longbeachkids

Horny Corner/Los Alamitos Bay

by

It goes by many names- Alamitos Bay, The Bay, and the rarely-used Horny Corner, but all Long Beach residents agree on one thing- The Bay is the place to swim in Long Beach. With a long waveless beach, free parking, and easy access, you’ll find The Bay swarming with locals nearly every day during the week during the season. Read on to find out why it’s such a hit!

I wasn’t born here in Long Beach. So though I’ve lived here since 2003, when locals said they were heading to The Bay, I had no idea what that meant.

It wasn’t until a friend told me exactly where to go and where to park that we first visited the bay as a family. And it quickly became my kids’ favorite place to swim.

With calm, beautiful water, lots of boats to look at, and plenty of friends to bump into, the Bay is a go to destination for many Long Beach families.

So why does everyone love Alamitos Bay so much? Read on to find out all about planning your visit, and why why so many locals would call it the best beach in Long Beach.

Read More

Visiting Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach

by

Have you visited Racho Los Alamitos in Long Beach before? This free, hidden gem is the perfect place to take a stroll on a warm day, visit animals, and learn a ton about Southern California’s history. Here’s what you need to know before you go!

When my daughter was young, a friend invited us to come see the giant horses at Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach. We got dressed, got excited, and set out for an adventure.

Aaannndd….we couldn’t find the place.

It took a few more years, and a few more tries, before we were able to actually figure out how to get into Rancho Los Alamitos. And it’s really not so hard- you just have to know what you’re looking for.

And when you do find it, you’re going to be rewarded handsomely. With a historic home to tour, extensive gardens to walk through, and a barn full of farm animals, you and your kids will leave the Rancho very, very glad you came.

Here’s what you should know before you head to Rancho Los Alamitos in Long Beach!

Read More

Wardlow Park in Long Beach

by

Looking for fun playgrounds, sports fields, and lots of green space to run and play? Check out Wardlow Park in Long Beach with your kids for a tiny taste of nature int he big city.

There are a lot of great parks in Long Beach, but outside of El Dorado Park, you’re not gonna find lots of uninterrupted green space. Wardlow Park, however, offers lots of wide open spaces for families.

It’s unique in that it offers not only a regular playground and sports fields, but it can also give kids a glimpse of what life is like outside of the city with the treeline located along the west side of the park. Adults will see it as a way to hide the aquaduct. But kids are likely to see it as magic.

Kids can climb trees, play with sticks, and create forest “houses” complete with fire pits, forage for “food” and play “lost in the woods” for hours, if you’ll let them.

There’s LOTS of reasons to love Wardlow Park in Long Beach- but here are ours.

Read More

Tips for Visiting El Dorado Frontier in Long Beach

by

You may not have heard of El Dorado Frontier in Long Beach or realized that Long Beach has it’s own mini-theme park! We hadn’t either, so we were thrilled to try out the updated El Dorado Frontier!

Located in the heart of El Dorado Regional Park East, El Dorado Frontier will take you and your kids back to the wild west. From panning for gold to a train ride through history, El Dorado Frontier is a not to be missed hidden gem in Long Beach.

Tips for visiting El Dorado Frontier with kids, by LongBeachKids.com

This post contains affiliate links. You can read more at our disclosures page. Thanks!

Read More

Tips for Visiting Whaley Park in Long Beach

by

The newly updated Whaley Park in Long Beach is one of the BEST parks in the area. So what makes Whaley Park so great? Featuring lots of climbing and a STEAM focus, there’s a LOT to love about this neighborhood treasure.

If you haven’t been to Whaley Park in Long Beach lately, you’re definitely want to catch up on all the update at this gorgeous, kid friendly park.

It’s located in East Long Beach, near CSULB. With a STEAM focus, there’s a little something for everyone at this playground. Climbers will love the intricate climbing structures, there’s musical activities at an accessible level, and the merry-go-round disc swings are definitely a highlight for sensory seekers.

Planning a trip to Whaley Park in Long Beach? Here’s what you need to know before you go!

CLIMBING STRUCTURE AT WHALEY PARK IN LONG BEACH

Read More

El Dorado Nature Center

by

Thinking about visiting the El Dorado Nature Center with kids? Whether you’re a Long Beach Native or just visiting, you don’t want to miss this somewhat hidden gem. The El Dorado Nature center is one of our absolute favorite places to take our kids. So we’ve got all the tips you’ll need to have a fun family day at this wonderful Long Beach oasis.

Living in Long Beach, you might feel like you’re in the heart of a big city. I mean, we’ve got all the amenities you could ask for! But it might leave you craving some wide open spaces and nature.

When we need to feel a little more remote, we pack up and head to the El Dorado Nature Center. Between the blue herons, turtles, 105 acres of plant life and over 2 miles of nature walk paths, El Dorado Nature Center is a Long Beach family favorite.

Entrance sign at the El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach

Read More

Bolivar Park in Lakewood

by

Heading to Bolivar Park in Lakewood for the first time? It’s a great pick, for climbing, shade, and it’s star feature- a working Zipline! Everything you need to know to tackle Bolivar Park with kids, whether it’s your first visit (or your 100th!)

In the past few years, Bolivar Park in Lakewood has undergone some pretty impressive renovations. Whether you’ve got big kids or little kids, there is something at this park for just about everyone.

With it’s central location for Lakewood and North Long Beach, you can squeeze in a quick trip to Bolivar around errands at the Lakewood Mall, or make it your destination for a full moring or afternoon of play.

But before you head over to Bolivar Park, let’s look at some of the logistics to make your day at the park smoother (and a lot more fun!)

PICTURE OF PLAYDGROUND; TEXT: BOLIVAR PARK

Read More