Every Saturday beginning in January you can go orange picking at La Verne Heritage Park.  The trees are full of oranges and can be picked through March.   The oranges are really good and delicious, see below for a list of things to do with oranges.  We have been going for the past five years now and it has become a tradition for us.  Teach your kids about the history of La Verne.  You can see the old house and travel back through history how people lived and farmed. 

For $5 you get a bag that you can fill with oranges that you picked.  You can grab a fruit picker and show your kids how to grab fruit from the very top of the trees.  Little ones will need help but will love the reward of picking their own fruit.  It is best to go early in the season as you can imagine that this can be popular and the lower fruit would be picked.  They also sell juicers for you to take home and teach your kids about making their own orange juice. 

And yes they will want you to carry them to pick the fruit themselves!

They also do field trips there.  The field trip will have a tractor ride through the orange field, barn animals, and then you get to put a plant inside the orange peel.  

So what can you do with oranges beside eating them?  

1. Make an herbal tea with the orange peels
2. Make orange zest and freeze it with water in ice cube trays and then you can make this recipe from The Typical Mom did for Starbucks Gingerbread Loaf
3. Make a citrus cleaner with the orange rinds and white vinegar
4. Keep orange peels in an jar with vinegar and then you can freshen your garbage disposal
5. Make a smoothie like The Typical Mom did in this Orange Smoothie Recipe
6. Cut the orange in half, dip it in salt and then clean your sink with it!
7. Grind dried orange peels and make a mask by mixing it with milk or water
8. Keep cats away from your garden by adding dried rinds
9. Compost!!!
10. Place orange peel at the bottom of your trash can to reduce odor  

La Verne Heritage Park is open on Saturdays from 9am - 3pm.  There is a nice park next door to have your picnic lunch.  Or go for a hike at Marshall Canyon!

Since we gave the kids skiing lessons at Mt High the week before we decided this week we would try tubing at Mt High.  This was our first time going and we had heard that it sells out so we decided to get there early.  We had a blast!  Watch video and then I will give you some tips!

Mt High Tubing

Have you been to Mt High Tubing? We went on Sunday....stay tuned for tips!

Posted by SoCal Memories on Monday, January 18, 2016

Okay now that you have watched here are my tips!

• Plan to get there by 8am!  Not only is drive your drive nicer with no traffic, but you will be one of the first on the tubes.
  • If you don't get there early then check out their twitter which will keep you posted on sales. >>>
• Fill out forms, one per person downstairs inside.  This will take some time if you have a large group.  
  • If you get there at a later time designate one parent to fill out the forms for the kids and then the other parent can wait in line or watch the kids outside and then sign theirs when done.
• Go to the bathroom before it starts!  You don't want to stop in your time to go to the bathroom and the lines can get long.  There is a bathroom upstairs and porter potties downstairs.
• Want to go fast or spin?
  • Ask the attendant to make you go fast
  • Ask the attendant to make you spin!
  • I need to stress how important it is to go early on a warm day.  The snow melts as it gets warmer and you will go slower.  
• Scared about the speed?
  • Don't worry Mt High lays carpet to slow guests down if they see that the lane is too fast.
• There are TWO lines.  I saw most people wait on one line not knowing this.  
• The attendant will hand you the tubes.  Don't run to them as they will send you back in line.  The hooks will be placed by the attendant at the launching area.
• If you have a child under 36" don't bother bringing them as there will not be allowed on and they do measure.  There is also no snow play so they will be bored.
• If your child is between 36" and 42" they will be going with you on a separate tube hooked on to yours.
• If your child is over 42" they will be going alone.  Make a plan on where to wait for each other after each run.  We had our child wait for us at the top of the carpet ride.  

After tubing we parked at Jackson Lake for some snow play and then went down to Phelan to the Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary.  Stay tuned for that post!

So what tips do you have for Mt High Tubing?

GIVEAWAY!  ONE WINNER WILL GET A FAMILY 4 PACK TO TUBING AT MT HIGH!

We were invited to Mt High in Wrightwood for a day of skiing and lessons.  We have done snow play before with the kids, but we haven't given them lessons for skiing.  I set up the kids for skiing lessons and it was the best decision we have made.  Kids like to argue with parents that they know what they are doing and don't really listen to us when we are teaching them.  The instructors at Mt High know how to teach kids.  They tell them key phrases to show them how to put their skis.  My kids said they liked making a pizza with their skis.  Plus with Mt High packages they make it easy to have everything ready for you.  

