Looking for some family fun during these socially distant times? Maybe your homeschooling and you need field trip ideas for the kids?
We looked far and wide to find these open* locations to find family fun! Prices vary for entry and experience at each location, while some are free.
Be sure to check the website before you go to confirm the days and hours they are open. Many of the locations request you to reserve tickets in advance to help with social distancing guidelines. Please follow any mask and social distancing guidelines they may have on-site.
- California Botanic Garden - Grab the family and take a stroll through the Botanic Gardens, the largest botanic garden dedicated to California native plants. Right now, through April 18, 2021, you can view the Clayfornia Ceramic Sculpture Exhibit. You can download a Scavenger Hunt Sheet and solve riddles to find the sculptures scattered throughout the Garden HERE.
- Claremont Wilderness Park - The Claremont Hills Wilderness Park is located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest. The Park offers a five-mile walking loop and smaller trails. Parking for the park is available at parking lots on Mills Avenue and Mt. Baldy Road. Permits are required in the lots.
- Pacific Electric Trail - Get out early in the morning for a walk/bike ride or in the evening when the sun is going down. It's a great way to get out of the house and add a little exercise to your day. Trip Idea: Plan your destination and make stops along the way (off the path) at local stores to grab a snack, picnic lunch, ice cream, or cold drink. Paint Rocks and then leave them along the trail for others to find.
- Upland Farmers Market - Join Upland Farmers Market on Saturday, 9 am - 2 pm
- Claremont Farmers and Artisans Market - Every Sunday from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm over 100 growers and artisan members share their goods and services including certified organic produce, specialty crafts, flowers, & plants throughout the year. Founded in 1996, the Claremont Forum sponsors this weekly event and proceeds from each market help support their services such as the Prison Library Project.
- Etiwanda Preserve - This local hiking trail in Etiwanda will lead you to a beautiful waterfall.
- House of Play - This cute indoor play facility in Rancho Cucamonga is currently open by reservation only with a ton of fun for your kids to run, jump, play and explore.
- Haven City Market - Bring your family for some local fun to eat, drink and play! Enjoy delicious food and family movie nights every Monday and Wednesday at 8 PM!
- Mission Tiki Drive-In - Pack snacks, wear your pajamas and head out to the drive-in where you can catch a double feature for a low-cost per person in Montclair.
- Sawdust Factory - Come to their fun workshop in Upland to paint a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
- Castle Park - Head to Riverside for a fun day of miniature golf! Sign up for their Distance Learning Challenge and earn a free round of golf!
- Southern California Children's Museum - Now open with advanced booking. SCCM features permanent and rotating exhibits that help develop a child’s gross and fine motor skills. Outdoor and Indoor play
- Amy's Farm - Visit a real working farm in Ontario. Feed the animals and grab fresh produce while your there.
- Mary Vagle Nature Center - A beautiful hidden treasure in Fontana. Enjoy a nature walk and bring a picnic lunch.
- Mud Shack - Mud Shack will be closing their doors in May 2021. Visit this pottery studio in LaVerne to take home and create your own ceramic masterpiece. Then bring it back to be glazed and fired. OR make a reservation to paint in studio.
- Trapped Escape Room - a family-owned fully immersive experience with creative and technologically advanced puzzles and intricate set designs. You can play online (interact with live characters in the actual room) OR in person (with just your group - no strangers)
- Bowlero or Big Al's - Head out as a family to bowl a couple of games!
- Big Al's - Big Al's is open. Bowling, Arcade, and Sports Bar.
- AMC Theater, Victoria Gardens - Book a private screening or take in a new movie!
- Laemmle - Looking for something a little different? Check out the shows playing NOW.
- Adventure City - This little theme park is big on family fun! Rides, shows, and attractions. Advanced tickets required
- Magic Mountain - Park is now open with advanced ticket sales!
- Disneyland - Reopening April 30th with advance ticket sales.
- Knotts - Enjoy the Boysenberry Festival at Knotts! Theme park not yet re-opened.
- Universal Studios - Park is now open with advanced ticket sales!
- Legoland - Park is now open with advanced ticket sales!
- Sea World - Park is now open with advance ticket sales. All rides, roller coasters, indoor and outdoor animal attractions, and outdoor animal presentations will be available with physically distanced seating
- Kidspace Children's Museum - Now Open with advanced reservations. See their 3.5 acres of interactive environments.
- Planes of Fame Air Museum - Come visit the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino for their outdoor experience to see the history of aviation.
- Riley's Farm - Head to Oak Glen for food & fun. Mark your calendars for August 28th when apple, pear & raspberry picking season begins!
