Free !!
On this page is a list of places where you can take your kids and it won't cost you anything at all ! Well, maybe just a small fee for parking. Target and Bank of America are both sponsoring free museum days! With Bank of America you have to be a card holder to qualify. There is also a list of websites where you can get some free stuff for your family as well ! I have gotton kids books, clothes, toys and more!
Shipley Nature Center (Huntington Beach, CA)
http://www.shipleynature.org/
This Nature Center is located across the street from the Huntington Beach Central Library. Parking is located at the corner of Talbert Ave & Goldenwest Street. Admission is free but donations are accepted. The Nature Center is located within a park so after your visit you can walk to the playground and also enjoy a picnic! I just recently took my kids here and they loved it! We had a nice walk and played in their interactive center.
This Nature Center is located across the street from the Huntington Beach Central Library. Parking is located at the corner of Talbert Ave & Goldenwest Street. Admission is free but donations are accepted. The Nature Center is located within a park so after your visit you can walk to the playground and also enjoy a picnic! I just recently took my kids here and they loved it! We had a nice walk and played in their interactive center.
Huntington Beach Central Library ( Huntington Beach, CA )
http://www.surfcity-hb.org/Government/Departments/Library/kids_stuff/index.cfm
Don't forget to check with your local library for free kids activities! I've taken my kids here for story time and then they usually have some sort of crafts for the kids as well ! It's one of the largest library that I know of and the park is right behind it. After story time I usually take a walk with the kids around this large park.
Don't forget to check with your local library for free kids activities! I've taken my kids here for story time and then they usually have some sort of crafts for the kids as well ! It's one of the largest library that I know of and the park is right behind it. After story time I usually take a walk with the kids around this large park.
Irvine Spectrum (Irvine , CA )
http://www.shopirvinespectrumcenter.com/
We used to take our kids here a lot too. Not for us to shop but it is another place for them just to get some excercise. Tons of stores, cinema, Dave and Busters, and Target ! There used to be a little toy store across from Barnes & Nobles and inside they had a Thomas the Tank train table that kept my kids busy for a while. I'm not sure if they are still there though as they may have closed. If you walk down toward the food court in front of the movie theatre they have these statues of turtles that spit out water and also water that squirts out from the ground. Bring extra clothes for your kids if you plan on letting them play in that area. The Spectrum also has a carousel and a giant wheel ride. In December they have an ice skating rink ! Parking is free unless you prefer valet parking.
We used to take our kids here a lot too. Not for us to shop but it is another place for them just to get some excercise. Tons of stores, cinema, Dave and Busters, and Target ! There used to be a little toy store across from Barnes & Nobles and inside they had a Thomas the Tank train table that kept my kids busy for a while. I'm not sure if they are still there though as they may have closed. If you walk down toward the food court in front of the movie theatre they have these statues of turtles that spit out water and also water that squirts out from the ground. Bring extra clothes for your kids if you plan on letting them play in that area. The Spectrum also has a carousel and a giant wheel ride. In December they have an ice skating rink ! Parking is free unless you prefer valet parking.
La Habra Children's Museum ( La Habra , CA )
www.lhcm.org
Taget sponsored FREE 1st Saturday of the month !!
This museum is not big but it does have about 7 or 8 different rooms. They have one room where the exhibit changes every couple of months. There is a park playground behind the building so bring a lunch! Free parking.
Taget sponsored FREE 1st Saturday of the month !!
This museum is not big but it does have about 7 or 8 different rooms. They have one room where the exhibit changes every couple of months. There is a park playground behind the building so bring a lunch! Free parking.
El Dorado Nature Center (Long Beach, CA )
http://www.longbeach.gov/naturecenter/
I've been to a few nature centers but I really liked this one. As we entered the nature center and walked across a wooden bridge we saw ducks and a bunch of frogs in the lake! Some of the frogs were sitting on top of lily pads ! There is a visitor center with some hands on displays. The kids are allowed to touch and explore everything in the room! The hiking trail was fun for the kids as they saw all kinds of plants and animals. There is no fee to enter the Nature center but you do have to pay for parking as you enter the park.
