Fun at Pretend City in Irvine

Address: 29 Hubble, Irvine
Hours: 10am-5pm (closes at 1pm on Mondays)
Ages: Infants to 8 years old (I recommend walking to 6 years old)
Admission price: $12.50/per person (adults must pay admission, under 12 months are free)

Pretend City is one of my favorite places to take the kids. There's so much for the kids to do that we rarely get to everything in one visit. The toys and facility looks sparkly clean even though the place is crawling with grubby hands. But the best part is that there are volunteers everywhere returning the toys to their proper homes.

There are so many exhibits to explore and keep the kids busy.

Amphitheater

What kid doesn't want to be the center of attention on stage? There are usually costumes, props, and/or musical instruments available so that the kids can really get into it. My kids' favorite part is the sound and lighting panel. It's the perfect example of cause and effect. Push a button and something cool happens.



Art Studio

Clockwise: whiteboard featuring a poll about breakfast with food magnets, art project with foam shapes, fake snow  

K LOVES to draw, glue, mold, paint, color, and cut. In the Art Studio, she can do all of that and more. There are usually at least three different activities available to explore in the Art Studio. One is a structured art project usually centered around a book. Then, there's usually some sort of sensory activity like fake snow with cute little penguin figures. The studio has a large white board and a window that is usually the backdrop for some sort of fun activity.

Beach

All of the fun of the beach without having to fight traffic, find a parking spot, and lug 35 pounds of sand toys.

Cafe
86 the soup of the day. Order up! Table 2 wants the check. Who wants to be the cook? Who wants to be the customer? Fun, fun, fun!

Farm

This is one of my favorite exhibits. The kids can pretend to pick different fruits from the orchard and and harvest vegetables from the garden. My kiddos love tending to the farm with their rakes and watering cans and filling their baskets with their freshly picked produce. The best part is the cute little chicks on display. So adorable.

Grocery Store

If only going to the real grocery store was this fun.

Health Center

The doctor will see you now. Kids can explore what it's like to be a dentist and a doctor. There are even x-rays to examine and a giant set of teeth to "clean."

Marina

Kids + water = a mess giggles and smiles. Here, the kids can make their own boats and sail them in the marina. Kids can even see how the wind influences a boat with the wind machines. There's also a small fishing area where they can using fishing poles and nets to catch fish.

Our Home

Everything in this house is just the right size for youngsters. It's also a great place for them to learn about other cultures as Pretend City features a multicultural family and their culture in the house.

Besides those exhibits, Pretend City also has temporary exhibits, like the Heart and Seoul: Growing up in Korea exhibit that is now open until September 7, 2015. They also have fun activities for holidays. On Halloween, I dressed the kiddos in their costumes and took them to the trick or treat event. They had the best time collecting all of the non-candy "treats." Check their calendar for other special events.

Being that adults and children over 1 year old have to pay admission, you can save money by going on their 2-for-1 days, which is also know as Way to Play Days. Way to Play Days occur on the second Friday of every month. You must print out the coupon on their website. If you live close by and plan to visit a few times, a membership may be a good option; and one major perk of having a membership is the members only hour from 9-10am every day.

There are tables and microwaves available if you plan on packing a lunch. They do have some vending machines with drinks and snacks, as well. One thing to keep in mind is that Pretend City strives to be a nut free environment so maybe keep those PB&J sandwiches at home.

Overall, this is a great place for young kids. The exhibits and bathrooms are clean and well kept. The place is crawling with volunteers willing to help out with the clean up. The best part is that you can bring your child here knowing that he/she will have a blast but will be learning at the same time.