Where can kids go to bang away at a construction site, keep the peace in the park as a police person, or build sandcastles at the beach or just play with the water? Pretend City Children’s Museum in Irvine has all this and more. Located about one hour north of San Diego and south of Los Angeles, Pretend City is a huge indoor play space where kids can let their imagination run wild. Here’s all you need to know about this sweet retreat for indoor fun.
Photo: Jordan Wong
What’s New: Taqueria De Anda Café
Get ready for Taco Tuesday every day! Future chefs can cook up terrific tacos (with all the fixins) or bake big burritos, and pretend to eat them, too. Not only is the new Taqueria De Anda Café at Pretend City a creative way to get a bite to eat, littles will love to play for hours in the mini-city after their restaurant shift. The Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana and the “real life” Taqueria De Anda are sponsoring this imagination cafe so kids can learn about Mexican cuisine and culture.
Photo: Jordan Wong
Buy Groceries and Grow Your Own Food
Grab your basket and pull-out your list, it’s time for grocery shopping. Your super-shopper will let out a squeal of delight when weighing out fruits and veggies. Next it’s time to grab some snacks (for later of course), stand in line, pay for the food and then head-out-the-door to make dinner.
If your little is not a big shopper and prefers to get down and dirty (not really, of course), planting and digging their own fruits and veggies in the village farm may be their sweet spot. Not only can you pick the oranges from the trees, your tot might also belt out a little “yee-haw” when hoeing and growing some great vegetables.
Photo: Nikki Walsh
Head to the Seashore
If fun in the sun or wild water play is what your tot fancies. Not only can they make sandcastles at the seashore, but also play in real water too (raincoats provided for use). Boats, fishing poles and many things that float will keep your little fisherman swimming in fun. Who knows there might be other little pals to play with?
Photo: Nikki Walsh
Calling Future Firefighters, Police People and Builders
Your little peeps can feel like a hero fending off the fires, or don a police uniform and put the bad guys in jail. Is a little banging more what your tot likes to do? Then head on over to the construction site and knockout a new building. Whatever role your kiddo likes to star in, this is definitely the place for imagination and pretend play.
Snack Attack
Feeling hungry? Pretend City’s Real Café includes vending machines with healthy choices like sandwiches, salads, fruit snacks, milk and bottled water. There’s also a microwave and single coffee maker in case you need a little jolt of caffeine.
Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Mon. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $12.50/person; Free/Under 12 months
Pretend City
29 Hubble
Irvine, Ca
949-428-3400
Online: pretendcity.org
Have you been to Pretend City? What’s your favorite part of this mega children’s museum?
— Monique Walsh
Need some fresh ideas?
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