Blog

Kid Friendly Restaurants in Long Beach

by

Looking for a meal out, but need a kid friendly restaurant in Long Beach? No worries- this city has tons of restaurants at all levels that are perfect for taking kids to! Read on for the full list of the best restaurants with kids in Long Beach.

Pre-kids, we LOVED going out to restaurants. Long Beach has so many amazing restaurants to choose from, and we spent lots of time checking out new spots every weekend.

We assumed this tradition would continue once we had our first baby.

And it did….kind of?

We quickly found out that not every restaurant in Long Beach is great for kids. (We’ll save Bungalow Kitchen, 555, and Saint and Second for our date nights!) But we did find a list of good restaurants to take kids to around here.

And we’re sharing it with you!

Read on for a list of the best kid friendly restaurants in Long Beach.

Read More

Tips for Visiting Kidz Town in Lakewood

by

Living in Long Beach, we’re fortunate to have a ton of awesome amenities! There are beautiful parks, great public pools during the summer, and an amazing aquarium, all without leaving the city.

However, we’ve noticed that if you want to go to a great kids play place, you generally have to take a bit of a drive. And while we love places like Pretend City, we weren’t always up for driving to Irvine. We were at a loss for an easy, local place to visit. That is, until KidzTown opened.

So if we’ve been trapped inside after too many rainy days, or just need something special to do on the weekend, we’ve got a great local spot. Here are all the tips for visiting Kidz Town you need!

Read More

Pretend City Tips to Make Your Visit AMAZING

by

Visiting Pretend City in Irvine? Our kids LOVE this place, and we’ve been there at least a few dozen times. Here are some Pretend City tips to know before you go!

Pretend City children’s museum is exactly what it sounds like- it is a big, warehouse style building set up like a complete, working city. Kids are free to explore the city in any way they choose, and everything is designed to be touched and handled by inquisitive little hands.

Kids can shop at a grocery store that looks exactly like Trader Joes, then head to the farm area to see how food is made and see baby chicks. They can dance on a stage, visit the library, or play at the beach. They can paint, splash in water tables, and build. They can visit the doctor or the dentist, work or “eat” in a restaurant, and play house in a tiny home made just for them.

In a word- Pretend City is a child’s DREAM playground. We love visiting Pretend City with toddlers, and even our big kids are still super into the pretend play this children’s museum provide. If you’re in the area- heck, even if you’re not- planning a visit to Pretend City could very well be one of the highlights of your trip. 

But before you go- here are our best Pretend City tips to make sure you get the most out of your visit.

Read More

How to Plan a Park Party in Long Beach

by

Looking to throw a park party for your kids in Long Beach? They are the best (and usually cheapest!) way to go- but what do you need to know? Read on for all the details on how to throw a park party in Long Beach.

I am a BIG fan of the park party. Sure, we have tons of birthday party venue options in and near Long Beach, CA, but the park party is one of the best ways to get a LOT of bang for your buck.

You can have lots of guests, and you can go very simple (pizza and cupcakes at the playground) or bigger (tents and food venders and jumpers).

It’s a great way to get the kids outdoors and active, and is just exactly our speed.

However, there are a few hoops that you’ll need to jump through before you host a park party in Long Beach. Here are the best tips from two moms that have been there!

family at a park party; text: throwing a park party in long beach

Read More

Visiting Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

by

Looking for an educational, free aquarium in Southern California? Check out the totally fun, totally free Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, located in San Pedro!

Listen, we love- abosolutely LOVE- the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. We had annual passes for a good long while, and we used them often.

When I decided to stay at home with the kids though, those Aquarium of the Pacific passes were just too pricey to keep. And as a result, we went a LONG time without visiting an aquarium.

So when I hear about an amazing, free little aquarium in nearby San Pedro, I just knew we had to give it a visit.

And oh boy, were we ever pleasantly rewarded!

If you’re looking for an aquarium in Southern California that won’t break the budget, we highly recommend Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro. Here’s what you need to know before you go!

CHILD LOOKING AT MOON JELLIES; TEXT; CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM

Read More

Somerset Park in Long Beach

by

Looking for fun playgrounds, sports courts and plenty of green space to run around? Somerset Park in the Cal Heights Neighborhood of Long Beach is a great spot with something for kids of all ages. This park packs a lot of punch, but isn’t super spread out – so whether you’ve got a toddler on the baby swings or a teenager shooting hoops, you can easily keep an eye on everyone!

Full disclosure, I live very close to Somerset Park. And being from this neighborhood as well, I spent a lot of time growing up playing at this playground. When we moved in, we were happy to live close to a park. Then, Somerset Park became one of the first Long Beach parks to get the much needed playground upgrade. We were ecstatic!

Needless to say, we’ve visited this park quite often, and have compiled a lot of information in our experiences.

Here’s everything we’ve learned about from our many opportunities visiting Somerset Park with kids.

Read More

Lincoln Park in Long Beach

by

Looking for a little sensory fun in the downtown area? You’ve GOT to check out Lincoln Park in Long Beach. With dog parks, skate parks, basketball, playground and VERY instgramable photo ops, this park really does have something for everyone!

Downtown Long Beach isn’t really known for its parks. The downtown area can be difficult, with limited parking and many individuals experiencing homelessness.

But there are also tons of amazing families in downtown Long Beach, and those families absolutely deserve this park.

It’s got something for people of all ages, lots of wide open space, and Big City vibes.

So whether you’re visiting from the suburbs or live in the heart of downtown, Lincoln Park in Long Beach is DEFINITELY worth a visit.

Here’s what you need to know about visiting Lincoln Park with kids!

Read More

Farmers’ Markets in Long Beach

by

Looking for some outdoor fun with the family? Check out this list of farmers’ markets in Long Beach. With locations across the city, you’re sure to find one near you!

With gorgeous weather year round, it’s no surprise that Long Beach has some incredible farmers’ markets to choose from.

Some are more of your standard fruits-and-veggie stands, while others are more family entertainment-minded.

Whichever type you’re looking for, we’re sure you’ll find a farmers’ market in Long Beach that’s just your speed (and, hopefully, close to your side of town!)

Here’s our roundup of the best farmers’ markets in Long Beach. Which one will you visit?

woman holding cherry tomatoes; text: farmers markets in long beach

Read More

Long Beach VBS 2022

by

Looking for a Vacation Bible School near Long Beach for your kiddos this summer? Check out this list of churches offering VBS in Long Beach in 2022.

Long Beach and the surrounding areas have NO shortage of amazing summer camp offerings. There is adventure to be had nearby every single week of the summer.

However, those summer camps? They often come with a pretty hefty pricetag.

If you are Christian (or open to Christianity), however, there are lots of super cheap or low cost options for kids in Long Beach.

Vacation Bible School, or VBS, programs typically run for a week at a time, and are often just a few hours in the morning. They’re a perfect half day “camp” option in Long Beach.

So if you’re on the hunt for a list of all the VBS in Long Beach for 2022, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s the Vacation Bible Schools we know of so far.

Read More