longbeachkids

Best Kid Date Dessert Spots in Long Beach

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Looking for a fun – and tasty! – place to go for a special treat with your kid? Trying to think of where to go on your next kid date in Long Beach? Check out the best dessert spots in Long Beach to take your kids!

My kids’ love language just might be chocolate. Followed by quality time. So when it came to finding ways for us to connect one on one, dessert kid dates in Long Beach were a perfect fit.

And so we began exploring our city looking for the best dessert in Long Beach.

Our kids had a fantastic time helping us do research! We loved realizing how much you can get kids to open up and share over dessert. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with your kids or just have a yummy dessert in Long Beach, we’ve got what you’re looking for.

We’ve enjoyed ice cream and cinnamon rolls, cookies and cupcakes, and are bringing you our favorite spots. Did we miss one of your favorites? Drop it in the comments so we can check it out and add it to our list!

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Visiting Adventure Playground in Irvine

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Looking for a big adventure beyond Long Beach? For all day fun, consider checking out the amazing Adventure Playground in Irvine.

Now that I’ve got kids ages 10 months to 9 years, it’s important for me to find places that has something for everyone. It needs to be safe, secure, and most of all fun. Adventure Playground in Irvine checks every single box and is worth the drive for a day of fun the whole family can enjoy.

The big kids love building structures with huge Lego style bricks. I love that it’s fully enclosed. They ALL love the mud! It’s the kind of playground where I get to say YES, which is also great. Yes to getting messy, Yes to running and climbing. YES to finding all kinds of ways to play.

While this is definitely a bigger commitment than one of our great local parks, it’s a commitment we’re happy to make!

Read on to find out why we love Adventure Playground in Irvine so much, for kids of all ages.

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Pony Rides in Long Beach

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Looking for some great pony rides in Long Beach? Or wondering if there are any horseback riding lessons in Long Beach? You’re in luck! Across from Long Beach Towne Center, on the Lakewood/Long Beach border, is an amazing equestrian center! Go on a pony ride, take a riding lesson, or have a birthday at this amazing hidden gem of Long Beach!

Anytime we go to a fair or carnival, my kids love to go on a pony ride. But at fair and carnival prices? I say “no” much more often than I say “yes.”

Once you pay for the ride (that’s over in 2 minutes) and then a big upcharge just to take a picture, you’ve spent a LOT of money. Have more than one kid? Forget about it! Pony rides at a reasonable price are hard to find!

So we were thrilled to find affordable pony rides in Long Beach. Whether you’re taking one child or a fun family outing, there’s something for everyone at Ponytime at the Lakewood Equestrian Center!

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Best Bike Paths for Kids in Long Beach

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One of our favorite family activities is taking a neighborhood bike ride. If you’re looking for a place to ride, you’ll love our list of best bike paths for kids in Long Beach.

My family rides our bikes a lot. We ride around the neighborhood, we ride to nearby parks, we ride to close family members homes. We ride so much we had to start looking for new fun places to ride our bikes.

Luckily, Long Beach has a ton of fun recreational opportunities and a surprising amount of green space for a big city. Long Beach also prides itself on being a “Bike Friendly Community” with lots of bike lanes and spaces created for riding bikes.

And while, as adults, we love all the bike lanes, sometimes our kids need something a bit more protected.

From parks to beach paths, to right in your own neighborhood, there are a ton of great places to ride bikes with kids in Long Beach.

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The Best Places to Swim in Long Beach

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Need to cool down? You’re in luck- there are TONS of great places to swim in Long Beach! Read on for a full list of our favorites.

Temperatures are creeping up, and with many in Long Beach living without AC, it gets HOT both inside and outside!

One of the best ways to cool down is by throwing yourself into some water and getting some relief from the heat.

Luckily, we know exactly where to swim in Long Beach. Whether you want a pool, beach, or just a place to splash around, we’ve got you covered with this list of the best places to swim in Long Beach.