I've been to a few nature centers but I really liked this one. As we entered the nature center and walked across a wooden bridge we saw ducks and a bunch of frogs in the lake! Some of the frogs were sitting on top of lily pads ! There is a visitor center with some hands on displays. The kids are allowed to touch and explore everything in the room! The hiking trail was fun for the kids as they saw all kinds of plants and animals. There is no fee to enter the Nature center but you do have to pay for parking as you enter the park.
The Living Desert Zoo near Palm Springs ( Palm Desert, CA )
http://www.livingdesert.org/
1st FREE Weekend of the month for any Bank of America Card holders only!
If you are a Bank of America card holder you can get in free the first weekend of the month. It is optional if you want to go on the Tram which is $6 per person all day.The Fanciful Flyers exhibit and the merry-go-round are both $2 per person. I am surprised that they do not tell you this on their website. It was kind of a surprise to us because we thought that it was all included in the admission price. This is a pretty good size zoo though. They had a merry-go-round, a huge model train display, a Discovery room with all sorts of stuff for the kids to examine and explore about the desert animals. The also had a petting kraal, the Fanciful Flyers exhibit with lots of butterflies and hummingbirds. The workers were really friendly and happy to assist you with any questions that you may have. My suggestion is to go early in the morning because when we got there about noon most of the animals were napping . Parking is free.
1st FREE Weekend of the month for any Bank of America Card holders only!
If you are a Bank of America card holder you can get in free the first weekend of the month. It is optional if you want to go on the Tram which is $6 per person all day.The Fanciful Flyers exhibit and the merry-go-round are both $2 per person. I am surprised that they do not tell you this on their website. It was kind of a surprise to us because we thought that it was all included in the admission price. This is a pretty good size zoo though. They had a merry-go-round, a huge model train display, a Discovery room with all sorts of stuff for the kids to examine and explore about the desert animals. The also had a petting kraal, the Fanciful Flyers exhibit with lots of butterflies and hummingbirds. The workers were really friendly and happy to assist you with any questions that you may have. My suggestion is to go early in the morning because when we got there about noon most of the animals were napping . Parking is free.
Bowers Museum (Santa Ana, CA)
www.bowers.org
Taget sponsored FREE 1st Sunday of the month !!
I am so glad that we came on a free day for this museum because it is not very big and there really wasn't much to see. They do have the Kids Bowers Museum next door but that's pretty small as well. They have free parking too.
Taget sponsored FREE 1st Sunday of the month !!
I am so glad that we came on a free day for this museum because it is not very big and there really wasn't much to see. They do have the Kids Bowers Museum next door but that's pretty small as well. They have free parking too.
Discovery Science Center (Santa Ana, CA )
http://www.discoverycube.org/
1st FREE SATURDAY of the month for any Bank of America Card holders only!
1st FREE SATURDAY of the month for any Bank of America Card holders only!
Birch Aquarium at Scripps ( San Diego, CA )
http://www.aquarium.ucsd.edu/
1st FREE Weekend of the month for any Bank of America Card holders only!
1st FREE Weekend of the month for any Bank of America Card holders only!
The New Children's Museum ( San Diego, CA )
List of Websites for FREE stuff
These websites are a great place to give stuff away and to receive free stuff as well ! I don't like throwing away useable items so I usually post it for free on craigslist. I know that these websites have helped many families in need.
(1) www.Craigslist.org - go to the "FREE" section. You can find that people are giving away furniture, clothes, toys and more!
(2) www.freecycle.org - Recycle your stuff and save our landfills ! This is a great way to get rid of your clutter and help others as well !!
(1) www.Craigslist.org - go to the "FREE" section. You can find that people are giving away furniture, clothes, toys and more!
(2) www.freecycle.org - Recycle your stuff and save our landfills ! This is a great way to get rid of your clutter and help others as well !!