Orange County family guide
Things to Do in Costa Mesa with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Costa Mesa on the map
📍 Where Costa Mesa is
Costa Mesa sits in Orange County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: John Wayne / Orange County (~2 mi / 3 km). It's roughly 33 mi (53 km) from Downtown LA and 79 mi (127 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Costa Mesa
South Coast Plaza & Ice Rink
Window-shop the famous mall, watch koi in the carousel court, then lace up at the year-round ice rink for a treat-day combo.
Skating ~$17 + rentals
Centennial Farm
A free working farm at the OC fairgrounds with pigs, goats, chickens, and crop rows — a quick, easy animal fix for little ones.
Free
The Camp & The Lab
Two laid-back open-air courtyards of indie cafes, bookshops, and string-lit patios — an easy, free hangout with great snacks.
Free to wander
Talbert Nature Preserve
Just southwest of Fountain Valley, this nearly 200-acre nature preserve has almost 3 miles of flat, easy trails perfect for young hikers and stroller-pushing parents. With only about 100 feet of elevation it's a gentle intro to hiking, and it connects to the Santa Ana River Trail. Go early to spot birds before the day heats up.
Free
UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art
A modern art museum with 25,000 square feet of galleries focused on California art, plus free drop-in family art sessions. Admission is endowed free for at least a decade.
Free
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Orange County's main performing arts campus, with Broadway tours, dance and family shows. The free outdoor events on Argyros Plaza are the low-commitment way in.
Ticket prices vary by show; some plaza events are free
South Coast Repertory
A Tony-winning professional theatre with a three-play Theatre for Young Audiences series and year-round acting classes for children and teens.
Ticket prices vary by production
Orange Coast College Planetarium
A full-dome planetarium running 45-minute public star shows, and every ticket also gets you into the Dennis Kelly Aquarium next door. Campus parking is charged separately.
$12 adults, $10 under 12; aquarium only $5. Campus parking $5.35
Heroes Hall
A veterans museum on the old Santa Ana Army Air Base site at the fairgrounds, with a Medal of Honor courtyard and an A-4M Skyhawk outside. Free, and open year-round rather than only during the Fair.
FreeDonald Dungan Library
A modern branch library at Lions Park with a dedicated children's wing, an interactive play area and regular storytimes. Free, indoors, and next to a park for when the weather turns.
Free
Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum
A small local-history museum and archive covering Costa Mesa from its Santa Ana Army Air Base era onward. Two days a week only — check before making the trip.
Admission not published
Rockreation Sport Climbing Center
A 12,000-square-foot indoor climbing gym with bouldering, top-rope and lead walls, plus dedicated kids' climb sessions. Ring for a day-pass price — their rates page is down.
Day-pass price not published online
Mitsuwa Marketplace Costa Mesa
A Japanese grocery and indoor food court with ramen, sushi and bento counters and free parking. Entirely indoors, which makes it a genuine wet-afternoon option, and walkable from The CAMP and The LAB.
Free entry; free parkingCalifornia Scenario (Noguchi Garden)
Isamu Noguchi's 1.6-acre sculpture garden of six stylised California landscapes, tucked between office towers and free to walk into. It has no website of its own — it is privately maintained.
Free
Fairview Park
Costa Mesa's largest park at 208 acres, with seven miles of walking and biking trails and seasonal vernal pools that host fairy shrimp after winter rain.
Free
Goathill Junction Railroad
A volunteer-run miniature railway inside Fairview Park giving free 12–15 minute rides. Riders must be at least 31 inches and able to walk unaided. One weekend a month only.
Free (donations welcome)TeWinkle Park
A large city park with a fishing lake and waterfall, an amphitheatre, tennis courts and the inclusive Angels Playground.
FreeVolcom Brothers Skatepark
A free city skatepark open early to late. Helmets, pads and closed-toe shoes are required for everyone, and enforced.
FreeSOCO and The OC Mix
A design and food district whose Saturday farmers market runs a free crafts KidsZone alongside the produce stalls. Good for an hour rather than a day.