As you can see from the video in just two hours my youngest was doing it on his own!  

My #4YearsOld getting his first #SkiLessons @mthighsnow. I was so impressed with the instructor and how fast they learned. #mthigh

A photo posted by Ruth @SoCalMemories (@socalmemories) on Jan 10, 2016 at 9:55am PST

Learning how to fall and get up properly by these @mthighsnow instructor. #mthigh

A photo posted by Ruth @SoCalMemories (@socalmemories) on Jan 10, 2016 at 10:32am PST

It is exciting to hear what your child has learned after class.  Have them show you and talk about it days following so that it stays fresh in their mind.  Schedule another class or take them out yourself if you feel they are ready.

Here are my Ski Tips for Kids for Mt High:

• Get ski clothes at your local Thrift Store
  • Don't spend the money on the clothes.  Go to the thrift store and buy snow boots.  I also recommend overall snow bib for the kids.  As they sit or fall you don't want snow to get inside their pants or jackets.  Spend money on good quality socks and gloves.
• Dress your kids in layers.  Purchase warmers.
  • I put their pajamas underneath, then sweatpants, and then the overall snow bib.
• Bring extra gloves and socks
  • During the class they might get them wet and when you are done with your day your child will appreciate a fresh pair of socks to wear on the drive home.
• Be prepared
  • The night before have all the clothes laid out and ready.  Have your snacks and drinks packed for the drive up and drive back.  Check Mt High website to see if there are any forms that you can fill out prior to your arrival.  On a piece a paper or your phone write down your child's weight, height, and shoe size.  Know if you are going to eat lunch there or on the drive home.
• Get there early!
  • Check to see what google maps tells you it will take to get there and add another hour to the trip.  Trust me you want to get there early as traffic will back up and your kids will be restless trying to get there.  It will take you time to park, get situated, and get your rental equipment.
• Rent the equipment
  • It just makes it easier and less pressure.  Once your child has had their class you can decide if you should continue to rent or buy the equipment.  Please note that you will need to rent a locker to place the shoes in.
• Have a good breakfast
  • Before you leave the house make sure they have had a good breakfast like oatmeal.  Have them eat a snack as you get closer so that they are ready for the day.
• Go to the bathroom
  • When you get there have your kids go to the bathroom before taking their lesson.  You don't want them to have to stop in the middle of their class to go and knowing kids they will try to hold it as long as possible before saying anything.  Before you head back home take them to the bathrooms.  You might be stuck in traffic.  
•  Don't get private lessons for your kids
  • You want your child to enjoy their first lessons so put them with their peers.  They will have fun and make new friends.
• Stop them before they get tired
  • This is an important one since it will take you awhile to get the rental gear off and returned.  Also remember the walk up to the slopes?  Think about having to drag your child when they are cranky and tired.    

Hope you enjoy your trip and I can't wait to hear how your family did!

Do you have any tips to add?

ENTER TO WIN 4 LIFT TICKETS TO MT HIGH!  2016-2017 SEASON, NO BLACKOUT DATES VALUED AT $296

LA Arboretum FREE Day

They have a FREE day on the third Tuesday of the month. FREE parking. 

Parking lot gets full so I usually park in the lot where the buses park. I take my jogging stroller and do my exercise first and then let my son loose to run around and watch the peacocks, squirrels, ducks, fish, and birds. 

The place is so big that once inside it doesn't get crowded. 

Can I just start off by saying WE LOVE JOSHUA TREE!  Just look at that sky ,it is beautiful and CLEAR!  This is us camping a couple of years ago at Cottowood Campground. 

This is my son reading as dad was getting things ready for dinner.  He loved being there, outside and enjoying the sunlight.  A note - what we did was have one tent (3 person tent) inside another tent (6-8 person tent) so that he wouldn't get our sleeping tent dirty cause he loved climbing in and out of the tents getting toys or putting back toys or just zipping and unzipping the tent.

Your kids will get dirty!  Yes this is him in his pajamas playing.  So I knew before hand to pack a lot of clothes and a lot of baby wipes.  He loved the soft sand and it really entertained him while we got ready for the day.

There are some easy Nature Trails that any child can do (toddler might need help with steps).  The one pictured above is Keys View which is .6 mile loop with views of San Andreas Fault, Mt San Jacinto, Mt San Gorgonio and the Salton Sea.  It does get very windy up there!  The one in the bottom I believe is Skull Rock a must see.  You can even just park your car across the street for a quick view.

