Water Park Fun at Knott's Soak City (Giveaway)

My boys love all things water; from a small puddle after the rain to the crashing waves at the beach. Last week, Little B could not get enough of the sprinklers. I can't wait for summer. There are so many parks in OC with water features that I have yet to introduce to him.

EPIC the Movie: The Battle Between Good and Evil (Giveaway)

Over the weekend, I watched one of my favorite good versus evil movies, Lord of the Rings. In all honesty, I have seen the trilogy more than I care to count. There is something about epic battle movies that speaks to me. Whether it's Star Wars, Harry Potter, The Avengers, etc, I just gravitate towards them. There's a new movie coming out this month and I'm quite intrigued. I know that I can't share some of my favorite movies with Big B and Little B yet, the content is just a bit too mature for them. However, I think EPIC might just be something that Big B can understand.

Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove Discount Code

We received tickets to attend Treasure Trove in May. If you have kids who love Disney, you won't want to miss the new Disney on Ice show, Treasure Trove, which features over 50 Disney characters. Tickets are on sale now. Use coupon code: MOM to score a family 4-pack tickets for $60. See flyer below for more information.

America's Family Pet Expo Comes to SoCal

Big B has been asking for a puppy for the last two years. Although my husband grew up with dogs, I did not. I am not opposed to having pets, I just want to make sure that the kids are old enough to take care of them. So, in lieu of getting a dog, we usually visit the pet store and go to pet-related events. Last year we went to America's Family Pet Expo and Big B had a blast.

Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove

Disclosure: Sponsored post. However, all opinions are my own.

Once again Disney on Ice will come to SoCal and we can't wait. We have been invited to watch the newest show, Treasure Trove, coming in May. Treasure Trove brings over 50 Disney characters to life from Mickey to the newest princess. It highlights eight Disney movies like the classics Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland, and award-winning The Lion King. The show features snapshots of the first full-length animated film to Disney's 50th film, Tangled.  If your family is a Disney fan like ours is, this is a must see. Stay tuned for a discount code coming soon.

Irvine Park Railroad 17th Anniversary Celebration

Image courtesy of Irvine Park Railroad

I've featured the Irvine Park Railroad on my blog as a favorite family fun place to visit. Now, there's even more reason to stop by and enjoy a day at the park. The Irvine Park Railroad will host an anniversary event to celebrate 17 wonderful fun-filled years. To thank their beloved visitors, they are rolling back prices to their original 1996 value. Below are some of the activities the whole family can enjoy.

How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular is Amazing

Hubby, Big B, and I recently watched How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular and words can not express how amazing the show was. It was awesome! The live show followed the movie's plot very well. If you are a fan of the movie, this is a must see live show. Honestly, I don't know who had more fun, Big B or hubby and I.

Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream

My family and I are big Disney fans. We try to go once a year, especially as Big B gets older and appreciate the wonder and magic of Disney. We recently saw Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream and loved it. It was the first time that we had watched a Disney on Ice show. Even though it was all about the princesses, Big B had a lot of fun.

Christmas Train at the Irvine Park Railroad

Last week, Big B and I spent an afternoon at Irvine Park Railroad for Mama and Me time. It was our special date, just the two of us. We got there in the late afternoon before the sun set and stayed until dark, enjoying Santa's Village and the Christmas Train.

Knott's Berry Farm Winter Wonderland

It's the second week in December and we are in the thick of the holidays. Rows of houses twinkle brightly with decorative lights at night. Christmas tree lots are teeming with customers picking the perfect tree. The smell of cinnamon and nutmeg linger in coffee shops. And once again, Knott's Berry Farm is transformed into a magical holiday wonderland.

A Magical Time at Santa's Wonderland

Last week, we attended the opening of Santa's Wonderland in OC. Big B had so much fun. He talked about it the whole weekend and he kept asking when we were going to go back. Of course, the fun for me was meeting up with my blogger friends and seeing just how happy Big B was. Santa's Wonderland is huge. It's housed in a two-story warehouse that's decked in all things Christmas.

Kid-friendly Activities at the Indiana Jones Exhibit

A few weeks ago, the Indiana Jones exhibit opened at the Discovery Science Center. I took Big B with me during opening night and he had a blast. You might think that since it's Indiana Jones, it might be geared just for adults. Actually, there are activities for kids, even little ones. It's really an exhibit the entire family would enjoy, especially if you are a fan of the Indiana Jones movie franchise. If you live in SoCal, or will be visiting SoCal for the holidays, the Discovery Science Center is a must stop while the kids are on break. Below are photos of my budding archeologist at the exhibit. For more info on the museum exhibit, read my review at Sweeps4Bloggers.

