Free Activities

Best Bike Paths for Kids in Long Beach

by

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.

Read More

Long Beach Concert in the Park

by

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.

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

Free Family Activities in Long Beach

by

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

Read More

Visiting Centennial Farms with Kids

by

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!

Read More

Best Christmas Lights in Long Beach

by

We may not have snow and the full winter experience, but Long Beach has some amazing holiday lights that is sure to get even the biggest Grinch into the holiday spirit. So grab some cocoa and take your kids to one of these amazing spots to check out some of the best Christmas Lights in Long Beach.

As the holiday’s roll around, we have a ton of family traditions. We bake and decorate cookies. We watch Home Alone. And we always go looking at Christmas lights.

Long Beach has so much to offer for Christmas lights. With tons of walkable neighborhoods and houses well worth the drive, there’s something for everyone. You can even see Christmas lights by boat in Long Beach!

If you’ve been sticking to Christmas lights in your immediate neighborhood, you’re missing out! So if you’re asking yourself “where should I go to see Christmas lights in Long Beach?” We’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of our favorite places to look at holiday lights in Long Beach.

Read More

Storytimes in Long Beach

by

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!

Read More

Visiting the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Gardens

by

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!

Read More

Visiting Rancho Los Cerritos

by

If you’re looking for a fun – and free – way to enjoy an afternoon, check out Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach. This hidden gem is a great place to talk a walk and immerse yourself in some SoCal history. Here’s everything you need to know before your visit.

Rancho Los Cerritos is one of those places that you’ve probably always heard of, but never seen. Unless you were actually trying to go there. Tucked away in Virginia Country Club, Rancho Los Cerritos is a little slice of history that you won’t find many other places in the city.

It may not be all flash and wild adventure, but if you’re looking for a peaceful, mellow afternoon Rancho Los Cerritos is sure to fit the bill. From the beautiful historic home to the stunning sprawling grounds and the native plant walk, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy at Rancho Los Cerritos.

Here’s everything you should know before you head to Rancho Los Cerritos in Long Beach!

This post contains affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. You can read more at our disclosures page. Thanks!

Read More