SoCal Field Trips

Field Trips is our middle name!

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Background
    • PR Friendly
  • Half Price Tickets
    • Inland Empire
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
    • San Diego
  • Field Trips in SoCal
    • Los Angeles
    • Orange County
    • Riverside
    • San Bernardino
    • San Diego
    • Santa Barbara
    • Ventura
  • Travel
    • Accommodations
    • Leisure
    • Restaurants
    • Vehicles
  • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Mother’s Day
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
  • Giveaways/Reviews
    • Giveaways
    • Products
    • Education Apps
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Pets
    • Restaurants
    • Technology
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Salads
    • Snacks
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Desserts
  • Social Good
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Knotts Berry Farm Adventures in Education

Posted on January 23, 2019 | Filed Under: Field Trips in Orange County | 2 Comments

Have you ever wanted to take your students on an interactive, state-of-the-art field trip at a theme park in Southern California?  Well, now you can!  Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park offers an exciting field trip program called Adventures in Education for students in first through twelth grade.  Working with leading educators and subject-matter experts from around the area, Knott’s Adventures in Education provides students with hands-on-learning experiences that they normally don’t receive in the typical classroom.  Knott’s makes learning fun!

Have you ever wanted to take your students on an interactive, state-of-the-art field trip at a theme park? Well, now you can!  Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park offers an exciting field trip program called Adventures in Education for students in first through twelfth grade. Knott's Adventures in Education provides students with hands-on-learning experiences that they normally don't receive in the typical classroom..

Knott’s Berry Farm Adventures in Education

Each specially designed Adventures in Education program correlates with grade-appropriate California State Standards and immerse students in the learning process.  Through the use of hands-on activities, live demonstrations, genuine artifacts and encounters with historical re-enactors, students participate in interactive learning that impacts the way they process information and retains it.

Have you ever wanted to take your students on an interactive, state-of-the-art field trip at a theme park? Well, now you can!  Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park offers an exciting field trip program called Adventures in Education for students in first through twelfth grade. Knott's Adventures in Education provides students with hands-on-learning experiences that they normally don't receive in the typical classroom.

Students have been participating in Knott’s educational programs since it was first offered in 1955.  The founder of the park, Walter Knott, started the program by letting school classes come into Ghost Town to meet some of the personalities of the Old West and teach them about life on the frontier.

Have you ever wanted to take your students on an interactive, state-of-the-art field trip at a theme park? Well, now you can!  Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park offers an exciting field trip program called Adventures in Education for students in first through twelfth grade. Knott's Adventures in Education provides students with hands-on-learning experiences that they normally don't receive in the typical classroom.

Knott’s Berry Farm Field Trips

Last fall, I had the opportunity to shadow a group of students from Irvine, California on a field trip through Knott’s Berry Farm.  The students were taking part in the Westward Movement experience.  The Westward Movement tour includes 1 park ride and 5 or more stops at various points of interest around Knott’s including:

  • Stage Coach
  • Train Depot
  • Calico Square
  • Dr. Walker’s Residence
  • Boothill
  • Grist Mill
  • Birdcage Theater
  • Covered Wagon
  • Peek-Ins
  • Hotel
  • Bottle House
  • Hangin’ Tree
  • General Store
  • The Schoolhouse
  • Blacksmith Presentation

Our first stop on the tour was to Wagon Camp where a very knowledgeable tour guide gave us a brief overview of the Westward Movement.  According to history, there were many trails leading to the Far West, but the Oregon Trail became the best known and most often followed pathway.  Though it was commonly traveled, settlers still faced difficult journeys westward.  Travelers along these overland trails survived by cooperating with each other in wagon trains.  Between 1840 and 1848, an estimated 11,500 followed the overland trails to Oregon, and nearly 3,000 reached California.

Tour guide on Knott's Adventures in Education Tour

At the Iowa School, the children were introduced to life in a one room school house.  Ironically, it achieved its name because it was built by a group of Iowa farmers in 1879 who had moved west.  The old school house was moved to Knott’s in 1952, complete with its original furnishings.  Since then, Knott’s has added a bell and a bell tower to the school house.  Inside, you’ll find remnants of a traditional classroom including a vintage blackboard, a few desks and a small library.

