As you may remember one of my favorite places to take the
kiddos (besides anywhere Disney) is the Irvine Regional Park. There are a
variety of activities to do there, and everything is pretty affordable. Check
out my post on the Irvine Railroad Park Anniversary Celebration.
Last week we visited the OC Zoo located inside the Regional
Park, with admission price a whopping $2 per person and parking $3 during the
weekdays this outing came in under $10 for my family for four (for coupon clickhere)! So we packed a picnic lunch and
headed down to Irvine to enjoy a beautiful SoCal day.
Normally the cozy zoo, is fairly quiet with just a few
families visiting. This visit however summer was in full swing and there were a
few summer camp groups enjoying a nature day, it was nice seeing the zoo so
lively but I bet the permanent residents particularly this porcupine wouldn't mind some quiet time.
All the animals in the zoo are rescues and native to Southern
California, there are also plenty of native plants providing beautiful
landscaping and it’s very interesting to read up on how early Americans used
them. We love visiting the petting zoo and feeding the goats (bring quarters
for machine). This visit we were able to meet the latest addition to the sheep
family less than a month old!
Don’t forget to check out their web page for events, crafts
and programs.
*Tip* As soon as you enter ask the ticket attendant for a
scavenger hunt sheet. It’s a fun way to learn about the plants and animals
through-out the zoo; and once it’s complete your child can earn their choice of
a FREE patch or bracelet. 
There are plenty of shaded areas and benches to take a break
or just enjoy the scenery. There are no restrooms inside the zoo area and the
nearest facilities are just a short walk down the path so plan accordingly.
However there is a sink with soap to wash your hands after handling the animals
located at the front of the zoo by the entrance. If you need to leave the zoo
don’t forget to get your hand stamps to return later or like my kids sometimes
just for fun!
One thing we love to do is see how much our kiddos have grown!
What a great deal! It's so hard to find family friendly activities that don't break the bank. I know certain banks like B of A also offer free museum admissions on certain days for customers, so maybe you could look into that for indoor fun when the temps outside are too high. I love the "look how tall I've grown" charts. Especially the size baby M is now. :)
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