Places to Go

Adventure Playground is an enclosed area dedicated for children to develop their imaginations and enjoy the benefits of natural play. Activities include climbing, exploring, jumping and crawling, as well as the opportunity to create your own fun with challenging play structures.

Boomers! is fun for the whole family. Attractions include miniature golf, bumper boats, batting cages, go-karts and the Kiddie Big Top, featuring carnival rides. Boomers! is a perfect place for celebrations or just hanging out.

The theater offers an array of music and dance performances throughout the fall and winter seasons. Among the season's highlights is Ballet Pacifica's “The Nutcracker.”

The community art gallery is located on the grounds of Heritage Park. Exhibits of paintings and sculptures are changed every two months. A number of the center's programs are offered for children.

The Irvine Museum was founded in 1992 by Joan Irvine Smith and her mother, the late Athalie R. Clarke. The museum hosts more than 30,000 visitors per year. It is the only museum in California dedicated to the preservation and display of California Impressionism or Plein-Air paintings, an art style that flourished in California from 1890 to 1930. Admission and parking are both free. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Movies, shops, restaurants, entertainment and games galore will keep the whole family happy. From the Cheesecake Factory to The Yard House, there is a variety of family-pleasing places. The center also has a carousel and a Big Wheel.

This nature center is home to snakes, raccoons and turtles. Exhibits are informative, illustrate how we can protect our environment and are available at the perfect eye level for kids.

Visitor Nights, which are open to the public and occur approximately six times a year, are free and fun for the entire family. Reservations are not required. Visitors park in the ICS/Engineering Parking Garage ($7 fee) and take the shuttle to the gravel road that leads to the UCI Observatory.

Listening to live music under the stars is a fun way to relax and enjoy your favorite musical artists. Lawn seats, located farthest from the stage, are often the most enjoyable.