The Old School House Knott's Berry Farm [Read more…]

Best Lunar New Year Celebrations in Southern California

Posted on January 20, 2019 | Filed Under: Field trips in Los Angeles, Field Trips in Orange County, Field Trips in Riverside, Field Trips in San Bernardino, Field Trips in San Diego | Leave a Comment

Celebrated for thousands of years in various countries around the world influenced by Chinese civilization, the Lunar New Year remains one of the world’s most celebrated holidays.  2019 marks the Year of the Pig, an animal wih a beautiful personality and are blessed with good fortune in life.

The celebration of Chinese New Year is a festive, colorful, loud, and incredibly fun holiday to enjoy, even if you aren’t Chinese.  So, check out this list of the Best Lunar New Year Celebrations in Southern California and mark the special occasion by attending one with your family.

Check out this list of the Best Lunar New Year Celebrations in Southern California! The annual celebration of Chinese New Year is a festive, colorful, loud, and incredibly fun holiday to enjoy.

Best Lunar New Year Celebrations in Los Angeles

Lunar New Year Festival, Monterey Park (Jan. 26-27)

The city of Monterey Park will ring in the the Year of the Pig with this annual 2-day festival.  Over the course of five blocks of downtown L.A. streets, festivalgoers will enjoy everything from Asian cuisine, carnival rides, art, lion dances and much more.  Admission is free.

Best Lunar Year Celebrations in Los Angeles

credit: Universal Studios

Lunar New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood (Feb. 2-17)

Celebrate the year of the pig during Lunar New Year February 2 – 17. Join Po and Tigress from Kung Fu Panda in Po’s Village and savor Asian dishes at Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop. Meet Illumination’s Minions in traditional Chinese attire and Mandarin-speaking Megatron from TRANSFORMERS™, and new this year, Hello Kitty joins us for the celebration. Plus, enjoy fun activities, live entertainment and more.

Chinese New Year Celebration at Mount of Olive Lutheran Preschool, Rancho Palos Verdes (Feb. 2)

Ni Hao Chinese invites you to celebrate the 2019 Lunar New Year with a wide variety of activities including traditional Chinese desserts, Chinese food, games and prizes.  They also have a pastry chef on hand to make dragon whiskers candy.  RSVP and get a free entry into the raffle.

Chinese New Year Gala 2019 at Almansor Court, Alhambra (Feb. 10)

Enjoy a holiday buffet banquet, VIP Speaker, cultural activity booths, spectacular performances, raffle prizes and more!  The 2019 Gala will support California Wildfires Relief.  Ticketed event.

Best Chinese New Year Celebrations in Southern California

credit: Citadel Outlets

Chinese New Year Celebration at Citadel Outlets, Los Angeles (Feb. 3)

Citadel Outlets is thrilled to welcome good fortune and joy in the Year of the Pig with vibrant, family-friendly celebrations for both the local community and Los Angeles-bound traveler.  Live dancers and artists from the Los Angeles Chinese Cultural Center will perform a variety of Chinese dragon dances, folk dances, traditional songs, drum ceremonies tai-chai displays and more.

For four weeks this January & February, shoppers will have the chance to enjoy festive red and gold lanterns, twinkling lights and an authentic 17-ft Chinese pagoda decorating Center Court.

Chinese New Year: Shanghai Nights at the Queen Mary, Long Beach (Feb. 5)

Chinese New Year: Shanghai Nights will honor the Year of the Pig with traditional Chinese culture, cuisine, and entertainment featuring Wushu Shaolin lion and dragon dancing, Wushu Warriors Shaolin acrobatics, a guzheng ensemble, and much more.  Located on board the Queen Mary in the famous Queen’s Salon, this limited seating event will be a feast of the senses surrounded by stunning decor.  A buffet-style dinner featuring classic Chinese cuisine will begin at 6 pm, followed by live entertainment.

Tickets to Chinese New Year: Shanghai Nights aboard the Queen Mary are currently on-sale starting at $99.99 general admission adult and $49.99 for children ages 4 to 11.  All tickets include dinner and entertainment.

Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year Festival at Chinatown Central Plaza, Los Angeles (Feb. 9)

For over a hundred years, people have gathered in the streets of Los Angeles’ Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year and enjoy the Golden Dragon Parade, a tradition for the past 120 years.  The parade includes beautiful floats, marching bands, government officials, various dignitaries, entertainers, local business leaders and cultural groups.

The free outdoor festival that runs throughout the day includes live dancing and music entertainment, cultural artisan classes, vendors, and local food trucks.

[Read more…]

Discover Circle Barb B Dude Ranch in California

Posted on January 17, 2019 | Filed Under: Accommodations, Field Trips in Santa Barbara | Leave a Comment

Over Thanksgiving break, my family and I took a much needed vacation to Circle Bar B Guest Ranch & Stables in Santa Barbara, California.  My kids had just completed their first trimester of school and I was gearing up for a very busy work season.  So, off we went to Santa Barbara.

Located less than 100 miles from L.A., Santa Barbara is one of the best things about Southern California.  This picturesque beach side community is fast becoming a serious vacation spot for families with new museums, family-friendly resorts and activities for children of all ages.  There are countless ways to keep everyone, at every age, entertained.

Have you ever dreamed of staying on a dude ranch? Circle Bar B Resort in Santa Barbara, California offers guests the opportunity to go horseback riding, relax by the pool or take a scenic hike on one of the many beautiful trails that surround the 1,000 acres property. #duderanch #california #santabarbara #travel #familytravel #roadtrip #horsebackriding

Circle Bar B Guest Ranch & Stables

During the first two nights of our stay, we were guests at Circle Bar B Guest Ranch & Stables, located 20 miles north of Santa Barbara in Refugio Canyon on the scenic Gaviota Coast.  This classic California dude ranch offers unparalleled rooms and cabins, amazing horseback riding, tranquil surroundings, excellent food and warm hospitality.

Circle Barb B Guest Ranch & Stables has a wide range of accommodations for small and large size families including deluxe ranch rooms and private creekside cottages.  We happily stayed in one of the two Hillside Homesteads on the dude ranch.   The quaint 2-story unit had a downstairs bedroom with a king sized bed and an upstairs bedroom with a queen bed and twin sized bunk beds that my kids slept in.  This particular homestead can sleep up to 6 people or 8 with an aero bed.

Homestead at Circle Barb B Dude Ranch in California

Homestead at Circle Bar B Santa Barbara

Homestead at dude ranch California

Guests are invited to enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast and dinner served daily in the lodge’s dining hall.  They have a private chef on staff and pride themselves on infusing casual ranch style dining with their own gourmet flair.  Nobody at the Circle Bar B Guest Resort goes hungry.  I can attest to that!

Circle Bar B Resort in Santa Barbara offers guests the opportunity to go horseback riding, relax by the pool or take a scenic hike on one of the many private trails around the 1,000 acres property.

[Read more…]

Winter Adventures in the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Posted on January 16, 2019 | Filed Under: Vehicles | Leave a Comment

Winter break was quite the adventure for my family.  We traveled from Southern California to Northern California to spend quality time with my family, including my mom who had not seen her grandkids in over a year.   Due to health problems, 2018 was a very difficult year for her.  However, thanks to modern medicine and a whole lot of prayer, my mom made a full recovery and we decided to celebrate her renewed health over the holidays.

he 2019 Outlander Sport is a compact crossover that combines the versatility to carry people or cargo at an affordable price and had an EPA-estimated 30 mpg on the highway / 24 mpg in the city.

The trip up north see my mom was made possible thanks to the all new 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.  With ample cargo space, comfortable seating, automatic climate control and more, we had everything we needed for an enjoyable 8 hour road trip to the Bay Area.

The 2019 Outlander Sport is a compact crossover that combines the versatility to carry people or cargo at an affordable price and had an EPA-estimated 30 mpg on the highway / 24 mpg in the city.

The 2019 Outlander Sport is a compact crossover that combines the versatility to carry people or cargo at an affordable price and had an EPA-estimated 30 mpg on the highway / 24 mpg in the city.

During the drive, my kids relaxed in the back and read a few books while sitting on the soft fabric seats that come standard with the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.  Due to the advanced climate control system that automatically adjusts the fan speed, air source and temperature of the vehicle, I found my kids snoozing in the back as well.  The drive was so smooth and comfortable that they slept like babies.

