Went to Pretend City (a children’s museum in Irvine) on a weekday, it was lots of fun http://www.pretendcity.org/index2.php.  Kids loved it, didn’t want to leave after being there for 4 hours.
Basically, a let’s pretend area with different stations (ex. a restaurant, a farm, a store, etc etc) where you can do various jobs and get paid with Pretend money.  Then you can spend your pretend money at the store or whatever.  Or you can just wander around and do whatever like most of the little kids there.  Went on a weekday, very clean, everything new and nice.  Adult staff were nice and seemed to really like kids.  You can bring your own snack, or there is a small snack area with healthy fresh food (ex. a little sandwich with fruit for kids, or salads for adults) and drinks.  Recommended.  Here is the address - it’s close to Wild Rivers.

Museum Address:
29 Hubble
Irvine, CA 92618

Museum Hours: :
Monday 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.
Tuesday – Sunday 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. daily
Member Hours:  9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. daily

I was thinking of planning a small day out with the kids on Veteran’s day but didn’t want to go to the usual places. Let me give this a try.
Is there any thread where you guys discussed fun places in orange county that are not zoo or amusement parks? If yes, please direct me to that. If not, may be everyone can share their favorite spots with kids?

Anonymous - 05 November 2009 02:10 PM

Went to Pretend City (a children’s museum in Irvine) on a weekday, it was lots of fun http://www.pretendcity.org/index2.php.  Kids loved it, didn’t want to leave after being there for 4 hours.
Basically, a let’s pretend area with different stations (ex. a restaurant, a farm, a store, etc etc) where you can do various jobs and get paid with Pretend money.  Then you can spend your pretend money at the store or whatever.  Or you can just wander around and do whatever like most of the little kids there.  Went on a weekday, very clean, everything new and nice.  Adult staff were nice and seemed to really like kids.  You can bring your own snack, or there is a small snack area with healthy fresh food (ex. a little sandwich with fruit for kids, or salads for adults) and drinks.  Recommended.  Here is the address - it’s close to Wild Rivers.

Museum Address:
29 Hubble
Irvine, CA 92618

Museum Hours: :
Monday 10:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.
Tuesday – Sunday 10:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. daily
Member Hours:  9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. daily

We have taken the kids there a few times, they loved it so much we purchased a season pass

Sounds really fun. I can’t wait to take my son here.

I’ve heard that this place gets zoo crazy.