My son enjoyed climbing on rocks and was so proud of himself when he reached the top.  We were frustrated cause he would scream getting into the backpack carrier!!!  This trail was Cottonwood Spring.

Another tip - don't even bother with a stroller.  Yes the trail might look all nice and pretty in the beginning, but the sand is not easy to push through and there are some tight spaces.  Learn by our mistakes.

After screaming for about 10 minutes he finally settled into the backpack carrier and yes people gave us the look while we were putting him in, but oh well they are not the ones carrying a toddler plus a backpack carrier that you intended to use!

Take lots of breaks and drink lots of water.  Whenever we found a good shady spot we would read books and drink drink drink.  Also replenish on sunscreen.

A must see is the Chollas!  No not the dark lipstick penciled eyebrow kind (sorry prima) the cactus kind.  A nice .25 mile loop through a beautiful garden of these amazing plants.  A must!  

Do me a favor and take a cool shadow picture!  This is me and my hubby.  I was wearing my sweater on my hip and my hair was a mess, but look at that picture!  Love it and used it as part of my invite for my wedding.

We are planning to go again soon!  So I will update this when we do!

If you are looking for a great place to hike with the kids in Southern California, Marshall Canyon Trail in La Verne is a great spot.  Although there are a lot of bike riders on this trail it is very enjoyable for kids and you can make it as short or as long as you like.  This is an in and out trail crossing over streams which keep the kids interested and they will have fun looking at the tracks in the mud.  

The trail is mostly shaded.  Make sure you keep your kids close as there are a lot of turns and the bikers will not be able to see your kids.  I appreciate the ones that were bells on them so that I can hear them coming and tell my kids to move the side.  Also the ones that tell me how many are in their group.  If you stop to rest just make sure that you look up to make sure you are not under a bee hive.

If you get to the golf course you might get lucky and spot some deer roaming the field.

We started and parked off Vía Arroyo.  There is an entrance to the trail there.

Let me know if you have been on this trail and what your thoughts were! 

Look for this symbol on the map for more So Cal Hiking Trails!

This is a great hike for kids who have experience in hiking.  This is a two mile hike in and back trail.  Well not really a trail, that is the hard part at first.  Get an adventure pass and park on Lytle Creek Road where you see this below (2 mountains and lots of rocks in between).    You will see a dirt parking lot where other cars park to access the creek.  Once parked make your way down and pass the creek itself.  Be careful with little ones as it can get deep.  Use your best judgment in crossing.  For us it was easy, we found a low spot and just used our hiking poles and rocks to cross.  We left the parking area at 11:30am to give you a time frame.

The hike at this point is all rocks and all sun.  You want to be at the south mountain as this is where the entrance is (left of you).  You will walk for a long time it will seem like cause the rocks really do slow you down.  As you see other hikers just reconfirm with them the way to the falls to feel more secure and know that you are not just walking the wrong way.

You will then come to small trail that if you didn't pay attention you could easily pass.  You will see a rock spray painted with a black arrow on it.  Other rocks have graffiti on them.  We got to this area at 12:15pm.

Once you follow the trail you will start hearing the water.  You will climb over some more rocks and just follow the sound.  Again a lot of graffiti and trash.  Try not to cry on your way up.  

Then it seems like you just turn the corner and there it is.  A tall waterfall!  We arrived at 12:30pm.  We took a break from the sun and ate lunch there.  Enjoyed the falls.  The right bottom picture is from me crossing  over to the other side of the falls.  Just be careful cause it is slippery.  This is a great hike during late winter early spring.

Look for this symbol on the map for more So Cal Hiking Trails!

On every 1st of the month @ 9am the Huntington Library you can make reservations for the following month FREE first Thursday. 

FOR FEBRUARY THEY WILL BE OUT ON THE 2ND OF JANUARY @ 9AM!!!

All you have to do is click here at exactly 9am...you don't want to be late cause they "sell" out within 5 minutes. You can get up to 5 tickets and they will mail them to you for free.  My recommendation is to be ready 10 minutes until and refresh, refresh, and refresh until the time.  You have two options 10:30am entry and 1:30pm entry.  Remember that everyone needs a ticket, even babies.  

The gardens are beautiful!  I would recommend going there first and then making your way back and then visit the Chinese Garden, then the Children's Garden.

