Orange County family guide
Things to Do in Tustin with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Tustin on the map
📍 Where Tustin is
Tustin sits in Orange County, Southern California. Nearest major airport: John Wayne / Orange County (~5 mi / 9 km). It's roughly 32 mi (51 km) from Downtown LA and 81 mi (130 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.
Family attractions near Tustin
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Tustin.
Santa Ana Zoo
A compact, monkey-famous zoo with a farm, train, and carousel — perfectly sized for little legs in a single morning.
~$13 adult / $10 kid
Discovery Cube OC
Hands-on science with a hurricane chamber, dino dig, and rock-climbing wall — easily three hours of curious kid energy burned.
~$24.95 adult / $19.95 kid
Bowers Museum
World-art galleries with rotating exhibitions plus family festivals and hands-on art programs throughout the year.
~$18 adult
Katie Wheeler Library
A library rebuilt as a faithful replica of the 1876 Irvine family ranch house, with a children's room, a wraparound porch and an orange-grove setting. Worth the visit for the building alone.
Free
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 stroll
Boomers! Irvine
Mini golf, go-karts, batting cages, and an arcade in one spot — the reliable birthday-party-energy outing for mixed ages.
Attraction passes ~$30Farmers markets in Tustin
Old Town Tustin Certified Farmers' Market
40+ vendors with produce, honey, flowers, roasted corn, breads, and prepared foods in historic Old Town.
Downtown Tustin Saturday Farmers Market
Year-round Saturday market on El Camino Real with produce and family-friendly food.
Festivals & annual events in Tustin
What Tustin is known for — the events locals plan the year around.
Tustin Tiller Days
A carnival, parade, and live entertainment celebrating Tustin's agricultural heritage, the first weekend of October.
Free entry (rides extra)
Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off
A 42-year-old one-day fair in Old Town Tustin built around what the International Chili Society calls the largest single-day chili cook-off in the country, plus craft vendors, music and a kids fun zone.
Local restaurants in Tustin
Roma d'Italia
OC's oldest family-owned Italian restaurant — the Corea family's recipes in Old Town Tustin since 1961.
The Poke Co.
Build-your-own poke bowls let picky kids pick exactly what they want — fresh, fast, and customizable.
American Grub
Chef-run family spot serving burgers, gyros, and sandwiches with a twist.
The Original Taco Factory
Home of original tacos al carbon, plus chilaquiles and Mexican breakfast.
El Buen Sabor
Family-owned spot with everything made in-house, Guerrero-style flavors.
Toast Kitchen & Bakery
Specialty coffee shop with house pastries, biscuit sandwiches, and toasts.
Cream Pan
Japanese-French bakery famous for its strawberry croissants.
Eat Fantastic
Family-run spot crafting from-scratch burgers and breakfast with fresh local ingredients.
Bagel Me!
Local favorite with 23 bagel flavors and tons of cream cheese options, a weekend-morning family staple.
India Kitchen
Neighborhood Indian spot serving classic curries, tandoori, and naan, popular for casual family dinners.
Local shops in Tustin
Arvida Book Co.
Woman-owned indie with new, vintage, and upcycled books plus local handmade gifts.
Morning Lavender
Feminine clothing boutique paired with an Instagram-famous cafe and tea house.
Sundance Thrift Shop
Thoughtfully curated vintage clothing, accessories, and home decor, boutique-style.
Mrs. B's Consignments
Family-owned antique and consignment store since 1999, from furniture to vintage jewelry.
Seasonal & outdoors near Tustin
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Tustin.
More Orange County family guides
Tustin family FAQ
Where can families eat in Tustin?
Local, family-friendly spots in Tustin include Roma d'Italia, The Poke Co., American Grub and The Original Taco Factory, and more — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Tustin guide cover?
Our Tustin family guide includes 11 local eats, 4 local shops and 2 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.