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.

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.

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.

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.

Tanaka Farms Cookout Tour

SPONSOR

Location

Tanaka Farms

5380 3/4 University Dr.

Irvine, CA 92612

(949) 653-2100

Bubblefest at Discovery Science Center

Pretend City Children's Museum

Location

Pretend City®

29 Hubble

Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 428-3900

Social Networks
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Admission

Infant to 12 months - Free

Non-members - $11

Military & Family - $8
Discounted price after 4 PM

Upcoming events

Family Fun & Wellness Fair April 16

Parking

Free, with overflow to street. The museum is set within an industrial area surrounded by office buildings. Signs are posted on parking spaces and in the lot where museum guests can not park.

Stroller/wheelchair accessible

Yes, stroller parking inside the museum, right at the City entrance.

Restroom facilities

Restrooms are located behind the gift shop, by the marina, and next to the cafe.

Food/concessions
The Real Café offers limited food services since there is no kitchen. It is catered by LuLu's Crépêrie Café. However, there are 2 microwaves in the cafe area that guests can use. 2 vending machines also offer snacks.

Activities

The entire museum is hands-on. Every aspect of the museum invites visitors to touch,  explore, and participate. Costumes, props, and toys set the stage for fighting fire, tending to sick patients, fishing for lobster, serving up meals, entertaining audiences with performances, constructing buildings, growing fruits and vegetables, shopping for groceries, and so much more. Each visit is unique for my son even if he's been to the museum about a dozen times. He plays at different locations each time, though he does have his favorites. Every time we visit, my son always stops by the house. He enjoys cooking, sitting down for a pretend snack, checking out the bathroom, and playing in the nursery. While he is at play, I enjoy watching the video about the current featured family. I have learned about different cultures by watching those videos. 

We've also spent a considerable amount of time in the farm and marina. Dirt and water, what toddler boy doesn't like to play with those? He enjoys using garden tools to till the ground and fill buckets with soil (AKA recycled rubber chips). Sometimes he plants vegetables, and sometimes he doesn't. Then it's a bee line to the marina for fishing and sailing. More often than not, this is our last stop. He usually gets his clothes wet which is a signal for me to go home.

Our family experience
Pretend City® is one of my son's favorite museums. I love that everything is kid sized and makes kids feel like they are running the city. This is pretend play at its best. It's amazing how much young children absorb when they observe adults in action. From pumping gas at the gas station to weighing vegetables at the grocery store, the museum gives them the outlet to mimic our behavior. As my son gets older, I will have to learn about concepts presented at the museum (e.g. plumbing, farming) so I can explain them to him. There are a lot of teaching moments while visiting the museum, but for right now, my son is just enjoying play time.

Tips

Call ahead and ask which if there is a field trip. The museum gets very crowded on field trip days which are often on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Bring your own food. The smocks used in the marina are not very useful. I suggest bringing a change of clothing in case your child gets wet. The museum has a lot to offer, but I think children 18 months to 8 years will get the most out of the experience. Chicks are usually born on Tuesdays at the farm, although there is no guarantee. However, the last Tuesday we were there, we witnessed a chick coming out if it's shell.

GIVEAWAY-CLOSED

Thanks to Pretend City® for sponsoring this giveaway.

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. I received permission from the sponsor to post their trademarked brand/logo on my blog.

Sesame Street Presents: The Body at Discovery Science Center

Location

Discovery Science Center

2500 N. Main Street

Santa Ana, CA 92705 

(714) 542-2823

January 29 - May 1, 2011

Social Networks

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

Admission

Free with admission to museum
Adults (18 +): $12.95 
Kids (3-17): $9.95

Kids (2 & under): Free with the purchase of admission 

Teachers: Free  
Association of Science-Technology Centers members: Free

Bank of America card holders: Free on the 1st Saturday of the month

Parking

$4.00

Stroller/wheelchair accessibility

Yes

Restroom facilities

2 on the first floor and 1 on the second floor

Food/concessions

Taco Bell and Pizza Hut

Activities

Wall-to-wall hands-(and feet)-on activities engaged visitors in learning about the human body. Visitors got to explore the body in ways they may not have before. Through over-sized displays and activities, my son saw what happened to food from the moment a person eats it, to the moment it leaves the body. Layer by layer, he saw underneath the skin, going from the muscles, all the way to the skeletons that help shape our bodies. Displays and activities focused not just on the body, but how to keep it healthy through proper diet and physical activity. My son helped Telly shop for meals. This was one of his favorite activities. He loved finding the foods and scanning them. He also prepared healthy snacks at Mr. Hooper's Store. Interactive exhibits tested the body and the mind's agility through friendly competition. And the list goes on.

