Orange Tier: What’s Open or Opening Soon for Kids in Southern California?
Now that LA and Orange Counties are officially in Orange Tier, many of your favorite family-friendly places have been given the green light to reopen at limited capacities.
Which means… places that haven only been open outdoors are now able to fully open indoors!
Reminder: We’re working really hard to keep the information up to date, but things change on a whim! All details are believed to be accurate as of 3/16/21. We’ll continue to update this list as more details are announced. Be sure to contact these places directly for the latest updates.
**Most Recent Updates (more details below)**
- Universal Studios reopening Friday, April 16
- Autry Museum reopening Tuesday, April 6
- Petersen Automotive Museum now open
- Adventure City reopens Friday, April 16
- La Brea Tar Pits reopening Thursday, April 8
- Natural History Museum reopening Thursday, April 1
- LEGOLAND reopening Thursday, April 15 (includes SEA LIFE Aquarium and LEGO CHIMA Waterpark)
- SeaWorld San Diego select indoor exhibits opening Friday, March 19
- California Science Center reopening Saturday, March 27
- Six Flags Magic Mountain reopening Thursday, April 1
- Pretend City Children’s Museum reopening Saturday, March 27
- El Dorado Frontier reopening Friday, April 2
Movie Theaters
Most movie theaters are opening with reduced auditorium capacity and staggered showtimes. Reserved seating is available and highly recommended.
AMC Theatres
- Reopening Friday, March 19 (may vary by theater)
- Surrounding seats will be blocked off when purchasing tickets
- Private Theatre Rental: $99 for older movies, $299 for newer movies, up to 20 guests.
- AMC Theatres Website
Harkins Theatres (Cerritos)
- Reopening Wednesday, March 17
- Reserve seats in arrangements of 1-2. If you have a party of three or more and would like to sit together, purchase seats apart and the theatre team will assist you in seating you together when you arrive.
- Private Movie Party: $99-149, up to 20 guests.
- Harkins Theatres Website
Cinemark
- Now Open
- Adjacent seats automatically blocked for social distancing
- Discounted tickets on Tuesdays
- Private Watch Party: $99-149, up to 20 guests.
- Cinemark Website
Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas
- Reopening Friday, March 19 (Laguna Niguel, Pico Rivera, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Westlake Village locations)
- Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Website
IPIC Theaters (Pasadena)
- Reopening Wednesday, March 31
- Reserve tickets online or through app
- Blanket and pillow program reinstated
- Amended days of operation to Thursday – Sunday
- Adjacent seats automatically blocked for social distancing
- Private Theater Rentals available. Inquire here.
- New Pricing:
- Weekdays: $16/adults, $10/kids (ages 12 and under)
- Weekends: $19.75/adults, $11/kids (ages 12 and under)
- New menu items such as Chicken & Red Velvet Waffles, Mahi Fish Tacos & Tres Leches, plus a new Kids’ Menu
- IPIC Theaters Website
Regal Cinemas
- Select theaters opening Friday, April 2
- Regal Cinemas Website
Starlight Cinemas
- Orange County locations reopening Friday, March 19
- LA County locations opening Friday, March 26
- Starlight Cinemas Website
Theme Parks
While the state allows theme parks to reopen with rides starting April 1, our local theme parks are aiming to open at a later date. They’re taking the time to hire and train new employees, iron out safety details with government officials, and possibly waiting for higher capacity numbers. In the red tier, theme parks are only allowed to open at 15% capacity.
