{"id":6991,"date":"2012-12-04T21:54:38","date_gmt":"2012-12-04T21:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/?p=6991"},"modified":"2017-04-29T00:17:29","modified_gmt":"2017-04-29T00:17:29","slug":"orange-county-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The O.C. might be known for its beach culture and &#8220;real&#8221; housewives, but it&#8217;s also a great place for a family getaway (hold the sigh\u2014we&#8217;re not talking Disneyland).<\/p>\n<p>Rich in agricultural history (&#8220;Orange County&#8221; comes from the acres of orange trees that once grew here) and teeming with marine life, the area is a &#8220;magic kingdom&#8221; in its own right, with myriad family-approved activities, from farm tours to pirate ships, that it likes to show off once in a while. Here, the ten <strong>best family-friendly activities in Orange County.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. <\/strong><strong>Tanaka Farms\u00a0|<\/strong>\u00a05380 University Drive, Irvine | <a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tanakafarms.com<br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested: <\/strong>What kid wouldn&#8217;t love piling into a\u00a0old-fashioned wagon to be pulled (by tractor, of course) around the 30-acre farm to strawberry patches (in spring) or watermelon patches (summer). Come fall it&#8217;s all about corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and harvest activities, and the farm sells gorgeous trees Christmas time.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved:<\/strong>\u00a0It&#8217;s always a bonus when the kids can learn while they play. Plus,\u00a0Nobody goes home hungry. The tours include several delicious sample stations, undoubtedly to keep the kids happy between farming facts.<br \/>\n<strong>Details: <\/strong>Wagon tours run regularly on weekends throughout the summer (no reservations required). During the week in spring and summer, call ahead to make tour reservations. Tours cost\u00a0$17 per person (kids two and under ride free). Pumpkin patch tours are self-guided, but fees may apply for some of the fall festivities.<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong>\u00a0Take bus #86 to Alton-Jeffrey, then #175 bus to Michelson-Jordan East, and it&#8217;s a short walk from there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2<a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/discovery-cube.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7246 lazyload\" title=\"discovery science center\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/discovery-cube-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"budding scientist at the discovery science center\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7246 lazyload\" title=\"discovery science center\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/discovery-cube-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"budding scientist at the discovery science center\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/discovery-cube-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/discovery-cube-33x25.jpg 33w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/discovery-cube.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>. Discovery Science Center<strong>\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><a target=\"_blank\">2500 N. Main Street, Santa Ana\u00a0<strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><a title=\"science center\" href=\"http:\/\/www.discoverycube.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">discoverycube.org<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>The kids might be a little more fond of their lab goggles after a day at this science center. Offering more than 100 interactive exhibits, including a virtual hockey game and rocket lab, the Discovery Science Center truly launches visitors into the world of science. Here you can take on the responsibilities of a green superhero and save the planet, or become a research assistant and coax an escaped T-Rex back home.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved<\/strong>: \u00a0You can be a kid again here, and rotating exhibits\u00a0\u00a0keep things fresh.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong>\u00a0The center is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Tickets are $14.95 for adults and $12.95 for senios and children (kids under 3 are free).<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong>\u00a0Take bus #53 to Main-Edgewood and it&#8217;s a short walk from there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Eco Zipline Tour\u00a0<strong>|<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0Hog&#8217;s Back, Catalina Island\u00a0<strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><a title=\"Catalina Island\" href=\"http:\/\/www.catalinachamber.com\/things-to-do-on-catalina-island.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">catalinachamber.com<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>Forget roller coasters. Your little adventurer will love the thrill of soaring over\u00a0Catalina Island, just 22 miles off the coast of Orange County. The tour starts in the hills and descends through the canyon, ending at Descanso Beach with, weather permitting, a bit of fun in the sun to round out the day.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved:\u00a0<\/strong>It&#8217;s theme-park-style adrenaline in a stunning natural setting, and each of the five separate ziplines includes a stop at an eco-station, where hosts will discuss the environmental and cultural history of the Island and the places you zip through.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:\u00a0<\/strong>Tours run year-round and cost $109 per person during low season (September through mid-May) and $120 during the summer months. Children under 5 are too young to partake, and those between the ages of 5 and 9 must tandem ride with a parent.<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:\u00a0<\/strong>Take bus #53 to Main-Redhill, then #71 to Balboa-Adams. Walk to the Newport Beach ferry and board the Catalina Flyer to get to the island.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/ship.