Navigate your way into nostalgia and fun
An Arnold Palmer action figure and the gopher from “Caddyshack” are only the beginning of the golf-themed nostalgia hidden around Holey Moley miniature golf course at Spectrum Center. Your rotary phone rings, and it’s the ’80s calling. Whisk back to a world of Snoopy Sno-cone Machines, Mr. Potato Heads and troll dolls. Every hole delivers another pun, from the arm pit (navigate your ball around disembodied arms) to Vincent van Golf’s impressionistic par three. Next door, you’ll find the interactive adventure space Hijinx Hotel, where there’s a hidden nod to “The Shining” in one corridor and directions “down” to the Rooftop Bar. Don’t miss the Jeff Koons-inspired balloon dog and his unexpected surprise. Everywhere you turn, there’s something new to discover.
Linger in a labyrinth
With single paths leading to a focal point and back out, and none of the trickery of mazes, labyrinths offer an opportunity to find serenity and ponder the mysteries of life. The oldest labyrinthine symbols appear in rock carvings in southern Europe and North Africa, dating back thousands of years. Irvine carries on the tradition at Turtle Rock Nature Center, where the peacefulness of the sojourn to the center of the city’s only labyrinth is amplified by the sound of the wind in the trees, the scent of sagebrush and the presence of warblers, kingfishers and heron attracted by the creek and ponds.
Stroll around a sensory garden
Nestled on the north side of Great Park, the Farm + Food Lab is an outdoor classroom and a quiet sanctuary. Strolling its 2 acres provides a sensory feast. Themed gardens burst with bright colors and delicious smells, and there’s a butterfly garden full of patterned creatures. The legacy garden offers an oasis of quiet contemplation, featuring a Rosie the Riveter rose exhibit and an urban orchard. Other offerings include an outdoor solar-powered teaching kitchen, aquaponics demonstration area, free-range chickens, seed exchange library, food forest, vermicomposting systems, monarch waystation, pollinator garden and more.
Underground surprise
Tucked beneath the Katie Wheeler Library’s main reading room sits the Friends of the Library Bookstore. This basement getaway boasts an impressive collection of books from every genre, as well as puzzles, audio books, CDs, DVDs and magazines. Katie’s Korner provides a sweet haven for kids with a revolving assortment of picture and board books. Sometimes, popular items checked out upstairs can be found here at a bargain. Prices range between 25 cents and $4.
Embark on a high-tech endeavor
If you can dream it, you can build it at UC Irvine’s makerspace. From jewelry to automotive parts to replacement components for household items, 3D printing makes your prototype a reality. FABWorks, on the third floor of UCI’s Engineering Tower, might be the coolest – and most well-equipped – makerspace in the county. Open to the public for a nominal fee, FABWorks boasts six types of 3D printers, laser cutters/engravers, laser scanners, electronic equipment, a shop full of woodworking tools, a sewing machine and more. Student workers are on hand to help. Visit manufacturing.uci.edu/fabworks for more information.
Kick-start your kids’ soccer passion
Gnarlyville is OC Soccer Club’s family-friendly section, designed for parents and kids who want a fun and welcoming space. Benches in this area ensure a kid-first atmosphere with giveaways, surprises and matchday experiences for young fans. The front three rows are exclusively for kids, creating a special space for them to cheer on the home team with parents not too far away.
Peruse a public arts promenade and coffee shop
Set to open this month, Irvine Valley College’s new Arts Promenade is a welcoming, pedestrian‑friendly space designed to connect the community to campus life. Located behind the Live Oak Terraces and Performing Arts Center, and adjacent to the already‑thriving Arts Village, the newly constructed promenade reimagines this part of campus as a vibrant destination. A coffee shop anchors the space, inviting visitors to enjoy the tranquil setting while sipping their favorite beverages. With its blend of contemporary architecture, landscaping and artistic energy, the Arts Promenade offers a relaxed place to stroll or meet friends while experiencing one of IVC’s newest public‑facing spaces.
Meet a magician at Improv
Irvine Improv offers a one-night-only special event on May 17. Award-winning magician Jason Ladanye has performed card tricks around the world for two decades. This month, he’s exposing the underground world of card cheating and beating the Vegas odds. This experience offers a VIP add-on to meet Ladanye, get an autographed deck and photo op as well as attend an additional 20-minute close-up show.