The 2019 Outlander Sport is a compact crossover that combines the versatility to carry people or cargo at an affordable price and had an EPA-estimated 30 mpg on the highway / 24 mpg in the city.

The 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport comes loaded with several high-end safety measures.  As the driver, I really appreciated the vehicle’s Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Lane Change Assist (LCA)2 systems that helped me change lanes with accuracy.  The two systems worked together to notify me when a vehicle was in, or approaching my blind spot, while driving on the steep, curvy, busy, big-rig-filled mountain route that holds California together.  Otherwise known as the Grapevine.

[Read more…]

Where To Go Whale Watching in California

Posted on January 15, 2019 | Filed Under: Field trips in Los Angeles, Field Trips in Orange County, Field Trips in San Diego, Field Trips in Santa Barbara, Field Trips In Ventura | 4 Comments

This post may contain an affiliate link.

Did you see the video last spring of the birth of a False Killer Whale that a group of tourists got to experience while whale watching off the coast of Dana Point?  The whales were swimming alongside the catamaran, when suddenly a little calf was pushed up by his or her mother to the surface to take its first breath.  The false killer whale is the third-largest member of the oceanic dolphin family and lives in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.

In addition to the 40 or so False Killer Whales that they saw, they also got to see 27 Gray Whales, 1 Fin Whale, a Minke Whale, over 2,000 Common Dolphins, a dozen Bottlenose, and a handful of Pacific White-sided Dolphins.

Do you love whales? Learn when and where to go whale watching in California during whale watching season, which runs from mid-December through April.

Best Time To Go Whale Watching California

Southern California is a wonderful place to see whales at their finest.  During whale watching season in Southern California, which takes place along the coast from Santa Barbara to San Diego, you’ll find plenty of ways to see the migration.

The season itself runs from mid-December through April with migrating Gray Whales being the most common species.  Every winter, more than 20,000 Pacific Gray Whales travel 10,000 miles round-trip from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California.  To see females with their calves, it’s best to go late in the season as they take their babies back up north with them.

The best way to see whales migrating in Southern California is to go on a whale watching tour.  Most whale watch trips are fairly short and some companies even guarantee that you can go again for free if you don’t see any whales the first time.

Dolphins on a Whale Watching Trip in Los Angeles

Whale Watching Los Angeles

Anytime you want to go whale watching in Los Angeles your chances of spotting whales are very high.  From January through May you can actively spot California Gray Whales in the Greater Los Angeles Area.  On the way down to Mexico, the majority of pregnant females end up giving birth just above Los Angeles and swim down along the coast with their small babies in tow.

The Blue Whale season starts in early summer.  June through September you can see one of the world’s largest animals, weighing up to 400,000 lbs, feeding on krill and swimming right off the LA coast.

You can take a highly rated whale watching boat tour for one, two or four people in Los Angeles with either LA Waterfront Cruises, 22nd Street Landing Sportfishing or San Monica Cruise Tour & Travel Center.

Children going whale watching in California

Whale Watching Long Beach

When you go whale watching in Long Beach, you never know what you might see!  You could catch a glimpse of the majestic Pacific Gray Whale during its annual migration from Alaska or you just might see the incredible Humpback Whale flip breach the surface.  No matter the time of day or season, creatures of the sea are never far from view, from orcas to fin whales, minke whales to dolphins, and so much more.

Harbor Breeze’s Whale Watching Cruise is your best chance to channel your inner Jacques Cousteau and create some lifelong memories.  And since one of the country’s best aquariums is right next door, you’re in good hands on this seafaring adventure.  An educator from the Aquarium of the Pacific will guide you as you marvel at gray or blue whales (depending on the season), plus others majestic creatures, like the distinctive humpback, killer whales and several kinds of dolphins.

Marina Del Rey Whale Watching

The waters around Marina del Rey teem with seasonal gamefish.  Beneath the ocean’s surface, halibut, sand bass, and barracuda swim from Rocky Point to the Big Kelp Reef.  Sea lions, dolphins, sea birds, and several whale species also make their home in the water.  This diversity of wildlife prompted the owners of Marina Del Rey Sportfishing to start their whale and eco tour, during which sightseers can admire the ocean’s majestic creatures and the teams of Aquamen who groom them.

