Griffith Park vs. Irvine Regional Park vs. Discovery Cube?

[new_mommy25]

We'll be in Anaheim for 5 days. We're doing the whole theme park thing but we have one free day with nothing planned. That morning we have breakfast reservations at Goofy's Kitchen and we'll walk around Downtown Disney a bit. By the time we're done with that hopefully traffic will have died down (this will be a Wednesday)

I was thinking about doing Griffith park that day but then my brother told me to check out Irvine Park. It's a lot closer than LA and it has the paddle boats that look fun, a rail road, and other things. Any ideas about what would be more fun for a 5 year old and 3 year old?

The other idea is to do the Discovery Cube museum. If we do that what is in the area around that?

Or is there something else I should consider? I don't really want to do the beaches because we're from Hawaii. I know the Santa Monica pier is fun but I don't want more rides.

Thank you!

[codex57]

Huh. Went to school in Irvine for 4 yrs and never knew about IRP. I like the Discovery Cube, but the 3 yr old may or may not be old enough. I suspect he'd have enough fun there.

I think the kids are a lil too young for Griffith Park. Besides a pony ride, what else can they really do?

How about shooting south down the 5 and going to Legoland? Sea World is getting pretty cheap too, or the SD Zoo/Animal Park.

[Tondi G]

Santa Ana has the Discovery Science center http://www.discoverycube.org/

or yo might like the La Habra Children's Museum http://www.lahabracity.com/section.cfm?id=41

there is a Boomers in Irvine http://www.boomersparks.com/park/irvine/index.html

ADventure city but it is a small amusement park .. might be boring after Disney!

http://www.adventurecity.com/

All of these are fairly close to Anaheim!

I like this website too for info on local things to do with kids

http://gocitykids.parentsconnect.com/region/los-angeles-ca-usa

[TwinFoxes]

Besides a pony ride, what else can they really do?


The train! And the merry go round, but the train is really cool!

The LA Zoo is also in Griffith Park, it's an OK zoo, not awesome like San Diego. And you can go to the observatory, but that might be too old for your kids. And if you like hikes, there are plenty of places to walk/hike.

The advantage of going to Griffith Park is you get to see Los Angeles. (OC is NOT L.A.) You'll drive by downtown, and get to see the Hollywood sign, and drive past Hollywood Blvd, you could stop and look at the stars on the sidewalk. But I'm not sure it's worth the drive for the kids. The Irvine Regional Park, which I've never heard of, sounds pretty nice, and a lot closer.

[codex57]

Oh yeah, the train. But it's quite a hike from anaheim just for the train and a pony ride. And yeah, I'm not a huge fan of the LA Zoo. If starting from Anaheim, I'd rather shoot down south and go the the SD Zoo.

I'm not sure if a 5 and 3 yr old would appreciate typical LA sights.

[elektra]

I took DD to the Discovery Cube a month or so ago and at barely 2 she still had a good time running around. Your 5 yo would probably have more fun but the 3yo will not be bored. The Discovery Cube is in the Santa Ana/Orange area, right off of the 5 freeway.
It is right next to Main Place mall in Santa Ana. There is also the Santa Ana zoo right there, also off the 5, like 2 exits down. I have taken DD twice and it has been updated, and is the perfect size (small) for a half-day outing.
Unless you want to drive an additional 1+ hours, or unless you really want to see LA, I would do the Santa Ana zoo and Discovery cube.

Irvine park (actually in Orange) is also nice, and it's about another 10 minutes down the 5 and then up Jamboree. It's basically a huge park where you can reserve areas for big picnics and such. There are several playgrounds scattered througout the park and there is a pond, a little zoo and a train.