southern California - Pitstops for Kids

What to do in Anaheim beyond the parks: Anaheim Packing District

November 15, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’ve planned a trip with the kids to Anaheim for the Disney theme parks, hopefully you’re taking my advice and adding at least one ‘rest day’ to your Disney itinerary. Disneyland and California Adventure are now at least a two-day affair, and by extending your Orange County trip to three full days, you can take a much needed break from the parks in the middle. Here’s what to do, beyond going to the beach.

What to do in Anaheim beyond the parks:

Anaheim Packing District:

This pedestrian-friendly district in Anaheim is only minutes from Disney, but feels a world away. Built at the site of one of Orange County’s famed orange groves of a few decades ago, the Packing District is now an eclectic and artistic mix of shops, dining venues, breweries, outdoor walkways and green spaces. It feels urban in a way most of the OC does not, and has been described as the ‘locals’ Anaheim’.

Start at the Packing House, which is two stories of dining options and artisan food speciality shops. The Packing House reminded me of Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market or even Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Kids will go crazy for the sweet milk, boba, and tea concoctions at Mini Monster, served in custom mason jars topped in clouds of cotton candy, and with the hand-dipped popsicles and ice cream at Popbar. I recommend the authentic Indian cuisine at ADYA and the Vietnamese flavors at Sawleaf Cafe, but the best part is that everyone can order from a different venue at the Packing House, then come together to eat at the same table, sharing bites.

The Packing House is surrounded by brew pubs with outdoor seating and kid-friendly amenities (think swings and board games) and more handmade and homemade goodness in MAKE and nearby Farmers Park. Leisuretown, coming soon, will feature more dining options plus a massive swimming pool, among other amusements.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts:

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a world-class performing arts center located adjacent to Anaheim in Costa Mesa. Yes, there are shows in Disney, but if you need a break for some genuine culture, this is where to do it. The Segerstrom offers a year-round Family Series, which features kid-friendly shows and performances throughout the year. For young kids, offerings such as Muppet sing-alongs and Journey to Oz are on the schedule for 2018, with shows such as School of Rock for older kids. Dining near the Segerstrom is limited to a few fine dining venues, so I recommend eating before arriving.

Tip: Many families coming to Orange County just for Disney don’t rent a car. You don’t need one to get to the Packing District or Segerstrom. While Southern California is admittedly not known for public transit, ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation) does do a good job of getting families to and from the resort areas and the rest of Anaheim. You can connect to ART directly from Disneyland, and fares are only $5.50 for adults and $2 for kids ages 3-9. Lyft is a good bet as well!

Where to stay:

If you’re not staying on Disney property and want to be centrally located for both Disneyland and additional Anaheim and Costa Mesa offerings, I highly recommend the Homewood Suites Irvine. Minutes from everything, Irvine makes for a central home base that will help you avoid traffic, and is more budget-friendly than Orange County beach towns or Disney-adjacent properties.

The value proposition at Homewood Suites Irvine is high: families get free parking, free breakfast, free WiFi, easy access to Disney, and even a free nightly reception/drink option, that includes enough food to call it a light meal. During my visit, I watched a family of four make a full meal out of Italian cuisine appetizers, drinks (including wine and beer for parents) and desserts served complimentarily, and settle by the outdoor pool for a chill evening. The next evening, it was Chinese food, and my last evening, the reception centered around pizzas and antipasto. Plus, in addition to an outdoor pool and hot tub, the Homewood Suites features an outdoor sport court.

How to spend a day in San Juan Capistrano California

November 1, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Located on the southern end of Orange County, San Juan Capistrano lies adjacent to the beach towns of Dana Point and Laguna Beach, but offers families something different than sand and sun. One of the oldest communities on the west coast, visiting San Juan Capistrano adds a layer of history to your Southern California vacation. Here’s what to explore in one day.

Mission San Juan Capistrano:

Start here, at the central attraction of San Juan Capistrano. The crown jewel of the California missions, Mission San Juan Capistrano is one of the only standing missions that can still be visited. Plan to spend a few hours here, and I recommend doing it in the morning, before the day gets too warm, as there’s little shade.

