Amusement Park / Zoo Annual Passes & Membership

With summer coming up I decided to compare the cost of annual membership to various attractions in the Southern California area. Many of the larger parks have multiple pass options. I chose to compare the pass types that I would be interested in purchasing for my family.

All prices include admission for two adults and three children.

Aquarium of the Pacific- Family Membership valid for 12 months, for two adults, and all children of the household. Enroll online and get two free guest tickets. Parking is $8 per visit. Tax deductible. Total cost $115, parking not included.

Los Angeles Zoo- Family Deluxe Membership valid for 12 months, for three adults, and all children of the household. Includes an six extra admission tickets to share, three safari passes, a stroller pass, two train passes, and three adult names can be listed on the card. Tax deductible. Total cost $149, free parking.

Sea World- Fun Card is valid through 12-31-13, 7 blackout dates, adults $78, children $70. Parking is $12 per visit. Option to upgrade one pass to 1 year membership for $145 to include free parking. Total cost with parking $433, without parking $366.

San Diego Zoo and Safari Park- Membership is only available for zip codes 91900-92899 only.  Parking is free at the Zoo, $10 at the Safari Park. Residents in the Montebello area would have to donate to be a member of the Curator's Club, $275, which allows a member and a guest admission, gives 4 free guest passes, and free parking. A family of five in Montebello would have to have two memberships in the Curator's Club and use the 8 free guest passes for the fifth family member. Total cost $550.

Knott's Berry Farm- 2013 Regular Season Pass valid through 12-31-13, no blackout dates is $72 per person. 2013 Gold Season Pass which includes admission to Soak City is $96 for adults, and $90 for children. Parking is $15 per visit. Option to upgrade one child ticket to Platinum Level, $105, to include free parking. Total cost for Regular Passes $360 ($393 with parking), Gold Passes $462 ($477 with parking).

Six Flags Magic Mountain- Season Pass valid through 12-31-13. No blackout dates. $65 per person. Combo Season Pass includes admission to Hurricane Harbor $100 per person. Purchase four or more passes online and get free parking on one pass. Each pass includes five opportunities to bring a friend to the park for free. Total cost Regular Passes $325, Combo Passes $500.

Universal Studios Hollywood- Buy-A-Day, Get 2013 Free, 24 blackout days, $80. Upgrade one pass to Premium Star to include free parking, $149. Parking is $15 before 3pm or $10 after. Total cost $400, with parking, $469.

LEGOLAND- Standard Membership valid for 12 months, adults $129, children $99. Merlin Annual Passes to include admission to LEGOLAND Water Park, free parking, and 1 free ticket to share per pass, $179 adult, $149 children. Buy 3 Merlin Passes online and get a Merlin Child Pass for free.  Total Cost Standard w/ one Merlin for parking $605, Merlin Passes $656.


Disneyland Resort: Disneyland & California Adventure- Southern California Annual Passport valid for 12 months, 150 blackout dates. $329 per person, $458 to include parking. Total $1645, with parking $1774.

Museums of the Arroyo Day: Sunday, 5/19

The Gamble House

Heritage Square Museum

The Los Angeles Police Historical Museum

Lummis Home and Garden

Pasadena Museum of History

 

These five museums will offer free admission on Sunday, May 19 from Noon-5pm.

Visit one or visit all!

 

Special demonstrations, crafts and entertainment are scheduled at each of the five museums.

The museums are located in the Arroyo Seco area of L.A. and Pasadena.

For more information click here.

Star Party: Griffith Park Observatory

Cast your gaze skyward at one of Griffith Park's Star Parties held monthly at the Observatory.

Volunteers from various organizations set up viewing stations across the observatory lawn and allow the public to view planets, the moon, the sun, and other celestial objects.

Star Parties are held from 2:00pm - 9:45pm on the following dates in 2013:  May 18, June 15, July 13, August 17, September 14, October 12, November 9, and December 7.

Parking at Griffith Park Observatory is free, but limited. You will likely need to park on the street leading up to the observatory.

The Griffith Park Observatory is free and open to the public during the Star Party events until 10pm.

Click here for more information.

Spring Festival: St. Benedict Church, Montebello, 5/17-5/19

Celebrate spring with St. Benedict church at it's 43st Spring Festival.  The festival will feature food, games, rides, raffle, and entertainment. Half price pre-sale tickets for rides and are available at the rectory office through Friday, 5/17 at 3pm. Call the church for more information.

