Santa Ana, Southern California

The Bowers Museum , one of the top Santa Ana attractions, is named after Charles Bowers, who donated the land on which the museum stands. Opened in 1936, the original structure is a beautiful Mission Revival-style building. After undergoing two expansions, the museum of today is ten times larger than the original building.

The main focus of this establishment is to help visitors learn about and appreciate other cultures. To accomplish this goal, the Bowers Museum draws visitors in with its collection of over 10,000 objects from Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific.

They also have beautiful collections of Native American and Pre-Columbian art. The special exhibitions are unforgettable and have included “Treasures from the British Museum,” “Terra Cotta Warriors,” and “Mummies: Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt.” The Bowers also features a children’s museum called Kidseum.

2002 North Main Street, 714-567-3600

The Discovery Cube is a family-oriented interactive science museum with over 100 hands-on exhibits. Formerly known as the Discovery Science Center, it is now called the Discovery Cube because of its ten-story solar cube, which has become a highly recognized landmark. The museum exhibits help children get excited about learning by igniting their curiosity. The Discovery Cube has several sections organized by theme, including Air and Space, Dynamic Earth, Eco Challenge, Quake Zone, Rocket Lab, and the Science of Hockey. Dino Quest is always a popular destination because of its impressive life-size dinosaurs. If you find yourself still wanting more, you can check out the traveling exhibits, which are housed in the Showcase Gallery. If you are looking for fun things to do in Santa Ana with kids, this is a great place to visit.

2500 North Main Street, 714-542-2823

Located on the west side of John Wayne Airport, Lyon Air Museum was established by Major General William Lyon. The museum houses many authentic World War II military aircraft, vehicles, and motorcycles that will surely capture your imagination. The museum also has several rare vintage automobiles and related war memorabilia. Some of the museum’s aircrafts include a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain. There are German, Japanese, and American motorcycles and numerous automobiles. The exhibits will fascinate visitors, and they will be happy to know that they’ll be able to get a close up view of almost everything.

19300 Ike Jones Road, 714-210-4585

Recommended Activities for Families

Located on 20 acres at Prentice Park, The Santa Ana Zoo highlights the plants and animals of Central and South America. Joseph Prentice originally donated the land to the city of Santa Ana, and the zoo opened in 1952. The zoo includes fascinating attractions and rides like the Amazon’s Edge, the Colors of the Amazon Aviary, the Crean Family Farm, the Jack Lynch Aviary, the Tierra de las Pampas, and the Zoofari Express Train Ride. There are many interesting animals for visitors to see, including giant anteaters, greater rheas, green iguanas, howler monkeys, and white-faced saki monkeys. The aviaries house exotic birds in a tropical habitat.

1801 East Chestnut Avenue, 714-836-4000

Established in 1980, the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA) (OCCCA) is housed in a 6,300 square foot facility located in the historic Downtown Santa Ana Artist Village. Its intriguing and diverting galleries, studios, restaurants, and shops attract many visitors interested in the arts. OCCCA exhibits works by local Orange County artists and has showcased works of art by more than 800 guest artists during its 35-year history. OCCCA offers workshops for all age groups including children. Some of the workshops teach participants skills in areas such as painting, printmaking, and sculpture. OCCCA also hosts musical events like the Annual Santa Ana Noise Fest.

117 North Sycamore Street, 714-667-1517

Heritage Museum of Orange County is a historic attraction located on 12 acres of picturesque citrus groves and flower gardens. In the center is a plaza that showcases several buildings from the 1890s, including the famous Kellogg House. The Kellogg House was designed and built in 1898 by Hiram Clay Kellogg, who used a Queen Anne style in the architectural designs. Kellogg was fascinated by ships, and the interior of the house contains several interesting features that reflect his nautical interest. The goal of the museum is to preserve the history of Orange County, and it offers several hands-on programs for children and families.

3101 West Harvard Street, 714-540-0404

Spa and Golf

Situated across from the Bowers Museum, Montanya Spa is a top-notch facility that offers a variety of treatments, including massages, couples massages, facials, body wraps, and spa packages. The spa is located in a renovated house and is known for its tranquil atmosphere and outstanding services. Before giving their services, estheticians perform a skin analysis, which is then followed by cleansing, exfoliation, and a relaxing facial massage. The spa also offers a wide array of body massages such as cranial, deep tissue, sports, and stress relief. Body treatments include noni body treatment, raindrop therapy, sanctuary body treatment, and sea salt body glow.

120 West 20th Street, 714-918-8888

The oldest public 18-hole golf course in Orange County, Willowick Golf Course is located just a few miles west of Disneyland. In addition to the expertly designed 18-hole course with its wide fairways, there are three practice putting greens, a grass driving range, two sets of tees, and golf carts. The pro shop sells items such as golf balls and other golf equipment, tee shirts, sunglasses, and clothing. Opened recently, the 5,000 square foot full service bar and restaurant with outdoor seating offers American-bistro cuisine as well as imported beer.

3017 West 5th Street, 714-554-0672