Free to visitFarmers markets in Costa Mesa
SOCO Farmers' Market
Foodie-favorite market at SOCO & The OC Mix with live music, local meats, fresh breads, and ready-to-eat food; CalFresh/EBT accepted.
OC Fair & Event Center Farmers Market
Large market at the fairgrounds with free admission and parking, plenty of produce and prepared food, and room for kids to roam.
SOCO Farmers Market (Costa Mesa)
A foodie-favorite Saturday market with chef demos and artisan bites next to design shops.
Festivals & annual events in Costa Mesa
What Costa Mesa is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Costa Mesa Lions Club Fish Fry & Carnival
A Lions Club carnival at Lions Park running since 1946, built around fried cod dinners, carnival rides and three days of live music. Proceeds fund CHOC, the Boys & Girls Clubs and other local charities.
2026 Fish Fry (Jun 26-28) has passed; the Lions Club has not published 2027 dates
OC Fair
The quintessential SoCal summer fair — rides, livestock, deep-fried everything, concerts, and contests, all close to home.
Local restaurants in Costa Mesa
Eat Chow
Locally-loved eclectic American spot with a 'Kids Chow' menu, dog-friendly patios, and crowd-pleasing comfort food.
Beach Pit BBQ
Casual, locally-owned Texas-style BBQ with a laid-back beach vibe — easy for groups and quick for takeout.
TK Burgers
A SoCal charbroiled-burger staple since 1986 — fast, cheap, beach-casual, and easy with hungry kids.
Palms N Patties
Small-batch smash burgers cooked in beef tallow at a beloved stand.
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
Small-batch doughnuts fried fresh hourly — a fun weekend treat.
Que Vida Tacos
Made-from-scratch tacos and bowls with house tortillas at a family counter.
Avila's El Ranchito
Avila-family Mexican restaurant since the 1960s with sit-down combo plates and a relaxed kid-friendly vibe.
Shirley's Bagels
Family bagel shop hand-making boil-and-bake bagels with no preservatives since 1986.
Trenta Pizza & Cucina
Family Sicilian pizzeria-cucina with wood-fired pies and fresh pasta, a casual sit-down family pick.
Madee Thai Kitchen
Independent Thai kitchen praised as rivaling Bangkok's best, with curries and noodles to share.
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
Beloved 17th St shop since 2013 making 'the world's freshest doughnuts' in rotating small-batch flavors.
Local shops in Costa Mesa
Creme Tangerine Records
Vinyl shop in an Airstream trailer with 6,000+ records, heavy on classic rock.
Red & Blue Vintage
Curated vintage clothing and home goods owned by Yoshi of Good Town Doughnuts.
The Inconvenience Store
Tiny quirky gift shop with sweatshirts, bike parts, and dried flowers.
2nd Street Costa Mesa
Second-hand clothing store with a deep curated rack of recycled fashion.
Factory Records
Eastside vinyl shop stocking thousands of LPs, 12-inch singles, 45s, and CDs.
Port of Sound Record Shoppe
Independent E 17th St record shop spanning rock, jazz, soul, punk, and global pressings.
Seasonal & outdoors near Costa Mesa
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Costa Mesa.
More Orange County family guides
Costa Mesa family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Costa Mesa with kids?
Family favorites in and around Costa Mesa include South Coast Plaza & Ice Rink, Centennial Farm, The Camp & The Lab and Talbert Nature Preserve, and more. Our guide lists 19 spots, sorted by distance from you with hours, prices and tips.
Are there free things to do in Costa Mesa?
Yes — free family spots near Costa Mesa include Centennial Farm, The Camp & The Lab, Talbert Nature Preserve and UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art. Use the "free only" filter in the finder above to see them all.
Where can families eat in Costa Mesa?
Local, family-friendly spots in Costa Mesa include Eat Chow, Beach Pit BBQ, TK Burgers and Wedge Burger, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Costa Mesa guide cover?
Our Costa Mesa family guide includes 19 things to do, 13 local eats, 6 local shops and 3 farmers markets — all hand-curated, locally owned, and sorted by distance from you.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Costa Mesa
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Costa Mesa on one map — then book on your favorite site.