Things to Do Outside with Kids in Long Beach

Well, it’s been a loooong three years, and it’s still safer to do things outside with kids! And if you’re like us, family walks and bike rides aren’t doing it for us anymore. If you need ideas for things to do outside with kids in Long Beach, check out this list for ways to get outside with your family!

It’s kind of crazy that we’re saying this AGAIN, but in present times, it’s still safer to spend time outside than indoors.

Whether you are getting stir crazy inside, sick of your local park, or just need an idea for a safer meetup with friends and family, we need fresh ideas.

Luckily, we are EXTREMELY fortunate to live in mild-weather Long Beach. There are tons of ways to play outside in Long Beach, even in the winter.

So if you’re looking for fun things to do outside with kids in Long Beach, consider giving some of these ideas a try.

a family hiking outside; text: things to do outside near long beach

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Things to Do Outside with Kids in Long Beach

Visit a Duck Pond

There are tons of great little duck ponds located around Long Beach. It’s a great way to get out of the house for an afternoon.

a duck pond

Many of the duck ponds are located near playgrounds, so it’s easy enough to plan a visit to the duck pond alongside another activity.

Get more details: Duck Ponds Near Long Beach

Take a Hike

We’ve compiled a list of the best hikes for families in Long Beach.

child hiking at nature center

A hike is a great way to get your blood flowing, your mood reset, and your family out of the house for an afternoon!

Get more details: Best Hiking with Kids in Long Beach

Visit the Nature Center

Tops on our lists of outdoor activities for families in Long Beach? A visit to the El Dorado Nature Center.

family at pond el dorado nature center

There’s easy hiking, lots of nature and animals to see, and a sense of adventure for your whole family.

Visit on a weekday for smaller crowds!

Get more details: El Dorado Nature Center

Spend Time at El Dorado Regional Park

There is SO much to do at El Dorado Regional Park (including a visit to the nature center, above).

child holding up gold at el dorado frontier

Here’s a list of activities you can find there:

Go to the Ranchos

The Ranchos in Long Beach are SUCH an easy, stress free way to change up your outdoor play.

rancho los cerritos in long beach

There are two Ranchos to choose from. We recommend giving both a try!

Walk at the Colorado Lagoon

The Colorado Lagoon has water play, a playground, and a neat walking trail across a bridge.

colorado lagoon pier

There is plenty of wildlife and plants to see. It’s a short enough walk to be accessible for families with young kids, including strollers.

Visit Hidden Parks

There are a couple of parks in East Long Beach that are hidden gems, especially if you’re looking to avoid a crowd.

The first is Birdcage Park, tucked away inside the Heartwell Golf Course. You can find it at 6501 Parkcrest St, Long Beach, CA 90808. We almost never see people there.

You might also consider visiting Mae Boyar Park in Lakewood. It is larger, with lots of separate play areas. Since it’s tucked inside a neighborhood, it’s rarely slammed. You can find it at 6701 Del Amo Blvd, Lakewood, CA 90713.

Lastly, Stansbury Park in Los Alamitos (right on the border with Long Beach) is typically empty or very nearly so. You can visit it at 3711 Toland Ave, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.

Find more parks to visit at our Long Beach Parks Page, where you’ll find a breakdown on tons of fantastic playgrounds throughout the city.

Play at the Sand Hills at Alamitos Beach

This is a super fun little adventure! At the very south end of Ocean, you’ll find that it dead ends in a parking lot.

The beach there is where the city collects sand for cleaning and redistributing. There’s a great jetty you can walk out on, as well as fantastic hills made of sand.

kids playing in alamitos bay sand dunes

Kids will enjoy hiking them, sliding down them, and playing in the freezing cold waves. We’ve even seen people here with sleds, using them to go down the sand hills like they were covered in snow!

Bike/Walk/Roller Skate on the Long Beach Bike Path

The bike path along the beach is a great way to change up your family walk or bike ride.

It’s about 7 miles along, and can be reached from any of the city’s beach parking lots, or by parking along Ocean.

Things to Do Outside with Kids Near Long Beach

Visit the San Pedro Tidepools

This is one of my FAVORITE day trips near Long Beach. Cabrillo Beach offers so much to do- beaches, a playground, and an aquarium- but my favorite is the tidepools.

kids looking into san pedro tidepools

You can walk to the Cabrillo Beach Tidepools in San Pedro quite easily from a cheap paid parking lot, and will see tons of creatures.

Get full details: Visiting the Tidepools at Cabrillo Beach

Visit the Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Located just a short drive down PCH, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands are a great, easy hike to do with your family.

With great views of water, local wildlife, and native plants, there’s plenty to see.

Hit Up Centennial Farms

A short drive from Long Beach, Centennial Farms is a free outdoor activity for families.

Expect to spend an hour or two at the farm, looking at animals, learning abou thow plants are grown, and even paying tribute to our military.

cow sleeping at centennial farms

Then head to a nearby park or restaurant to complete your trip.

Get the details: Visiting Centennial Farms with Kids

Play at the Irvine Adventure Playground

It doesn’t get more classic outdoorsy than this! Adventure Playground in Irvine is the perfect outdoor place to take your kids to play.

mud pit at adventure park in irvine

WIth giant bricks, concrete slides, and a water pump, this definitely levels up your “day at the playground.” Trust us- this one’s worth the drive.

Take a Walk at Bolsa Chica

The nature preserve at Bolsa Chica makes for a lovely walk, and a great thing to do outside with kids and adults of all ages.

Come prepared to see some wildlife (mostly birds and plants!)- but make sure to use the bathroom ahead of time, as it can be a long walk to the parking lot!

Spend the Day at Irvine Regional Park

There is SO much to do at Irvine Regional Park, located at 1 Irvine Park Rd, Orange, CA 92869.

Many of the adventures there (fishing, biking, playgrounds) can be found at the El Dorado Regional Park, but there are unique things to do at Great Park.

kids at the oc zoo

Here are some of the highlights:

  • Irvine Railroad Park (train rides and seasonal set ups for Halloween, Christmas, and Easter)
  • OC Zoo – a tiny little zoo with a very low admission price. BUT you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck, seeing bears, a mountain lion, and lots of smaller local creatures.

By no means is this a comprehensive list of things to do outside with kids in Long Beach, but it’s definitely a great place to start!

What would you add to the list? We’d love to hear it in the comments!

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