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Kids Korner |
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Did You Know?
- California grows more different crops than any other state–some 350 fruits and vegetables–including many that are grown just in California. Chances are if you're eating a U.S. grown almond, kiwi, raisin, or olive it's from California. Do you miss spitting watermelon seeds? The first seedless watermelon was developed in California. How many different California crops do you eat at home?
- The first navel orange tree in the country was grown in Riverside, CA, spurring the California citrus industry. You can find out more at the California Citrus State Historic Park at www.ultimatecitrus.com.
- A lot of your favorite fast-food places got their start in California including McDonald's, Denny's, Taco Bell, and a California kids' favorite, In-N-Out Burger, which was California's first drive-thru hamburger stand in 1948. The fries and burgers are still great today! Visit www.in-n-out.com.
- Geologists believe earthquakes occur when the edges of the huge plates that cover much of the earth slowly grind past each other, sending shock waves through the ground. California is prime earthquake country because it lies along the boundary of the Pacific and North American plates. See how California kids can prepare for earthquakes at the Shake Zone at the Riverside County Youth Museum. Visit www.kidzone.org.
- California has more theme parks and amusement parks than any other state. Of course there are the big ones like Disneyland and Universal Studios but there's also Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom (www.pharaohslostkingdom.com) in Redlands with its giant waterslide and Castle Amusement Park in Riverside with its mini golf. Visit www.castlepark.com.
- The first national amateur snowboarding championship was at Snow Valley near Big Bear Lake in 1990. Big Bear is fun in the winter for snow sports (Big Bear and Snow Summit) and the summer when you can camp, fish, hike, and mountain bike here. You'll love the big Alpine Slide. Visit www.bigbear.com.
- The longest runway in the world–7.5 miles–is located at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert and is used for space shuttle landings. Visit www.edwards.af.mil.
- More than a quarter of Californians are Hispanic. Many came from Mexico and Central America. But many Californians also came from Asia–China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan, among other places. One of the best ways to learn about Californians is to eat in ethnic restaurants. Fish taco, dim sum, or sushi anybody?
- California has five major league baseball teams–the Anaheim Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. Visit www.mlb.com. You'll also find plenty of other sports teams here--basketball, football, men's and women's soccer, among others.
- People come from all over the world to climb the rocks at Joshua Tree National Park–kids too! Park rangers joke that on weekends, climbers outnumber the lizards on the rocks. The mile-long Hidden Valley Trail will take you into a rock-enclosed valley that some say was used as a hideout for horse rustlers in the days of the Wild West. There are also places to go horseback riding. Visit www.nps.gov/jotrr/.
- Your eyes are nearly the same size as a golden eagle's but eagles can see eight to ten times better. You can see eagles as well as mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, and all kinds of other desert plants and animals at the Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park in Palm Desert. Visit www.livingdesert.org.
What Other Kids Say You Should Do While In Ontaria, CA . . .
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Kids, Tell Your Parents . . .
- There are many guidebooks to help you plan your trip. Try The Unofficial Guide to California with Kids (www.frommers.com), Fodor’s Road Guide USA California or Fodor’s Disneyland and Southern California with Kids (www.fodors.com). The California Tourism website (www.visitcalifornia.com) is also a good jumping off point for planning a trip to the Inland Empire region and beyond.
- Consider staying at the historic (a National Historic Landmark) Mission Inn in Riverside, CA (www.missioninn.com). The kids will love the rambling property. Lake Arrowhead (www.lakearrowhead.net) and Big Bear (www.bigbear.com) are both great destinations for outdoors-lovers. Of course the desert resorts around Palm Springs offer everything from golf to spas to giant pools the kids will love (www.palmspringsusa.com).
Other Family Attractions Include:
- Calico Ghost Town in Yermo, CA, an authentic old silver mining town where you can walk the streets and meet locals acting as if they’re from that era. Visit www.calicotown.com.
- Big Bear Solar Observatory, only one of six in the world. And operated by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Visit http://www.bbso.njit.edu/.
- Big Bear Discovery Center with naturalist led programs and hands-on activities and a great place to start your visit to the San Bernardino National Forest. Visit www.bigbeardiscoverycenter.com.
- Moonridge Animal Park, a rescue center for animals native to this mountain area and located in Big Bear Lake. Get face-to-face with a bobcat or Black Bear. Visit www.moonridgezoo.org.
- Ontario Mills Mall for outlet shopping, with more than 200 stores and a giant movie theater. Visit www.ontariomills.com.
- The Imagination Workshop in Temecula, a children’s center filled with all kinds of inventions and contraptions at the “home” of Professor Phineas T. Pennypickle, scientist, time traveler, and inventor. You’ll also love Old Town Temecula, with shops and galleries and of course, the chance for wine tasting. Visit www.cityoftemecula.org.
- The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a steep vertical cable-ride up to San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness. The view is terrific. When you get there, take a hike or in winter, rent skis or go tubing. Visit www.pstramway.com.
- Palm Springs Air Museum, with one of the largest collections of World War II planes. If you’re lucky, volunteers who flew those planes might be on hand to tell your kids about their experiences. Visit www.air-museum.org.
See Past Editions of Kids Korner.
By: Eileen Ogintz, Author of Taking the Kids™
