Just a Reminder- Port of Long Beach Free Tours- Book on the 1st day of the month

This year, from May through October, the Port of Long Beach is offering free 90-minute, narrated port tours for the public. Seating is limited.

The 90 minute free guided boat tours of the harbor are incredible and well absolutely free. Reserve a seat on a free Port of Long Beach harbor tour for this September tomorrow morning. Starting at 8 a.m. on July 1st you can reserve a seat by visiting www.polb.com and clicking Community and Port Tours.

Good Luck and Happy sailings!!

Free San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal admission from Mimis Cafe

As you all know I'm always looking for a good deal! We go on at least two excursions per week during the summer month and it can add up. I've been wanting to visit the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park during the next couple of weeks and was super excited when I read about the promotion Mimis Cafe is sponsoring. From July 1 through August 31 guests who dine at any of the 39 participating Mimis Cafe restaurants in Southern California will receive a coupon for one free Child’s Best Value Admission Ticket with the purchase of an Adult Best Value Admission Ticket to use toward their next visit to the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park . Guests will also receive a Mimis Cafe coupon for the Just Enough menu items good on their next visit. I don't know about you but we visit Mimis on a regular basis anyway and now I know where we will be heading on our next night out. Plus their bread basket is seriously out of this world!! Overall this is a really great deal! For additional info head on over here.

Our Visit to the SEALIFE Aquarium

This past weekend we had the opportunity to visit the Sealife Aquarium at the Legoland California Resort. I really can't begin to tell you how much fun my kiddos had. The SEALIFE Aquarium is designed specifically for children and my kids ate it all up. My daughter was in tears as we left because she did not want to leave. First off- I love that parking at Legoland Resort is such a breeze. You can't get closer than preferred parking. If you park in preferred- you are guaranteed to walk only a few steps. However if you don't mind walking a bit more- the regular parking is a pretty darn good deal. We parked in regular parking and only had to walk a few more steps than the people parked in preferred. Once we parked - the good times began. We headed to the entrance and walked right in. I loved that we didn't have to wait in line. That is always a plus in my book! The first area that we encountered upon entering was the Lake Tahoe Area. Just one look and the kids were hooked. The Lake Tahoe area features a slide and they(my hubby did too!) definitely put it into use. The kids did not want to leave because they were having so much fun. After some coaxing we headed over to the San Francisco Harbor and California Gold area. The kids were oohing and aahhhing all of the different fish and absolutely loved the tide pools. We then headed over to the Shoaling Ring which is absolutely breathtaking. We loved sitting on a couple of benches and being surrounded by fish. I could have sat there for hours taking it all in. We then headed outside to the Southern California Tide Pool Area. The kiddos loved touching the different starfish and of course playing with the Lego Sand Castle. We made our to the the rest of the first floor exhibits and on to the Lost City of Atlantis. Here, you will walk through water tunnels and be able to observe all different types of aquatic life. My daughter absolutely loved that the sharks were above our heads- my son- not so much!! We rode the elevators upstairs and made our first pit stop at the Ray lagoon. We spent at least half an hour in a quiet little seating area taking it all in. I could have watched the sting rays for hours. After our Sting Ray watching we stepped into the Kingdom of the Seahorse. The kiddos absolutely went bonkers for the Seahorses. My daughter had read about seahorses but never had the opportunity to actually see a live seahorse and she was very impressed with the cute creatures. We finished off our experience by exploring the Discovery Zone Touch Pool, where the kiddos had the opportunity to touch a variety of sea life. The second floor ends at the SEALIFE Aquarium's Ocean Journey Cafe. We were given a ofree soft drink coupon at the entrance and we put it to good use. We bought some snacks and tried an unbelievably delicious brownie from the Cafe. It was out of this world!! Once we had our fill of snacks - we headed downstairs to the gift shop, browsed around and headed back home. Almost forgot- there is plenty of room for strollers. We took our double stroller and had no problem getting around. We had a fantastic time and I REALLY can't wait to go back again. I could not stop grinning ear to ear as I watched my kiddos have such a great time. Admission Prices $18.95 for adults $11.95 for children 3-12 2 and under are free! * If you are visiting SEA LIFE Aquarium only, parking is $5 and you will reimbursed the $7 difference once your one-day SEA LIFE admission ticket is purchased at the ticket booths. If you have a pre-paid one-day SEA LIFE only ticket, you can receive your reimbursement at Guest Services on the day of your visit. You must bring your paid parking ticket to the ticket booth or Guest Service window in order to receive reimbursement. For guests visiting both LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium, the standard $12 parking fee applies. SEA LIFE^TM Aquarium at the LEGOLAND^® California Resort One LEGOLAND Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 918-LEGOLAND To learn more head on here

