Best Things to do in Southern California on Labor Day Weekend!!!

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It’s time to honor the American Labor Movement this weekend, and what better way to do so than by having a lot of fun. The weather is still great (although when is it not here?), we have our first official holiday at school, and you know what? If you want to wear white while enjoying your weekend, I won’t even hold it against you.

There are so many fun festivals and events specifically for Labor Day. Here are a few that sound great.

Friday August 30- Sunday Sept 1: Orange International Street Fair Old Towne Orange — 112 E. Chapman Ave., Orange  Food, music, crafts and activities, and the best part admission is FREE! I am a sucker for a good local festival and this one sounds great! For more info go here

FRIDAY, AUG. 30 – MONDAY, SEPT. 2 Newport Dunes Water Park
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Back Bay Bistro — 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach This place is awesome! Totally family friendly and totally fun! This resort offers paddle boarding, kayaks, electric duffy bikes for the whole family to rent. On top of that the inflatable water park is amazing and definitely a crowd pleaser! Enjoy music and food and even a luau Saturday night! Costs vary: for more info go here

FRIDAY, AUG. 30 – MONDAY, SEPT. 2 L.A. Fleet Week @ Various locations around the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro This is a great way to celebrate the country’s “sea services”. This event features ship tours, displays, flyovers and activities for kid’s with a STEM expo. On Labor Day participants can participate in a Conquer the Bridge fun run/walk over the Vincent Thomas Bridge. You can also participate in an obstacle course competition, 5 v 5 basketball tourney, and watch a sailor, marine, coast guard cook off. Cost is free! For more info go here.

FRIDAY, AUG. 30 – SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 L.A. County Fair Fairplex — 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona One of my favorite events of the year is back! I love a good fair, and the LA County Fair is one of the best! Find deep fried favorites, ride the craziest/funnest rides (the big slide is a personal favorite), check out the exhibits and animals or watch one of your favorite performers. There is something for everyone at the fair! There are discounted days for residents, donation days where you can get in for free, uber in to save on parking, and make sure your child fills out the book report for FREE RIDES! For more information go here.

Maybe you are thinking more along the lines of a day trip where the possibilities are endless, but you can’t think of anywhere to go.

Santa Barbara: Close enough for a day trip, but awesome enough to feel like a full on vacation. Get an early start and see all the fun Santa Barbara has to offer. And if you are worried about holiday traffic, consider taking the Pacific Surfliner in for the day. It is sure to add to the fun!

Catalina Island: Another place that will feel like you have gone on an exotic vacation, but is a mere 1 hr boat ride away. Catalina is one of my favorite staycation destinations, but can also make for an incredibly fun day trip! The island has so many fun options and experiences: ziplining, taking a glass bottom boat tour, snorkeling, cruising the island on your own golf cart, and the list goes on and on and on! Eat well, have fun, and then ride the Catalina Express back home.

Palm Springs Tram: Yes, I know what you are thinking… “Palm Springs is way too hot for a day trip on Labor Day.” But have you taken the aerial tram yet? It will surprise you how much cooler it becomes as you ascend up the mountain. And once you get to the top you will find fantastic views of the valley below, great hiking trails and a delicious restaurant. It is a grand adventure for the Labor Day weekend or any other time for that matter.

Or you can take advantage of the incredible attractions only found in Southern California!

Aquarium of the Pacific: If you haven’t been there yet, what are you waiting for? Located at the beautiful Long Beach Harbor the aquarium is a fun and affordable destination for Labor Day weekend! Home to sea creatures from all over the world, you will not be disappointed with your experience. You can add in a whale watching or a harbor cruise right outside through Harbor Breeze Cruises. And there are lots of fun food and shopping options across the street! This can be a perfect, fun, and easy day!

Knotts Berry Farm If you know a season pass-holder you might ask them to use their bring a friend discount over Labor Day Weekend to save a buck or two. Knotts Berry Farm has thrill rides, train rides, and an entire area for kids, plus a huge water park open for the weekend. A great option if you love amusement parks and are looking for an affordable, but fun one!

Irvine Regional Park: Such a great place to enjoy a day outside. You can picnic/bbq, ride the train, fish, rent a paddle boat or bike, and check out the small zoo. There are playgrounds, softball fields, horseshoes, etc. This is a place to spend an entire day with so many options with how to spend your time. Read more about the park here.

Labor Day is also a great weekend to spend at the beach. Here are some of my favorite beach destinations and activities.

San Clemente Beach Trail One of our all time favorite day activities is riding bikes at the beach. You can ride pretty much anywhere, but the San Clemente Beach Trail has a great pathway running alongside the shoreline providing amazing views. And if you aren’t a huge biker, you can walk/run it and still have the same incredible experience.

Balboa Island Take the ferry for a minimal cost between the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island. Spend time playing at the fun zone, ride the ferris wheel or jump on a duffy boat. You can look at the amazing houses or grab a famous balboa bar on the island (“There’s always money in the banana stand!” https://amzn.to/2LnVaKL). This is a great way to spend time at the beach and beat the crowds.

La Jolla Cove: We recently discovered La Jolla Cove and are sold! It is an absolutely stunning area and offers a unique beach experience. Check out the sea caves here, sunbathe next to sea lions all while taking in the majestic views. You can snorkel, kayak, swim, or bike the area. And there are lots of great restaurants too. Whether you are looking for something family friendly, intimate and romantic you can find what you are looking for in the area.

And hike!

Check out this list of good family friendly hikes if you are looking to get out and get active over the Labor Day Weekend.

The best part about this list is that it is not only good for Labor Day. Some things are time sensitive, yes, but for the rest, well, you can do them year round. That is the benefit of living in sunny, fun, Southern California.

I would love to hear what your plans are for the holiday! Leave me a comment below. And make sure you subscribe to get fun family ideas, and events sent directly to your email.