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7277 lazyload\" title=\"ocean institute\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/ship-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"tall ships at the ocean institute\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7277 lazyload\" title=\"ocean institute\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/ship-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"tall ships at the ocean institute\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/ship-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/ship-16x25.jpg 16w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/ship.jpg 299w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>4. Tall Ships at the Ocean Institute<strong>\u00a0|<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a024200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point<strong>\u00a0| <\/strong><a title=\"Tall Ship\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ocean-institute.org\/tallship-sails\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ocean-institute.org<\/a><a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>Pirates and canons and high seas, oh my! The Pirate Adventure Sail lets you get into the action on one of the Ocean Institute&#8217;s traditionally rigged sailing vessels, one of which was modeled after a 1770s privateer from the American Revolution. After hoisting the sails, firing off canons, and battling pirates on the high seas, you&#8217;ll be quite experienced sailors (or, as the pirates say, &#8220;sea dogs&#8221;).<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved: <\/strong>It&#8217;s like a real\u00a0life Pirates of the Caribbean\u2014minus the crowds and crazy prices. And if it&#8217;s not\u00a0the pirate&#8217;s life for you, one of the other sailing experiences, like the Whale&#8217;s Tail Sailing Adventure or the history-themed Coastal Odyssey, is sure to float your boat.<br \/>\n<strong>Details: <\/strong>Tickets are\u00a0$40 for adults and $23 for children aged 12 and under (Ocean Institute members get a 10 percent discount). Kids must be at least 4 to sail, but there is no age requirement to tour the docked tall ships ($6.50 for adults\/$4.50 for children). Sails run regularly (check the website for exact dates and times).<br \/>\n<strong>Directions: <\/strong>Take the Amtrak from Irvine to San Juan Capistrano (check <a title=\"Amtrak\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amtrak.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">amtrak.com<\/a> for timetables), then take bus #91 to Pacific Coast &#8211; Dana Point Harbor and walk from there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. Santa Ana Zoo\u00a0<strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>1801 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana\u00a0<strong>|<\/strong>\u00a0<a title=\"Santa Ana Zoo\" href=\"http:\/\/www.santaanazoo.org\/contacta.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">santaanazoo.org<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>An electric-powered Zoofari express zips the family along to visit more than 80 animal species, including lions, poison dart frogs, and, porcupines. There&#8217;s also a farm, where children can pet animals and learn about the daily duties of a zookeeper,\u00a0an endangered species-themed carousal, and educational opportunities like a rainforest tour and zoo safari.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved:\u00a0<\/strong>You can feel good about visiting a zoo that has solid conservation programs in place, including participation in a number of AZA (American and Zoo Aquarium Association) Species Survival plans. Plus, as per the mandate of the zoo&#8217;s founder back in 1952, there are at least 50 monkeys on site at all times.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong>\u00a0Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and children ($6\/$4 after 2 p.m. on weekdays). Children under 3 are free.<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong>\u00a0Take bus #53 to Main-1st, then #54 to 1st-Lyon. The zoo is a short walk from there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Orange County Great Park\u00a0<strong>|<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a01 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine\u00a0<strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><a title=\"OC Great Park\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ocgp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ocgp.org<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>Whether you take flight\u00a0in the giant orange Great Park Balloon, one of the first major attractions of this eco-centered park, or simply watch the balloons float along as you picnic on the ground, your little one will love the magic here.\u00a0The park also offers carousal rides and Kids Rock, a geology-inspired play space where children can learn about ecology and the process by which water changes.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved:<\/strong>\u00a0This park of the future will thrill your eco-heart with its solar lighting, low water turf, native flora, and recycled concrete. Bonus: Visit on a Sunday to enjoy tasty eats from the farmer&#8217;s market and on-site food trucks.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong>\u00a0Admission and carousal rides are free! Balloon rides are $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 5 to 16.<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong>\u00a0It&#8217;s easiest to drive to the Great Park. Take the I-5 North to Sand Canyon Avenue, then take the first left onto Marine Way.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pirates-dinner-adventure.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7249 lazyload\" title=\"pirates dinner adventure\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pirates-dinner-adventure-300x177.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"177\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7249 lazyload\" title=\"pirates dinner adventure\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pirates-dinner-adventure-300x177.