Best Museum
Discovery Cube OC
Editors’ Choice
It’s easy to spend the day discovering all the fun features at this kid’s museum. Exhibits include a planetary research station, mini grocery store and science of hockey section.
oc.discoverycube.org | Santa Ana
Best Pool
La Mirada’s Splash
4 Year Winner
There’s no better place for serious swimmers to make a splash than this Orange County venue. It 50-meter competition pool features a 16-lane LED scoreboard, top-of-the line lighting and 13.5-feet depths. The pool is equipped for diving, synchronized swimming and water polo.
splashlamirada.com | La Mirada
Best Place to See Animals
Aquarium of the Pacific
Debut Winner
Visitors can get up close and personal with sea creatures of all shapes and sizes at this Long Beach aquarium. Its new frog exhibit includes a display of nearly two dozen species.
aquariumofpacific.org | Long Beach
Best Petting Zoo
Zoomars
Editors’ Choice
Pack a picnic and spend the day at this gem of a zoo. Kids can feed and visit with more than 100 animals, ride a train and play in the corn box.
zoomars.com | San Juan Capistrano
Best Family Theater
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
5 Year Winner
This Orange County gem is the place to be for art lovers. It consistently draws world-class talent to the stage, including the upcoming Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra. And let’s not forget about the upcoming Harry Potter in Concert shows.
scfta.org | Costa Mesa
Best Skatepark
Vans Skatepark
13 Year Winner
The park’s 20,000 square foot indoor course features an assortment of obstacles, including stairs, ramps and ledges. It’s all enough to challenge the most seasoned of street skaters. Other features include a warmup course, combi pool, outdoor course and mini ramp.
vans.com/skateparks-orange.html | Orange
Best Bowling Alley
Irvine Lanes
5 Year Winner
This family-friendly bowling alley caters to customers of all ages. It has bumpers for young bowlers, and each lane has couch-style seating so participants can relax between turns. Its galaxy bowling events features back lights, lasers and music.
irvinelanes.com | Irvine
Best Skating Rink
Anaheim Ice
6 Year Winner
Whether they’re learning to skate or a budding NHL star, this is the place for kids to lace up their skates and hit the ice. It offers everything from beginner skating classes and youth camps to recreational and tournament teams.
anaheimice.therinks.com | Anaheim
Best Carousel/Movie Theater/Place to Shop with the Whole Family
Irvine Spectrum Center
11 Year Winner
There’s something for everyone at this outdoor shopping plaza. Besides the usual assortment of toy, book and clothing stores, the Spectrum has games, rides and regular live entertainment. Want to make a day of it? Catch a movie in style in the Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21’s new luxury wing. It features eight upgraded auditoriums with king-sized recliners that are spacious and adjustable. Other perks include reserved seating, an enhanced menu and lounge. The gorgeous carousel, which illuminates at night. features antique horses and an assortment of other animals. Kids who don’t fancy mounting a horse can hop on a zebra or tiger instead.
shopirvinespectrumcenter.com | Irvine
Best Beach
Crystal Cove
There’s no comparison to the natural beauty and serenity of Crystal Cove beach. It boasts 3.5 miles of uninterrupted shoreline and is a popular destination for bikers, hikers and tourists.
crystalcovestatepark.org | Newport Beach
Best Park
Irvine Regional Park
Pay a visit to this Orange County treasure and you might find yourself paddling on a lake, biking along wooded trails, or visiting an on-site zoo. Perhaps you’ll embark on a train ride, too. There’s no shortage of fun at this peaceful and historic park.
irvineparkrailroad.com | Orange
Best Hiking Trail
Crystal Cove Laguna Beach
This state park offers 18 miles of trails that wind through 2,400 acres of wilderness. Hikers can take in breathtaking mountain and ocean views as they traverse past oak and sycamore trees. Numerous trails are available to suit all abilities.
crystalcovestatepark.org | Newport Beach
Best Historical Site
Mission San Juan Capistrano
It’s a place as old as the constitution. Mission San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776, is the oldest-standing building in California. Visitors can learn more at the state landmark, which today serves as a chapel and museum.