Free Movie Mondays under the stars at the Orange County Performing Art Center

I keep stumbling upon so many free fun things to do this summer that I'm going to have to post at least twice a day. I received an email from the Orange County Performing Art Center and had to share about their Free for all under the stars Movie Mondays. Movies start at dusk(approximately 8pm) and guests are invited to bring beach chairs and picnic dinners/snacks. You can start staking your spot around 5:30pm. The dates/movies are as follows- July 13th- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory July 20th- Annie July 27th- Footloose August 3rd Momma Mia I have already saved the dates and plan on picnicking with the family. Hope you will too! If you would like to know more head over here.

Disney Mondays- My love affair with Disney's California Adventure

Disneyland is a classic and untouchable. There is no debating that. However, when looking at California Adventure- it's important to not compare it to its iconic next door neighbor. When you look at DCA as a whole, by itself - it is a really impressive little theme park and one that I just happen to be in love with. Here are the top ten reasons why I think Disney's California Adventure is a fantastic place for the kiddos and why I am madly in love with DCA.

1. The kiddos can get wet-We love the Irrigation Station and Princess Dot Splash Pad in the Flick's Fun Fair Area. It is the perfect spot on a hot spring/summer day.
2. I hate waiting in line. I mean really who does?? I love that the attractions in Flick's Fun Fair have minimal waiting lines and are a big hit with my kiddos. They love every single ride - especially Flick's Fun Flyers.
3. If your kids love the Disney Channel's cartoons then they will absolutely love The Playhouse Disney Show- my kids LOVE it!!
4. Who loves Free stuff? I do- I do!! I love that you can get a fresh warm tortilla from the Mission Tortilla Factory tour and a sourdough taste from Boudin Bakery.My kids love the fresh tortillas and I'm not going to lie, so do I. Here's a little tip- on your birthday pick up a dozen free tortillas from the Mission Tortilla Factory. Just show them your birthday pin and you are set!
5. They have an amazing baby center. Not as big as Disneyland's but still great.
6. DCA is home to Disney's Electrical Parade. Love it. It's new and improved and a must see!!
7. They are home to three amazing shows that your kiddos will love-MuppetVison 3D, It's tough to be a bug and Aladdin.
8. In my opinion, DCA is home to one of the BEST(if not the best!!) attractions in the Disneyland Resort, Toy Story Mania.
9. They have a pretty spiffy Ferris Wheel. You can either pick a gondola that moves or is stationary.
10. I love that I can park in the Downtown Disney lot ( free for 3 hours)- walk over to the DCA entrance at the Grand Californian Hotel in Downtown Disney(next to Sephora) , spend a couple of hours there and then I don't have to deal with taking a tram back to the parking lot. I love love that I can do this, especially on a crowded day.

DCA is in the middle of a major expansion - which includes a new water show, a Little Mermaid Ride and sure to be a big hit with my son- A thrill ride- featuring the characters from CARS!! The expansion should be complete by 2012.

There are so many other things I love about DCA but I tried to limit myself to my favorite 10. Next time that you are heading over to the Disneyland Resort make sure to show DCA some love ! It deserves it!

