Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around the Inland Empire
2022's Best Places for Kids in the Inland Empire!
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. Typically, we showcase the Top 20 winners... but this year, in honor of KidsOutAndAbout.com's 21st birthday (we originally launched in June of 2001), we bring you the Inland Empire's
TOP 21 Places to Take Kids!
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Get great ideas here: Browse our lists, check out the calendar, be sure to look at the Everything That's Free page, and sign up for our fabulous FREE weekly e-newsletter sending everything to your in-box every Thursday morning!
1. Knott's Berry Farm
Located just 10 minutes from the Anaheim resort area, the once small family farm has grown into today's family fun destination; home to the Knott's Berry Farm theme park, Knott's Soak City Waterpark and Knott's Berry Farm Hotel. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway, family road trip, or overnight stay, you’ll find something for everyone at Knott’s Berry Farm!
2. Big Bear Alpine Zoo
BBAZ opened in 1959 and has been saving animals since then. Most of the animals in our zoo are the ones that have been injured or impacted by humans and cannot be released back into the wild. Guests will enjoy our state of the art 5 acre facility which offers a close-up and personal experience with our animals. The brand new facility opened on November 5th, 2020.
4. Amy's Farm
We are a real working polyculture farm that provides hands-on, guided tours to visitors of all ages. On-site beyond organic produce stand open to the public Tuesday-Friday, Saturday by reservation 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Guided tours (Monday-Saturday) by reservation offer visiting individuals and groups the opportunity for hands-on farming activities such as milking a cow and harvesting in the garden. Volunteer opportunities Tuesday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Saturday by reservation. For more information, visit our website at www.amysfarm.com
5. Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
6. Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain in Big Bear
The Magic Mountain Recreation Area at Big Bear Lake, home of the world-famous Alpine Slide, offers family fun activities year round. In the summer there is a cool water slide and in the winter there is plenty of fun snowplay. The Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain is open all year and is Southern California's only authentic bobsled experience. Begin with a scenic chairlift ride to the top. From there, riders navigate their own individually controlled sleds, each with teflon runners and ball bearing wheels, down their choice of two quarter-mile long cement tracks filled with high-banked turns and long straightways. There are a variety of attractions at the recreation area, which include year round operations of the go-karts and an 18 hole miniature golf course. The nine Cam-Am racers feature 5.5 horsepower Honda motors and the miniature golf course offers 18 exciting holes complete with breaking greens and water hazards. Parents can join in the fun or enjoy soaking up the sun on the spacious lawn and two sun decks. The double water slide operates during the summer months, taking riders down two twisting and turning flumes filled with refreshing, cool water, before dumping them with a splash into the heated pool at the bottom.
8. Ameal Moore Nature Center
The Ameal Moore Nature Center sits at the main trailhead entrance to the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park, a 1,500 acre park that is one of eight protected core reserves designated by the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency for the Federally-listed endangered Stephens’ Kangaroo rat. The center offers visitors scheduled naturalist-led nature walks, exhibits, opportunities for experiential, hands-on learning & other programmed events and is home to a naturalist based preschool.
11. Knott's Soak City Water Park
Knott's Soak City Waterpark is a separately gated 15-acre water adventure park immediately adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm.
17. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Inland Empire area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of best places to take kids this year!
18. California Botanic Garden
The Garden’s mission is “to promote botany, conservation and horticulture to inspire, inform, and educate the public and the scientific community about California’s native flora. The Garden is devoted to the collection, cultivation, study and display of native California plants and to graduate training and research in plant systematics and evolution. Through all its programs the Garden makes significant contributions to the appreciation, enjoyment, understanding and thoughtful utilization of our natural heritage.” California, with over 6,000 taxa of native plants, has the richest flora of any state in the continental United States. The 86-acre California Botanic Garden is the largest garden dedicated exclusively to the state’s native plants. Conservation of rare and endangered species is among the Garden's top priorities, achieved by growing plants in the Living Collection and maintaining an extensive seed bank with long-term storage and facilities for research on seeds.
19. California Theatre Of The Performing Arts
The historical California Theatre, in the heart of the revitalized downtown San Bernardino plays a major role in providing quality performing arts to the Inland Empire area.
Originally built as a 1928 vaudeville and movie palace, it has, over the years, played host to all of the major stage and screen stars. Will Rogers made his final stage appearance at the California Theatre.
Currently the California Theatre serves as the performance home for top quality musicals, plays and host to several touring companies and the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Mexicana, Worldwide Theatricals and Inland Dance Theatre, Inc.
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top STEM Educator: Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center is a place of learning and discovery for all ages. JMDC’s mission is to convey scientific knowledge and to teach respect and responsibility toward the earth and its inhabitants. To visit JMDC’s 9 acres of botanical gardens with over 14 dinosaur sculptures there is NO PER PERSON ADMISSION FEE and only a $10 Parking Fee. Present your Parking Pass when making a $40 purchase in the gift shop or cactus garden to get a $10 instant rebate.
