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Best Ways to Beat Summertime Boredom for Kids

oc-fair header 610 rides
(credit: OC Fair)

Keeping kids busy over the summer break shouldn't be a chore! There are plenty of activities in Orange County, indoor and out, to keep summertime boredom away. We have a few ideas for you to keep the kids active and happy. The best part of summer is letting kids do what they best though: be a kid! Buy a delightful frozen treat from the ice cream truck, host a lemonade stand or encourage them to get outside for walks or ride bikes with their neighborhood friend.

Placentia Movies in the Park
(credit: Placentia Movies in the Park)

See An Outdoor Movie
Family Films in The Park
Arovista Park Amphitheate
Elm and Sievers Streets
(714) ­990-­7201
www.ci.brea.ca.us

Outdoor movies are a fun way to cure the summertime boredom! Remember sitting in the back of your parents station wagon, mouthing the words to the movie "Annie" back in the 80s? Drive-­ins aren't as popular as they used to be but outdoor movies are the rage with plenty of locations to chose from in the OC. What's even better is the majority are free! The City of Brea hosts their popular Family Films series on Fridays, featuring box office hits, Despicable Me and The Lego Movie. Bring a blanket or low­back beach chairs. Pack a yummy picnic and relax for a wonderful evening out under the stars.

OC Fair Rides DL
(credit: OC Fair)

OC Fair
88 Fair Dr
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 708-1500
www.ocfair.com

"Summer Starts Here", is this year's OC fair slogan! Buy a Super Pass to relish in fried food, festive carnival rides and oogle over the piglets in Centennial Farm for the length of the fair. Kids will have a blast at the Explorium Stage as well, where Frank Thurston, the comedic magician has you laughing out loud while he astonishes you with his tricks! Circus Performers as well as musicians will be wandering around the fair to keep fairgoers entertained, so just make sure to look up as you might miss the stilt walkers!

irvine park railroad
(Photo Credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

Irvine Regional Park
1 Irvine Park Rd
Orange, CA 92869
(714) 973­-6835
www.ocparks.com

Irvine Regional park is located in the city of Orange with a slew of activities to keep your kids entertained! Families can enjoy a picnic, ride bicycles along the trails or go for a leisurely walk through the beautiful 475 acre park. Children can also hit up one of the six playgrounds at the park, ride on a trotting pony, visit the OC Zoo for a nominal fee or board the fun Irvine Park Railroad train for a 10­ minute journey through the park for beautiful views past the lake and greenery. Visitors can also enjoy concession stands at the park and there are restrooms for your convenience. When visiting Irvine Regional Park, there certainly isn't a shortage of fun for kids.

anaheim packing district
(credit: Quynh Tran P./Yelp)

Anaheim Packing District
440 S. Anaheim Blvd,
Anaheim, CA, 92805
www.anaheimpackingdistrict.com

The newly opened Packing District is located in downtown Anaheim where locals can gather for culinary delights, live entertainment and more. Venture to the Packing House's atrium for two floors of food merchants within an open space concept and hip seats to lounge back and take in the sights and sounds! Children, as well as adults, will love the merchant Pop Bar as well. Stop by for a handcrafted gelato on a stick! In addition to all ingredients being natural, sweets are made fresh daily. Sunday is time to visit the Farmers Market though. Let the kiddos pick out their own fruits and vegetables for healthy, delicious snacks at home. Because the Packing District is the place to be, parking can be a challenge, but don't be discouraged! Get there early for the live music happening Fridays through Sunday.

orange county great park
(credit: ocgp.org)

Hot Air Balloon Ride
Orange County Great Park
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 724-­6247
www.ocgp.org

If you're looking for fun, why not soar over Irvine in a hot air balloon! Take the kids to Orange Country Great Park for a ride in the iconic Great Park Balloon! Sure, you're tethered, but passengers will be 400 feet above the ground, exposed to a paranoiac view of the landscape below. Prices for children are very low as well. Make sure to take a ride on the Great Park Carousel as well. For just $3, riders can buy an all ­day pass with unlimited rides. The park also hosts events throughout the month, including a farmers market, story times, and children's workshops. Families can also check out sports equipment at the visitors center for free. Kick around a soccer ball and play around the large open space at Great Park.

kids taking surf lesson
Beach Day
HB Surf School
285 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 658-­6873
www.hbsurfschool.com

Orange County beaches are some of the best in SoCal! Kids can spend the day splashing
in the waves, building unique sandcastles, combing for sea shells and artifacts or even take a surfing lesson on Huntington Beach! A beginner surf lesson would be an awesome way to beat summer boredom! With all equipment being provided, HB Surf School teaches kids 8 and up the basics of surfing. Another option is discovering a new beach! Thousand Steps Beach is a great beach with, you guessed it, 1,000 steps to get to the reward. Yes, it's a workout but your kids will reap the benefits by frolicking along the sandy beach and stepping into one of the many caves along the shore. It's paradise!

Mother Reading To Kids
(credit: Thinkstock)

OC Public Libraries
www.ocpl.org

Take advantage of your local library and their summer reading programs to continue developing your child's learning skills during school break. Sign your child up for a library card so they can check out fun book titles as well! Did you know that libraries provide a wide range of movie titles? Why pay for rentals when you can rent movies for free! Libraries also offer crafts, story time for the little ones, as well as workshops. Visit your local libraries event page for all of their happenings this summer. It's a great way to beat the heat!

What are your favorite ways to beat summertime boredom for kids? Share in the comments below!
Tee blogs about the coolest things to do, see and play at www.thatsitmommy.com and at Twitter.
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