There’s an nominal entry fee to the mission ($9 for adults, $6 for kids), which is well worth it, given the scope of all there is to see here. I recommend upgrading to get the audio tour materials (which comes in an adult version and kids’ version), or scheduling your visit to coincide with one of the guided tours. Tours open up so much more of the history of a place like Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The main attraction here is arguably the ruins of the Great Stone Church, which was once the main cathedral, destroyed in an earthquake in the 19th century. Care has been taken to preserve the ruin and honor the 40-some lives lost. Along the far side of the cathedral, check out the swallow nests on the eaves, and learn about the swallows that still return to the mission each year (though in fewer numbers, due to a number of factors discussed at the mission).

After looking at the ruin, step around the back of the mission to peek in to various small courtyards and gardens, then enter the Serra chapel (tours can be had here, too). For those who are not Catholic, Father Serra, the founder of the mission, was recently granted sainthood, a big event for the mission and its faithful. Much care has been taken to not only preserve the mission, but tell the stories of its people, both the Catholic priests and workers who arrived here as well as the Native Americans whose way of life and personal lives were impacted (for good and bad) by the mission. Both sides of this history is now being told, which is a healing and important step.

Kids will enjoy the barracks of the mission, with 19th century weapons and guns on display, and the mission bookstore and shop sells authentic items and locally-made products. It’s worth taking some time to simply walk through the courtyards and gardens, check out the lily pads and Koi fish and mature fruit trees. A small museum is housed in the interior of the mission on the far side from the chapel and ruins.

Los Rios:

After visiting the mission, head across Camino Capistrano toward the railroad tracks, and cross them at the train station to enter Los Rios. The oldest neighborhood in California, Los Rios looks like a residential neighborhood, because it is: shop and restaurant owners in this district must live on premises. A stroll down Los Rios Street will take families past many small restaurants, bakeries, art galleries, and eclectic shops. It’s fun to poke into the stores, but just as lovely to walk the quiet streets and allow kids to stretch their legs.

Dining in San Juan Capistrano:

On Camino Capistrano, families will find many options, including El Adobe, Ellie’s Table, and Mission Promenade, which features many different dining venues to pick from.

Southern California CityPASS or Go Los Angeles pass?

January 23, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re planning a trip to Southern California, AND you plan to visit at least one or two major theme parks in the area, you will almost certainly save money buying either a Southern California CityPASS or a Go Los Angeles attractions pass. But which one is right for your family trip? Ask yourself the following questions to find your answer.

Where will you spend the majority of your time?

While Southern California is not a large geographical area, it sure feels like it is once you factor in traffic. We recently stayed in North Hollywood, and it took 1.5 hours to drive a distance of 35 miles. The Southern CA CityPASS focuses mostly on Orange County and San Diego, so if you plan to focus on Disney and the lower part of the state, you should look closely at that pass option. If you plan to stay in the Los Angeles area, such as Hollywood and Universal Studios, opt for the GO card.

How much time will you spend in theme parks?

CityPASS gives you a stellar deal if you plan to visit Disneyland Resort. You get three days in the parks with park hopper passes, plus admission to SeaWorld, Legoland, and one additional San Diego attraction (you choose between the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park). It’s a no-brainer: get this pass if you plan to do three days at Disney plus at least ONE of the other attractions.

If you don’t plan to do Disney at all, but will be exploring all the San Diego attractions, do the math before purchasing. Depending on admission rates at the time of your visit, you may be better off buying a la carte.

If you plan to go to Universal Studios, choose the GO card if: 1. you only plan to go to Universal for one day, and 2. you plan to take advantage of at least TWO of the many other LA area attractions offered. Note that during our visit with the GO card, admission to Universal was only included on weekdays, so plan accordingly.

How much do you want to see?

Is your vacation all about doing as much as you can while in Southern California, or are you planning to relax by a pool or by the ocean at least half the time? If you want to go, go, go, one of the passes may be for you. If you don’t, either opt to build your own GO card (where you can select a smaller number of options for less money), or skip a pass altogether.