Then you make your way to the Chinese Garden.  There are two paths.  One on the "main street" or if you walk up to the top of the Japanese Garden where you will see the house there is a path that will take you to the Chinese Garden.

At the Chinese Garden you can have lunch at the restaurant there - Chinese Garden Tea House.  Food is delicious and they allow for you to take it to go. But I would take a break and enjoy the view.

 Children's Garden Map

After that you can take the kids to cool off at the Children's Garden where they have water fountains for the kids to play in. Bring bathing suits and they have to wear shoes.  The only negative about the Children's Garden is that there is not a lot of shade.  They have a cool Earth that you can tell your kids to touch and they will feel the temperature of that place.  My son loves the musical rocks and the magnetic rocks.  It's just too bad that you will hate standing in the sun so long.

You can then follow a small path to the fountain and statues.  We let the kids run around as we rest.  Don't expect to do the Huntington Gardens in one visit.  I haven't even covered the dessert or the museums!

I always had a fascination with sea jellies.  They are so beautiful and if I had money I would put a giant fish tank filled with jellies in my home.  At the Aquarium of the Pacific you can get up close to all the different kind of jellies.   The ones pictured above are the Pacific Sea Nettles which are located in the Northern Pacific Gallery.  The Aquarium of the Pacific currently has a web cam on these guys so you can get your kids excited about seeing them up close.  

The Spotted Lagoon Jelly is my favorite.  Yes it has no brain, but look their fashion sense!  You will find these lovelies in the Tropical Pacific Gallery.  

At the Marine Life Theatre there are daily shows where kids get to help the puppets answer questions about sea life.  My little one really enjoyed this show and loved shouting out what he thought the answer was.  

My toddlers favorite was the Moon Jellies.  He loved how they glowed.  While I had his attention and not jumping from one exhibit to the other I told him how the jellies had no heart, no brains, and no eyes.  Then I told him that they lived here before dinosaurs!  

Most of the exhibits were at my toddlers height which I was so thankful for.  There was only two that I had to pick him up on the get a better view.

The best part is that the kids can touch the Jellies at the touch pool.  Roll your kids sleeves up and remind them only use two fingers.  My toddler had a hard time with this concept so I told him one finger and he got it.  

Now some tips:

• If you are going during the school year, April through June are crowded with field trips. 
• The best months are September and October during the school year.
• After 1pm the field trips are all done
• If you are there in the morning during the school year the Southern California/Baja Gallery is last stop for field trips.

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch will be open soon!  It will get you in the spirit of fall.  

The train ride takes you around the Irvine Park.  The ride is about fifteen minutes long and you will see families on their bikes, ducks playing in the water, peacocks walking around, and at the end you will go through a tunnel.  Some kids might get scared, but have them focused on the silly pumpkin faces.

Open September 16th - October 31st

This year’s Pumpkin Patch activities include: 

• Train rides - your kids will love this, warning they will want to again!
• Hay rides - we ran out of time to do this,

• panning for gold - hard to reach for my toddler, but may be good for older kids,
• a child-friendly haunted house - FREE! Don't push your kids to do this, it can be a bit scary check out the video to see if it is right for your child,
• a hay maze - FREE!,
• a moon bounce,
• carnival games - I love this!  Every kid is a winner.  They get to choose their price,
• cookie decorating - Cookie wasn't that great, I would try steering away from this,

• John Deere tractor racers - A five minute ride that is great for older kids,
• face painting - AMAZING work!  My son told her he wanted a BIG spider last year and look what she came up with!  This year in the video you will see he did a cheetah but wanted it to be Wild Kratts,
• picture stands,
• great food, and a lot more!

 Admission into the Pumpkin Patch is free. Prices for all other activities vary; please visit www.IrvineParkRailroad.com for additional information and costs.

The parking fee for Irvine Regional Park is $3.00 per vehicle on weekdays and $5.00 per vehicle on weekends.

ENTER TO WIN 8 PASSES TO IRVINE PARK RAILROAD PUMPKIN PATCH + 1 WHEEL OF FUN RENTALS AT IRVINE PARK DOUBLE SURREY BIKE RENTAL, AND 1 PADDLE BOAT RENTAL

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]]>Pumpkin Patch opens at Irvine Park Railroad - Updated 2017THINGSTODORuth ZankichSun, 23 Jul 2017 14:28:00 +0000https://www.socalpocketmemories.com/posts/tanaka-farms-watermelon-tour537a5c3fe4b02899e9242149:537a5d64e4b074c2fd25396f:57852eed3e00be6243f2b33c

We were invited to Tanaka Farms for the Watermelon Tours.  Here are my tips before you go:

• Wear closed toe shoes
• Wear a hat
• Wear sunglasses
• Wear sunscreen
• Bring a grocery bag, reusable of course
• Get there early
• Bring water

Check out the video to see all the fun!