Adventure City (Anaheim)
- Reopening Friday, April 16
- Admission: $21.95/general (ages 1-54), $17.95/seniors (ages 55+)
- Adventure City Website
Disneyland (Anaheim)
- Reopening Friday, April 30
- See full announcement here
- A Touch of Disney, limited ticket experience begins March 18 – April 5
- Disneyland Website
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park)
- Reopening in May (exact date TBA)
- Taste of Boysenberry Festival continues through May 2
- See full announcement here
- Knott’s Berry Farm Website
LEGOLAND (Carlsbad)
- Park Preview Days start April 1 (select rides)
- Full reopening April 15 (includes all rides, LEGO CHIMA Water Park, and SEA LIFE Aquarium)
- Priority access will be giving to LEGOLAND Hotel Guests, active pass holders, and existing day ticket holders
- Open now for Build ‘N Play Days
- LEGOLAND Website
SeaWorld (San Diego)
- Park is now open (following official guidelines as an accredited zoo)
- Select indoor exhibits opening Friday, March 19
- Seven Seas Food Festival happening through May 2
- SeaWorld Website
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia)
- Reopening to the general public Saturday, April 3
- Opens to members and passholders on April 1 and 2
- Make ticket reservations online
- Daily Ticket: $45-55 per guest
- Six Flags Website
Universal Studios Hollywood
- Reopening Friday, April 16
- Grand reopening to introduce guests to “The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!” Ride and “Jurassic World—The Ride’s” all-new, realistic dinosaur, Indominus Rex
- Universal CityWalk open now
- Taste of Universal happening through April 11
- Universal Studios Website
Museums & Attractions
3DAR Trick Art Museum (Santa Monica)
- Reopening Wednesday, March 17
- Admission: $25/general, $12/kids, $15/student, $20/senior and military
- 3DAR Trick Art Museum Website
Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)
- Full reopening with indoor exhibits on Tuesday, March 16
- Advanced reservation required
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm / Saturday – Sunday, 9am – 8pm
- Admission: $36.95/adult, $26.95/child (ages 3-11), $33.95/senior (age 62+)
- Aquarium Website
Autry Museum of the American West (LA)
- Reopening to the general public on Tuesday, April 6
- Advanced reservation required
- Autry Museum Website
Battleship IOWA Museum (San Pedro)
- Phased reopening of indoor spaces happening now
- See full announcement here
- Battleship IOWA Website
Bowers Museum (Anaheim)
- Reopening Wednesday, March 17
- Walt Disney Archives exhibit extended through June 20, 2021 (separate pricing)
- Treasures in Gold & Jade through May 30, 2021
- Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 4pm
- General Admission (does not include Walt Disney Archives exhibit): $13-15/adults, $10/students (ages 12+), $10-12/seniors (ages 62+), free for children under 12.
- Bowers Museum Website
California African American Museum (LA)
- Reopens Saturday, March 27
- Advance reservations required
- Tickets are free
- CAAM Website
California Science Center (LA)
- Reopening Saturday, March 27
- Timed-entry reservations required
- Timed tickets for special exhibition, The Art of the Brick, also available
- Reservations available starting March 20 for members and March 24 for non-members
- California Science Center Website
El Dorado Frontier (Long Beach)
- Reopening Friday, April 2
- Reserve tickets online
- Tickets: $15 per guest (under 12 months do not require ticket and rides free)
- Ticket includes 1-hour time limit, one train ride, and one carousel ride
- See update post here
- El Dorado Frontier Website
La Brea Tar Pits (LA)
- Reopening Thursday, April 8
- Advance, timed tickets required
- General Admission: $15/adults, $12/seniors and students, $7/children (ages 3-12), free for children 2 and under
- Starting April 15, admission will be free for all LA County residents between the hours of 3-5 p.m. on all days the Museum is open
- See update post here
- El Dorado Frontier Website
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Reopening Thursday, April 1
- Public tickets will go on sale on March 25. Advance time-entry tickets required.
- See their full announcement here
- LACMA Website
Lyon Air Museum (Santa Ana)
- Now Open
- Tickets: $13/general, $6/child (ages 5-17), $10/senior (age 60+) and veteran, free for children under 5
- Lyon Air Museum Website
Planes of Fame Air Museum (Chino)
- Now Open (hangars reopening Thursday, March 18)
- On weekends, the Museum’s Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” will be open for visitors to safely enter
- Admission: $12/adult, $5/child (ages 5-11), free for children 4 and under.
- Planes of Fame Website
Petersen Automotive Museum (LA)
- Now Open
- Tickets must be purchased in advance
- Four new exhibits including Supercars
- Petersen Automotive Museum Website
Pretend City Children’s Museum (Irvine)
- Reopening Friday, April 2
- Reservations not required but recommended.
- Tickets: $13.95. All guests over 12 months require tickets.
