Cheap or Free

Farmers’ Markets in Long Beach

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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

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Long Beach VBS 2022

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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.

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Free Family Activities in Long Beach

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Need some fun family activities that WON’T break the bank? Check out this list of free family activities in Long Beach, complete with both indoor and outdoor activities. If you need something to do on the cheap, this list of free things to do with kids in Long Beach is the best place to start!

Living in Southern California means that we never run out of something to do. Amusement parks, museums, plays and restuarants- there’s fun to be had around every corner.

Unfortunately, most of those super fun activities come with a pretty hefty price tag.

If you need to change it up with some free things to do with kids in Long Beach, you’ve come to the right place!

With our gorgeous weather, fantastic parks, and accessible educational resources, we’ve got you covered when it comes to free family activities in Long Beach and the surrounding areas.

long beach skyline; text: free family fun in long beach

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Visiting the Tidepools at Cabrillo Beach

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Want an easy visit to the Cabrillo Beach tidepools? Located next to Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the tidepools in San Pedro provide easy parking, outdoor adventure, and lots of fun for little exporers!

During the pandemic, I promised my kids that I would take them to the places that their school would have taken them to on field trips under normal circumstances.

When I found out the second grade trip was a visit to the tidepools, I kinda freaked out. I had been to the tidepools by myself in college, and found the whole thing intimidating.

I was super nervous to take my kids to the tidepool for the first time.

Luckily, I have a friend who works at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. She was able to give me lots of great information about how to best visit the Cabrillo Beach tidepools with kids.

That information made such a HUGE difference for us, that I knew we just had to share it with you!

So if you are thinking of braving the tidepools at Cabrillo Beach for the first time, here is some expert advice to make your first visit a roaring success!

the tidepools at cabrillo beach; text: cabrillo beach tidepools

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Visiting Centennial Farms with Kids

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Looking for a fun farm experience in Southern California? Check out the totally fun, totally free Centennial Farm, located at the OC Fairgrounds!

I was raised in rural northern California. It meant lots of time spent playing at the creek, riding horses, and getting dirty.

Even here in sunny, urban SoCal, I’m determined to give my kids experiences as close to what I had growing up as a kid as possible.

So when I realized my kids thought all pigs were pink and tiny with curly tails…we had a problem.

I looked around for a working farm with large animals that I could show my kids. And we hit the jackpot with Centennial Farms at the OC Fairgrounds!

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Storytimes in Long Beach

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Looking for a storytime for kids in Long Beach? Your best bet is the public library, but with eight branches, keeping track can be confusing! Here’s a comprehensive list of the storytimes in Long Beach fo rkiddos.

When my kids were little, I didn’t put them in preschool. They had lots of playdates, and attended Del Valle’s Tot Lot program, but I worried they wouldn’t learn to “sit and listen” before school.

Yes, you can pay for classes for kids. But if funds are short, you’re probably looking for a way to sneak in fun, learning, and structure.

And there’s no better way to kill those three birds with one stone than visiting some of the many storytimes in Long Beach!

Storytimes in Long Beach are offered through the public library, and are often short, sweet, and FUN. Add in a couple of cute crafts and LOTS of fun songs and stories, and it’s the perfect introduction to structured learning.

So where are these storytimes near Long Beach at? Read on for the full list!

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Visiting the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens

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If you’re looking for a short but fun activity in the heart of Long Beach, look no farther than the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens located inside Cal State Long Beach. These stunning gardens aren’t able to be seen from any major streets and aren’t a major destination for most folks. You could live your whole life in Long Beach and not know about them!

When our first kids were little, we spent a lot of time exploring Long Beach with toddlers. As alums of CSULB, we remembered that there was a nice little Japanese Garden right on campus.

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens were close, not overwhelmingly large, and FREE. This was basically the trifecta for us as new Moms, so we were excited to check it out.

Almost ten years later, this is still one of my favorite places to take my kids.

The Japanese Gardens at CSULB are an amazing hidden gem that your little ones will love. With an easy walking path, lots of benches for snack breaks and a koi pond that will amaze your kids, it’s sure to become a family favorite.

Here’s everything you should know before you head to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens in Long Beach!

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Cheap Kids’ Treats in Long Beach

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Want to grab a cheap treat with your kiddos while you’re out and about, without breaking the bank? Check out these great cheap kids’ treats in Long Beach (or near it)!

When my kids were little, I would take my daughter on little adventures each weekend while her brother took a nap. Sometimes it was things like visiting the library or running an errand, but sometimes I wanted to treat her to something special.

The problem? These little adventures could add up to big expenses over time!

So after some research and a little trial and error, we found that there are some good, cheap kids’ treats in Long Beach. By taking advantage of the different hours and locations, we could enjoy a special sweet without breaking the bank.

Here are our favorite places to take kids to get dessert in Long Beach (on a budget!)

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