4 Kid-Friendly Spots for Nurse Parents: O.C. Edition
Where does all the time go? We work, have children, and go back to work. The next thing we know, we’re going to our kids’ graduation. Trying to find a balance between work and family time is difficult in our field and during a pandemic, we’ve struggled to find things to do with our children.
However, with increased vaccine access and the weather warming up, we have more activity options for the family. Below are a few places to go with your kids this spring and the upcoming months in Orange County.
Aside from the obvious Orange County tourist destinations like: Disneyland themed park and Laguna Beach, there are plenty of places to explore with your family. Here are four family friendly places you can go with your children in Orange County to enjoy during the pandemic.
Dana Point Whale Watching - Dana Point is jokingly called the whale watching capital of the world. With its world class rich and diverse marine life that can be viewed all year round.
Currently, excursion tours are available starting at $39 on Viator. The tour is covid compliant and is offering a cruise along the coastline, where you can view blue whales. During your trip you may also see dolphins, gray whales and a few birds too.
The Butterfly Pavilion - Although this place isn’t exactly in Orange County, it’s still worth exploring. The seasonal exhibit is displayed at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, CA. The exhibit is open from March 11th-September 6th 2021. However, due to the pandemic there was a delayed start date.
The museum's doors will reopen April 1st and tickets for entry were made available online March 25th. While there, you can see how butterflies use their mouths to get nectar and hundreds of butterflies from 30 different species.
Huntington Beach - It’s not Malibu or Venice beach, but Huntington Beach has been named one of the top 10 beaches in Southern California and it’s open to visitors. The beach is also pet-friendly! It was listed as one of the best dog beaches. Due to its consistently sunny weather and fair surf conditions, it would be a great place to kayak or paddle board during the day and tell scary stories near a bonfire at night.
Fullerton Arboretum - If you’re looking for places to visit all year long, (because of your crazy nursing schedule) for children 5 years old and up. Look no further than Fullerton Arboretum. They have a wildflower exhibit you should check out and they’re also supporters of sustainable environmental practices. So, it’s a great opportunity to teach your kids about sustainability.
Local Parks & Trails (honorable mention) - When you just need to get outside and get fresh air, look towards your local parks and trails. A lot of them are free or inexpensive to visit. Orange County has several parks and nature trails to choose from. Go to their official website to see what activities are available and open in your neighborhood.