Last updated on March 20th, 2024 at 04:14 pm
On the hunt for fun things to do in Orange County with kids?
Southern California is know for its world-class beaches, but the beach is just one of the amazing things you can do in Orange County with kids! From theme parks to museums to baseball games to water sports, the OC is the place to be for families in the summer and all year long!
Fun Things to Do in Orange County with Kids
Unless you are from the area, visiting Orange County, California usually means a trip to Disneyland or going to the beach. We live in Southern California and spend a lot of time visiting Orange County attractions. And while Iām the first to say Disneyland is awesome, there are so many other fun things to do with kids nearby!
Whether youāre looking for things to do outside the parks on your next Disneyland vacation, or planning a trip that doesnāt include Mickey at all, here are 15 fun things to do in Orange County with kids.
1. Play at the Beach
There are more than 40 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline in Orange County, boasting a plethora of boardwalks, piers and beautiful sun-kissed beaches. Popular beaches include Newport Beach, San Clemente, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, and Corona del Mar.
With its lively downtown Main Street right across from the beach and busy pier, Huntington Beach ā aka Surf City USA ā is easily our favorite state beach. Its expansive shoreline is great for kids and the boardwalk just beckons for healthy exercise ā bike riding, rollerblading or taking a long walk.
Young kids will enjoy the tide poolās marine wildlife at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach and Dana Point Marine Life Refuge. Winter months and low tides are ideal times to visit the tide pools.
Nothing says Southern California like a day at the beach, so get out there and explore them all!
2. Balboa Fun Zone
Reminiscent of early Californiaās beach days, the Balboa Fun Zone is one of Orange Countyās oldest and last great coastal amusement areas and a popular family-friendly attraction.
Located on Newport Bay, visitors can enjoy rides on the waterfront Ferris Wheel, play games in the arcade or tour the nautical museum while enjoying their favorite beach treats such as fries, ice cream and frozen bananas.
The Balboa Fun Zone is also where you can embark on a harbor cruise, fishing trip, or take off for a day trip to nearby Catalina Island.
The Balboa Fun Zone is located on Balboa Peninsula across from Balboa Pier in Newport Beach. A public parking lot is available across Balboa Blvd next to the pier, and there is metered street parking. But be warned: parking can fill up early, especially on summer weekends.
3. Pretend City Childrenās Museum
If you are visiting Orange County with younger kids, take a few hours to check out Pretend City in Irvine. They will have a blast exploring this child-size city with 17 interactive exhibits.
4. Shop Til You Drop in Orange County
With stores akin to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, there are shopping centers in Orange County ā such as Fashion Island in Newport Beach and South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa ā that will make you make you wish you were rich. But there are also plenty of equally nice, more moderately priced places too, and many are downright family friendly!
My favorite is Irvine Spectrum Center, an outdoor promenade with shops, restaurants, a movie theater, comedy club and even some amusement park rides.
When it first opened in 1995, Irvine Spectrum was one of the first outdoor retail and entertainment centers in the United States. Irvine Spectrum has evolved into a must-see attraction for shopping, dining and entertainment for visitors from around the world. It offers visitors over 130 shops ranging from department stores to popular specialty shops and boutiques. There is plenty of outdoor spaces to relax (think fire pits and fountains) and free entertainment, too.
Day or night, Irvine Spectrum Center is a must-see shopping, dining and entertainment destination for visitors of all ages.
āŗ For a luxurious stay by the beach in Orange County, check out our review of the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort.
5. Knottās Berry Farm
Located just a few miles away from Disneyland, Knottās Berry Farm often gets overlooked by visitors to Orange County. It costs less to enter, and some even say the rides are better!
It you like thrilling roller coasters, this is the theme park for you. There are literally dozens of rides, shows and attractions in four themed areas. Our favorite coaster is Silver Bullet ā California’s largest inverted roller coaster.
Knottās Berry Farmās Ghost Town captures the essence of Americaās Wild West. It is home to GhostRider, billed as the longest, tallest, and fastest wooden roller coaster on the west coast.
For little kids, there are rides and activities at Camp Snoopy, the parkās kid-friendly section. In Camp Snoopy, kids can go wild with over 12 kids rides, interactive shows and a chance to meet Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang.
6. Knottās Soak City
Adjacent to the theme park is Knottās Soak City Water Park. Cool off in the summer here with tons of slides, rides and aquatic fun.
Knott’s Soak City waterpark offers 13 California beach-themed acres designed for thrill seekers of all ages. Speed fans can drop into Banzai Falls’ six slides or Old Man Falls’ three 63-foot high vertical chutes.
For wave riders, Tidal Wave Bay provides the ultimate endless summer, while the whole family will love relaxing in one of the worldās longest lazy rivers. Even kids have their own water wonderland at the Gremmie Lagoon and three-story interactive Beach House.
7. Discovery Science Center
Orange County is home to one of the best kidsā science museums anywhere! Also known as Discovery Cube or āThe Cube,ā this great childrenās museum is filled with more than 100 interactive and fun educational exhibits.
