11 Best Things to Do in Orange County, CA (with Kids)
You just might be surprised by all the fun things to do in Orange County with kids. This area of California is probably best known as the home of Disneyland and some famous housewives. There’s a lot more to the OC, though. Whether you’re looking for a Southern California vacation spot or you want to add some extra activities to your Disneyland trip, you’ll definitely want to explore these 11 things to do in Orange County!
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1. Connect with nature at Irvine Regional Park.
There’s so much to do at Irvine Regional Park, it’s hard to know where to start! Choices include the Irvine Park Railroad ride-on miniature train, hiking, the Orange County Zoo, pony rides, paddleboats, and even more. Numerous holiday-themed activities occur throughout the year, too, so be sure to check their website to see current events.
2. Play at Pretend City.
This attraction in Orange County is a favorite of families with young children. You should plan to spend an entire morning or afternoon exploring the make-believe town at Pretend City in Irvine. Parents can sit and relax while children “work” at fun jobs. Kids serve pretend drinks at the café, sort mail at the post office, and play at other professions. Kids earn play money by performing each task. This great learning experience can keep children entertained for hours.
3. Get your thrills at Knott’s Berry Farm.
This Orange County amusement park often gets lost in Disneyland’s shadow. With a multitude of rides, shops, and other entertainment — Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park is great fun for families. Big kids love the abundance of roller coasters while young children enjoy the park’s Peanuts gang-themed rides. Be sure to say hi to Snoopy and his friends! You can save big bucks by buying your tickets in advance from Knotts.com instead of at the gate.
Trying to decide if this theme park is right for your family? Read this comparison of Knott’s Berry Farm vs. Disneyland.
4. See animals at Santa Ana Zoo.
California is home to a number of wonderful zoos, but one that frequently gets overlooked is the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park in Orange County. Not only is the admission price affordable, but also this zoo offers a number of appealing attractions. From the Crean Family Farm petting zoo and Colors of the Amazon Aviary to the Zoofari Express Train Ride and the Conservation Carrousel Featuring Endangered Animals, you’re sure to find something at this small zoo to please your brood.
5. Go tide pooling in Orange County with kids.
Tide pools are shallow rock pools found beside the ocean. Orange County is a great place to explore these mini-ecosystems with kids. Best of all, it’s free to look for sea creatures and plant life in tide pools. This activity provides a relaxing way to break up a busy vacation. We have a number of beaches here in the OC, but my family’s top two favorites for tide pooling are Crystal Cove California State Beach (right off Pacific Coast Highway at the Laguna Beach/Newport Beach border) and Aliso Creek County Beach/Montage Beach (south of downtown Laguna Beach).
6. Book a whale watching boat tour.
If you’re visiting Orange County with kids in late winter or early spring, then be sure to check out the whale watching boat tours. Kids and adults alike will be amazed to see humpback whales diving and breaching. You’ll likely see playful dolphins frolicking in the wild, too. Book your Newport Beach whale-watching adventure via GetYourGuide now!
7. Go surfing in Huntington Beach.
There’s no place better to catch a wave and hang ten than Huntington Beach, also known as Surf City USA. Located in Orange County, Huntington Beach celebrates all things surfing. New to surfing? That’s fine, too! Book surfing lessons for kids as young as age 6 or so. Learn more about all there is to do in Huntington Beach with kids.
8. Ride the Orange County Great Park Balloon.
Don’t miss your chance to ride in a hot air balloon for FREE in Orange County with kids. That’s right, families can take to the skies in the basket of a huge orange-colored helium-propelled balloon at Irvine’s Great Park. All ages can ride the Great Park Balloon but children under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult. For a fee, take kids for a spin on the Great Park Carousel before or after your flight.
9. Take a ferry to Catalina Island.
Santa Catalina Island, or Catalina Island as it’s often called, is the only one of the Channel Islands where civilians live year-round. Take a ferry here for a day trip or a longer island getaway. On this wee isle just 22 miles from California’s coast families enjoy golf, hiking, and biking. Of course, you’ll also find all sorts of watersports like paddleboarding, fishing, and kayaking. Fun fact: cars are not allowed on the island and most residents get around via golf cart. As a bonus, you might spy whales and dolphins during the journey to or from the island! Book your ferry to Catalina Island from Long Beach or San Pedro. Learn more about the Channel Islands with these tips for visiting Ventura, California.
10. Learn at Discovery Cube
Located in Santa Ana just off Interstate 5, this attraction is hard to miss. The Discovery Cube is the aptly named giant black 3-D cube next to the freeway. Learning here is decidedly hands-on with exhibits that teach the science of water, rockets, dinosaurs, and beyond. Plus, it doesn’t cost much to spend a fun and educational day here with children. Look for a variety of educational programs like sleepovers and summer camps, too.
