the creek at Aliso Creek Beach...

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Sid the Science Kid Event and a Giveaway!

With two active & inquisitive boys, I can use all the help I can get to quench their never ending thirst to learn new things.  It's not uncommon for family movie night to be the latest new show on the Discovery Channel, PBS or other Science show - it's just the way things are around here!  I grew up loving Fraggle Rock, the Muppets and other Jim Henson productions... so when I heard about Sid the Science Kid (on PBS), I knew it was a winning combination! 


On June 21st you can catch the premier of "No School Singalong Special".  To celebrate the premiere, Sid will be available at the Jim Henson Family Day at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles on May 22 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased on Fandango or here, Adult tickets are $11 each and kids are $9 each.

Here's the schedule for the day:

10:00 AM: Co-presented by the Producers Guild of America/New Media Council as part of the Saturday 2.0 series, a screening will take place of A Better World: Living in Harmony beginning with a rarely seen episode of “Fraggle Rock” (1983), the TV series that contrasts three communities - the musical Fraggles, the industrious Doozers, and the giant Gorgs - who all co-exist in a carefully balanced underground world far below those mysterious silly creatures who live above ground (the humans). Next is "Song of the Cloud Forest" (1989) directed by Jim Henson which features a blend of music, puppetry and animation resulting in a vibrant landscape of color that echoes the natural beauty found in the real world's rain forest. Starring a brightly colored cast of puppet animals, the show celebrates the beauty of this natural environment while educating the audience of the real dangers threatening the survival of both the rain forest and its inhabitants.

11:30 AM: Premiere of “Sid the Science Kid:” “No School Singalong Special!”

12:00 PM: Premiere of “Dinosaur Train:” “Pteranodon Family World Tour,” “Gilbert the Conductor”

12:30 PM: “Wilson & Ditch: Digging America:” Two comical gopher brothers explore America

12:45 PM: “The Possibility Shop:” Creative Guru Courtney Watkins demonstrates how to turn ordinary afternoons into extraordinary creative adventures for the whole family
*10:30AM – 2:30PM Activity stations and photo opportunities in the courtyard

But here's the best part!  I've got two tickets to giveaway!  Remember to post a comment for each entry.  The contest will close this Tuesday May 18th at 6pm (pacific time).  I will email the winner and will need a response with your mailing address within 24 hours so the winner can receive their tickets in time.


Here are your ways to enter (remember I will need a way to reach you within 24 hours):

• Post a comment on here saying why you'd love to win the tickets!
• Become a fan of OCMomActivities on Facebook (1 additional entry)
• Subscribe to one of the feeds for OCMomActivities (email, rss, google, etc. 1 entry each)
• Follow OCMomActivities on Twitter (1 additional entry)
• Tweet about this giveaway (1 additional entry, allowed once per day, just remember to post a comment each time you do)

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Universal Studios Hollywood - Fabulous Yet Frugal Friday

I'm always looking for ways to save money but still enjoy what Southern California has to offer.  For this week's edition of Fabulous Yet Frugal Fridays, I wanted to be sure you guys didn't miss out on the amazing deal at Universal Studios - Hollywood that ends April 30th.  By paying $69/per person to enter the park, you get the REST of 2010 free simply because you are a Southern California Resident.  No blackout dates.  This is a fantastic deal especially if you have kids ages 6 and up.  There are just enough attractions to fill your day, but you'll feel like you can get to everything in a day.  Our family has become huge fans of getting to the park as it opens, spending a few hours and leaving as the park gets busy (this is also a great approach for Disneyland, Sea World, San Diego Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park). 

Our favorite rides at Universal are The Simpsons Ride, Jurassic Park (not my favorite- I don't like the drop), the Backlot Tour (surprise hit with the kids) and Shrek in 4-D.  Definitely missing the ET ride and Back to the Future though...

For more information about hours of operation and the buy a day- get the rest of the year for free deal can be found here.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing some of the great deals you can find for local attractions to maximize and plan ahead for summer vacation!

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Picture the Park - Free Family Acitivity in OC this Weekend

If you're looking for a fun activity here in Orange County this weekend...This Saturday, April 17th between 12 and 3pm the Orange County Great Park will be hosting its Picture the Park event to kick off the 3rd annual Imagination Celebration.  It's a free event designed for the whole family (in particular for kids ages 5-12).  Kids will have the opportunity to learn about gardening from UC Extension Master Gardeners, learn about the water cycle and take part in recycled art craft making.

Admission and parking is free (park at Hangar 244). 

Also be sure to check out "Tool Time" on May 1st and Movie on the Lawn May 15th!

More information about upcoming events at the Orange County Great Park can be found here.

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Universal Studios - Wordless Wednesday

Be sure to take advantage of the buy a day- get the rest of the year free at Universal Studios... You need to purchase them before April 30th!

(Post about our recent trip to Universal Studios Hollywood should be up later this week)

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Wordless Wednesday...

Because I can't get enough beach pictures in...

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Wordless Wednesday Aliso Creek Beach

My boys showing off the coconut they found at the beach earlier this week.

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What Refreshes You?

Today we stopped by Aliso Creek Beach in South Laguna Beach and took these videos.  Not sure if the large waves were from the storm we just had or from the storm coming in later this week, but they were definitely mesmerizing!  I could watch/listen to the videos over and over again.  :)




There's just something soothing to me about listening to the ocean. All I need is a few short minutes at the beach to feel rejeuvenated. What rejeuvenates you?

Please share!

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