Celebrating Mother's Day

How we celebrated Mother's day:

We started the morning with a walk on the Huntington Beach pier down to Ruby's Diner for some decent, inexpensive breakfast overlooking the ocean. Kids love this 50's diner-style restaurant. Then we spent some time shopping for mommy at the stores on main street. Followed with some nice old fashioned fun in the sun by the pool and barbecuing hot dogs. To finish things off we went to In N Out for dinner.

For more fun kids stuff visit The Kids Fun Factory

Happy Mother's Day to all mommies.

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Mother's Day in Orange County

Remember Mom this weekend with something just for her. The Philharmonic House of Design is still happening and it's a great day of discovery plus a fun boutique, caf� and lectures. Or sashay on over to the Honda Center to hear Michael Bubl� sing. For a relaxing brunch try 21 Oceanfront, Sapphire, Palm Terrace and any of the Culinary Adventure restaurants. Or head to Laguna for a spa getaway at the Surf and Sand Resort, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort or my favorite place the St. Regis Spa Gaucin and truly indulge. Heavenly!!! more

For fun things to do with kids in orange county visit thekidsfactory.com

California Strawberry Festival May 17 - 18

KIDS Ride FREE in Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to the 25th Annual California Strawberry Festival
http://www.strawberry-fest.org/information/information-amtrak.html

One of the Premier Outdoor Festivals in the Nation
A tribute to the tasty fruit that wears its seeds on the outside, the 25th Annual California Strawberry Festival gets underway May 17 and 18, 2008 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard (3250 South Rose Avenue).

With live musical entertainment, over 300 Arts & Crafts, 50 food booths with yummy berry favorites, gooey contests, the Strawberry Promenade, Star Berry Hunt, Strawberryland For Kids, and more, it’s the perfect celebration of the region’s agricultural heritage with proceeds benefiting more than 40 Southland charities.

Hours:

Saturday, May 17: 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m.
Sunday, May 18: 10:00a.m. to 6:30p.m.

Strawberry Meadows of College Park
3250 South Rose Avenue
Oxnard, California

Admission
$12 Adults
$5 Youth (Ages 5-12)
$8 Seniors (55+)
$8 Active Military and Dependents with ID
Children 4 and under are free

http://www.strawberry-fest.org/information/information-main.html

Strawberry Express Shuttle
Take the FREE Strawberry Express. Get off the freeway, park and ride our shuttle.

Keeping it real, teaching your kids about organic fruits and vegetables

Keeping it real, teaching your kids about organic fruits and vegetables

http://www.tanakafarms.com/

Tanaka farms located in Orange County offers tours of their fields year round. Right now you can take the Strawberry tour.


Bring your kids for an exciting adventure which includes:

*A guided Wagon Ride around the farm

*See how different fruits and vegetables grow

*Taste different fruits and vegetables

*Pick and eat your very own STRAWBERRIES

Strawberries, Strawberries, Strawberries
Starting our Strawberry tours in 1998 we started something in the heart of Irvine that some people still may not know that exist. Something elders remember from there childhoods but young kids have never experienced. Some place to pick your very own strawberries right off the vine. Nothing taste better than a vine ripened Tanaka Farms Strawberry. On this 1 hour tour, we will experience a tractor pulled wagon ride around the farm, see different fruits and vegetables growing, we will get to taste some fruits and vegetables, and at the very end we will get out and pick our very own strawberries. Nothing beats the excitment of kids trying to find the biggest strawberries and then dripping the juice all over themselves. The pictures speak for themselves. Along with the fun and excitment it is also a great learning experience for the kids. We will teach you the difference between a fruit and a vegetable and I bet the parents will even be amazed as well.
So come join the for Strawberry Tours that run from March-June. Don't miss out on the fun. For Group tours and reservations please call 714-968-6588.

http://www.tanakafarms.com/Strawberry_Tours.html

Santa Margarita Water District's Family Fun Kids Day

source: daytripping mom

If you live in South Orange County this sounds like a fun family outing. You are invited to join the Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) for its annual Fiesta de Agua Family Fun Day water conservation festival on Saturday, May 3rd. New this year, SMWD will host the free event along the shores of its Oso Reservoir in Rancho Santa Margarita. The family-oriented festival is held by SMWD each May to kick off its celebration of National Water Awareness Month.

Fiesta de Agua’s new location will provide a beautiful natural backdrop for participants to learn about water conservation and the local environment. Activities, which include water education games, a live reptile show and nature hikes, will be centered at the Boy Scout camp on the banks of the reservoir.

What: SMWD Fiesta de Agua
When: Saturday, May 3rd 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: SMWD’s Oso Reservoir
(Directions and map below)

Activities for this year’s Fiesta de Agua are scheduled to include:

· Water conservation education
· Nature hikes
· Live reptile show
· Marksmanship demonstrations
Fossil displays
Bird watching
Face painting
Scout demonstrations
S’mores and campfire songs
Kids’ crafts
Community exhibitors
Firefighters and fire engines

Free food and beverages will be provided by the District. Other participating sponsors include The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scout Council of Orange County, City of Mission Viejo and City of Rancho Santa Margarita.

For more information on Fiesta de Agua, please visit http://www.smwd.com/.

About Oso Reservoir
Oso Reservoir is the largest recycled water reservoir in South Orange County and is located in the City of Rancho Santa Margarita. The man-made lake is capable of storing more than one billion gallons of recycled water for the region’s irrigation needs and is a critical component to the region’s water supply reliability infrastructure.

Directions to Oso Reservoir:

From Mission Viejo: Head north on Los Alisos Blvd. After crossing the 241 Toll Road, take an immediate left to “Oso Lake.” Follow the dirt road about half a mile to the parking area.

From Ranch Santa Margarita: Drive west on Santa Margarita Pkwy. Turn right onto Melinda Rd. and follow to just before the 241 Toll Road. Turn right to “Oso Lake.”

From the 241 Toll Road: Take the Los Alisos exit and drive north. Take an immediate left to “Oso Lake.”

For more great ideas of fun stuff to do with your Orange County kids visit http://www.thekidsfactory.com

Catalina Island - A Great Vacation from Orange County for Kids

Catalina Island, just 26 miles - a 45 minute boat ride on the Catalina Express, is a great place to take Orange County kids for vacation. The short trip makes for a great day trip, weekend getaways or even longer.

We recently took our child to Catalina Island for the weekend and had a wonderful time. The weather was beautiful, the people are warm and friendly, and there is so much to do: snorkeling, biking, hiking, boating, miniature golf, video arcade, movie theater and much more.

For more great ideas of fun stuff to do with your Orange County kids visit http://www.thekidsfactory.com