Kids Bowl Free

Looking for something to keep the kiddos busy this summer? Here is another fabulous freebie for the kiddos this summer- The Kids Bowl Free Summer Program allows your kids to bowl two free games every day Monday-Thursday all summer long. There are only two locations in Southern California that are participating- Concourse Bowling in Anaheim and Gage Bowl in Huntington Park. The only thing you will have to do is provide bowling shoes or rent some which go for $3.00 at the Anaheim Concourse. I was discussing this with a couple of friends this week and they suggested buying some bowling shoes on ebay- they go for around $20.00. Here is how it works -

1. Head over to kidsbowlfree.com-
2. Select a bowling center near you.
3. Register directly on the bowling center page (The registration is valid only at the bowling center where you register and cannot be used at any other bowling center unless otherwise noted.)
4. Once you register, you will have the opportunity to purchase the family pass. You don't have to but it is a really good deal!!The Family Pass was created to allow for adult family members to enjoy bowling throughout the summer as well. The Family Pass starts from $23.95 and includes 2 games per person per day. The Family Pass covers up to 4 adult family members. You may have 1, 2, 3, or 4 adults on the family pass. The one-time payment covers up to 4 adults for the entire summer.After your registration we will send you two (2) emails.The first email is a welcome email and contains your account information.
5. The second email is very important. This email does not contain coupons, but you will need to click the link confirming your subscription to the service If you do not click the link, the system will not send your weekly coupons to you.You will receive an email every Sunday morning that contains a link to your coupons and family passes for that week. It is not required that you view the email to print your coupons.

I think my oldest might be ready to bowl her first game- we are going to check this out this week

Angels Family Fun Pack

I'm always on the look out for a good deal and had to share. We love baseball in our family and try to make it to at least one or two games in the summer. The only problem is that it can get a little expensive- Well not to worry- The Angels are offering a Family Fun Pack this summer that is a seriously great deal. The Family Fun Pack is only $39 for a family of four and is good for Upper View seating areas (or also available for $51 in the Lower View Box). The package includes: 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 small soft drinks. There are several great 2009 Angels' home games to choose from. Family Fun Packs can be purchased at the Angel Stadium of Anaheim Ticket Office and here Sun., July 5 vs. Orioles 12:35 p.m. Wed., July 8 vs. Rangers 7:05 p.m. Sun., July 26 vs. Twins TBA Sun., August 9 vs. Rangers TBA Wed., August 26 vs. Tigers 12:35 p.m. Sun., August 30 vs. A's 12:35 p.m. Wed., September 9 vs. Mariners 7:05 p.m. Sun., September 13 vs. White Sox TBA Sun., September 27 vs. A's 12:35 p.m. Mon., September 28 vs. Rangers 7:05 p.m. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING A FAMILY FUN PACK 1. Click on the link for the game you wish to attend with your family. The link will open in a new window. 2. Select a quantity of 4 or more from the Quantity drop-down menu for the Family Fun Pack. 3. Select Best Available or choose "Upper View", or "Lower View Box" to get tickets. 4. Click the "Look for Tickets " button. 5. Follow the instructions to complete your purchase.

Pirate Invasion and Fair @ Belmont Memorial Pier

If you are looking for something different to do this weekend you might want to check out the Pier Daze Pirate Invasion and Fair.

This annual event will take place on Belmont Memorial Pier in Long Beach. On Saturday there will be a real Pirate Ship attacking the Pier, which will be defended by local citizens. The pirate attack will of course feature pirates, cannons and sword fights galore. A limited number of Pirate ship rides will be available. There will be a kids treasure hunt, a pirate costume contest, and a beach funzone. Sunday will feature plenty of music and good times. The best part is that this is a free event June 27th & 28th, 2009 11:00am to 7:00pm Belmont Memorial Pier 15 39th place Long Beach You can find more information about this here

