Orange County family guide
Things to Do in Orange with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Orange on the map
📍 Where Orange is
Orange sits in Orange County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: John Wayne / Orange County (~8 mi / 13 km). It's roughly 29 mi (47 km) from Downtown LA and 84 mi (135 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 Orange
Irvine Regional Park & OC Zoo
Pony rides, paddle boats, a tiny train, and a $2 zoo under giant oaks — an all-day outing that barely dents the wallet.
Parking $3–$5; OC Zoo $2
Peters Canyon Regional Park
Loop a reservoir alive with waterfowl on mostly flat trails — a satisfying nature outing close to town with real wildlife to spot.
Parking $3–$5
Old Towne Orange Plaza
A walkable historic circle of antique shops, candy stores, and old-fashioned soda fountains — a charming, free afternoon wander.
Free to strollFarmers markets in Orange
Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market
Beloved Old Towne Orange market with local farms, artisans, kids' activities, and education programs; EBT accepted.
Festivals & annual events in Orange
What Orange is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Orange May Parade
A long-running community parade through Old Towne Orange around the historic Plaza, produced by the Orange Chamber of Commerce Foundation with proceeds going to local youth programs.
2026 parade was May 2, which has passed; no 2027 date published yet
Orange International Street Fair
A Labor Day weekend tradition in Old Towne Orange with international food booths, live music, and crafts.
Local restaurants in Orange
Da Bianca Trattoria
A warm family trattoria run by the founder's daughter since 1990, with house-made sauces and a welcome-the-neighbors feel.
The Filling Station Cafe
Breakfast in a 1913 gas station in Old Towne Orange, with a colorful umbrella-shaded patio that's great for kids and dogs.
Bruxie
Orange-born fried-chicken-and-waffle sandwiches in a quick, casual setting kids love.
Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen
Family-run Old Towne Orange staple serving regional Mexican in a historic building.
Watson's Soda Fountain & Cafe
Historic soda fountain and diner since 1899 with American breakfast and malts.
Felix Continental Cafe
Family-run Cuban and Spanish cafe anchoring the Orange Circle for decades.
Francoli Gourmet
Authentic Northern Italian cooking with fresh pastas in Old Towne Orange.
Peter's Gourmade Burgers
Family-passion burger joint treating every customer like family.
The Filling Station Cafe
Retro Old Towne Orange cafe loved for big egg breakfasts, pancakes, and Monte Cristo sandwiches.
DK's Donuts
Family-owned shop with a loyal following for chewy cake donuts and a standout maple-bacon donut.
Local shops in Orange
Tiddlywinks Toys & Games
Classic American and European toys, puzzles, and science kits curated to bring families together.
Book Carnival
Specialty mystery and suspense bookstore famous for author events and a Shakespeare reading group.
Country Roads Antiques & Garden
10,000 sq ft of Americana, mid-century, farmhouse, and garden antiques in Old Towne Orange.
Orange Circle Antique Mall
Two-floor mall with 100+ dealers covering every era, from retro furniture to vinyl.
Resident Vinyl
Low-key indie record store in Old Towne Orange, mostly new vinyl across every genre.
Antique Depot
Large multi-dealer antique mall packed with collectibles and Americana on the Glassell row.
Antique Station
Multi-dealer antique mall in the town's former Satellite Market grocery building.
Woody's Antiques
Specialist in Early American farmhouse, primitives, folk art, and garden antiques.
Tea Leaf Cottage
Cozy independent antique and vintage shop in the Orange Circle.
It's About Time Antiques
Antique dealer in the Old Towne antiquing district.
Elsewhere Vintage
Curated turn-of-the-century-to-'70s women's clothing, hats, jewelry, and purses.
Joyride Vintage
Vintage menswear haberdashery time capsule, sister shop to Elsewhere.
Treasures
Independent Old Towne antiques showroom.
The Bookman
Used, rare, and out-of-print bookstore founded 1990 with monthly poetry nights.
Seasonal & outdoors near Orange
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Orange.
More Orange County family guides
Orange family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Orange with kids?
Family favorites in and around Orange include Irvine Regional Park & OC Zoo, Peters Canyon Regional Park and Old Towne Orange Plaza. Our guide lists 3 spots, sorted by distance from you with hours, prices and tips.
Are there free things to do in Orange?
Yes — free family spots near Orange include Old Towne Orange Plaza. Use the "free only" filter in the finder above to see them all.
Where can families eat in Orange?
Local, family-friendly spots in Orange include Da Bianca Trattoria, The Filling Station Cafe, Bruxie and Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Orange guide cover?
Our Orange family guide includes 3 things to do, 10 local eats, 14 local shops and 1 farmers market — 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 Orange
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Orange on one map — then book on your favorite site.