 

Friday, 5/17, 5pm-11pm

Saturday, 5/18, Noon-11pm

Sunday, 5/19, Noon-10pm

 
St. Benedict Church

1022 W. Cleveland Avenue, Montebello

323-721-1184

Bike Train, Family Bike Ride: Legg Lake, Last Sunday of every month

Join San Gabriel Valley's Bike Train!

Bring the family out to Legg Lake for some sunshine, exercise, and fun! Join a group of riders who tour bicycle paths in the San Gabriel Valley.

The group meets the last Sunday of every month at Legg Lake in Whittier Narrow Park at 9am. For more information visit the group's website or their Facebook page.

 

Farmer's Market: Uptown Whittier, Tuesdays 3-7pm

Uptown Whittier is hosting an evening Famer's Market every Tuesday from 3-7pm. The market will run throughout the summer and early fall and will feature over 40 vendors. Click here for more information.

Kidgits Lil' Chefs Event: Shops at Montebello, Saturday, May 18

Children can learn about the fun side of food at the Shops at Montebello Kidgits Lil' Chefs event.

 

Super Duper Lil' Chefs

Saturday, May 18

Noon - 1:30pm

Center Court, Shops at Montebello Mall

All participants must be Kidgits members. Annual membership is $5 and includes benefits such as a T-shirt, spin-the-wheel prizes with every mall visit, a birthday gift, and admission to Kidgits events. Registration is available during regular mall hours at Guest Services or during Kidgits events.

For more information about the Lil' Chef event click here.

IKEA Covina, Marketplace Grand Re-Opening! Sunday, May 19

IKEA Covina has made over the downstairs Marketplace and is celebrating with a fun weekend!

All day Saturday, May 18 & Sunday, May 19 guests will have a chance to receive an IKEA gift card every hour.

All guests will receive a free blue bag with purchase from 2-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, May 19, enjoy the sounds and activities of Radio Disney's Road Crew from 1-3pm. I've been to previous Radio Disney events and kids are asked to participate by dancing and getting excited. Some kids are rewarded with gift cards and other prizes.

Click here for more information.

I love visiting IKEA with my family, read about the fun my kids and I have at every visit here. This weekend's event will make for an even better visit.

Play Days, Parade and Carnival: Monterey Park, Thursday, 5/16 - Sunday, 5/19

Join Monterey Park's Birthday Celebration

at

PLAY DAYS

 

Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave., Monterey Park

 

This four day event features a parade, carnival, live entertainment, and family fun!

  

 

Carnival Hours

 

Thursday, 5/16, 5pm-10pm *All rides $1

Friday, 5/17, 5pm-Midnight

Saturday, 5/18, Noon-Midnight

Sunday, 5/19 1pm-10pm *Unlimited Ride Wristband for $15

 

Parade

Saturday, 5/18, 11am

The parade travels for one half mile along Garvey Avenue between McPherrin & Alhambra Avenues.

 

 

Click here for more information.

Job Fair: El Monte, Saturday, 6/21

Montebello Beautification Day: Volunteers Needed, Saturday, 5/18

Help maintain Montebello City Park, on Beautification Day

 

Saturday, May 18

8am - Noon

Montebello City Park
1300 W. Whittier Blvd, Montebello

Volunteers, ages 13 and older, are encouraged to sign a waiver form at Montebello Parks & Recreation Department at 1700 W. Victoria Avenue, prior to the event, although the waiver will be available on site. For more information call Parks & Recreation, 323-480-8000, x540. The office is open Monday - Thursday, 7:30am - 5:30pm.

 

Pep Boys Grand Opening & Car Show: Saturday, 5/18

Mr. Montebello Mom insisted that I post this for the father's that might want to take their kids out for a day. 

 

Pep Boys "Speed Shop" Grand Opening & Car Show

Saturday, May 18

10am - 4pm

4645 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, 90804

Public Safety Job & Resource Fair: ELAC, 5/14

Youth Sports Physicals at the Montebello YMCA, Saturday, 5/11

Get your child's sports physicals taken care of at the YMCA Saturday, May 11 for only a $20 fee. No appointment necessary. Bring all forms to the examination with you. Available from 12:30-4:30pm.

Free Youth Fishing Derby: MacArthur Park, Saturday, 6/8

Mom's Night Nite Out: Shops at Montebello, Thursday 5/9

National Mom's Night Out

The Shops at Montebello

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

5 - 8pm

 

A fun event honoring mother's! Last year there were stations to get your hair styled, mini-makeovers, henna artists, a nail station, free food samples, and gift card giveaways.

