Orange County family guide
Things to Do in Costa Mesa with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated June 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
📍 Where Costa Mesa is
Costa Mesa sits in Orange County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: John Wayne / Orange County (~2 mi / 4 km). It's roughly 33 mi (53 km) from Downtown LA and 78 mi (126 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.
FreeFarmers 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.
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
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.