Centennial Farm is a great excursion located at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.  I took the kids on a lazy afternoon and there were way more animal residents than people visiting. Plus, we had the added enjoyment of seeing a lot of little baby farm animals. I was overwhelmed by the cuteness factor of the baby pigs, chicks, goats, and sheep.  I can’t guarantee there will be babies on your visit, but it’s still a fun trip.

Location: At the Orange County Fairgrounds off the 55 Freeway at Fair Drive.  I’ll defer to their map and directions. I’ll still put it on our playground map, though. MAP TO CENTENNIAL FARM AT THE ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN COSTA MESA

Highlights:

• Many Orange County Kindergartners get to take field trips here. You can preview with your toddlers or preschoolers.
• Great for teaching kids where our food comes from — and for helping them identify animals by: the sounds they make, their English names, and their Spanish names.
• The gardens have interpretive signs about the edibles growing there.
• Download FREE activity sheets from the Centennial Farm website to complete before your visit.
• Don’t miss the bee hive at the back corner of the education building.
• If you remember the old wooden silo at the corner of Bison and McArthur in Newport Beach – you’ll recognize it at its new home near the entrance.

Be Aware:

• Very busy when the OC Fair is going on. I’d suggest planning a visit outside of the OC Fair dates which occurs July and August.
• No picking up or feeding the animals. My daughter wanted to hold a chick so badly, but this isn’t really the place unless you’re will a school group.
• Check the website to see if there are any special events which might cause the farm to close to the public.
• The hours are a little funky M-F (from 1pm-4pm) and Sat-Sun (9am-4pm).
• Some might complain “there’s nothing to do here” — but I loved it because we could explore on our own and read all the signs. We learned a lot on our visit.

Checklist:

• Free parking at the fairgrounds
• Restrooms and handwashing station
• The trip took us about an hour – taking our time and strolling.

Costa Mesa

Here’s a little teaser for what I’m working on for tomorrow!

Balearic Park was one of the most popular recommendations when I asked a group of moms at TeWinkle Park about other good Costa Mesa parks. Estancia Park actually neighbors Balearic, so it’s like getting two parks in one.  Estancia is the one with the historic adobe and Balearic is accompanied by a community center.

Location: The park is a great sidetrip from IKEA. From Interstate 405, take the Harbor Blvd exit and turn towards the ocean (away from IKEA). Turn right on Adams Avenue which is a main street.  Turn right on Mesa Verde Drive West and then left on Boa Vista. Parking for Estancia is in the lot on Boa Vista. Go a little further and turn left on Balearic Drive for parking on the left next to the community center. MAP TO BALEARIC PARK AND ESTANCIA PARK

Highlights:

• Located away from major streets.
• Nice grassy fields for lots of run around time.
• Kid-size basketball hoops (we’re always looking for these, but rarely find them)
• Our kids absolutely loved the hill between the parks. They pretended they were Lewis and Clark on an expedition.  There are walkways up and down the hill, but also trails through the bushes.
• Estancia is a great park to pair with learning about the mission and the ranchos because of the Diego Sepulveda Adobe. The Costa Mesa Historical Society opens the adobe, based on volunteer availability, on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month between noon and 4pm.
• The playground isn’t anything special. It’s just one of those great neighborhood hangout parks.
• 2 bench swings, 2 baby swings.
• Good spot for flying kites or bringing a soccer ball, football, frisbee, or basketball.

Be Aware:

• We previewed the trails in the bushes to make sure there were no hazards – or people!
• I think this is popular for community events (but on the evening we visited, almost no one was there).
• Lots of folks out walking their dogs.
• NO playground at Estancia. The playground is at Balearic.

Checklist:

• Parking in dedicated lots. You can park in Balearic and walk up and around Estancia or vice versa.
• Drinking fountains throughout.
• Restroom building up on the hill at Estancia and down near the playground at the Balearic Community Center.
• Play surface is sand.
• Picnic tables and grills at both parks.
• Not a lot of shade on the playground, but plenty of big trees and shady spots.

Costa Mesa

When: Saturday, December 11th from Noon-3pm
Where: Balearic Community Center, 1975 Balearic Drive, Costa Mesa

Snow Land in Costa Mesa is sponsored by community-focused Torelli Realty. It’s become an event that people in Costa Mesa look forward to year after year. For the first time ever they are offering the event during the afternoon from 12-3pm. It’s a wonderful way for their company to give back to the people who live in the area they serve. Plus all the fun is free except for the concessions being sold to benefit the local schools/organizations.

Look forward to the festivities, but also enjoy the chance to help local schools do some fundraising:

• The Estancia High School sports teams will be raising money by selling donuts by Jess Gilman, (the Officer who was recently profiled in the paper for his donut making), hot dogs, polish sausages, sweets, crafts, and more.
• TeWinkle Middle School is selling coffee, hot cocoa and snacks to raise money for their programs.
• Adams Elementary School is selling shaved ice to raise money for their PTA and recycling efforts.
• The Indian Maidens will be selling popcorn and brownies to benefit their organization.
• The Estancia High School Cheer Team will be doing face painting and volunteering their spirit throughout the day.

Torelli Realty is expecting thousands of people this year. Santa Claus is arriving via fire engine at 12pm and will take free pictures with the children, there will be a hay wagon ride, free cookie decorating, a DJ, and much more.

They will also be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program and the Fire Department is coming to help out with that. Plus they are also collecting food for the Share Our Selves food drive.Visit the Torelli Realty blog for more information.

*No compensation received for this post. Someone throw a snowball for me!

Moon Park in Costa Mesa was a pick from Mr. Play Parks. I think he found it on Yelp before we went out adventuring one weekend. We told the kids we were taking them to a place that was “out of this world.” That kept them guessing! The park is on California Street in Costa Mesa and my 8 year old loved counting all the state names on the surrounding streets while we were en route to our destination. Coincidentally, I just read a blurb about it in the June Orange Coast magazine.

Location: Exit Interstate 405 at Harbor Blvd. Head away from IKEA toward the ocean. Turn right on Gisler Avenue. Then make another right onto California Street and follow it through the neighborhood until you come up on the park on your left. MAP TO MOON PARK IN COSTA MESA (See the moon from the satellite photo) Note: The map mysteriously labels the park as Suburbia Park?

Highlights:

• The giant concrete moon dome with craters is the real draw to this park
• It’s right off the Santa Ana River Trail and I was astounded at the bike traffic! There was a constant flow of bikers riding by the park and stopping for a break in the shade.
• Two kids playgrounds – separated by the moon
• Nice picnic tables, small grassy hills, shade trees
• The kids liked the tire swing
• There’s a knee-high fence around the moon, but I hear from locals that it’s okay for the kids to climb
• On and off shade on the play equipment and definitely shade for sitting or picnics

Be Aware:

• NO swings and NO restroom
• Limited street parking. If you were to have a big party there’s not a lot of spaces.
• It’s tucked back in a neighborhood and may feel isolated if you visit alone during the week — tons of visitors on the weekend.
• Near bike path and under big power lines. Situated right underneath the soundwall for I-405.

Checklist:

• Parking on the street
• Sand and recycled rubber play surface
• NO restrooms
• Drinking fountain near moon
• Picnic tables scattered throughout park
• See a slideshow by clicking on Moon Park on the City of Costa Mesa website