The first thing is they have you wait for the next tour.  Check their site for times.  You don't have to make a reservation unless you are a big group.  You take a tractor ride around the farm and make several stops.  At these stops they provide veggies for you to taste.  If you don't like it just toss it over.  There are times that you get extra veggies so that is where the grocery bag comes in for you to take home with you.  The favorites were carrots and corn. 

The last stop you stay under a tent where they give you tastings of different melons.  It was so good and you will leave with a belly full of veggies and fruit.  This was nice for my kids to try new things.  They will pass lots of plates around and if any leftovers they let sit at the main table for you to grab at your leisure.  After that they give you a small seedless watermelon to take home.  

If you live far from the area like we do make a day of it and go to the following places:

• Great Park
• Adventure Playground Irvine Park
• Boomers in Irvine
• Irvine Park Railroad

More things to do in Irvine

We were recently invited to Great Wolf Lodge Southern California to check out the new Deluxe Wolf Den King Suite and to hear all about what is coming up at Great Wolf Lodge.

What's coming up at Great Wolf Lodge?

• Family Flicks at Outdoor Pool

• Wine Down Service
  • Enjoy Signature Wine, Cheese, and Dessert
• New Deluxe Wolf Den King Suite (see video)
• MagiQuest App

What is Included with your stay?

• Water Park Passes
  • If your friends/family want to just come for the water park they can pay a fee to use the park while your stay
• Unlimited WiFi
• Fitness Center
• Kids Activities
• Story Time
• Forrest Friends Show

What does each room comes with?

• 32" Flat Screen TV
• Microwave
• Mini Fridge
• Coffee Maker
• Dryer

What activities can you do at Great Wolf Lodge - Southern California?

There are so many things to do at Great Wolf Lodge.  Let's start with the water park area.

The toddler area is great!  It is a zero-depth entry pool that is up to two feet deep by the slides in the back.  There are fountains, sprays, and slides for the kids to play in.  This area is gated so kids can't just run out.  To get into the gate you have to pull up on the black lever.  Little ones can't reach this lever which I am thankful for.  There are chairs and tables inside this area and there are also cabanas for rent.

The waves are fun for the whole family!  They supply the life jackets and the deepest end is only 5 feet.  Little ones have fun splashing and playing.

Fort Mackensie is one of the best places to stake out your seat for the day if you have both big and small kids.  It's close to the entrance, the bathroom is right next to it, towels nearby, life jackets and food!  Perfect for everyone.  Make sure you go over the rules with your kids with no running, pushing, or going elsewhere without telling you.  If you are sitting at the front of this it is a perfect view for mom or dad to take a break and still be able to watch the kids go around.  The lifeguards are set at the top of each slide and at the bottom.  

Alberta Falls is one of many slides at Great Wolf Lodge that you can ride double.  My boys loved it!

This is the River Canyon Run.  Families sit together in a raft and go through twists and turns.  This is a great way to get the family together and if it is your kids first time on an enclosed water slide to let them see how fun it is.

Other activities are:

• Slap Tail Pond
• Crooked Creek - Lazy River
• Wolf Rider Wipeout
• Big Foot Pass
• and they also have water basketball

All of this is included in your stay!  Towels are included which makes it nice for not carrying anything with you.  Your room key which is a bracelet is your access to everything and you can even use it to pay for food, clothes, or activities.

What other activities are there?

This is an interactive game for kids and adults to play throughout their stay.  You get to battle dragons, befriend pixies and as you wave your magic wand the adventures begin.  I am so glad they created the app!  Download it before you  go!

We had a great time at the nine hole Howl at the Moon Glow in the Dark Golf at Great Wolf Lodge.  It does get busy, but the team does a good job at spacing everyone out.  Make sure you tell your kids to be courteous and wait for a family to be done with the hole before starting.  You can use your Paw Points to play here.

When you walk into Scoops Spa at Great Wolf Lodge you automatically in love with everything they have!  From the ice cream fizzy balls and themed chairs you and your child will love stepping into a world of the just the two you.  I recommend that you do the Mommy and Me package and do this towards the end of your stay since you know nail polish tends to come off from the water.  The treatment is about an hour long so make sure you have time for it.

