Parks

Visiting Adventure Playground in Irvine

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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The Best Parks in Long Beach

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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Junipero Beach Playground

One of the coolest playgrounds you probably haven’t been to is Juniper Beach Playground. Unless you’re at the beach, it’s not the kind of playground you might just stumble across or see from the street. But if your kids like climbing, there is no better park in Long Beach for them to test their skills!

You may have heard of the new beach playground but had a LOT of questions. (We did!) So we set out to find the new beach playground in Long Beach and bring you all the answers. First off – it’s officially called Juniper Beach Playground. Now that you’ve been able to find it on a map, you probably still want to know a few things before you head there for your first visit.

If you’re wondering what age is best or where do I park to go to Juniper Beach Playground – you’ve come to the right spot! We’ve tried to answer every question you might have about this new climbing park in Long Beach. And if we missed a question, drop it in the comments and we’ll try to answer it!

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Somerset Park in Long Beach

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.

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Lincoln Park in Long Beach

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!

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Good Neighbor Park in Long Beach

Looking for a big, shady park with free parking in Long Beach? Check out Good Neighbor Park in Long Beach, adjacent to the Regional Park (and the El Dorado Library Branch!)

Have you had the chance to visit Good Neighbor Park in Long Beach yet?

It’s near the El Dorado Regional Park, but without the entrance fee or long drive to the playground.

Nestled in between soccer fields, baseball fields, a skate park, and a frisbee golf course, there is SO much to do in this large stretch of green.

Add in a visit to nearby El Dorado Library, and you’ve got your whole day planned out for you!

Here’s why we think you should visit Good Neighbor Park in Long Beach (and why your kids will love it so much).

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Bloomfield Park in Lakewood

On the east side of town? Check out Bloomfield Park in Lakewood, a less busy park iwth a lot of bang for its buck!

I’ve lived in Long Beach for decades- eight of those years with kids in tow- and I’ve never been to Bloomfield Park before.

But this summer, we’ve made it our mission to visit every wading pool near Long Beach, and Bloomfield fit the bill.

We were expecting to love the wading pool (we always do), but I was surprised at how much the kids loved the green, open space and two (mostly) gated playgrounds for different ages.

Check out why we love Bloomfield Park, and plan your visit to love it too.

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Tips for Visiting Biscailuz Park in Lakewood

Heading to the Lakewood Mall or running some errands near the western border of Lakewood and Long Beach? Consider making a stop at one of our favorite less-busy parks.

If you live in or around Lakewood, you probably know the classic parks in Lakewood: The “Cinderella” Park, Del Valle Park, Bolivar Park – but you may not have been to Biscailuz Park in Lakewood. It’s off two major streets, but without an easy way to see how you get too the park, it’s a little under rated.

It’s also, in our experience, way less busy than those other parks. Which can sometimes be a big benefit for us! Sure, sometimes my kids are eager to meet new kids and play with them. But sometimes my kids just need to get their crazies out without a crowd!

And with it’s two giant play structures, sports fields, and ample picnicing opportunities there’s a LOT to love about Del Valle.

But before you head over, keep scrolling for our pro-level tips for visiting Biscailuz Park in Lakewood.

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Visiting the New Cherry Park Playground

Want to check out the brand new Cherry Park Long Beach update? If you live in the area, you’ve probably been anticipating it as much as we have. With a grand opening on July 24, 2021 the new playground at Cherry Park is amazing and was worth the wait! Here’s what we think you should know before you go!

Many of Long Beach’s playgrounds are getting a MAJOR Glow Up thanks to Measure A, and Cherry Park is the newest addition to the new playground club. We try to check out all the new and improved playgrounds, and Cherry Park playground is fantastic! Cherry Park Playground has so many elements that our kids love – climbing, tons of slides, and yes, plenty of swings.

At over 10 acres, Cherry Park is more than just an amazing playground update. With a ton of amenities and opportunities for sports and recreation, we know you’ll find something to love at Cherry Park.

Read on to find out why we love the new Cherry Park playground so much, for kids of all ages.

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Baker Street Park

One of my favorite things to do if I have time to kill is open Google Maps and searching for a playground near me. Which is exactly how I happened to find the hidden gem of Baker Street Park in Wrigley.

Located off all major streets, but right behind the 405 and 710 Freeways, Baker Street Park is safe and tucked away while being super accessible! We love that it’s secluded – and we often have the playground all to ourselves!

We hope you’ll explore new parks and try out Baker Street Park in Wrigley too! Here’s everything you need to know for your first visit to Baker Street Park!

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