Bureau of Sanitation Open House

This might not be your typical outing but I just had to share because I think my son would be all over this. He absolutely goes bonkers on Trash Days. He will usually run to our side gate and oohh and ahh as the garbage truck rolls by. The West Los Angeles District Yard will be hosting an open house where sanitation truck operators will give demos and tours. Your kiddos will also be able to learn all about garbage trucks and recycling. Food and drinks will be offered free of charge as well as trees to take home, Free mulch, Games, Prizes and much more. It's something different and unique and of course Free!! We have a busy day planned out this Saturday or we would definitely be heading to this. Have fun!! You can find more about it here

Science of Circus

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clowns will present the "science" behind their amazing circus skills, juggling, balancing, circus tricks and wacky stunts at the Discovery Science Center on Saturday June 27th starting at 11am. Circus clowns will uncover the "how" in "how'd they do that?" A Ringling Bros. clown will host a 30 minute performance session that will feature circus tricks and stunts along with discussing the scientific principles at play behind each trick. The 30 minute sessions are free with paid admission to the center. This is a special treat and a great way to get your kiddos excited about the circus. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be heading to Orange County on July 15th, and this is an opportunity to see a unique presentation before the show comes to the Honda Center. I'm planning on visiting and hope to see you all there!! I will be at the 11am show. If you see me please stop by and say hello!! You can purchase tickets ahead of time here

Winner of Discovery Science Center 4 pack

I wish I had more than 1 pack to giveaway but stay tuned because I'm going to try to run a giveaway per week. Using Random.org- comment # 30 -We LOVE Discovery Cube! : ) by Rocking Mama was selected. Email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com so that I can send off your tickets!! Thanks again for commenting. Stay tuned for some great giveaways!

Become a Fan on Facebook

Hi all!! I'm a huge Facebook user and I created a fan page where we can have discussions and talk about upcoming daytrips. If you use Facebook please feel free to become a fan of daytrippingmom.com. I would love to hear plans for your summer. Just click on the right hand badge and it should take you to the fan page. Thanks!!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Discount

The circus is coming to town (I know I have posted about this before - I'm super excited)!! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus proudly present Zing Zang Zoom, which will be playing the Southern California area from July 8th to August 2nd. I can't wait to take our family! I wanted to share with you an offer that is too good to pass up!! You can purchase a 4 pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto Ticketmaster and entering the coupon code MOM. You can use the promo code when purchasing tickets at Arena Box Offices, Ticketmaster or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Enter the code in the "MC Promotion Box" on Ticketmaster. A minimum purchase of 4 tickets is required and you can buy additional tickets above 4 for $11 each. Offer is not valid on VIP, Circus Celebrity or Front Row tickets. The offer is good for all dates. Can't wait to see you all there!!

Orange Empire Railway Museum

I had the opportunity this past Saturday to take my family to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris. Words can't begin to describe what an amazing place this is for kids and adults alike. It's an incredible place that will not soon be forgotten by our family. In fact my husband and I are going to plan a date around it just to go out and explore the grounds. The Orange Empire Railway museum is 88 acres and quite extensive- so make sure to bring great walking shoes, sunscreen, hats, water and if you have the really teeny tots a good sturdy stroller.The Museum grounds are quite large and contain numerous buildings, parks and outdoor areas to explore. The grounds are quite large and there's a lot to see! Our kids just loved running in the open space (although we were a little paranoid with the trains running around). You will have exhausted kids from exploring all day. The museum is home to the West's largest collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars, interurban electric cars, buildings and other artifacts dating from the 1870's (they even have old Disneyland ticket booths there!!) Your little trains enthusiasts will have the opportunity to learn all about locomotives, steam engine and my absolute favorite (I'm a Los Angeles history buff) - the old Pacific Electric red cars and Los Angeles Railway yellow cars. We were able to walk around the hangers and see the trains that are in the middle of restorations by the dedicated volunteers. We were also able to explore different railway cars and locomotives which the kids went bonkers over. They loved shouting all aboard and manning the controls. My son was in train heaven!! There was so much to explore and although we spent 3 hours there it really was not enough time. While admission and parking for the Museum is free, a ticket must be purchased to ride on the Museum Railway. The ticket is good for the entire day, for as many trips as you wish. Your fare goes directly towards meeting Museum operating expenses. On regular weekends, an all-day pass to ride the trains costs $12 for adults, $8 for children 5-11, free for kids under 5. We could not resist and opted to purchase a day pass and boy was it worth it. We rode two pacific electric cars, two southern pacific trains and a trolley all for about the price of a movie. It was an amazing experience and the kiddos of course were thrilled. I would say that this most definitely is an outing that would take a couple of hours. There is a park/picnic area where you can enjoy lunch under the shade. Pack drinks and a picnic and you will be set!! There is also a snack shop with food that not only was tasty but quite reasonable. I would also make sure to pack a camera because this is a photography heaven! The museum is open everyday- however most of the exhibits and the railway are closed weekdays. The best day to visit is on the weekends from 9 am to 5pm- although the railway runs from 11am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. The museums is located at 2201 South "A" street Perris, 92570 We had no problems with our directions from mapquest and our navigation system. It led us right to the entrance. You can learn more about the museum here. I am trying a new feature to the blog- taping our little excursions- and my husband helped me capture a little bit of our experience. I hope you can all go out and explore this hidden gem. It is an experience that your family will always remember- I promise!!