Bowling fun @GreatWolfLodge #GWLSOCAL hosted pic.twitter.com/NUUcl6cNry

— Ruth (@SoCalMemories) July 13, 2017

The Ten Paw Alley is another great activity for the family.  The balls are kids size with just 5 pounds each.  There is no gutters so your kids will love hitting the pins!  Toddlers will even love it.  For this you will also need the Paw Points to play.

Arcade fun is one of the many activities @GreatWolfLodge Check out what else >>> https://t.co/0c7MhCiSp0 #GWLSoCal pic.twitter.com/LTr1gPXQrs

— Ruth (@SoCalMemories) July 13, 2017

The arcade is open 24 hours!!!  Crazy huh?  It's like Vegas for kids.  As a family we enjoyed playing the games together.  We each took a turn choosing the game we were going to play.  Air Hockey was the best for all of us and we would join forces in the tossing games.  You have to get a Paw Point card that is available at the front of the arcade.  Your Paw Points don't expire so if you don't use them all in your visit you can return and use them on your next visit. 

It's been a long time since we have been to Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena and I am so glad we got invited to go!  It has changed a lot!  I totally forgot about the water play there so we will have to go again prepared with water shoes and water clothes.  There was a lot to do and we didn't get to complete the whole thing.  Since we live in Southern California we had to leave by 2pm in order to avoid the traffic driving home.  

So I gave the kids the GoPro and in the video you will see them running to the top of the Raindrop Climber.  It's just for kids as they climb higher it gets smaller and smaller to climb through.  WOW amazing view from the top!  I loved seeing this perspective as I always wondered how it was on top.  From 40 feet at the top the kids get a birds eye view of Kidspace.  

Inside there is a lot of interactive building activities.  The kids favorite was the robotics.  This activity will take about half an hour plus to do.  Kids get to build their robotic, but you can also find one that is pre-built and have your little one work on it.  The staff there is amazing at helping the kids out build.

• Outdoor Climbing
  • Kids had fun climbing on this rock wall.  A little bit challenging for them to climb across, but they liked it.
• Music Jam
  • Lots of things for them to make music.  This was a hit with both boys and I love that it was in a shady area.
• Circular Climber
  • Kids did this over and over and over again!  They loved going up and down.
• Rope Bridge
  • This was really cool!  The boys practiced their balancing skills

Stay tuned as I will add more to this post as we go again!  Next time some water play and mud!

Can you believe that Ghost Town at Knott's is coming back this year!  I am so happy!  We loved it last year when they celebrated Ghost Town 75th Anniversary.  It was a hit with our family.  My family and I were recently invited to take part of interactive experience, Ghost Town Alive!  It was fun taking part of the town and being able to explore inside the normally closed doors of Calico.  

Gather the family and play a card game with the sheriff.  Don't worry they will teach you the game and even my five year old was able to do it.  It was so cool to sit inside and interact with the sheriff and play the card game.  My oldest won the game and we all got to keep a commemorative coin.

Kids get to run errands around town by picking up or dropping off packages.  My boys absolutely loved this.  We picked up packages from the school house and dropped them off at the pony express.  Then we had to drop off a package and give a message to the town newspaper.

TIP:  At the Pony Express you can borrow toy horses froma the stables.  Kids had fun running around with them.

One of my favorites is the dress designer and textile area.  You can create color dress designs by picking out a dress design paper and then putting it on any stencil you desire with crayons supplied.  You will love creating your own dress.  This is at no cost.

As you walk around Knotts you may notice guests with mustaches.  Find the barber in Ghost Town and pick your mustache:

• Pencil
• Handlebar
• Bushy
• Walrus

At the Livery Stable you get to meet some of the horses and donkeys of Knott's as they take their breaks.  You can pet them and take pictures.  The handlers are there to ask questions.  

The Blacksmith is where your family can see first hand how getting metal hot you can manipulate the shape of it.  You can purchase horseshoes there too that were made.  Anything that you see in the workshop has been made there.

The new show Wild West Stunt Show was really good!  This show is about twenty minutes long.  If you want shade you have to get there early and sit in one of the carriages at the top.  If you want to get wet sit in the middle at the front.  The best view in my opinion is at the middle top row.  You get to see everything from there.

