What’s Open for Kids & Families in Southern California?

Here’s the latest reopening updates from some of your favorite kid-friendly places in SoCal. Be sure to read and follow all safety guidelines.

Note: Info is believed to be accurate as of 3/11/21, but details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm details with the business/organizer by visiting their website, social media, or calling. We’ll continue to update this page as we receive information.

Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)

NOW OPEN – OUTDOOR EXHIBITS ONLY

• Timed ticket / advance reservation required
• Outdoor exhibits open only
  (including sharks, penguins, seals and sea lions, lorikeets, and the ray, moon jelly, sharks, and horseshoe touch areas)
• Maximum party size is 6
• Admission: $19 for adult, child, and seniors
• Aquarium Safety Protocols

Battleship USS Iowa (San Pedro)

NOW OPEN – OUTDOOR TOURS ONLY

• Self-Guided Outdoor Experience: $19.95/adult, $11.95/youth (ages 3-11), $16.95/seniors, military, veterans, free for children under 3
• Private Guided Deck Tour: $150/group (up to 6 people)
• Safety Protocols

Birch Aquarium (La Jolla)

NOW OPEN – OUTDOORS ONLY

• Advanced reserveration required
• Tickets: $16.50/adult, $12/child, age 2 and under free

Boomers (Irvine)

NOW OPEN

• Outdoor attractions available
  (Mini-Golf, Thunder Road Go-karts, Rookie Go-karts, Batting Cages, and Outdoor Dining)
• Passes: $34.99-45.99
• Safety Guidelines

Disneyland California Adventure (Anaheim)

A TOUCH OF DISNEY STARTS MARCH 18 – APRIL 5

• Enjoy special foods, shopping, photo ops, and character sightings
• Tickets: $75 per person (includes parking, $25 dining card, photo downloads)
• More Details

Golf N’ Stuff (Norwalk)

NOW OPEN

• Capacity of 4 players per hole on one 18-hole course. They have four 18-hole courses.
• Visit website for specific hours for golf & go-karts
• Reopening Guidelines

Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park)

THEME PARK CLOSED
“TASTE OF BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL” STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 5

• Festival takes place on select dates from March 5 – May 2
• Tasting cards required for event entry
• Price: $45/regular, $20/junior (ages 3-11)
• Festival Safety Guidelines

LEGOLAND (Carlsbad)

BUILD ‘N PLAY DAYS START MARCH 12

• Select dates, March 12 – May 2
• Enjoy their outdoor playgrounds and building activities
• Price: $19-99-49.99 for guests and Play Passes

Los Angeles Zoo

NOW OPEN

• Reservations available starting Saturday, 2/13
• Last reservation time available each day is 3pm
• Admission: $22/adults, $17/child (ages 2-12), $19/senior
• Reopening Guidelines

Mission San Juan Capistrano

NOW OPEN

• Purchase tickets online
• Admission: $14/adult, $12/senior, $9/youth
• Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 9am – 4pm
• Visiting Guidelines

Natural History Museum (Los Angeles)

BUTTERFLY PAVILION & GARDENS NOW OPEN

• Advanced, time-tickets required
• Admission: $6 per person, $6 for parking
• Dates: March 18 – September 6
• More Details

Nixon Library (Yorba Linda)

NOW OPEN

• The Pat Nixon Gardens and new outdoor exhibit will be open
• Admission: $6/all guests, free for active military and children 4 and under
• Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm / Sundays, 11am – 5pm
• Reopening News

OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park)

NOW OPEN

• Wait times for zoo entry may be delayed
• Presentations, petting zoo, and animal interactions temporarily closed
• Zoo Admission: $2/person, age 2 and under free
• Irvine Regional Park Entry Fee: $3/vehicle on weekdays, $5/vehicle on weekends, $7-10/vehicle on holidays)
• Hours: 10am – 3:30pm daily
• Reopening News

Ostrichland (Solvang)

NOW OPEN

• Book reservation online
• Admission: $5/general, $2/child (age 12 and under), $1/ostrich feed bowl
• Hours: 9am – 5pm, daily

Pacific Marine Mammal Care Center (Laguna Beach)

VISITOR YARD NOW OPEN

• Book reservations online for free 20-minute visits
• Each ticket is for up to 5 people of the same household
• Go on a live docent-led tour or observe animals

Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino)

NOW OPEN – OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE

• Outdoor areas open, see the Museum’s Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” on weekends
• Admission: $8/general, $4/children, free for children 4 and younger, active military, law enforcement, and firefighter
• Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm
• Reopening News

San Diego Zoo & Safari Park

NOW OPEN

• Ticket / advance reservation required for all visitors ages 3+
• Some exhibits and areas closed
• 1-Day Pass: $60/adult, $50/child
• Reopening Guidelines

Santa Ana Zoo

NOW OPEN

• First-come, first-served entry based on capacity
• High-touch areas, indoor exhibits, and rides closed
  (such as playground, dung beetle maze, bird aviary, goat contact yard, Zoofari Express Train, Conservation Carrousel, and Ferris Wheel)
• Admission: $12/adult, $9/child, and $9/senior
• Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10am – 5pm (last admission 4pm)
• Closed Monday & Tuesday
• Reopening Guidelines

Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia)

THEME PARK CLOSED
CRUIS’N THE PARK CARSHOW – ENDS MARCH 14

• Reserve tickets online
• 30-minute drive around the park to see muscle cars, hot rods, low riders, and more
• Tickets: $49.99-89.99 depending on number of passengers

SeaWorld San Diego

THEME PARK NOW OPEN
SEVEN SEAS FOOD FESTIVAL NOW HAPPENING

• Theme park open under zoo guidelines
• Rides and indoor exhibits closed
• Seven Seas Food Festival – March 5 – May 2
• Timed admission ticket required
• Seven Seas Food & Drink Sampler Lanyard: $60-75 each
• Admission: Starting $59.99 (does not include Seven Seas event)

Southern California Railway Museum (Perris)

NOW OPEN – OUTDOOR EXHIBITS
TRAIN & TROLLEY OPERATIONS RESUMED

• Train & trolley tickets available online or at the Museum Store
• Picnic tables available for families/households
• COVID-19 Guidelines

Universal Studios (Hollywood)

THEME PARK CLOSED
‘TASTE OF UNIVERSAL’ HAPPENING SELECT DATES, MARCH 12 – APRIL 11

• Tickets available for purchase online only
• Shopping and dining throughout Upper Lot
• Food from Springfield, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Minion Cafe, Hollywood and Dine
• Price: $44-54/adults, $25/children
• Universal CityWalk open for shopping and dining

USS Midway Museum (San Diego)

NOW OPEN

• Tickets available for purchase online only
• Bring your own wired earbuds/headphones to enjoy the audio tour
• Ship tour includes Hangar Deck, Flight Deck, and 30+ restored Navy aircraft
• Admission: $26/adult, $18/youth (ages 6-12), $18/veteran, free for children 5 years and younger, active military, active law enforcement, active fire fighter, and reservist
• Reopening News

Zoomars (San Juan Capistrano)

NOW OPEN

• Reservations highly suggested
• Admission: $15/adults, $12/child, $12/seniors, $10/military, 18 months and under free
• Hours: Weekdays, 11am – 3pm / Weekends, 10am – 4pm
• COVID-19 Action Plan

Places That Have Been Open (as of 2/12/21)

• Children’s Nature Retreat (Alpine)
• Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge) – Advance reservations required
• Fillmore & Western Railway (Fillmore) – Weekend scenic trains available
• Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary (Phelan) – Limited hours, appointment only
• Go Kart World (Carson)
• Irvine Park Railroad (inside Irvine Regional Park) – Train rides, bike and paddle boat rentals available
• LA County Arboretum (Arcadia) – Advance reservations required.
• Oasis Camel Dairy (Ramona) – Private tours available
• Rancho Los Alamitos (Long Beach) – Admission and parking is free. Check for closures due to weather
• Rancho Los Cerritos (Long Beach) – RSVP online
• Sherman Library & Gardens (Corona Del Mar) – Tickets available at the door or online
• South Coast Botanic Garden (Palos Verdes Peninsula) – Advance reservations required, special dog walking hours coming back 2/21
• Tanaka Farms (Irvine) – Open daily
• The Huntington (San Marino) – Advance reservations required, high-touch garden areas closed, outdoor cafe dining reopens 2/3
• Underwood Family Farms (Somis & Moorpark) – Open daily
• Wildlife Learning Center (Sylmar) – Open for private tours

More Reopening News (as of 1/28/21)

• Bowers Museum (Santa Ana) – Temporarily closed
• Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro) – Aquarium closed, gift shop open
• California Science Center (LA) – Temporarily closed
• Cayton Children’s Museum (Santa Monica) – Temporarily closed
• Centennial Farm (Costa Mesa) – Temporarily closed
• Children’s Museum at La Habra – Temporarily closed
• Columbia Memorial Space Center (Downey) – Temporarily closed
• Discovery Cube (LA & OC) – Temporarily closed (virtual day camp available)
• Downtown Disney (Anaheim) – Outdoor dining available (see open dining locations)
• El Dorado Frontier (Long Beach) – Temporarily closed
• Environmental Nature Center (Newport Beach) – Closed to public, program participants only
• Griffith Observatory (LA) – Temporarily closed
• Heal the Bay Aquarium (Santa Monica) – Temporarily closed
• Irvine Lanes – Temporarily closed until May 1, 2021
• Kidspace Children’s Museum (Pasadena) – Temporarily closed
• Lyon Air Museum (Santa Ana) – Museum closed, retail space open
• Pretend City (Irvine) – Temporarily closed (Brain Building Kits & 2hr. private facility rental available)
• Star ECO Station (Culver City) – Temporarily closed
• The Reptile Zoo (Fountain Valley) – Reopening soon (date TBA), private experiences available now

Looking for things to do? Visit Kidsguide’s Event Calendar!

Categories: Blog

This post was written by Kidsguide