Exhibit activities for the little ones

• A site excavation for digging artifacts
• Climbing up and down for a dig
• Building pyramids from blocks

Disclosure: I was invited to attend the event to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions expressed are my own.

Good Times at the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch

Every year since Big B could walk, we've taken him to a pumpkin patch. It's one of our fall family traditions. As he gets older and able to remember events, he recognizes certain symbols and images that are characteristic of a pumpkin patch. He'll ask when we'll pick pumpkins, ride a tractor, or go through a maze. We'll drive by somewhere and he'll see a gigantic inflated pumpkin and he'll ask if we can stop by. We've been to several different pumpkin patches in SoCal and have had good memories in each one.

Summer Reading Programs 2012

School is out for my son this week. Like many parents, I've been busy filling our calendar with things to do to occupy his time. Although I signed him up for summer camp, that's only a couple of hours a day for 2 weeks. My preschooler loves to be read to and during the summer he can get rewarded for it. Summer reading incentive programs are a great way to keep kids' minds active, engaged, and retain some of the things they learned during the school year. Most summer reading programs are designed to encourage kids to read by giving a prize for completing the program. You can find an incentive program for preschoolers to teens. Below is an updated list of free summer reading programs.

AMF Summer Unplugged

In going with my theme of free (or almost free) summer activities, here's another one that the entire family can take advantage of. AMF is offering free bowling for kids 16 years and under all summer long (shoe rental not included). All parents have to do is register at a participating AMF bowling center and eligible family members get 2 free games per day. In addition to free bowling, the AMF Summer Unplugged program also offers learn-to-bowl lessons, a tournament with prizes, a chance to win a Disney World family vacation, and a pin decorating contest to win a $2,500 scholarship prize. Also, Kids Combo Meals are only $2.99. Families of registered kids also get a deal with the AMF Summer 17 Plus Pass. For $27.95, the pass offers 2 games per day for 4 people. That's less than $7 for 2 games per person.

Here's the semi fine print. The AMF Summer Unplugged program is only valid:

• from May 30 to September 5
• from opening to 8 PM, daily
• at participating locations
• with a completed registration

For more information, visit the AMF Summer Unplugged website.

Bowling is a great summer activity. Why? Because it:

• is an activity the whole family can enjoy together, regardless of skill level
• fosters team work and healthy competition
• gets the kids out of the house and out of the heat

There are over 200 participating locations. Find one near you to start the summer fun. What will you be doing this summer?

Disclaimer: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  All opinions stated in the post are my own.

Summer Family Movies for $1 (or less)

We started family movie nights at home this year since my son can sit long enough to finish a movie. We've taken him to watch a couple of movies in theaters (Kidtoon Films), but the cold, dark theater and loud sounds made him uneasy. Of course, after we leave, he always says he had a good time. The good news is that a lot of theaters near us are offering discounted price for movies all summer long. At least if we leave, I won't feel bad about paying an arm and a leg for the tickets. We'll probably check out movies at the park this year, too. Although knowing him, he'd rather run around and play.

Inland Empire

Harkins Movie Fun (10 movies for <$1/movie)

Movies on the Promenade 

Los Angeles County

Movies in the Park at the Grove 

Orange County
Lake Mission Viejo

San Diego County
SD Movies in the Park

Santee Movies by the Lake 

Multiple Sites
Regal Entertainment Group Summer Movie Express ($1 on Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10 AM)

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse (10 movies for $5)

UltraStar Cinemas Kid Summer Series (10 movies for $5)

Disclaimer: Most, not all, of the movies are family friendly. Although the activities are free, check to see if the venue charges a parking fee. Last updated June 10, 2012.

Free Summer Reading Programs

Summer is almost here. What better way to keep our kids engaged than to join a summer reading program. Most of the programs offer prizes for completion of tasks. Check your local library for more information.

Inland Empire

Riverside County Public Library

Los Angeles County
Los Angeles Public Library
Summer Reading Program

Orange County

Summer Reading Program

Mission Viejo

San Diego County

San Diego Public Library Summer Reading Program

Multiple Sites

California Library Association 

Nationwide

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading 

Book Adventure by Sylvan Learning

Book It Program by Pizza Hut 

Chuck E. Cheese 

Collaborative Summer Reading Program 

Feed Your Brain by Half Price Books 

Scholastic 

Summer Reading Sweepstakes by iVillage 

This page was last updated on June 10, 2012.

