Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids
Explore the best free & cheap things to do with kids options for kids and families in Rancho Santa Margarita
Pavion Park
Public park with kids' facilities. A modern playground with interactive games is the highlight at this public park for families.
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Wildlife preserve & science center. University-run wildlife sanctuary in a canyon with a science center, amphitheater & 3 trails.
Lake Forest Heritage Hill Historic Park
Calm park hosting 4 historic buildings. Petite park featuring heritage landscaping & guided tours of 4 restored buildings erected 1863-1908.
Mountain View Park
Urban green space with amenities. City recreational site with a playground, tennis courts, a walking trail, picnic tables & restrooms.
Dinosaur Park
Fields & a dinosaur-themed playground. Large park offering athletic fields as well as a playground with dinosaur- & fossil-themed elements.
Sheep Hills Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Pretend City Children's Museum
Imaginary town & exhibits for kids. Set up as a pretend city, this kids' museum has a post office, cafe, farm & other interactive areas.
Irvine Spectrum Center Carousel
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Irvine Spectrum Center Giant Wheel
Family-friendly ride with city views. Day or night attraction with 52,000 LED lights & panoramic city views from the top.
Parasol Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Grand Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Laguna Niguel Regional Park
Lakefront fishing, sports & amphitheater. Surrounding a fishing lake, this park offers trails, sports courts, picnic space & an amphitheater.
Great Park Balloon Ride
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Great Park
Park known for its giant helium balloon. Public space popular for a huge helium balloon tethered to the ground offering views from up high.
Great Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Ortega Falls
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Canyon View Park
Grassy areas, a playground & paths. 12-acre park with big grassy areas, a sand-covered playground & path overlooking the canyon.
Niguel Botanical Preserve
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Tom's Farms
Old-time attraction with restaurants. Family-friendly park with restaurants & a farmer's market, plus a steam train, pony rides & more.
Tanaka Farms
Big farm with a market & U-pick options. Long-running interactive farm with a market stand, U-pick fruit, seasonal pumpkin patch & animals.
Turtle Rock Nature Center
Educational nature preserve with trails. Five-acre nature preserve with trails for viewing wildlife & habitats, plus an outdoor classroom.
Bluebird Park
City park for activities & summer music. City park featuring sports courts, a children's play area, picnic tables & a summer concert series.
ROOTS the Beauty Underground
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Cedar Grove Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Pirate Tower
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Laguna Beach, California
Oceanfront park for sports & walks. A beachfront park with a boardwalk, volleyball & basketball courts, a playground & a tide-pool area.
Orange County Zoo
8 acres of native Southwestern animals. 8-acre city park zoo features native Southwestern animals & plants, plus regular programs & events.
Irvine Park Railroad
Recreation area with train & pony rides. Outdoor park featuring family activities including train rides, pony rides & paddle boat rentals.
IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary
Tranquil wetlands with birds & trails. Wetlands cover 300 acres at this tranquil preserve that has 12 miles of trails & 200+ bird species.
Irvine Regional Park
Park, playground, rides & rentals. Park offers train & pony rides, plus paddle boat rentals, the Orange County Zoo & picnic areas.
Elm Grove Beach
Scenic lake shoreline for recreation. Public outdoor area with sand along Lake Elsinore, with shaded picnic tables & BBQ grills.
Lakepoint Park
Scenic retreat for sports & lake views. Open recreational area offering a children's playground, trails, sports fields & views of the water.
Santa Ana Zoo
Home to over 350 animals. Zoo attracts animal lovers of all ages with 350+ animals, a petting barnyard & a mini-train ride.
Lookout Point
Scenic vista with bay & ocean views. Scenic destination in peaceful surrounds known for its beaches, water fountains, bay & ocean views.
Oak Canyon Nature Center
Nature park with an interpretive center. Nature park featuring oak forests, scrubland & canyons, plus wildlife & an interpretive center.
K1 Speed - Indoor Go Karts, Corporate Event Venue, Team Building Activities
Indoor go-kart racing with an arcade. Electric-powered go-karting for adults & children on an indoor track, plus small arcade & gift shop.