Note: As noted above, traffic in Southern California can make ‘hopping’ from one attraction to another frustrating or downright impossible. Even when Google maps tells you two attractions are just a few miles from each other, plan to visit no more than two per day (for the shorter attractions, museums, and tours) and only one theme park per day.

How old are your kids?

Kids are a good deal on both pass types, but note that the age span for a child on a GO card is 3-12, but under age 10 for CityPASS. Most likely, this is because CityPASS offers tickets to Disneyland, who has similar categorizing. Also note that GO cards only include Universal Studios tickets on their 3-day and up versions.

A few more things to note:

Both CityPASS and GO cards have running clocks on their passes, which starts when you use the passes at your first attraction (not when you purchase them). You have 14 days to use your CityPASS tickets, and two weeks to use your GO cards…so basically the same thing!
Both passes allow you to skip the admission line and go directly to the turnstile or check-in for each attraction…treat it like an admission ticket. Even at Disney and Universal, which is a nice timesaver. You CityPASS cards work at Disney just like a ticket to retrieve FastPass vouchers.
Both are non-transferrable. You’ll have your photo taken at some attractions (like Disney), and for activation, you need to sign your GO cards and show ID.

Which pass system works for you and your family? Let us know in the comments!

SeaWorld San Diego

March 28, 2011 By Amy Hagstrom

SeaWorld San Diego has long been a San Diego landmark, and for good reason. Every time we visit, we’re amazed anew at how much the park offers and how enjoyable a day it provides. I don’t know why we’re surprised!

We’ve been taking our kids almost annually since they were babies, and every year, there’s something for everyone. We love the relaxed feel of the park, focused so much more on marine shows than long lines (although we’ve noticed a change with the addition of more featured attractions). Families can grab a daily schedule at the entrance and plan their day around who wants to see what, and know that in their downtime, play areas such as the Sesame Street Bay of Play await the little ones and rides such as Journey to Atlantis await the more daring. There are a lot of souvenir shops in the area so you will be spoiled for choices. There’s even a store that exclusively sells Cookie Monster onesies from Kigurumi.co.

We always like to start our day visiting the sections of the park that get congested later in the morning, such as the Wild Arctic or Shark Encounter. Open areas such as the Forbidden Reef and Rocky Point Preserve are more manageable later in the day. Of course, if you have ride enthusiasts in your group, try to hit those first! The show stadiums seat thousands, so it really doesn’t matter if you save those for later in the day. Extra Tip: Be sure to look for the new turtle exhibit, Turtle Reef, to open in summer of 2011!

A word on the ‘extras’: When you purchase your tickets at the entrance, take a moment to glance over the tour and special experiences offered on the day of your visit at the information booth. The behind the scenes tours are not expensive to add to your ticket, and well worth your family’s time. We’ve also tried the Dine with Shamu event (re-opening Spring 2011), and while it’s more expensive, we recommend it, especially if you have young kids or are touring the park with kids without the help of another adult. When I bought our Dine with Shamu tickets while touring SeaWorld solo with my seven and five-year-olds, I wasn’t sure it would be worth the cost of the upgrade, but I hadn’t considered the value in a relaxed dining atmosphere with no need to claim tables, wait in line with kids, or balance multiple food trays on one arm. We loved the buffet (although my kids are light eaters), and our table directly in front of the killer whale tank, where we watched them swim and train throughout lunch. During our meal, a trainer came to speak to us, demonstrated some behaviors for us with the whales, and allowed for some photo ops. With only a few dozen diners, it felt like a private show, and I didn’t have to beg anyone to sit still or wait for their food. I’m not sure I’d do it again with older kids, but with the younger set, it’s very valuable…especially if they have a hard time seeing over the heads of the crowd during traditional shows.

Admission: SeaWorld day tickets are good for up to seven days, and start at $69. If you think you might be back within the year, however, annual passes are a wonderful deal (you can even pay for them in low monthly increments).

Distance from the interstate: A few minutes off I-5.

Hours: Check the SeaWorld website for exact hour information at the time of your visit.

Directions: SeaWorld San Diego is located at 500 SeaWorld Drive. From I-5, exit SeaWorld Dr. and head west one mile, following signage.