A favorite for all is the Hoe Down!  Every evening at 5:30pm gather around for a fun evening.  Don't have a partner?  Don't worry one of the Calico town citizen's will help you.  Watch a video to see what it is like.

This is going on now through September 4th.  Make sure you take advantage of strolling through the streets of Calico.

Finally my son was at the appropriate age to explore Rubel Castle in Glendora.  You have to be at least 8 years old to be able to attend the tour.  Rubel Castle is located in Glendora.  Cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child.  You have to call and schedule a tour.  You don't need a group as they will fit you in.  Now this isn't your average castle.  You won't hear stories about royalty here.  You will hear stories about friendship, perseverance, and imagination.

The tour lasted about two hours for us.  It is a lot of walking there are stairs, tunnels, and uneven surfaces and you have to wear sturdy footwear.  Everything and anything was used to make this castle.  That is what makes it unique.  You will find bottles, trophies, jail house doors, railroad tracks, and even motorcycle parts as part of the castle.

.Listening to the story of Michael Rubel and how he purchased the property at just nineteen years old.  How he tried different businesses with those failing.  How when he was little he used to build forts as a kid and had a dream of building a castle.  How the community of friends and neighbors help build the castle. 

The bottle house is the first structure that Michael Rubel built.  He was inspired by Knott's and Calico Ghost Town.  How cool is that!  The ladder to the right of the picture takes you to a loft area where he slept.

When you visit point out to your kids all the different things in the walls.  There are little trinkets everywhere.  Yeah see the wall below Michael Rubel put everything that was shaped like a circle.  Why?  Cause he can lol.  

The clock tower is powered by 1890 Seth Thomas Clockworks.  It is really cool to see and hear.  If you are doing the tour during the half or hour spot you will be able to see how it works.  This was my sons favorite.  

I don't want to give too much away.  Watch the video and check out the tour yourself.  You will love it!

The Butterflies Exhibit is located just outside of the Natural History Museum.  The cost is $5 per person for thirty minutes.  You have to select the time you want to go.  They do it in small groups and there is a waiting area for you to wait.  I suggest getting there five minutes prior to your time.

The Butterfly Pavilion is open daily now through September 4th.  You will see hundreds of different butterflies.  They provide a guide for you to look and see what type of butterfly you are seeing.  Unfortunately you are not able to touch the butterflies and they are not likely to land on you.  

Teach your kids about the life cycle of a butterfly.  Look for eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis, and final stage being butterflies.  Teach them about how the monarch butterflies migrate to the north from Mexico and how other butterflies pretend to be monarchs so that they don't get eaten.  

Below are affiliate links to my favorite butterfly things to buy from Amazon!  Happy Shopping.

MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! ANNOUNCES NEW SHOW WITH MORE THAN 20 FAVORITE MARVEL SUPER HEROES AND VILLAINS!

Here is Southern California's schedule, tickets start at $25:

L O S  A N G E L E S - STAPLES CENTER

Friday, July 7 – Sunday, July 9

• Friday, July 7 7:30 PM
• Saturday, July 8 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
• Sunday, July 9 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

A N A H E I M - HONDA CENTER Thursday, July 20 – Sunday, July 23

• Thursday, July 20 7:00 PM
• Friday, July 21 7:00 PM
• Saturday, July 22 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
• Sunday, July 23 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

O N T A R I O - CITIZEN BANK ARENA Thursday, July 13 – Sunday, July 16

• Thursday, July 13 7:00 PM
• Friday, July 14 7:00 PM
• Saturday, July 15 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
• Sunday, July 16 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Super hero action, thrills and drama will soar, smash and burst into arenas across the country starting this summer with the debut of the all-new action-packed adventure Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes. The iconic Marvel Super Heroes Spider-Man and The Avengers are joined by the Guardians of the Galaxy, including Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Drax, in a legendary battle to defend the universe from evil.

If you are looking for things to do with your kids in Southern California this summer this is the place to cool down!

Where: Santa Fe Dam lot #5

Price: $2 per person

When: Saturday and Sunday during the summer

Some rules to know:

• - 52" or under. 
• - limit 2 adults per child
• - everyone must wear bathing suit

They have sessions where you pay to play and then everyone has to get out and it is empty for half hour and then pays again to go back in. 

It's a playground with water. They have slides for little ones, wheels to turn, tunnels, one slide for everyone (yup even adults can slide) and one wide one that groups can slide together.

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]]>Water Play: Santa Fe Dam Updated 2017