Marine Del Rey Whale Watching offers a 3-3.5 hour on water adventure that departs at 10 am on weekdays, and at 10 am and 1:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  From a 65-foot-long sightseeing boat, passengers might spot gray whales, blue whales, fin whales, and other species. Other wildlife may make appearances, including dolphins, sea turtles, and seals.

Whale swimming in the water on a whale watching tour Santa Barbara

Whale Watching Newport Beach

Newport Beach offers some of the best whale watching California has to offer.  With one the largest marine protected parks just outside of Newport Bay, whales and dolphin of all types can be viewed as soon as you leave the bay.  It is not uncommon to see giant blue whales and finback whales just outside the bay during the summer and fall months.  Multiple gray whales are often seen in this same area during the winter and spring months while on their annual migration.

Some of the top rated whale watching companies in Newport Beach include:

  • Newport Landing Cruises
  • Davey’s Locker
  • Ocean Explorer Cruises
  • Newport Legacy
  • East Meets West Excursions
  • Newport Coastal Adventure
  • Captain Nick

A dolphin swimming along a boat while whale watching San Diego.

Whale Watching Dana Point

Dana Point is located about halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles.  Along with hosting such events as the Festival of the Whales, Dana Point also is home to the Ocean Institute a non-profit research educational center teaching kids about marine life and marine mammals.  As you would expect, whale watching in Dana Point is a very popular activity amongst locals and visitors alike.  Dana Wharf Whale Watching offers a great captain narrated two-hour tour through the Pacific in search of gray whales, dolphins, and sea lions.

A dolphin swimming near a whale watching boat in San Diego.

Whale Watching San Diego

If you want to get up close and personal with Pacific Grey Whales migrating along the San Diego coastline, a whale watching tour around San Diego harbor is your best bet.  You can book a tour through any number of whale watching companies.  Most depart from Point Loma, San Diego Bay or Oceanside.  Besides seeing some beautiful whales, you will often spot sea lions, dolphins and other types of marine life.

People see a whale while Whale Watching Newport Beach.

Whale Watching Santa Barbara

Whales splash around Santa Barbara entertaining onlookers eight months out of the year.  Tour companies offer gray whale watching trips from late December through mid-April from Ventura and Oxnard while Blue and Humpback whale watching trips are available from mid-June through mid-September.

Humpback and endangered Blue whales feed on swarms of unsuspecting krill around Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary.  Feeding whales tend to be near the western end of the northern Channel Islands and the journey there is often filled with playful visits from dolphins, seals, and California sea lions, and occasional visits from Orca whale pods.

Blue whale watching trips take visitors on a journey past Painted Cave, one of the largest sea caves in the world on the west end of Santa Cruz Island.  Weather and sea conditions permitting, you might have the opportunity to see the cave up close.   Gray whale watching is a half-day adventure that takes about 4 hours. Since Gray whale watching occurs in the winter, visitors are encouraged to dress warm.

Channel Islands Whale Watching out of Oxnard specializes in Eco-Tourism and Wildlife Adventures.  Their tours take place in the pristine waters surrounding Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary.  During a whale watching tour, the company offers wildlife interpretation with informative narration of this unique region, often referred to as the Galapagos of the Northern Hemisphere.

Happy Field Tripping!

Jilleen

More Things To Do with Kids in Southern California

40 LA Museums to Explore with Kids

Vist a Wolf Sanctuary in Southern California

Best Places for a Tea Party in Southern California

60+ Places To Explore With Kids in Orange County

8 Airport Tours For Kids in Southern California

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • …
  • 163
  • Next Page »
Subscribe Today to Get Your FREE Field Trip Planning Guide!
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

Recent Posts

  • Discount Tickets to Digital Nature at LA Arboretum
  • The Best Places To See Wildflowers in Los Angeles
  • Ultimate Guide To Knott’s Peanuts Celebration With Kids

SoCal Field Trips Recommends

Featured On

Subscribe Today to Get Your FREE Field Trip Planning Guide!
Sign up today and be the first to get notified of new updates.
Email*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide

Copyright © 2019 SoCal Field Trips · Design by Melanie Anne Creative · Website Disclosure · Built on the Genesis Framework