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The Best Parks in Long Beach

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Long Beach, CA has some FANTASTIC parks (and with new bond measures, they’re getting better all the time!) But people ask us all the time- what are the BEST parks in Long Beach? We’ve got our favorites- read on to find out where they are!

Southern California is known for its gorgeous year round weather. And one of the perks? Our gorgeous, super fun city parks system.

Unlike other places around the country, we have access to these free parks all year long.

Which park you choose has a lot to do with what your kids enjoy. We’ll break the best parks in Long Beach down by category so you can find the one that’s best for you.

However, we also strongly recommend trying out ALL the parks on this list! You never know just how much your kids will love something until you give it a try.

So without further ado, here it is – our list of the best parks in Long Beach, CA.

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Visiting Bolsa Chica Wetlands with Kids

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Looking for a fun way to get outside in Southern California? Consider visiting Bolsa Chica Wetlands with kids! It’s a flat, easy walk with lots to see. Fun for the whole family!

I’ve lived here in Long Beach for almost twenty years (oh, ew. How am I that old?) and I’ve never visited the Bolsa Chica Wetlands before.

I’d always heard about them, and how beautiful it was, and what a nice walk it was.

But I’d also heard about how terrible parking is, and it was enough to put me off completely.

So when a trip with Cub Scouts forced my hand, I had no choice but to visit Bolsa Chica Wetlands with kids (like, LOTS of them) for the first time.

And it turns out (like so many things) I had nothing to be afraid of, and only wished I’d done it sooner.

If you are also intimidated by the adventure, or are looking to visit Bolsa Chica Wetlands for the first time, here are some pro tips to make the whole thing less scary (and more fun).

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What Should I Do With My Kids Today in Long Beach?

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We’ve all been there- a whole long day stretched ahead of you, and you’re asking yourself, “what should I do with my kids today?” You’re in luck- we have a whole list of things to do with your kids today in Long Beach.

Summer is here, and we try to keep our kids busy. Summer camps, pool days, beach days- all the good stuff.

We also try to sprinkle in plenty of “do nothing” days, letting them get bored, roaming the neighborhood and riding bikes.

But then there are those OTHER days. Where it’s clear that we’ll all be miserable if we stay home, but I have no idea what to do with my kids today.

And that’s where this list comes in.

If you also find yourself asking, “what should I do with my kids today in Long Beach?” you’re in luck- we have a whole list of super fun ways to entertain your kids (and yourself!) close to home.

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Visit Splash! La Mirada This Summer

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Looking for a fun, low-key water park in Southern California? Check out Splash! La Mirada with kids to pack in a full day of water based fun.

If you’re anything like our family, your kids LOVE to play in water.

And luckily, living in Southern California, the summer weather is absolutely perfect to splash and play, whether at the pool, the beach, or one of our many local splash pads.

But once in a while, we want to upgrade our summer fun by visiting a water park in Southern California. And unfortunately, our budgets don’t always allow us to go big (a la Raging Waters, Soak City, or Great Wolf Lodge).

Luckily, we’ve got a hidden gem of a water park in nearby La Mirada. Run by the city, Splash! La Mirada Buccaneer Bay is a perfect place to ride water slides, chill in a lazy river, and go on a water-based play structure.

WITHOUT breaking the bank.

So if you are looking for a cheaper water park in Southern California, look no further. We’ve got all the tips for visiting Splash! La Mirada with kids.

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Camping in El Dorado Park in Long Beach

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Wondering if there is camping in El Dorado Park in Long Beach? The answer for whether or not camping is allowed in El Dorado Park is a little more complicated than you might think- but we’re going to clear it up for you right here!

If you’ve spent much time in East Long Beach, you’ve for sure heard of El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach. It’s got incredible resources, and lots of green space.

But it’s also a SUPER confusing park.

Not only are the one way roads a little tricky (and don’t get us started on the limited entrances!) but people often get it confused with Long Beach’s El Dorado Park, the free-use portion of the park with the same name.

And one of the most common questions we’ve been asked? Is camping allowed in El Dorado Park in Long Beach.

The answer is yes- but also no. Read on for full information!

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