What do do while visiting Irvine with kids in tow?

December 6, 2007 1:24 PM

I'm visiting family in Irvine, CA 12/26 - 12/31. Can you help me put together an itinerary of must-do / see things in the area?

I got great feedback on an earlier question I'd posted about this. But this time around I'm traveling with my kids aged 6 and 7 and I'd like to make it an exciting and memorable trip for them.

I'm thinking of throwing in an amusement park, but I was dismayed at the prices for Disney and I'm considering Knott's Berry Farm or Legoland instead. What's your experience with bringing similarly aged kids to these amusement parks?

Also, animals. Should I go to a big park - Sea World, Wild Animal Park, San Diego Zoo, or is there a smaller attraction perhaps better suited to them?

Is a cruise to Catalina a viable option? What is there to do on the island that might interest kids?

How about kayaking? Is it possible to go kayaking with a child who won't be much good at paddling? Or should I consider a canoe instead. Either way, where to rent this stuff?

posted by indigo4963 to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

Theme parks - Knott's Berry Farm or Six Flags Magic Mountain (Knott's is aimed at a slightly younger audience that might suit your chilluns more)

San Diego Zoo is super cool, and will provide plenty of entertainment for a full day (but there is a fairly substantial drive to get there ~2-3 hrs if you're lucky).

I am not sure where you might want to go 'yaking. I would argue that you might be best saving that for another trip.

Maybe a tour of some film studios (Warner Bros., Universal, ...). While you're in that neck of the woods, maybe you could see the Hollywood sign.

In LA maybe you could check out the California Science Center? It has some interesting/educational/memorable things that might be suited to your little ones.

Perhaps take in some of the local fare (In-n-Out, Fatburger)
posted by milqman at 1:39 PM on December 6, 2007

As an alternative to the California Science Center, there's the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, which is much closer to Irvine.

And the zoo at the Irvine Regional park is also very close, although much, much smaller in scale than the zoos you mentioned.
posted by jaimev at 1:45 PM on December 6, 2007

You've asked this before. You probably knew that, but I don't think a whole lot has changed in the last year.
posted by LionIndex at 1:54 PM on December 6, 2007

Response by poster: LionIndex, I mentioned in the question that I'd asked it before. I would have linked it but couldn't figure out how. The question is slightly different as I have kids in tow this time around.

Jaimev, I'll check out the oczoo and the discovery science center -- those look cool and spot on

milqman, I'll check out CA science center, and I'm leaning towards Knott's Berry Farm.
posted by indigo4963 at 2:02 PM on December 6, 2007

I hate to be a Disney shill, but, at 6 and 7, Disneyland is absolutely your best bet for exciting and memorable. It sounds like you visit family out here fairly regularly, so make sure you do it at some point, even if you can't make it work this time. Also, it's fun for adults too (I just went on Tuesday), if you can let yourself enjoy it.

But, if Disneyland's really not an option, you're better off with Knott's. I've never been to Legoland, but it's also going to be better for the kids. Magic Mtn. I think is too much geared towards the huge thrill rides these days -- bring them back as teenagers, when they're tall enough to get on the big rides and old enough to enjoy them.

If you're OK with the drive, you might want to look into the San Diego Wild Animal Park as well. It's a slightly shorter drive than the SD Zoo, and just as impressive. Sea World's gonna be a drive too. I haven't been since I was a kid (despite living in SD for the last 6 years), so I can't really comment on that.

You could also go to Universal Studios, which is a combination amusement park/film lot. The tram ride is neat -- they take you through the back lot and show you old sets and special effects (Jaws, flash floods, the parting of the Red Sea, etc). They've also got some rides and shows that are worth seeing, but I'm not sure your kids are old enough to appreciate the movies and TV shows they come from.

I really want to go the Discovery Science Center, but I'm like a kid in a candy shop at science museums...
posted by natabat at 2:55 PM on December 6, 2007

Head to the Beach.
You can kayak ( or rent an electric duffy boat ) in Newport harbor .
The weather is still generally great at that time of year. ( i live one block from the ferry landing on the peninsula side ) and the beach is still an option.
They unfortunately took away most of the "Fun Zone" and put in a nautical museum. :-)
Catalina is kind of boring for younger kids .
You will be able to go whale watching from the the the landings in the harbor Newport Landing or Daveys Locker
This site (Talesofbalboa.com )has a lot of these links .
posted by stuartmm at 3:02 PM on December 6, 2007

The Kidseum at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana or the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach might be fun (disclaimer: I have never been to either one). My worry with the theme parks is that they'd be super-crowded, since most school-age kids will be off for the holiday break.
posted by mogget at 3:38 PM on December 6, 2007

One reason D'Land costs an arm and a leg is because it an enjoyable place to be for the most part, especially at 6-7. Six Flags is filthy and disappointing, avoid it. plus, its mostly fast, jerky roller coasters, your kids won't get nearly as much enjoyment. Nothing bad to say about Knotts, but its just not D'land. See if you can find any specials/discounts through tourism boards...

Seconding Santa Ana Zoo (it's no SD Zoo), Discovery Science Center, Studio tours, Bowers (although pricey) the Aquarium in Long Beach, SDWAP and SD Zoo. Although it is SoCal, it will probably be a little chilly at the beaches (we are wusses here, 65 is chilly).
posted by tdischino at 7:58 PM on December 6, 2007

Look up what times the low tides are and check out the tidepools in Corona del Mar.
posted by Guy Smiley at 9:49 PM on December 6, 2007

Thirding (or fourthing?) Discovery Science Center, Long Beach Aquarium and Santa Ana Zoo, as well as ixnay on the Magic Mountain. It may be awfully cold up there (for us Californians). It's a crap drive through LA and not kid-focused the way Disneyland is. Knott's is also a decent choice.

Adventure City is another option. I've never been, so I can't vouch for it, but I had a friend take her younger children there all the time.

You can also find Christmas boat parades and things like that on the OC Register site.
posted by faunafrailty at 9:55 AM on December 7, 2007

I used to *work* at Legoland. You'll need a male child to enjoy the visit, it's easily as expensive as Disneyland and much less fun (though it's gotten loads better than it was), and it seems like we're hitting bad weather this December and Legoland is zero fun in the cold (and doesn't do weather refunds).

Nthing Disneyland.

If you really want to go kayaking, you can combine your Catalina thing with that, but be careful. I had a friend who did kayaking off of Catalina, and she ended up accidentally on the Pacific side of things and really had trouble getting back. So, not recommended for small children.

I definitely recommend the WAP over any of the local zoos, but again not in bad weather (especially because it's in one of the areas that got hit by the wildfires and may get hit by mudslides).

There just isn't a lot to do in Irvine (although, I grew up in San Diego, so my view may be a little biased), so you'll probably have to go to SD or LA, as you know.
posted by librarylis at 12:05 AM on December 8, 2007