Our family experience
My son loves Elmo. I thought he would enjoy seeing Elmo and his friends in a fun and educational way. He did. We spent about 30 minutes going through the exhibit, bouncing from one activity to the next. Though the exhibit was small, the space was packed with so much stuff to see and do. Although he may not recognize it, he learned about anatomy and physiology, dietary behavior, and physical activity. I don't expect him to retain anything he saw or learned, but he certainly had a lot of fun exploring. This is certainly an exhibit worth going to, even if the child is not familiar with Sesame Street characters. There were a lot of lessons to be learned by the youngest of visitors, all the way up to those young at heart.

Tips

Buy tickets online to save money and time. The website often offers online specials. Also, look for coupons/discount offers in local magazines. As with any attraction, the museum gets crowded on the weekends, especially Bank of America free Saturdays. If you can, go during the weekday, however, check the website for any scheduled field trips. Bring your own lunch, especially if you don't like Taco Bell or Pizza Hut. The line to meet and take pictures with Elmo gets filled up fast. I suggest picking a time when you want to meet him and stand in line early.

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. I received permission from the museum to post their trademarked brand/logo on my blog.

Curious George Traveling Exhibit at Pretend City®

Location

Pretend City®

29 Hubble

Irvine, CA 92618

(949) 428-3900

Now until January 30, 2011

Admission

Entrance to the Curious George exhibit is an additional $1 on top of the museum entrance fee ($11) for non-members >12 months old. Members enter the exhibit for free. You can purchase tickets online at the Pretend City® website or on site.

Parking

Parking is free. The Pretend City® parking lot is small so there is limited space. The museum is set within an industrial area surrounded by office buildings. Signs are posted on parking spaces and in the lot where museum guests can not park. However, street parking is available.

Stroller/wheelchair accessibility

The museum is accessible by stroller and wheelchair. There is stroller parking inside the museum, right at the entrance of the "City."

Restroom facilities

Restrooms for guests are in 3 locations in the museum: behind the gift shop, by the marina, and next to the cafe. The restrooms next to the Real Cafe are large family restrooms with a changing table. 

Food/concessions
There is a small cafe inside the museum as well as 2 vending machines. The Real Cafe offers limited food services. There is no kitchen, all food sold have been prepared elsewhere. There are 2 microwaves in the cafe area that guests can use.

Activities

The Curious George exhibit is packed with things to do for the young explorer. Every aspect of the exhibit structure is cleverly integrated with hands-on activities. There are monitors throughout the exhibit where guests can watch a video relevant to the specific activity. 

Inquisitive minds will have the opportunity to learn about: shapes, colors, wind, shadows, animals, fruits & vegetables, and lots more. Curious George fans can learn about wind and how it works in a farm setting. Guests can manipulate the wind using fans and make pinwheels and windsock in the craft area. Your child can explore outer space while riding in a rocketship with George. Guests can shop for, or sell, fruits and vegetables in a produce market. 

Engineers can build towers and operate a conveyor belt. Parents and children can put on a shadow puppet show and create new colors. Fans of the PBS cartoon will recognize familiar faces in wall murals and can romper around George's apartment lobby. 

If your explorer wants some respite from adventure, there is a bench, with some books, right at the exhibit entrance where they can have some down time to read about their favorite monkey. And most importantly, everyone will have the opportunity to take a picture with the cutest, most curious monkey in the world. Throughout the day, George visits the museum and poses with new friends. For Curious George aficionados, there is a gift shop at the museum entrance full of trademarked items for sale.

Our family experience

My son is crazy over George. He had such a great time playing in the exhibit. In 40 minutes, he was able to play with all the activities at least once. He just started getting interested in costume play and was excited to put on the Doorman's costume. He kept pressing the elevator button and opening and closing the elevator doors, pretending to be the Doorman. As far as safety, the exhibit is set apart from the rest of the "City," and there is only one entrance/exit to the exhibit. Pretend City® gets crowded on certain days due to field trips. I suggest calling the museum to find out if they have groups coming in as the Curious George exhibit does get crowded. After visiting the exhibit, we explored the rest of the "City." 

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.