11. Experience the magic of Disneyland.
Of course, no list of the best things to do in Orange County would be complete without Disneyland and its sister theme park, Disney California Adventure. There’s nothing quite as magical as seeing the wondrous world of Disney through the eyes of a child. If you’re visiting with little ones, then discover the best Disneyland rides for babies and toddlers. Planning a Disneyland trip with bigger kids? Take a look at the scariest rides at Disneyland and these tips for Disneyland with teens and tweens.
Explore more of California.
Beach days are a must when visiting California. Take a peek at the best beaches in California for families.
Visit Orange County’s southern neighbor with this list of kid-friendly activities in San Diego.
Not sure where to go in California? Decide with these picks of the best places to go in California with kids.
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Which of these things to do in Orange County would your family like most? Let us know in the comments below!
This story was written by Katie, author of the KidsandMice blog. Katie is a busy, working mother of two boys. When they aren’t riding the roller coasters at Disneyland, heading to the beach, or on some other adventure, you’ll find them at home in South Orange County, California.
Orange County looks amazing! Our family would love the whale watching cruise! I’m curious as to the best ages for kids at Knotts Berry Farm? Thanks for the awesome recommendations!
Nnniiiccceeeeee….Pretend City is a good one, I must say. The number of distractions it offers, that I can see, are so many….
It’s so fun to watch kids playing and learning at Pretend City, too!
It is nice to know that there are many other things that we can do with the kids aside from Disneyland. My daughter would love to play at Pretend City and will make sure to include this in our itinerary once we visit OC. It would be nice to visit the Santa Ana Zoo too. Thank you for sharing this.
Disneyland is wonderful but it’s nice to take a break from the parks, too!
Oh Em Gee! The pretend place sounds like the Wanna Do City that use to be in south Florida. Never been to orange county but so many fun things to do!! Will deffinelty consider it on my bucket list.
Yay! So much to do in Orange County with kids!
I haven’t been in Orange County yet. There’s so much to do! I hope I can visit soon after the pandemic.
Yes! Smart to start making travel plans now!
I have always wanted to visit Orange county! Now I am totally convinced that I have to go ASAP! The west coast is absolutely amazing. Makes Florida seem a bit dull at times.
Ha! California and Florida are both such beautiful states with so much to do! Hope you can make those California vacation dreams come true very soon!
We LOVE Orange County, California! We just moved from Laguna Beach to Costa Rica but are planning another trip out there. These are awesome suggestions! We love the playground at Main Beach in Laguna Beach, mother’s beach on the balboa peninsula in Newport, where there’s another great playground with a lighthouse slide. We also love visiting Balboa Island, especially around the holidays with all the decorations! Duffy boats for sunset cruise in Newport are fun too. I could go on and on. It’s my favorite place in the States.
Thank you for all of the wonderful Orange County suggestions, Linzey! Totally agree on the Balboa Island (and Balboa Bars!) and Duffy boats!
I have been to California so many times but there are so many places that I have not seen yet. This list has some ideas that we need to do the next time we visit the state. I really would like to go to Catalina Island. Thanks for sharing.
California really is such a diverse state with so much to offer! Always a new adventure to enjoy in this beautiful state!
Orange County has so much to offer! If I had the chance to visit, I’d like to go to Irvine Regional Park first. I love nature parks. It just gives me a sense of peace.
I love Irvine Regional Park so much! My family has been there several times and we always find something new to do!
I love kid-friendly destinations and Orange County has everything that I like. My kids love water so they’d enjoy being at the beach or tide pooling.
Orange County is a wonderful spot for water lovers like your family! Hope you can plan a trip for someday soon!
The big paddleboats looks like so much fun, I really must look into fining some here in Sweden 🙂
Kids love paddleboats! Hope you can find something similar in Sweden…or make it to California to give it a go!
I don’t have kids yet, but I would love to take the ferry to Catalina Island, and ride the park balloon! So many great suggestions, thanks for sharing.
The Great Park Balloon is such an easy way to cross hot air ballooning off a bucket list…and it’s free, too! What could be better?!
With so much scenery, amusement parks, and so on, Southern California is a great place to kids! Disney might be the first thing that comes to mind, but there is so much more.
So true! Come for Disneyland but stay for all of the rest of the fun! It’s a shame many visitors don’t see much beyond the theme parks.
There are many activities that are sporty and a little adventurous here! Nice list of options that are family-friendly.
There’s something to please everyone in the family in the OC!
So many great suggestions! I would definitely want to check out the tide pools.
Great choice! Always so much to discover when tide pooling!
I have a friend who lives in California, and she’s always talking about how amazing Orange County is. According to her, it’s the best area in the entire state. I’ve always wanted to visit.
You’ll have to pay your friend a visit and see if you agree! (I bet you will!)