A Catalina Island getaway will be given away at 7:45!

 

For more information click here.

 

Olive Garden in Montebello / Rosemead is now open!

Olive Garden is now open!

Located at the northeast corner of the Shops at Montebello
parking lot, near Macy's & Forever 21.

1866 Montebello Town Center Drive, Rosemead, CA 91770
323-721-1320

Sunday - Thursday, 11am - 10pm
Friday-Saturday, 11am - 11am


 Mr. Montebello Mom attended the ribbon cutting, May 6, 11am. Fun fact: The restaurant is listed as being in Montebello, but it actually has a Rosemead address. This is because the Shops at Montebello property straddles both cities.

I visited the Montebello Olive Garden for lunch on Wednesday, May 8, two days after it's Grand Opening. I have been looking forward to this day for months and had high expectations.

 

We arrived around 12:45, was told by the hostess the wait was 40 minutes, and was given a beeper. I took my daughter over to the play area at the mall while my husband caught up on work in the car while we waited to be paged. Around 25 minutes later we had a table.

 

The restaurant is smaller than the Olive Garden in Whittier and has a every bright interior. My husband and I speculated that the Montebello location was brighter because smaller restaurants tend to have more lighting to encourage patrons to finish their meal and move on to accommodate more guests.

 

The booth backs are high enough to allow some privacy from other diners but low enough to make eye contact. The dining room is divided into three different rooms by faux rock walls with windows placed throughout. The aisles seemed narrow, maybe because they are or maybe because they were crowded with servers, management, and guests. I'm sure extra staff was on hand to ensure things were running smoothly in the first days.

 

Because there were so many staff members at the restaurant there was always someone rushing by our table with a tray and I felt that I couldn't relax. The food was fine, exactly what I expected, but to me Olive Garden isn't only about the food. It's about a feeling of being treated to something special. I look forward to the Italian music piped in through the speakers on the ceiling, the servers who anticipate your needs before you do, and the relaxing atmosphere. I didn't get any of those impressions this time.

Mr. Montebello Mom isn't as critical in his observations as I am and thought everything was fine.

 

On our way out we passed the Olive Garden management team. They asked how everything was and my husband said everything was great. One management team member must have read my mind because he said, "Next time it will be better!" I truly hope so.

____________________________________________________________________________
 

Join Olive Garden's email newsletter club now and receive notice of promotions, discounts, and Kids Eat Free coupons when they are available.

____________________________________________________________________________

 

August, 2012. The moment I saw this sign I heard the Hallelujah Chorus in my head.

 

ELAC Choir Concert: Saturday, May 11

Treat the family to a free night of classical music at East L.A. College. The concert starts at 7:30 and runs for one hour. The event is free, but donations are accepted. Parking is $2.

This would be a great way to introduce high school students to the music program at E.L.A.C. The building is brand new and the music program has made huge advances in the past few years. The professor  who leads the vocal courses said that if any high school students attend and were interested in the music program he would give them a tour of the backstage area and answer any questions the student or their parents may have. That and you get to hear some great music too!

National Train Day: Union Station, Downtown L.A., Saturday, 5/11

Celebrate National Train Day with a tour of trains at Union Station!

 

Saturday, May 11

11am - 4pm

 

Union Station

800 N. Alameda Street

 Los Angeles, 90012

 

The event is free. There is a charge for parking in lots adjacent to Union Station, or you can pick up the Gold Line at Atlantic Blvd. just north of Beverly Blvd, or the Metrolink at Flotilla Street in Commerce, and make the day complete with a ride on the train, Gold Line and Metrolink ticket prices vary.

Here is information from the event website,

"The National Train Day event at Los Angeles Union Station will feature free kids’ activities sponsored by Chuggington, interactive and educational exhibits, model train displays and giveaways. Visitors will have the chance to tour private luxury railcars, freight and commuter trains, as well as current Amtrak equipment."

Click here for more information.

 

 

 

 

$1 Summer Kid Movies: Kirkorian Theatre, Pico Rivera

Every Tuesday from June 18 - August 20 families can enjoy kid-friendly movies at the Krikorian Theatre in Pico Rivera for $1 per person.

Movies are shown at 10am and 12:30pm. The theatre is only a few years old, has stadium seating, and features life-size models of movie scenes. It's my kid's favorite theatre.