Disney Monday: Enjoying Disneyland/DCA on hot summer days

My family loves to visit Disneyland/DCA often and yes we are a bit crazy, even in the busy summer season. I've picked up a thing or two from my many visits to the parks on hot summer days. Here are some of the things I've learned to stay cool at the parks on sweltering days.

1. During peak times I try to avoid waiting in line for any attraction. This is the time when we usually head to catch a show. A favorite of our family is the Enchanted Tiki Room- Nice and cool and a great way to sit back and relax. Other great ones- Honey I shrunk the audience, Bug's life @ DCA.
2. We always take a ride on the Disneyland Train to check out how busy the park is and judge from there. It's also a great way to cool down and I've been known to take it two or three times around the park on a hot summer day. If you have heavy sleepers like I do- great place to let them take a nap.
3. Pack a swimsuit for the kids and head over to the irrigation station at Disney's California Adventure. Let the kids run around at Princess Dot Puddle Station. Make sure to pack towels and an extra set of clothes because the kiddos will get soaked!!
4. Keep hydrated- If you can ,bring a bottle or two of water. I usually freeze mine the night before and throw them in a Ziploc bag- I pack them in at the bottom of my bag and they have been a lifesaver!!
5. If your tots are tired and need a nap- head over to the seating area in the Hungry Bear Restaurant. It's located in Critter Country. I always head towards the back, grab a little something to eat and enjoy the shade while watching the Mark Twain go by. It's always nice and cool. Usually my youngest falls asleep in the stroller. It's a perfect spot and way relaxing.
6. Make sure to pack a jacket /sweater/blanket. - I've left home without one thinking that there was no possible way that I would be cold on a summer day. Boy was I wrong!! The nights cool off and there is nothing worse than shelling out $50.00 for a sweatshirt because your four year old is cold. Trust me on this one!!
7. Take advantage of the Baby Center if you have little ones. It's a great place to feed the teeny ones and I have even rocked both of my babies to sleep here. Best part- super cool in there!!
8. Peak times are from 2-4pm at both parks. This is the best time to grab a bite to eat and not have to fight for a table.
9. Head to rides that have the least waiting time. Top of our list-all in Adventureland/New Orleans Square- Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, taking a stroll on the Mark Twain and of course a ride on the Disneyland train.
10. Enjoy yourself and remember to take it easy and have fun!!

Discovery Science Center's Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home exhibit and GIVEAWAY!!

I had the opportunity yesterday to take a sneak peek at the Discovery Science Center's new exhibit Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home which opens on June 20th. Your kiddos are absolutely going to love it!! My kids had such a fantastic time - I'm probably going to sound supremely cheesy -but we literally had to peel them away from the exhibit.

The Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home exhibit teaches your children all about the earth and its many ecosystems. The exhibit is geared for younger children and when I mean they will enjoy spending time there - I truly mean it. I loved that it features not only the Great Forest or what we may think of as a traditional forest but also the Urban Forest which we are very much a part of.

The exhibit features Smokey’s Campsite with visual guides that teach the basics of building a campfire and fire safety. With the push of a button, a sing-along begins around a realistic campfire. This was hands down my son's favorite area. He loved to be able to start and stop a campfire. He was actually squealing in delight every time he turned his "fire" off.

Another favorite of my kiddos was the forest ranger station. The station features costumes and two-way radios that report the weather and fire safety updates from other ranger stations. An interactive map allows children to move miniature versions of Smokey, Woodsy, and their friends through a maze of trails that lead past wildfires, severe weather and other obstacles, as well as to special places in the forest. There is also a first aid kit that the kids loved playing with. They loved trying on the ranger and firefighting uniforms.

Your kids will also learn about making eco frienly choices in a home. The home featured in the exhibit teaches children about recycling and water conversation. My kiddos loved being able to learn about recycling by sorting through the paper and plastic products.

There is also a lookout station where the kids can observe . There is also a horizontal small climbing wall that your children will absolutely love. It's designed specifically for the little ones. My 4 year old has always wanted to try climbing one and she was excited that she was finally able to give it a try with one that was her size.

Trust me on this- DSC's new exhibit is sure to be a hit with your kiddos. To learn more about it click here. Now on to the good stuff- The Cube has a great coupon for buy one admission get one half off. You can get yours by clicking here . You can also pay $40 down and make 4 monthly payments of $14.25 and buy a family membership, which is good for admission throughout the year and special member only events. The family membership is good for two adults and up to 4 children or grandchildren.

Now onto the absolute best part- I have a family 4 pack of admissions to give away. Leave any comment below this post and you are automatically entered to win. You have until Tuesday evening to enter. Winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!!

Free Family Nature Walks

The Children's Nature Institute hosts Free Family Walks at various LA Parks. The walks led by the Nature's Institute Volunteer Walk leaders are two hours long and filled with fun and educational activities. Children will search for animal homes and hideaways, listen for animal activity, mimic the sounds of nature, sing songs, smell and touch plants, learn how to treat plants and animals respectfully, learn about colors, shapes and sizes in nature and so much more! Activities vary from site to site and from docent to docent, so every Family Nature Walk is a unique experience!Family Nature Walks are scheduled year-round, on weekdays and weekends, at numerous kid-safe sites in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Many sites are stroller accessible. Reservations are required!! To view upcoming walks and make reservations click here.

Bizarre Guitar Hero Competition at The Muzeo

I wanted to share with you an event that your kiddos- especially if they are into Guitar Hero(and really who isn't?) -will absolutely love. The Muzeo in Anaheim will be hosting a "Bizarre Guitar Hero" competition that is sure to be a hit with your little gamers. The "Bizarre Guitar" participants will receive points for their Guitar Hero scores, wearing a costume, bringing a friend and answering trivia questions about the Bizarre Beasts exhibition at Muzeo. The best part is that everyone wins!!Prizes will range from tickets for future exhibitions to a $100 grand prize drawing. The "Bizarre Guitar Hero" competition will take place on Saturday June 27th from 10am to 4pm. Winner will be announced at 4:30pm. Admission is $13 for adults and $9 for children 12 and under to participate and also enjoy the exhibits. When you are there make sure to check out the Monsters and Beasts exhibit. It's pretty amazing and not to be missed. Your kiddos will love it!! For additional info click here Bizarre Guitar Hero Competition Sat June 27th 10am-4pm The Muzeo 241 S Anaheim Blvd Anaheim, CA 92805

Legoland for an hour and yes for free!!

