Outdoors

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

Visiting Bolsa Chica Wetlands with Kids

by

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).

Read More

Farmers’ Markets in Long Beach

by

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

Read More

Things to Do Outside with Kids in Long Beach

by

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

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