Zoomars Petting Zoo

SPONSOR

Location

Zoomars

31791 Los Rios Street

San Juan Cpstrno, CA 92675


(949) 831-6550

Admission

Kids - $5

Adults - $6

Seniors - $5

Infants, 12 months and under - Free

Parking

The zoo does not have its own parking. There is street parking and parking at the park next door.

Stroller/wheelchair accessibility

There is no designated stroller parking; most people just leave their stroller near the gates.

Restroom facilities

Porta potties and changing station

Food/concessions

None

Activities

The first stop is always at the bunny/guinea pig area. There is a coin-operated dispenser where you can buy pellets for a quarter. You can also purchase feed (sliced carrots, celery, and lettuce) for $2 at the cashiers. My son is getting older that I don't have to remind him to be gentle with the animals; although he does get very excited feeding the rabbits. We stop by every animal in the zoo. Zoomars is not a big place, but big enough. They have goats, sheep, emu, llamas, alpaca, ostrich, turtle, birds, donkey, ponies, a cow, and more. He pets whatever animal he can get close too, which makes me nervous because he is so fearless. Some, like the birds, are caged, so there is no access. For a fee, kids can ride a train ($2) and pony ($5), and we do ride the train every time. It goes around in a small circle several times. He just loves it. There is a big wooden playground with swings, slides, and playhouse where my son usually spends some time playing.

Our family experience

My son enjoys going to Zoomars. We usually spend about 1 - 1.5 hours when we are there. It is definitely worth it since he gets to be around animals and learns how to behave around them. Pretty soon, I will have to learn some interesting facts about these animals so I can teach my son. Zoomars is near a park, an Amtrak station, and lots of cute cafes, not to mention Mission San Juan Capistrano. I would definitely suggest making it a day trip: come in by train, visit the Mission, walk about the Los Rios historical district, have lunch at a cafe or a picnic at the park, with Zoomars as the highlight before heading home.

Tips

Tickets to Zoomars are sometimes on sale at Deal of the Day sites like Living Social and Groupon. I suggest calling beforehand to see if there is a field trip or a birthday party because it does get crowded. The goats are very aggressive and will jump on people to get food. Enter the goat area before your child does to get between the goat and your child. There is a park with restroom facilities next to Zoomars. I suggest closed toe shoes, especially for the little ones.

GIVEAWAY - CLOSED

Thanks to Zoomars for sponsoring this giveaway.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. Tickets to the attraction in this review were purchased by my family. The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review. Facebook is not associated, in any way, with this giveaway.

Happy Birthday, Amtrak!

To celebrate turning the big 4-0 this year, Amtrak is giving away free rides.  

Location

US

Time frame

Must purchase between April 25 - May 6, 2011
Must travel between May 1 - June 9, 2011

Condition

An adult fare must be purchased for a child's fare to be free. Applies to children 2 - 15 years of age.


For more information, go to the Amtrak website.

Spring Garden Show at South Coast Plaza

Location

South Coast Plaza

Crate and Barrel/Macy's Home Store Wing
3333 Bear St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(800) 782-8888

April 28 - May 1, 2011

Admission

Free

Parking

Free

Stroller/wheelchair accessibility

Yes

Restroom facilities

Yes

Food/concessions

Fast food and sit-down restaurants at the Crate and Barrel/Macy's Home Store Wing and across the bridge at main mall

Activities

There are 3 levels full of beautiful displays to see: garden exhibits, vendor displays, and a scale train. Seminars and children's activities are also held throughout the day. This is a must see event for any plant aficionado, green thumb or not.

Our family experience

We went today and it was all a buzz. In the middle of the mall was a huge display of a structure covered with plants; something similar to what you would see at the Rose Parade. It reminded me of when I used to decorate floats for the parade...oh, those were the days. My son and nieces were actually very interested in all the different flowers and garden displays. My son especially loved the train display next to Crate and Barrel on the 2nd floor. We also stopped by the orchids, my mother-in-law's favorite. All in all, we spent about 40 minutes going through the entire show. I would have stayed longer, but with 3 young kids, it was long enough.

Tips

It will get crowded due to mall shoppers and event visitors, I suggest looking over the event schedule to get a good idea of when you would like to go. You might want to bring a wagon to carry plants you purchase. I saw many customers carrying tall plants by hand.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are solely mine. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.