Family Outings

Pirate Adventures in Long Beach

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Do you have a mini matey that loves all things pirates? We’ve got the best playgrounds, events, and swashbuckling fun for the best pirate adventures in Long Beach.

It seems to be a right of passage that kids will eventually go through a pirate phase. Whether they are obsessed with riding Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, playing swords in the backyard or telling pirate jokes (Why can’t pirates learn the alphabet? Because they’re stuck at c/sea), “thar be a pirate phase ahead.”

Pirates are just fun.

Luckily, we live in close proximity to a ton of ways to have pirate fun. From parks with a pirate theme, pirate shops, and even a full-blown Pirate Invasion, you’ll find a wide variety of pirate experiences in Long Beach.

So here’s a list of all the pirate fun in Long Beach for your family to enjoy!

pirate adventures in Long Beach

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Best Kid Date Dessert Spots in Long Beach

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Looking for a fun – and tasty! – place to go for a special treat with your kid? Trying to think of where to go on your next kid date in Long Beach? Check out the best dessert spots in Long Beach to take your kids!

My kids’ love language just might be chocolate. Followed by quality time. So when it came to finding ways for us to connect one on one, dessert kid dates in Long Beach were a perfect fit.

And so we began exploring our city looking for the best dessert in Long Beach.

Our kids had a fantastic time helping us do research! We loved realizing how much you can get kids to open up and share over dessert. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with your kids or just have a yummy dessert in Long Beach, we’ve got what you’re looking for.

We’ve enjoyed ice cream and cinnamon rolls, cookies and cupcakes, and are bringing you our favorite spots. Did we miss one of your favorites? Drop it in the comments so we can check it out and add it to our list!

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Pony Rides in Long Beach

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Looking for some great pony rides in Long Beach? Or wondering if there are any horseback riding lessons in Long Beach? You’re in luck! Across from Long Beach Towne Center, on the Lakewood/Long Beach border, is an amazing equestrian center! Go on a pony ride, take a riding lesson, or have a birthday at this amazing hidden gem of Long Beach!

Anytime we go to a fair or carnival, my kids love to go on a pony ride. But at fair and carnival prices? I say “no” much more often than I say “yes.”

Once you pay for the ride (that’s over in 2 minutes) and then a big upcharge just to take a picture, you’ve spent a LOT of money. Have more than one kid? Forget about it! Pony rides at a reasonable price are hard to find!

So we were thrilled to find affordable pony rides in Long Beach. Whether you’re taking one child or a fun family outing, there’s something for everyone at Ponytime at the Lakewood Equestrian Center!

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Best Bike Paths for Kids in Long Beach

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One of our favorite family activities is taking a neighborhood bike ride. If you’re looking for a place to ride, you’ll love our list of best bike paths for kids in Long Beach.

My family rides our bikes a lot. We ride around the neighborhood, we ride to nearby parks, we ride to close family members homes. We ride so much we had to start looking for new fun places to ride our bikes.

Luckily, Long Beach has a ton of fun recreational opportunities and a surprising amount of green space for a big city. Long Beach also prides itself on being a “Bike Friendly Community” with lots of bike lanes and spaces created for riding bikes.

And while, as adults, we love all the bike lanes, sometimes our kids need something a bit more protected.

From parks to beach paths, to right in your own neighborhood, there are a ton of great places to ride bikes with kids in Long Beach.

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Visiting Bolsa Chica Wetlands with Kids

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Looking for a fun way to get outside in Southern California? Consider visiting Bolsa Chica Wetlands with kids! It’s a flat, easy walk with lots to see. Fun for the whole family!

I’ve lived here in Long Beach for almost twenty years (oh, ew. How am I that old?) and I’ve never visited the Bolsa Chica Wetlands before.

I’d always heard about them, and how beautiful it was, and what a nice walk it was.

But I’d also heard about how terrible parking is, and it was enough to put me off completely.

So when a trip with Cub Scouts forced my hand, I had no choice but to visit Bolsa Chica Wetlands with kids (like, LOTS of them) for the first time.

And it turns out (like so many things) I had nothing to be afraid of, and only wished I’d done it sooner.

If you are also intimidated by the adventure, or are looking to visit Bolsa Chica Wetlands for the first time, here are some pro tips to make the whole thing less scary (and more fun).

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What Should I Do With My Kids Today in Long Beach?

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We’ve all been there- a whole long day stretched ahead of you, and you’re asking yourself, “what should I do with my kids today?” You’re in luck- we have a whole list of things to do with your kids today in Long Beach.

Summer is here, and we try to keep our kids busy. Summer camps, pool days, beach days- all the good stuff.

We also try to sprinkle in plenty of “do nothing” days, letting them get bored, roaming the neighborhood and riding bikes.

But then there are those OTHER days. Where it’s clear that we’ll all be miserable if we stay home, but I have no idea what to do with my kids today.

And that’s where this list comes in.

If you also find yourself asking, “what should I do with my kids today in Long Beach?” you’re in luck- we have a whole list of super fun ways to entertain your kids (and yourself!) close to home.

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Visit Splash! La Mirada This Summer

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Looking for a fun, low-key water park in Southern California? Check out Splash! La Mirada with kids to pack in a full day of water based fun.

If you’re anything like our family, your kids LOVE to play in water.

And luckily, living in Southern California, the summer weather is absolutely perfect to splash and play, whether at the pool, the beach, or one of our many local splash pads.

But once in a while, we want to upgrade our summer fun by visiting a water park in Southern California. And unfortunately, our budgets don’t always allow us to go big (a la Raging Waters, Soak City, or Great Wolf Lodge).

Luckily, we’ve got a hidden gem of a water park in nearby La Mirada. Run by the city, Splash! La Mirada Buccaneer Bay is a perfect place to ride water slides, chill in a lazy river, and go on a water-based play structure.

WITHOUT breaking the bank.

So if you are looking for a cheaper water park in Southern California, look no further. We’ve got all the tips for visiting Splash! La Mirada with kids.

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Long Beach Concert in the Park

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Long Beach Concert in the park is Back! Check out this list of dates and places you can attend a Concert in the Park this year for some great, free, family fun! Plus, we’ve compiled all our best tips for attending Concert in the Park with kids!

One of my favorite things about living in Long Beach is our summers full of family, friends and Concert in the Park. Growing up, I attended the same park where I now take my kids. And this event has the same excitement today that it still had 30 years ago.

The music is always exceptional and everyone always has a wonderful time making memories. And if you’re lucky, your kids will be worn out from all the running around having fun.

Concert in the Park is a long-standing tradition in Long Beach and one that you’ll want to add to your summer to-do list.

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Public Pools Near Long Beach

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Looking for a way to cool off this summer? Check out this list of public pools in Long Beach (or near Long Beach!) with recreation swim hours.

My kids LOVE to swim. It will keep them occupied longer than just about anything else- not to mention that it’s so good for their health, too.

So swimming in the summer is a top priority for our family.

The only downside? We don’t have a pool.

Which means we have gotten pretty familiar with the public pools around us!

If you are looking for a place to swim in Long Beach this summer, we’ve got you! Keep reading for the full list of public pools near Long Beach to get your aquatic fix.

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