I am always on the lookout for free/good deals to do with the kids. Kelly and Coleen over at the fabulous website Just-Spotted had a tip last week about Legoland being free along with parking during the last hour of admission. We wanted to go for a drive last Saturday and decided to head over to Legoland for the last hour.

We cruised right up and scored premier parking for free- yes free(it was just about 10 steps from the entrance) and then headed over to enjoy the park for a bit. We did a couple of rides and the kids had so much fun. We topped of our evening with a drive on PCH through Carlsbad and Oceanside and a bite to eat by the beach. It was so much fun and although it was only an hour the kids had a blast. By the way- when you enter the park most people will be exiting and the turn cues will be turned to exiting and not entering- enter in through the stroller entrances.

The only drawback about visiting Legoland is that you will want to buy an annual pass because that place is so much fun for the little ones and they will want to go back.

For additional info on how it all works - check out Just-Spotted and enjoy!!

AMC Theaters Summer MovieCamp

I've been meaning to post this for some time and keep forgetting. I am always looking for a great deal and when a great deal just so happens to support a great cause - it sweetens the deal even more. If you are looking for something to do this summer make sure to check out AMC Theaters Summer MovieCamp. Every Wednesday morning at 10 am from June 17- Aug 5 you can enjoy a fun family flick for only $1.00. The proceeds from admissions and concessions from the Summer MovieCamp will benefit Variety- The Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute. It's a fantastic deal and a sure way to keep the kiddos entertained and beat the heat. The best part is that you will be helping two great organizations. Here is the upcoming schedule

June 17: Space Chimps

June 24:Kung Fu Panda

July 1:Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

July 8: Tale of Desperaux

July 15: Horton Hears a Who

July 22: The Spiderwick Chronicles

July 29: Nim's Island

August 5: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

For additional info click here. To learn more about the Regal Entertainment Group's Free Summer Movie Deal on Tues and Wed mornings -click here

Summer Movie Clubhouse - Cinemark/Century Theaters

The Cinemark/Century Theaters Group is offering their annual Summer Movie Clubhouse. Ten Weeks of Fun Films for Kids will be offered featuring a different movie each week. The day of the week these movies are offered vary by theater. All 10 movies can be purchased for $5.00 in advanced or can be purchased seperately for $1.00 per show. Participating Theaters in the Southern California area are as follows Century Stadium 25- Orange Cinemark Movies 12- Lancaster Cinemark at Antelope Valley Mall- Palmdale Cinemark Movies 10- Victorville For showtimes and additional information click here.

Protecting your children's future workshop

One of the sponsors of Daytrippingmom ,is the South County Law Group which focuses on family law. They have an event that I thought some of you might find interesting and wanted to share. Join South Orange County estate planning attorney Peter Sahin, on Saturday July 11th for a FREE workshop for parents that will show you the 9 practical steps every parent needs to know to protect your children. This workshop is fun and informative and you will get to relax while your kids have fun and play.

Space is limited to the first 15 families so go to http://www.southcountylg.com/upcoming_events.htm or call (949) 940-8887. One lucky family will even win a day at Disneyland

Saturday, July 11 1:00p to 3:00p

The Little Gym of San Clemente

831 Via Suerte,

San Clemente, CA

Join South Orange County estate planning attorney Peter Sahin, on Saturday for a FREE workshop for parents that will show you the 9 practical steps every parent needs to know to protect your children. This workshop is fun and informative and you will get to relax while your kids have fun and play.

Space is limited to the first 15 families so go to www. read more

Price: Free with Reservation

Phone: (949) 940-8887

Summer Nightastic at The Disneyland Resort

I want to start out a new feature every Monday called Disney Mondays. It will be a tip or something new I've learned from my weekly visit to Disneyland Resort. Here is the first installment in my soon to be weekly series (sounds fancy- haha!!).