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pirates-dinner-adventure-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pirates-dinner-adventure-42x25.jpg 42w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pirates-dinner-adventure.jpg 583w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>7.<\/strong> <strong>Pirate&#8217;s Dinner Adventure\u00a0<strong>|<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a07600 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park\u00a0<strong>| <\/strong><a title=\"Pirate's Dinner Adventure\" href=\"http:\/\/www.piratesdinneradventureca.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">piratesdinneradventureca.com<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested: <\/strong>With a cool setting (and ships as seating) and an action-packed show filled with duels and cursed treasure, the\u00a0Pirate&#8217;s Dinner Adventure provides plenty of\u00a0swash-buckling fun on dry land. Your lil&#8217; buccaneers will love wizardry and effects as they cheer on their own pirate mascot.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved:\u00a0<\/strong>If the replicated\u00a018th-century Spanish galleon and indoor lagoon somehow fail to impress, the acrobatics and swordplay should do the trick. Plus there&#8217;s a feast\u2014and\u00a0plenty of pirate-approved rum.<br \/>\n<strong>Details: <\/strong>Shows take place nightly. Tickets cost $57.95 for adults and $38.95 for children ages 3-11 (children under 3 are free).<br \/>\n<strong>Directions: <\/strong>Take Amtrak from Irvine to Buena Park (check <a title=\"Amtrak\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amtrak.com\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">amtrak.com<\/a> for timetables), then bus #43 to the Fullerton Transit Center. From there, take bus #38 bus to La Palma-Beach, a short walk to the Pirate Adventure.<\/p>\n<p><strong>8. Captain Dave&#8217;s Dolphin &amp; Whale Safari<a target=\"_blank\">\u00a0<strong>|<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point<a target=\"_blank\">\u00a0<strong>|<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Dolphin Safari\" href=\"http:\/\/www.dolphinsafari.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">dolphinsafari.com<\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>No matter your age, there&#8217;s a certain thrill when you spot your first majestic ocean species, bobbing gracefully in the vast sea. Although the crew can&#8217;t guarantee you&#8217;ll spot whales, the kiddies are sure to see amazing creatures and learn about the importance of conservation on this marine safari. They can also catch\u00a0underwater views, listen in on the ship&#8217;s hydrophone, and get hands-on at the touch station of whale and dolphin artifacts.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved:<\/strong>\u00a0Captain Dave doesn&#8217;t just talk the talk\u2014he walks the walk too. The dolphin and whale expert has spoken out (he was featured on the Ellen Degeneres show) about the risks that whales and other charismatic megafauna face every day in our oceans.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong>\u00a0The 2.5-hour trip costs $55 for adults and $35 for children under 12 (ages 3 and under saild free). You&#8217;re likely to see gray whales between December and May, and blue whales, fin whales, and minke whales during the rest of the year.<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong>\u00a0Take Amtrak from Irvine to San Juan Capistrano (check\u00a0<a title=\"Amtrak\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amtrak.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">amtrak.com<\/a>\u00a0for timetables), then take catch bus #91 to Pacific Coast &#8211; Dana Point Harbor and it&#8217;s a short walk.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pacific-marine-mammal-center.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7247 lazyload\" title=\"pacific marine mammal center\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pacific-marine-mammal-center-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"cute faces of the pacific marine mammal center\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7247 lazyload\" title=\"pacific marine mammal center\" src=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/sf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pacific-marine-mammal-center-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"cute faces of the pacific marine mammal center\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pacific-marine-mammal-center-300x240.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pacific-marine-mammal-center-31x25.jpg 31w, https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/pacific-marine-mammal-center.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a>9.\u00a0<strong>Laguna Canyon Pacific Marine Mammal Center\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/strong>20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\">|\u00a0<\/a><a title=\"PMMC\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pacificmmc.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pacificmmc.org<\/a>\u00a0<strong><a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>With a focus on rescuing, caring for, and releasing healthy animals back into the wild, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center takes cute animal viewing a step further.\u00a0<a title=\"Tanaka Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.tanakafarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n<\/a><strong>Parent-Approved:<\/strong>\u00a0The center cares for \u00a0injured and stranded seals and California sea lions, and can house as many as 100 at a time. If you don&#8217;t bring the little ones along, adults aged 21 and older can learn a little something and get that warming and fuzzy feeling by\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/pacificmmc.org\/caring.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">volunteering<\/a>, too.<strong><br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>The center is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily and is free to visit, although donations are encouraged.