Local Aquariums

Try the Nordstrom kids shoe department (if you can get out of there without spending money). The fish tank is amazing, and they have balloons for the kids. The cafe's usually nearby are very kid friendly for lunch too -- South Coast's has a patio area.

Also a walk through a local Pet Smart or other pet store was always a fun trip for my daughter (until she got old enough to ask why we don't have any pets :) ). They have a lot of fish tanks at Pet Smart, plus birds, and dogs, and kitties . . .

Hi B.,

It is a little bit of a drive but you may try the Cerritos public library. They have a large fish tank that is the hallway wall of the kids room in the library. There are also some fountians outside that have some fun artwork to look at. I haven't spent much time there as I was there for business meetings but I did walk through the kids room which looked great, so you could get 2 types of visits in one.

Good luck,
G.

Since you live in Costa Mesa, you are really close to the Rainforest Cafe at South Coast Plaza. It has several large aquariums, not to mention the other "animals". I've been taking my girls there since they were babies. They love it.

There is a really casual restaurant called Zubies dry dock in Huntington Beack off Adams and Magnolia. It is a great place to take babies or kids becuase it is pretty loud and casual and has great food for really great prices. They have 3 fish tanks and my daughter loves to go and just watch them as we are hanging out and waiting for our food.

http://www.zubiesdrydock.com/

Let me know how it goes. thanks.

Try Rainforest Cafe in South Coast Plaza.

tide pools. dana point, laguna beach, corona del mar... nothing better than seeing the fish in their natural habitats! Also try dana point aquarium on the weekends. The other place to try is the pacific marine mammal center in the laguna canyon- free! Its where they rehab the seals and sea lions after they come in from being injured in the wild. They are usually pretty active and have a nice little facility. Donations are much appreciated and a membership starts at $25 and it goes to a really good cause.

Hi B.,

We are also seeking inexpensive ways to entertain our 19 month old son. I did a little diging and found this great website with list of various free activities around So. California. Here's the link http://daytrippingmom.blogspot.com/

Free aquariums:

Shark Lagoon Nights at Long Beach Aquarium - Free every Friday from 6-9 pm

Cerritos Public Library - 15,000 gallon saltwater aquarium located at 18025 Bloomfield Avenue
Cerritos, California 90703
Phone: ###-###-####

Roundhouse Aquarium - Located at the end of the Manhattan Beach pier and offers storytime, a touch tank where children can get up close and personal with the various marine life and shark feedings. It's open on weekdays from 3pm to sunset and on weekends from 10am to sunset.

Hope you have fun with your son!!

How about the Rainforest Cafe in South Coast Plaza. The center aquarium might be of interest but perhaps the load animal noises may be a bit scary.

Pacific Reef Tropical Fish
18926A Brookhurst Stree Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Prehistoric Pets
18822 Brookhurst Street Fountain Valley, CA 92708

I haven't yet been in the Tropical Fish store, which is in the same bank of shops as Prehistoric Pets, but Prehistoric Pets is amazing. Besides tanks and tanks of snakes, lizards and all things reptile, they have a big pond full of turtles that you can feed by hand with worms you buy at the checkout counter. It is inexpensive. It is almost more like a museum than a store, the way they have everything displayed. They also have party rooms, where kids can have "Jurassic parties" where they teach them about reptiles. It's a really cool place. I have often seen the fish store, but have yet to make it in there, but I know several other moms that love to go there, though, so I imagine it's probably pretty neat. Have fun!

The Huntington Beach library on Goldenwest has a nice fishtank outside the children's library entrance. They also have story times and fun play areas inside and out... all free.

For lots of ideas on free things to to, check out www.sparkoc.com and browse the "free events" and "kids & family" tabs. Have fun!