- Pretend City Website
Natural History Museum (Los Angeles)
- Full reopening Thursday, April 1
- Butterfly Pavilion & Nature Gardens now open
- Advanced timed-tickets required
- General Admission: $15/adults, $12/seniors and students, $7/children (ages 3-12), free for children 2 and under
- Starting April 8, admission will be free for all LA County residents between the hours of 3-5 p.m. on all days the Museum is open.
- Butterfly Pavilion Tickets: $6 per person, $6 for parking
- Natural History Museum Website
The Reptile Zoo (Fountain Valley)
- Now Open
- Admission: $15/adult, $10/child (ages 4-12), free for children 3 and under
- The Reptile Zoo Website
Open Now
- Birch Aquarium (La Jolla) – Outdoors exhibits open. Indoors open Friday, March 19.
- Boomers (Irvine) – Outdoor attractions open
- Children’s Nature Retreat (Alpine)
- Camelot Golfland (Anaheim)
- Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge) – Advance reservations required
- Environmental Nature Center (Newport Beach) – Open to those registered for events and for camp participants.
- Fillmore & Western Railway (Fillmore) – Weekend scenic trains available and Easter Bunny Hop Express
- Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary (Phelan) – Limited hours, appointment only
- Go Kart World (Carson)
- Golf N’ Stuff (Norwalk) – Open daily
- Irvine Park Railroad (inside Irvine Regional Park)
- LA County Arboretum (Arcadia) – Advance reservations required.
- LA Zoo – Advanced, timed-entry reservations required
- Mission San Juan Capistrano
- Nixon Library (Yorba Linda) – Outdoor spaces open
- Oasis Camel Dairy (Ramona) – Private tours and camel rides available
- OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park) – Wait times for zoo entry may be delayed
- Ocean Institute (Dana Point) – Open for events, camps, and outdoor excursions
- Ostrichland (Solvang) – Book admission online
- Pacific Marine Mammal Care Center (Laguna Beach) – Visitor yard now open
- Pony Time (Lakewood) – Trot rides, walk rides, and animal feeding available
- Rancho Los Alamitos (Long Beach) – Free admission, reserve online
- Rancho Los Cerritos (Long Beach) – RSVP online
- San Diego Zoo & Safari Park – Advanced reservation required
- Santa Ana Zoo – First-come, first-served entry, based on capacity
- Sherman Library & Gardens (Corona Del Mar) – Tickets available at the door or online
- South Coast Botanic Garden (Palos Verdes Peninsula) – Advance reservations required.
- Southern California Railway Museum (Perris)
- Tanaka Farms (Irvine) – Open daily
- The Huntington (San Marino) – Select galleries reopening Saturday, April 17. Advance reservations required.
- Underwood Family Farms (Somis & Moorpark) – Open daily
- USS Midway Museum (San Diego)
- Wild Wonders (Bonsall)
- Wildlife Learning Center (Sylmar) – Open for private tours
- World of Illusion Museum (Los Angeles)
- Zoomars (San Juan Capistrano)
Still Closed – Reopening Date TBA
- Automobile Driving Museum (El Segundo)
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro) – Aquarium closed, gift shop open
- Cayton Children’s Museum (Santa Monica)
- Centennial Farm (Costa Mesa)
- Children’s Museum at La Habra – Play Pass outdoor events going on now. Reserve tickets online.
- Columbia Memorial Space Center (Downey)
- Discovery Cube (OC & LA)
- Heal the Bay Aquarium (Santa Monica)
- Getty Center & Villa (LA) – Hoping to open mid-April.
- Griffith Observatory (LA)
- Irvine Lanes – Temporarily closed until May 1, 2021
- Kidspace Children’s Museum (Pasadena)
- La Brea Tar Pits (LA)
- Museum of Latin American Art – MOLAA (Long Beach)
- Museum of Tolerance (LA)
- Reagan Library (Simi Valley)
- Skirball Cultural Center (LA)
- Southern California Children’s Museum (Pasadena)
- Star ECO Station (Culver City)
Categories: Blog
This post was written by Kidsguide
1 Comment
This is a great list, thanks!