missionsjc.com | San Juan Capistrano
Best Family Entertainment/Family Fun
Boomers
The whole clan will have a blast at this park. It has mini golf, go carts, bumper boats and batting cages – and that’s just within its outdoor section. The fun continues inside with a game room filled with state-of-the art arcades.
boomersparks.com | Irvine, Fountain Valley
Best Fair/Festival
OC Fair
Folks descend on the fairgrounds by the thousands for this annual event. It’s the hottest ticket in town with its carnival, petting zoo, live entertainment, rides and more.
ocfair.com | Costa Mesa
Best Theme Park
Disneyland/California Adventure
Always a favorite, this year has brought the crowds some new elements to Ooooh and Aaaah over — namely, the renovation of the former Tower of Terror into the thrilling and fairly hilarious Guardians of the Galaxy ride and a Frozen-inspired show that has little ones swearing to never ever “Let it Go”.
www.disneyland.com | Anaheim
Best Theme Park Entertainment Area
City Walk
Editors’ Choice
How do you top thrill rides, fantastic cinematic-themed shows, parades and tours featuring some of Hollywood’s most impressive sets and studios? By filling an outdoor walkways with endless shops, eateries, bars and entertainment.
Best Thrill Ride for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
Universal Studios Hollywood
Editors’ Choice
Walking through the archway transports you to the land of all things Potter, but to truly transport yourself into the fantasy step into the towering castle for a ride into every thrilling aspect of the wizardly books and movies.
Best Place to Catch Your First Fish
Dana Wharf Sportfishing
Kids learn fishing techniques from the experts through Dana Wharf Sportsfishing’s weekly dockside clinics. Equipment is provided and kids fish for free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
danawharf.com | Dana Point
Best Family Staycation Hotel
Hotel Irvine
Editors’ Choice
With an easy (and affordable) grab and go market, full service eatery and bar with craft cocktails, excellent pool area with cabanas, and popcorn-and-snack-filled open air family movies shown on the side lawn— this is a great option for a trial vacay with little ones (or escape for parents looking to try a first night away).
www.hotelirvine.com | Irvine
Best Horseback Riding Facility
Irvine Regional Park
Irvine Regional Park’s County Trail and Riding School is a popular place for equestrians-in-training. It offers English and Western lessons, group activities and summer programs for kids. Better yet, kids learn in the park’s beautiful and serene backdrop.
irvineparkrailroad.com | Orange
Best Playground
Heritage Park
It’s hard to beat a park that boasts a splash-pad, two playgrounds and a pond loaded with ducks and fish. With its shaded picnicking areas and wealth of stuff to do – including tennis courts, basketball courts and soccer fields — is the perfect place to spend a day.
irvineparkrailroad.com | Orange
Best Skatepark
Etnies
Editors’ Choice
Hailed among the “Top 10 skate parks to ride before you die,” this venue can be a riot for skaters and spectators alike. Aside from being frequented by a slew of skaters, Etnies hosts a slew of events, camps and programs.
etniesskatepark.com | Lake Forest
Best Farmers’ Market
OC Great Park
Editors’ Choice
Featuring fresh, locally-grown produce and live entertainment, this market runs Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shoppers can peruse artisan products and grab lunch at one of several on-site food trucks, too.
cityofirvine.org/orange-county-great-park/farmers-market | Irvine
Best Celebration of Local Produce
Knotts’ Boysenberry Festival
Editors’ Choice
This annual event features live music, dozens of boysenberry-inspired dishes and pie eating contests. The fun continues with line dancing, fair festivities and evening dance parties.
knotts.com | Buena Park
La Habra Corn Festival
Editors’ Choice
This Lions Club-hosted event touts itself as Southern California’s “one and only corn” festival. The weekend-long event includes rides and attractions, food and craft booths, and live music.
lahabracornfestival.com | La Habra
Strawberry Festival Garden Grove
Editors’ Choice
Going into its 60th year, this berry sweet festival kicks off each Memorial Day weekend with a parade featuring marching bands, floats and Peanuts characters. Other festival highlights include a Strawberry Stomp fun run, “redhead roundup” contest, and a strawberry shortcake cutting ceremony.
lahabracornfestival.com | Garden Grove
Readers’ Choice 2017 Sections
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