The summer movie program is also running in six other Krikorian theatres including Downey and Monrovia.

 

Krikorian Pico Rivera Village Walk

8450 Whittier Blvd, Pico Rivera, 90660

Click here for more information.

Summer Day Camp: City of Whittier

Summer Day Camp for Kids at various locations in Whittier.

 

Two programs are offered, the first is a traditional day camp that runs from 7am -6pm for a weekly fee. The other is a drop-in program open from Noon-5pm and costs $30 for the summer. 

 

For more information call 562-567-9450.

Summer Day Camp: Barnes Park, Monterey Park

Summer Day Camp for Kids ages 3-13 at

Barnes Park in Monterey Park.

 

For more information call 626-307-1451.

 

 

 

 

 

Founder's Day: Whittier Central Park, Saturday, 5/11

Celebrate Whittier's Heritage

at the

126th Annual Founder's Day

 

Central Park

6532 Friends Avenue, Whittier

Saturday, May 11

10am-1pm

Kid's Fun Run: Whittier, Saturday, 5/18

Kid's Fun Run in Whittier at City Hall

Saturday, May 18

Register at 9am / Run starts at 10am 

 

For children 1-12 years old. No fee to participate. 

All participants receive a free T-shirt, race number and a medal.

 

For more information call 562-567-9430.

 

Cinemark Summer Movie Kid Movie Clubhouse: Long Beach

Cinemark Movie Theatre in Long Beach at the Pike is offering a summer movie program for kids!

Families can pre-purchase all 10 movies for $5, or pay $1 per movie. All movies are on Tuesdays and start at 10am. Cinemark also has theatres in Orange, Huntington Beach, and North Hollywood.

Click here to visit the Summer Movie Clubhouse webpage.

Free Comic Book Day! Saturday, 5/4

Saturday, May 4 is Free Comic Book Day! 

 

Kids can visit a participating comic book store and receive a free comic book just for stopping by!

 

Comic book stores around the nation are participating including stores in East L.A., Whittier, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Norwalk, and Bellflower.

 

I spoke with Sam at Comic City, whose store is located at Gerhart at Beverly Blvd in East L.A. and I was told that kids can come in and get a free comic book while supplies last, they have about one hundred. Comic City is open Saturday, May 4, from 11am - 7pm.

To find a participating comic book store in your area, visit www.freecomicbookday.com!

Pio Pico Park: Family Fun

A combination of donations from citizens and the city of Whittier saved Pio Pico State Park from closure last year. Before the scheduled closure I visited the park and was delighted to find that this often looked over park is a great family friendly gem.

Luscious green lawns spread out over several acres beg for a game of tag. Well kept gardens stimulate the aspiring gardener to consider native plants. A grape arbor provides an inviting place for friends to talk under the cool shade of vines. A children's garden anxiously awaits to come alive with the sound of laughter and the patter of little feet.  The memories of days gone by can be heard in the echoes of footfalls on the wooden floor of the adobe.

The park and adobe are open every Saturday and Sunday and for special events throughout the year. Free admission and parking. For information about the adobe visit www.piopico.org.


Pio Pico Park: Saturday & Sunday, 9:30am -4:00pm

 

Pio Pico Adobe: Saturday & Sunday, 10:00am - 3:30pm

 

Pio Pico State Historic Park

6003 Pioneer Blvd, Whittier, CA 90606

 

Pio Pico Park. The adobe home is on the left. The grape arbor is straight down the path.

The Children's Garden has a meandering path of stepping stones and an "archaeological pit" where children can search for hidden treasure! For an extra bit of fun, have your kids bring a sand shovel and very small 'treasures' to bury for other children to discover.


 

Fiesta of Books: El Monte, Saturday, May 4, 10am-1:30pm

Saturday, May 7, 10:00am - 1:30pm

El Monte Community Center

3130 N. Tyler Avenue, El Monte

 (626)580-2200

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations: Olvera Street & Santa Ana

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles. Saturday, 5/4, and Sunday, 5/5,from 11am - 9pm there will be live entertainment in the Plaza and of course there is shopping and great food.

The annual Cinco de Mayo Festival in Santa Ana will be held on Saturday, 5/4, and Sunday, 5/5, from Noon - 10pm. Free admission and live entertainment. Food and ride tickets are available for purchase.

Job Fair: L.A. Valley College

L.A. Valley College is a 30-40 minute drive from Montebello. If you are looking for employment it might be worth a try to head over for the Job Fair. Good luck!

