What’s more fun than a day of play at the fair? The grandest of them all in our neck of the woods is the Los Angeles County Fair. And this year we had a blast! Our keys to success were going on a relatively cool day and getting there first thing in the morning. That way, we avoided the usual Pomona heat and the crowds.
The fairgrounds are huge and there is much more to see, do and eat than can be done in a day. To avoid meltdowns, we decided to focus our time on my son’s favorites. (Luckily, I squeezed in a few of my own, too!) Here’s what we enjoyed:
NATURE-INSPIRED FUN
Jurassic Planet: Not only did we see (and hear) some 19 dinosaurs, but my son also “dug” for fossils and created a crayon rubbing of a miniature T. rex. There were also dinosaur-themed puzzles and toys, plus a chance to touch a baby alligator.
Under the Sea: It was tough to tell which of my two kids loved the Kid’s Seacoast Village more — the 4 1⁄2 year old or the 16-month old! Each of the play areas here are inspired by seaside and fisherman’s villages. My oldest son discovered Lincoln Logs and also went “fishing” for magnetic fish. The youngest loved the mega blocks and train tables.
THINGS THAT GO
Garden Railroad: This elaborate model train setup comes complete with numerous vignettes of California life. My son said it reminded him of Miniland USA at Legoland and he’s right!
But here you can touch buttons to activate certain trains. Each button is labeled with a letter that corresponds to a letter on the train it moves. Very cool entertainment (and educational!) value.
Fairplex Historic Trains: This is a cleaner, fancier version of Griffith Park’s Travel Town — full size locomotives you can actually explore. On board many of them are staff eager to answer your questions and explain the history behind the machine. Best part? No lines to be had!
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum: My son is obsessed with cars and he loved this place! More than 80 shiny racing cars are here, including many futuristic-looking vehicles that go very fast. Coolest of all was the fact that he could sit inside a real Funny Car and go for a “drive.” He was in heaven! Cost is a $1 for adults, but kids under 5 are free.
CARNIVAL RIDES
Mini Bumper Cars: What pint-sized car enthusiast can resist mini bumper cars? They’re just the right size for little ones to ride sans parents. My son was so intense behind the wheel it was hard to know he was having fun! We let him ride twice before grabbing an ice cream and heading home.
This year’s Fair runs through Oct. 4, 2009. For a complete list of family events, see the Fair’s Web site at www.lacountyfair.com — also a great place to look for discounts.
