Family Winter Break Staycation Ideas in Orange County, California

Our economy is causing many families to consider taking a staycation during their children's winter break for the holiday season. The cost of flying and the cost of gas to travel can leave you with little money left over to enjoy a vacation away from home. A staycation is where you can have fun by staying at home during your vacation time and finding things to do in your area. If you live in Orange County, California, there are many wonderful ideas you can plan with your family for your winter break staycation.

Camping in your Living Room

Have the entire family spend the night in your living room with their sleeping bags. Rent movies, eat popcorn, make s'mores and play family games. Rent movies from Redbox for one dollar per night, buy some popcorn to pop, marshmallows to roast in your fireplace, chocolate and graham crackers to make a s'more sandwich with your hot marshmallow. There are many great family games, including Life, Monopoly, Yahtzee, or Apples to Apples game. This is a great way to bond with the family by camping right in your living room for a great staycation in Orange County, California, during winter break for the holiday.

Watch the Orange County Sunset in Newport Beach and Dine at The Old Spaghetti Factory

Take a drive down to the Newport Beach Pier in Orange County, California, and watch the sunset with your family. The pier is just off Balboa Boulevard at McFadden Place and Ocean Front Street. Parking is one dollar per hour for metered spaces next to the pier and the surrounding street. After the sunset, enjoy a great dinner with a short walk to the Old Spaghetti Factory. They are not open for lunch, but are open for dinner on Monday through Friday at 5:00 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4:00 p.m. They will take a reservation for parties of 6 or more in advance. If your party is under six, you can give them a call an hour before you would like to arrive and they will put you on their call list. The Old Spaghetti Factory is located at 2110 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, California in Orange County.

Orange County Boomers in Irvine, California

Boomers is a great place to take the family during winter break for your staycation. Boomers has three unlimited attraction packages to choose from. Packages are for four hours or six hours of unlimited attractions with pricing ranging from $32.99 to $61.99. The packages include unlimited attractions, which are Miniature Golf, Rock Wall, Laser Tag, Bumper Boats, Thunder Road Go Karts, Lil Thunder, King Arthur's Carnival Rides, Sidewinder, and Flamer Thrower. Your family will have a great time enjoying all the attractions Boomers has to offer. If you get hungry, you can enjoy the Boomers Sunset Grill that serves pizza, burgers, chicken tenders, salad, vegetable burger and more.

Knott's Berry Farm in Orange County, California

Knott's Berry Farm is located in the city of Buena Park in Orange County, California. Knott's Berry Farm has many rides and attractions for all ages, including Camp Snoopy for the kids and great roller coaster and thrill rides. Knott's Berry Farm has teamed up with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for a special Toys for Tots Drive from December 4 through December 19, 2010. You can receive free admission to Knott's Berry Farm by purchasing a $15 gift from one of the merchandise locations in Knott's Marketplace. The regular price for Knott's Berry Farm is $23.99 for children ages 3 to 11 and $54.99 for ages 12 and over. If you would like to spend New Year's Eve at Knott's Berry Farm with your family, there will be a Beatles tribute band and a special performance from Terri Nunn and Berlin. The hours are 7 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., which includes the rides, attractions and a special Midnight Mayhem Pyrotechnic Show in the Calico Square to bring in the 2011 New Year. The cost is $19.99 for ages 3 to 11 and $37.99 for ages 12 and over.

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure Two Day Hopper

Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure is located in the city of Anaheim in Orange County, California. This one may be a little more expensive, but if you are saving on gas and airline fees, you may have some extra money to spend for the holidays. You can purchase a two day hopper pass for Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure for your family. The cost for a two day hopper pass to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure is $146 for ages three to nine, $161 for ages 10 and older, and under the age of 3 are free. A two day hopper pass will let you experience both parks and you will be able to see the holiday fireworks show and magical snow that occurs after wards at Disneyland one evening and experience the new World of Color on another night. Arrive early at the California Adventure gate before they open. Since the World of Color is new, they have been known for running out of fast passes by 11 a.m. I have seen the show three time and have arrived a half hour before the park opened and there was already a line.