 

Job Fair

Thursday, May 2

10:00AM - 1:00PM

 

L.A. Valley College

Monarch Hall: 5800 Fulton Avenue, Valley Glen, 91401

 

For job search assistance visit www.worksourcecalifornia.com

 

ELO Summer Program at Montebello Schools

Summer Program at Montebello Schools

 

The ELO program is an after school childcare program that runs at Montebello USD schools.

A summer ELO program is offered at the locations in the flyer below.

For more information call Petra Quinonez at 323-887-7900, x2796.

 

Strawberry Festival & Car Show: Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store, Saturday 5/11

 Pick your own strawberries starts at 11am. 

Insect show, $3 for kids, $4 for adults.

Parking is $3.

 

Click here for more information.

 

 

 

Lego Star Wars Build Event: Toys R Us, Saturday, 5/4

"May the Fourth be with You!"

Visit any Toys R Us store on Saturday, May 4 from 12-2pm for a Lego Star Wars event. Usually the Toys R Us Lego events include a mini-model that kids build in the store and take home for free. This event says that kids can build a Lego Jek-14's Stealth Starfighter. Arrive early, supplies are limited. Events only occur at regular Toys R Us locations, they do not occur at Express or Outlet stores.

 

For more information click here.

*Some Toys R Us locations are better prepared for in-store events. There may be some delay in set up at certain stores, or lack of knowledge of the products in others.

Lately, the Montebello Toys R Us location has been known for setting up late and leaving supplies unattended with no directions at a table. The last time I was there for an event I had to tell the managers about the event, then after a 10 minute search in the store rooms an associate brought out the box, started to set up the event then left the rest for the parents to set up and left. If you want the whole experience of the Lego Build event I suggest trying any Toys R Us store besides Montebello.

Regal/Edwards $1 Summer Movies: 2013

Regal/Edwards Theatres

is hosting

Summer Movie Express

 

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

10am

All movies are $1.

The Alhambra Renaissance 14, 1 East Main Street, Alhambra CA, 626-300-8312 has the following schedule:

6/4-5: Three Stooges & Ice Age
6/11-12: Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Parental Guidance
6/18-19: Mr. Popper's Penguins & Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
6/25-26: Monte Carlo & Rio
7/2-3: Coraline & Paranorman
7/9-10: The Lorax & Big Miracle
 7/16-17: Yogi Bear & Journey2
7/23-24: Racing Stripes & Happy Feet 2
7.30-31: African Cats & Chimpanzee

There are four other participating Regal/Edwards theatres in our area. All have their own start dates and the program runs for 9 weeks.

Edwards Cerritos Stadium, starts June 25 - August 21

Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, starts June 18 - August 14

Edwards West Covina Stadium 18, starts June 11 - August 7

Regal La Habra Stadium 16, starts June 11- August 7

There are 49 participating theatres in California & more nationwide.
 

Click here to find a participating theatre near you!

Summer Day Camp: YMCA Montebello

The Montebello-Commerce YMCA is offering Summer Day Camp for children from Kindergarten (age 5) through 5th grades. Registration is $25 and each week of enrollment costs $135, except Week #1 which is $108. For more information read the flyers below or contact the Montebello-Commerce YMCA at 323-887-9622.

Dia de los Ninos: Montebello Library, Tuesday, 4/30

Children's Summer Theatre: Cantwell-Sacred Heart High School: Montebello

Your child can be part of a stage performance this summer in Montebello!

 

The Children's Summer Theatre Program will continue for it's 7th summer season at Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School at 329 N. Garfield Avenue in Montebello.

 

Tuition is $460 for the six-week program. Kids in first through eight grade are welcome to join either the stage track where they learn to perform onstage or the technical track where they learn how to run the backstage aspects of a performance. The program runs from June 24 through August 4, Monday -Friday from 8-12:30pm, with performances on the last weekend.

 

For more information email CSTP2013@gmail.com or call 323-887-2066 x565.

 

Parent Information Meeting: Friday May 3, 2013, 7PM, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School Cafeteria - Enter through the Repetto Avenue parking lot

Auditions: Sunday May 19th, 2013 9AM, Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School

Cafeteria - Enter through Repetto Avenue parking lot

Registration Deadline (must submit forms and final tuition payment.): June 21, 2013 Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School Front office - Enter through Garfield Avenue

 

 

 

Antique Street Fair: Uptown Whittier, Sat 4/27

For more information visit

www.WhittierUptown.org