Kids can go on research adventures at Dino Quest, be hockey players or broadcasters at the Science of Hockey or learn about rockets and space. My son has been visiting this place since he was a toddler, and there is always something new and fun to discover.
In addition to their awesome permanent exhibits, Discovery Science Center hosts tons of special events throughout the year.
8. Go Boating
There are many great marinas in Orange County and you can stretch your sea legs at just about any of them! Go on a fishing expedition, learn to sail, rent kayaks, or even take a whale watching cruise.
But honestly sometimes itās just nice to wander around the marina and check out the boats and harbor.
One of our favorite spots in Orange County is Dana Point. Dana Point Harbor is not only one of the largest recreational harbors on the west coast ā but also in the world. It’s got tons of shops, bars and restaurants, all with fantastic views.
Newport Bay is also a beautiful spot to enjoy the scenic views and sign up for a boating adventure.
9. Go to the Zoo
While it is not as big as the world-famous San Diego Zoo, the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in Orange County is a lot closer and has plenty of amazing, adorable animals and attractions for some serious family fun. Kids will love seeing all the different animals and taking a train ride aboard the Zoofari Express.
There is also the Fifty Monkeys Ferris Wheel and the Conservation Carousel. Kids can also feed goats and sheep in the petting zoo. Family fun at its finest!
10. Take a Hike
Orange County is truly one of the most scenic places in the world, and there are a myriad of hiking trails to take in its natural beauty. From family-friendly nature walks along the coast to a rigorous waterfall expedition in the Santa Ana Mountains, youāll find a trail for every fitness level and every age group.
Orange Countyās extensive regional park system is comprised of 39,000 acres in 25 urban and wilderness parks. This includes seven regional historic sites, 7,000 acres of open space and 230 miles of regional riding and hiking trails.
One of our favorite trails to explore as a family is the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. This trail is for the most part flat, and offers a peaceful nature walk through the wetlands. Youāll enjoy fresh air and gorgeous ocean views, as well as the chance to spot birds and other wildlife.
For a more adventurous hike, check out Willow Canyon Trail in Laguna Beach. This 9-mile hike is a challenging uphill trek, but youāll be rewarded at the top with an amazing view of the Laguna Beach and the coast.
11. Medieval Times
No trip to Orange County with kids would be complete without a dining adventure at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. This interactive dinner-and-a-show is nonstop excitement from beginning to end!
We first visited a few years ago for my sonās birthday and had a blast. The attraction is a bit on the pricey side, but when you look at it as getting dinner and a show it is quite worth the price!
The two-hour event includes time to explore and see the horses before the main event, great entertainment, and a four-course dinner served in true medieval, pre-silverware fashion inside the castle’s 1,100 seat arena. The show is awesome, and we especially love watching the horses.
12. Pirateās Dinner Adventure
If knights and horses arenāt your family’s thing, try the Pirateās Dinner Adventure, located right next door to Medieval Times in Buena Park.
Families will love this interactive pirate dinner show, where they will feast on a 3-course dinner while watching an exciting battle take place on a massive Spanish ship that sits in a 250,000-gallon indoor lagoon.
āŗ Travel Insight
Be sure to arrive early for free appetizers and pre-show entertainment!
13. Bowers Museum
Located in Santa Ana, just a few minutes down the freeway from Disneyland and Disneyās California Adventure, the Bowers Museum holds in its collection more than 91,000 works of art from all over the world.
But there are plenty of family-friendly exhibits, too! This lovely cultural museum is home to the Kidseum, an interactive childrenās museum. Kids will their āGlow Cave,ā where they get to create all sorts of art. There are also archeology labs where kids can play and learn.
14. Orange County Great Park
The Orange County Great Park in Irvine is 1,300 acres of entertainment and fun! Families can explore historic airplanes, go hiking, have fun in the play area, visit the nature center, ride the carousel, play at the Great Park Sports Complex, visit the Farm & Food Lab, or take to the sky in a hot air balloon at this Irvine park.
The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Parkās iconic attraction, holding up to 25ā30 passengers and soaring 400 feet above the surrounding landscape. It is just $10 per person to go up.
15. Catch a Game
Orange County is home to the Anaheim DucksĀ® and Angels Baseball. In fact, both Angels Stadium and the Honda Center are located within a mile of each other and just a few miles away from the Disney parks. If your family loves sports, be sure to catch a game while you are visiting the OC.
Orange County, California is chock full of amazing adventures just waiting to be had! Whatever you decide to do, your kids are guaranteed to never be bored.
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Katherine says
I spent my whole childhood in Australia reading about Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland, wishing I could visit. So I’ve got my first two stops covered! But I think I’d definitely be down for a visit to the water park as well. Fantastic round up for families and those with an inner child.
admin says
Thanks! Orange County really is amazing; so much to do!
Barbara Reynolds says
I have taken both my daughters, now 34 and 32 to all of these attractions, now I am introducing my 3 year old grandson. So much fun to see through ānewā eyes of a childās first time.