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
Birding, biking & an interpretive center. Home to many bird species, this 135-acre park offers an interpretive center & hiking/biking trails.
Downtown Santa Ana Historic District
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Susanna Bixby Bryant Museum and Botanic Garden
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Newport Beach Balboa Pier
Iconic landmark with fishing & an eatery. Built in 1906, this pier offers a retro-themed diner & is popular for fishing & watching the sunset.
Santiago Creek Wildlife & Watershed Center, Santiago Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Bowers Museum
Global art, lectures & a restaurant. Mission Revival-style museum for global art (permanent & temporary), lectures & an eatery, Tangata.
Discovery Cube
Rotating displays & interactive exhibits. Educational museum with a focus on kids offers over 100 hands-on exhibits, plus special programs.
Newport Beach Pier
Oceanfront scenery & fishing. Scenic pier popular for fishing & ocean views, convenient to beach & nearby shops & restaurants.
Castle Park
Carnival-style rides, shows & food. Compact carnival-style amusement park with live entertainment, arcade games & American fare.
World Museum of Natural History
University natural history museum. Natural history museum on a university campus with animal, plant & mineral exhibits.
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve
Rugged hiking site & a visitor center. 9,000-acre nature conservation with varying terrain & habitats, open trails & a visitor center.
Buccaneer Cove at Castle Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Eisenhower Park
Sizable green space with a duck pond. Large park featuring a pond filled with fish & ducks, plus walking paths, playgrounds & BBQ grills.
Canyon Hills Community Park
Park with fields, courts & shelters. 18-acre park featuring a splash pad, baseball fields, soccer pitch & basketball courts.
Thrill It Fun Center
Ropes course & laser tag at a mall. Outlet-mall stop featuring an indoor ropes course, rock climbing, laser tag & an arcade.
Seascape Kids Fun
Indoor playground & fun center for kids. Children's indoor amusement center for parties includes playground, ball pen & more.
California Citrus
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Lower Copper Canyon Park
Retreat for outdoor sports & picnics. Neighborhood recreational park offering a baseball field, basketball hoops & trails.
California Citrus State Historic Park
Park dedicated to CA's citrus history. Park dedicated to preserving the history of California's great citrus boom of the 20th century.
Mile Square Regional Park
Large urban park with many facilities. City park offering 3 golf courses, soccer fields & baseball diamonds as well as picknicking & lakes.
Pumpkin Rock
Landmark hilltop painted rock. Painted like a large jack-o'-lantern, this rock sits at the top of a hill with sweeping views.
Doty Trust Park
Water park, hiking trails & playground. Nature site with a water park, playground, picnicking with grills & trails with an exercise course.
Flightdeck + Rogue Racing
Interactive flying experience for groups. Flight simulator for ages 11 & up replicates the feeling of being in a cockpit & flying a plane.
Discovery Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Mountain Pride Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Enchanted Hills Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Glen Arbor Park
Busy park with off-leash dog areas. Tree-filled, grassy park & popular local haunt for dogs to run around off-leash.
Spirit Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Disney California Adventure Park
Modern theme park with dining & shows. Contemporary theme park with innovative attractions, multiple dining options & live entertainment.
Paradise Gardens Park
Lakeside garden with rides & food stands. Landscaped lakeshore park with classic carousels & kids' rides, plus a bandstand & hot-dog stalls.
Temple of the Forbidden Eye
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Southern California Railway Museum
Historic train cars & weekend rides. Sprawling educational museum with historic railway cars & locomotives, plus weekend rides.
Kidz Digz Gem Mining & Crystals Store
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Hidden Valley Wildlife Area
Park with hiking & equestrian trails. Natural area featuring walking & riding trails, plus a picnic area, bird walks & seasonal events.
Riverside Heritage House
Furnished 19th-century house & gardens. Museum in a grand Victorian residence with period furnishings & decor, plus landscaped gardens.
Vista Del Verde Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Town Square Park and Amphitheater
Public green space & event venue. Grassy outdoor area with paved walkways & shade trees, plus a stage for concerts & other events.
Explore More Activities
Discover more events and activities happening in Rancho Santa Margarita.