\u00a0Take a free tour or walk the site on your own\u2014informational materials are available, along with volunteer staff members on hand to answer questions.<strong><br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Take Amtrak (check timetables at\u00a0<a title=\"Amtrak\" href=\"http:\/\/amtrak.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">amtrak.com<\/a>) from Irvine to Laguna Niguel, then take bus #91 to Calle de la Plata-Paseo de Valencia, followed by #89 to Laguna Canyon-Stan Oaks, and it&#8217;s a short walk from there.<\/p>\n<p><strong>10. Little Corona\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>Pacific Coast Highway &amp; Poppy Avenue, Corona del Mar\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><a title=\"OC beach\" href=\"http:\/\/www.orangecounty.net\/html\/beaches-CDM_little.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">orangecounty.net<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Kid-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>An O.C. getaway wouldn&#8217;t be complete\u00a0without some beach time.\u00a0With tidepools full of hermit crabs, starfish, and sea anenomes, Little Corona at Corona del Mar is one of the best kid-friendly beaches in the area. Walk the tidepools with your kids, or take a book and sunbathe as you watch them play from afar.<br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Approved: <\/strong>Kid-friendly as it is, the beach also has easy waves, making it relatively kid-proof, so that you can sunbathe as you watch them play. If the family is up for exploring the area, Little Corona is just a short walk from Big Corona, where waves are usually bigger, and Pirate&#8217;s Cove, where craggy cliffs surround an isolated lagoon.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong> The beach is free to visit and open from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily.<br \/>\n<strong>Directions:<\/strong> Take bus #53 to Main-Alton, followed by #55 bus to Coast-Irvine Terrace, and it&#8217;s a short walk from there.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Family-friendly hotels in Orange County<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This Orange County adventure may be about the kiddies, but that doesn&#8217;t mean you shouldn&#8217;t get to relax too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Residence Inn Irvine John Wayne Airport\/Orange County\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/strong>2855 Main Street,\u00a0Irvine\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|<\/strong><\/a> <a title=\"Hotel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.marriott.com\/hotels\/travel\/snaiv-residence-inn-irvine-john-wayne-airport-orange-county\/?pid=corptbta&amp;scid=b661a3c4-9c47-48c8-9e13-75b66089dd79\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">marriot.com<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Tested:\u00a0<\/strong>Located smack dab in the middle of the county, around the corner from the bus stop and just 15 minutes from the Irvine Amtrak station, this hotel takes the stress out of a long, travel-filled stay. And with the kitchen and separate living and sleeping areas, you&#8217;ll start to feel at home in no time. (All above directions start from this hotel.)<br \/>\n<strong>Kid-Approved: <\/strong>The hotel&#8217;s outdoor pool and tennis court will help keep the kids at bay between your county-wide adventures.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong>\u00a0Rates start at $169<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. <\/strong><strong>The Hyatt Regency Inn<\/strong>\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>21500 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach <a target=\"_blank\"><strong>|<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<a title=\"Hotel\" href=\"http:\/\/huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com\/hyatt\/hotels-huntingtonbeach\/index.jsp?null\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Parent-Tested:<\/strong>\u00a0Located at the north end of the county, the Hyatt Regency Inn offers public transportation to the many family activities in the area. And after a day of shuttling the kids, you can get your own time relaxing by the pool.<br \/>\n<strong>Kid-Approved:<\/strong>\u00a0Offering a beachfront location plus gaming arcade and water playground with three water slides and a shallow wading pool, this hotel merits a day of family exploration all on its own.<br \/>\n<strong>Details:<\/strong> Rates start at $275<\/p>\n<p><em>Photos: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/angryjuliemonday\/5987654259\/in\/photostream\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Angry Julie Monday<\/a>, <em><a title=\"science center\" href=\"http:\/\/www.discoverycube.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Discovery Science Center<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/ocean-institute.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ocean Institute<\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PiratesDinnerAdventureCA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pirate&#8217;s Adventure Dinner<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pacificmmc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pacific Marine Mammal Center<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>[mappress mapid=&#8221;89&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The O.C. might be known for its beach culture and &#8220;real&#8221; housewives, but it&#8217;s also a great place for a family getaway (hold the sigh\u2014we&#8217;re not talking Disneyland). Rich in agricultural history (&#8220;Orange County&#8221; comes from the acres of orange trees that once grew here) and teeming with marine life, the area is a &#8220;magic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":7501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62,100,63,25,125,23,28,22,7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6991","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-adventure-weekend-getaways","8":"category-amtrak-getaways","9":"category-car-free-weekend-getaways","10":"category-destination","11":"category-family-weekend-getaways","12":"category-laguna-beach","13":"category-orange-county","14":"category-southern-california","15":"category-weekend-getaways"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids - offMetro CA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids - offMetro CA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The O.C. might be known for its beach culture and &#8220;real&#8221; housewives, but it&#8217;s also a great place for a family getaway (hold the sigh\u2014we&#8217;re not talking Disneyland). Rich in agricultural history (&#8220;Orange County&#8221; comes from the acres of orange trees that once grew here) and teeming with marine life, the area is a &#8220;magic [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"offMetro CA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-12-04T21:54:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-04-29T00:17:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"360\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Katy Storch\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Katy Storch\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Katy Storch\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/9787234eda19eef7f42eb18759c5a715\"},\"headline\":\"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-12-04T21:54:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-04-29T00:17:29+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\"},\"wordCount\":2025,\"commentCount\":5,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Adventure\",\"Amtrak Getaways\",\"Car-Free\",\"Destination\",\"Family\",\"Laguna Beach\",\"Orange County\",\"Southern California\",\"Weekend Getaways\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\",\"name\":\"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids - offMetro CA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2012-12-04T21:54:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-04-29T00:17:29+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg\",\"width\":640,\"height\":360,\"caption\":\"Orange County Great Park\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/\",\"name\":\"offMetro CA\",\"description\":\"Getaways from San Francisco and Los Angeles\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#organization\",\"name\":\"offMetro California\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/logo2x-e1555941407628.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/logo2x-e1555941407628.png\",\"width\":165,\"height\":162,\"caption\":\"offMetro California\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/9787234eda19eef7f42eb18759c5a715\",\"name\":\"Katy Storch\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53032e1d212addc6176310cca29f65a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53032e1d212addc6176310cca29f65a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Katy Storch\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/author\/katy\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids - offMetro CA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids - offMetro CA","og_description":"The O.C. might be known for its beach culture and &#8220;real&#8221; housewives, but it&#8217;s also a great place for a family getaway (hold the sigh\u2014we&#8217;re not talking Disneyland). Rich in agricultural history (&#8220;Orange County&#8221; comes from the acres of orange trees that once grew here) and teeming with marine life, the area is a &#8220;magic [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/","og_site_name":"offMetro CA","article_published_time":"2012-12-04T21:54:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2017-04-29T00:17:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":640,"height":360,"url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Katy Storch","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Katy Storch","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/"},"author":{"name":"Katy Storch","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/9787234eda19eef7f42eb18759c5a715"},"headline":"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids","datePublished":"2012-12-04T21:54:38+00:00","dateModified":"2017-04-29T00:17:29+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/"},"wordCount":2025,"commentCount":5,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg","articleSection":["Adventure","Amtrak Getaways","Car-Free","Destination","Family","Laguna Beach","Orange County","Southern California","Weekend Getaways"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/","url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/","name":"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids - offMetro CA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg","datePublished":"2012-12-04T21:54:38+00:00","dateModified":"2017-04-29T00:17:29+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/oc-e1493425033551.jpg","width":640,"height":360,"caption":"Orange County Great Park"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/6991\/orange-county-kids\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Weekend Getaway: Orange County for Kids"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/","name":"offMetro CA","description":"Getaways from San Francisco and Los Angeles","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#organization","name":"offMetro California","url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/logo2x-e1555941407628.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/logo2x-e1555941407628.png","width":165,"height":162,"caption":"offMetro California"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/9787234eda19eef7f42eb18759c5a715","name":"Katy Storch","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53032e1d212addc6176310cca29f65a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53032e1d212addc6176310cca29f65a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Katy Storch"},"url":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/author\/katy\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6991\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offmetro.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}