- The Hesperia Zoo - Head out to a guided feeding tour and feed the tiger, lemurs, spider monkey, exotic hoofstock, and more! Have breakfast with a primate on Saturday morning or walk with the herd on Friday nights.
- The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens - From nature trails to animal encounters there is so much to experience at the Living Desert & Zoo in Palm Desert!
- Garden Works for Kids - Kids will get hands-on fun, exploring, touching, and experience the power of nature and the environment in Yucaipa.
- UCR Botanic Gardens - Enjoy the outdoors and learn about different plant species in Riverside.
- Sky Park at Santa's Village - Open 7 days a week with a bike park, fly fishing, hiking, skating, ax throwing, archery, train rides, pan for gold and so much more in Skyforest. This is a place where there is family fun for all ages.
- Giddy Up Ranch - A fun ranch in Phelan offers pony rides camel rides and a petting zoo. Bass Pro Shop in Racho Cucamonga has Giddy Up Ranch bring their animals when they offer outdoor events.
- Sugarplum Farm and Chocolate Shoppe - Visit a full exotic animal zoo and artisan chocolate shop in Temecula.
- Peaceful Hearts for Change Daycation - Head to a ranch in Temecula for the day to enjoy a ton of fun activities. From horse experiences, private park & picnic to family team building activities, scavenger hunt, rock painting, and more.
- Southern California Railway Museum - Take a weekend train or trolly ride and visit a train museum in Perris.
- Irvine Park Railroad - Head to Irvine for a full day of family fun - bike, paddleboat and horse rentals, pony rides, and more.
- Oasis Camel Farm - Book your exclusive camel "mini-pod" experience, Head to Ramona, to visit, ride and feed camels.
- GPS Adventures Knowledge Quest - Take your own adventure and head to Orange County for your personal adventure quest. Created by a naturalist and science teacher - this is a year-long field trip of adventure and hands-on exploring. From the website: The GPS Adventures Knowledge Quest is a real-life simulation of a Natural History based knowledge quest that is fun for the whole family. Instead of the character playing online, they play in real-life, using real places in Orange County, California to fulfill their quests and advance to the "next level". Upon Signing up, you will be granted access to Level 0 within 24 hours. Once you complete level 0, Access to page 1 will open up, So on and so forth till you conquer all 6 levels. Once you complete all the levels successfully, you will be given a coordinate
to find your buried treasure. - Zoomars at River Street Ranch - Take a day trip to San Juan Capistrano to see guinea pigs, goats, and sheep, Enjoy train rides, pony rides, mining for gold, and more!
- Mission San Juan Capistrano - Studying missions this year? -or not. Take a trip to visit this cultural destination filled with history and exploration.
- Underwood Farms - With locations in Moorpark or Somis, take a drive to pick your own in-season fruits and vegetables.
- LA Arboretum - Enjoy a day outdoors exploring the beautiful gardens in Arcadia
- Aquarium of the Pacific - Currently open with outdoor exhibits only, enjoy reduced pricing and a chance to see Shark Lagoon, Penguin Habitat
- San Diego Zoo & Safari Park - Head to San Diego for a fun day at the zoo or animal park.
- Santa Barbara Zoo - Take a mini-vacation to Santa Barbara and visit their amazing zoo. Tickets must be purchased online and are timed entry so plan ahead before you go!
- Butterfly Farms - Simply put this place is a butterfly sanctuary! Learn, see, and ask questions with butterfly experts in Encinitas.
- Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark - Head to Needles and explore Amboy Crater - one of the youngest volcanic fields in the United States! Formed of ash and cinders, it's 250 feet high and 1,500 feet in diameter. Bring plenty of water and snacks for a picnic and hiking trail to the rim with rest stations along the way.
- Free Flight Birds - Experience and interact with their resident birds up close in Del Mar.
- Santa Margarita County Preserve - Discover this beautiful trail and escape to Fallbrook where you'll see nature in its purest form.
- USS Midway - Visit a historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego at Navy Pier. Come see history up close and learn from veterans and volunteers who love the ship's rich history.
- Batiquitos Lagoon Nature Center - Visit one of the last few tidal wetlands in Southern California. This nature preserve in Carlsbad provides a natural environment and habitats for birds, insects, plants, fish, mammals, sea anemones, sponges, corals, sea stars, sea urchins, worms, crabs, and many more.
- Cabazon Dinosaurs - Visit the movie-famous Cabazon Dinosaurs in their themed pantsuits and enjoy a treat at the Wafflesaurus Truck.
As always, due to COVID, event hours and closings can occur suddenly. Please check website hours and the latest information prior to heading out
This list will continue to be updated as we hear of more family-friendly locations opening up. Be sure to check back often.