I was invited last Thursday to attend the media preview of the Summer Nightastic at Disneyland and DCA . It was seriously so much fun!! Disney's new offerings this week are quite a treat. The new fireworks show, "Magical" features a new song sung by Orange County's own Eden Espinosa from Wicked and the real flying elephant, Dumbo. Tinkerbell also makes two appearances. The new show is very entertaining and I absolutely love the music. The shining star of the show in my opinion is Dumbo. He makes an appearance that will have your family oohing and ahhing. You will have to see for yourself. Dumbo is not to be missed!!

Fantasmic is back for its 17th year. It now features new digital video projectors which provide a much sharper picture on the water screens. There is also an appearance of the all new Flotsam and Jetsam floats from The Little Mermaid, who are quite scary but a fantastic addition! Later this summer, the evil Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty" will transform into the new fully animated, 40-foot-tall dragon. In my opinion, the best thing about this summer is Disney's Electrical Parade at DCA (what can I say - I'm an absolute fanatic of the Electrical Parade). The show now features a new Tinkerbell float who leads the parade, taking the place of the Blue Fairy. Also back are new versions of the lost seven dwarfs mine float and the Pinocchio floats. The soundtrack has also been slightly updated for the better. There is plenty to see at both parks, so take the kiddos. These shows will be played nightly through August 23rd and then weekends through Labor Day. A big thank you to Disney for making my dreams come true!!

Dana Wharf - free fishing clinic for kids every Sunday

If your kids want to learn all about fishing head over to Dana Wharf's Free Fishing Clinic held every Sunday morning from 12pm-12:45pm. Your kids will learn all about fishing and learn valuable techniques and tips from the pros. No reservations are needed for the clinic. After the clinic, if you desire to head over on a fishing excursion with the kids, check out the 1/2 day fishing expedition that is held after the clinic. Kids are free on this excursion immediately following the clinic. More information can be found here.

Campfire Program at Leo Carrillo State Beach

I love Campfires and I just found out about a special program at Leo Carillo State Beach that is sure to delight your kiddos. Every Saturday at 7:30 pm join a park ranger, park docent or special guest for a fascinating and fun one hour program. Bring a flashlight. No reservations required. Rain cancels. 1 hour. Every Saturday at 7:30 pm It's a fun little activity that your kids will love and the best part is that it's absolutely free!! For Additional Info click here. Leo Carrillo State Beach Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA90263

Free Weekend Tidepool Walk at The Cabrillo Aquarium

If you are an early bird(and let's face it- if you have kids- you've been forced into it) and your kiddos love sea life - check out the Cabrillo Aquarium's tidepool walk this weekend. There will be another one on Saturday June 27th. The walks are from 7-8:30 and will be led by a naturalist who will guide you on a quest to observe and learn about marine animals in their natural habitat. Outdoor clothing and tennis shoes/sneakers are recommended. For additional information click here.

Sawdust Art Festival- Laguna Beach

Summer is here and that means the art festivals will soon be starting in Laguna Beach. My favorite festival hands down is the Sawdust Art Festival. The mission of the festival is to" educate the public about the art created in Laguna Beach,” the Sawdust Art Festival provides a variety of art and craft projects for all ages at their Children’s Art Spot, Ceramics Booth, Sawdust Studio, and their world-class Glass Blowing Booth. They will also hold Summer Evening Art classes at 7 p.m. Sunday-Thursdays. You can meet the artists that will be featured at the festival when you take the Meet the Artists Tour on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. or take a Weekend Walkabout Tour of the Sawdust grounds to learn interesting tidbits on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 noon. Tours are complimentary with admission. I know quite a few of you enjoyed the Creatively Fun Day back in April and I promise that the summer festival is just as good. Once you visit for the day you will want to go back for the rest of the summer!! The Sawdust Art Festival will open its doors on June 26th and close on August 30th. The festival will run everyday from 10am to 10pm during that time. Admission is as follows

$7.50	Adult one-day
$6.00	Senior one-day (65 yrs & up)
$3.00	Child one-day (6-12 yrs)
Free	Age 5 yrs & younger

Season pass is $15 per person. Hope to see you there!! Additional info can be found here