One of the major benefits of living in Orange County is the vast amounts of things to do with kids. Just about every city and town in Orange County has family-oriented activities all year long and winter is no different. There are so many different things to do with kids over winter break in Orange County and the majority of them are seasonally themed.
Get out and enjoy the many different things to do with kids over winter break in Orange County and discover what really makes Orange County amazing.
See a Show
It may be hard to get kids to stay seated for a long period of time but there are many different shows to see at the many different theaters around Orange County. During winter break, many of these shows are oriented to children and that can help keep their attention. You can see Christmas and other holiday classics all over Orange County.
Visit Emptier Hotels
Orange County is a vacation destination for many but during winter break, it is slightly less crowded. Take advantage of this time by visiting a nearby hotel resort. Many of the resorts have special events at the restaurants or in the lobbies that are holiday oriented. One example is the Great Wolf Lodge which has the opportunity to eat a meal INSIDE a gingerbread house! Many of these events will require a reservation but you don’t exactly need to have a room in order to get a reservation at the events.
Ice Skate
The Irvine Spectrum Center is a great place to spend the day shopping, eating, and of course, ice skating. There is an outdoor ice skating rink that allows you to skate the day away even when it’s 70 degrees outside. If you go on the weekends you may be treated to live carolers singing holiday classics for you.
See the Lights
Holiday lights have been strung up on almost every house in Orange County and one of the best things to do with kids over winter break in Orange County is to go and see all of the lights. The Irvine Spectrum Center has lights but there are also lights at the zoo, Descanso Gardens and plenty of other places in Orange County.
Train Rides
Have you been to the Irvine Park Railroad yet? This is a great way to spend the day with the kids. During winter, the park has a special Christmas spin and a special Christmas Train that takes you all the way to Santa Claus. You could also head over to the Fillmore & Western Railway Co for the North Pole Express.
The Rose Parade
This may require a bit of a drive but you wouldn’t mind the drive once you see the famous Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. The parade is filled with stunning floats that are covered in flowers and fun designs. It is such a big parade that it is aired nationally and you can see it in person.
Theme Parks
A list of things to do with kids over winter break in Orange County wouldn’t be complete without a mention of a theme park. There are more than a few theme parks within driving distance of Orange County, two of which are right in Orange County. Disneyland has plenty to do and could fill a weekend or more, Knott’s Berry Farm is now Knott’s Merry Farm, SeaWorld in San Diego, Legoland, Universal Studios and all of the Zoos make for perfect ways to spend your vacation.
Winter Fest
One of the most popular things to do with kids over winter break in Orange County is Winter Fest at the OC Fair & Event Center. There is a large ice skating rink, nightly Christmas tree lighting, a parade, fireworks, snow and tubing opportunities. Needless to say, there is a lot to do at Winter Fest OC.
Meet Santa
One of the classic things to do with kids over winter break in Orange County is to go out and meet Santa himself. Santa is traveling from mall to mall and you can meet him at any of his stops. The list is long of places he visits as the elves are working hard in the North Pole but some include Fashion Island, Laguna Hills Mall, MainPlace Mall, The Shops at Mission Viejo, Irvine Spectrum Center, Buena Park, Brea Mall and many more.
See a Boat Parade
Holiday lights on buildings are nice but holiday lights on boats are even better. Dana Point and Newport Harbor both have holiday boat parades and you will need to check with them for details. But what is common between the two include things like food, entertainment, drinks, photo opportunities and of course, the boats.
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