Garden starters
Looking to start an edible garden? Irvine Library’s Katie Wheeler branch is here to help. Heirloom herb and vegetable seeds are available to check out, but not return. Prepackaged seeds include peppers, tomatoes, squash and other seasonal vegetables, as well as an array of herbs. Instructions are included and intended for families of four.
Saunter through a sculpture oasis
Tucked beneath the Humanities Bridge in Aldridge Park on the campus at UC Irvine sits the tranquil Jao Family Garden, a serene space celebrating Chinese history and culture. The four life-sized sculptures include Li Bai (poet of the Tang Dynasty), Magu (Daoist goddess of longevity), Qu Yuan (patriotic poet who lived through the Warring States period) and Lao Zi (founder of Taoism). Real estate developer Frank Jao donated the sculptures to the school in 2005. For an added treat, visit Nancy Doran’s sculpture garden outside the Science Library. Her 12 Italian marble pieces represent the human spirit emerging from the forces intended to tame it.
Get creative with your hands
East meets West at Olomana Studios in Old Town Irvine, where owners Christina and Eric launched a tranquil pottery space. Influenced by ceramicists from China and Japan, the studio marries art and nature to ground students in the ancient ceramics practice. Olomana offers classes for all ages and skill sets, as well as summer camps for kids. No experience or equipment is necessary as you’re guided through every step of the process. Opportunities are also available for skilled craftspeople. Olomana provides teapot, matcha bowl and jewelry charm workshops,
as well as flower arrangement courses.
Escape your expectations
Forget everything you know about escape rooms. The Escape Game Irvine at Spectrum Center boasts six rooms designed for every age, skill level and party size. With movie-quality sets and games that span multiple rooms, you’ll encounter challenging puzzles that pull you into stories where you and your teammates play the leading role. With prison breaks, undersea adventures, art heists and more, there’s a theme to match your taste. The Playground is designed for larger teams of 12. And don’t miss the latest adventure – Legend of the Yeti. The clock ticks. You have 60 minutes.
Discover a unique dining view
Tucked upstairs inside Great Park Ice sits Between the Rinks – a restaurant and full-service bar with an uncommon view. Enjoy unobstructed bird’s-eye seats while skaters practice their axels, loops and spins below. You’ll be fireside, enjoying a craft cocktail or glass of wine, but never far from the action. Big-screen TVs provide additional entertainment, and a shuffleboard table awaits. Spacious seating and lots of windows, both to the outside and onto the ice, make diners feel on top of the world. Menu favorites include the BTR House Burger, flatbread pizza, street tacos and country poutine.
Library of things
Irvine’s Library of Things offers items beyond the page. Want to try an electric guitar? How about a telescope? From bike repair kits to teen driving kits, and even a ghost-hunting kit, the city’s libraries are expanding the lending collection. Plans are underway to add a sewing machine and other household products.
Take a shopping break in a quiet family space
Irvine Spectrum Center provides endless entertainment for its youngest clientele, right down to its family-focused restrooms. Two spacious lounges afford quiet, comfortable and private spots for moms to nurse while toddlers roam safe and entertained. Each lounge features a flat-screen TV playing age-appropriate films. Small-scale furniture, sinks and toilets allow little guests to feel at home. A special playspace with adjoining curtained rooms and comfortable chairs gives moms the privacy and peace of mind they need. They are located near the Target side of the center, next to the play structure and fountain, and next door to Dave & Buster’s.
Amuse your kids with animals and storytime
A hungry horse, curious cow and potbellied pig are among the many barnyard friends you’ll meet during storytime at Tanaka Farms, geared toward future farmers ages 1 through 5. Sitting atop hay bales, tots hear farm-themed stories before getting introduced to miniature donkeys, babydoll sheep, Nigerian goats, turkeys, chickens and other rescue animals. This educational experience allows littles (and adults) to commune with the animals in a safe and friendly environment. Tanaka’s adventures change with the seasons, from sheep shearing in spring to harvesting veggies in June to watermelon tours in July. Storytime happens at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.
Go on a hunt for some cache
If you enjoy a real-world treasure hunt, there are hundreds of opportunities in Irvine. You need only your phone, the Geocaching app and an adventurer’s mindset. Geocaching offers urban hunts at Spectrum Center and UC Irvine, nature hunts in Irvine Regional Park and Quail Hill and more at every place in between. Similar to orienteering, “caches” (small boxes in many cases) contain logbooks and items that cachers exchange. The outdoor game began in 2000. To date, there are more than 3.4 million geocaches worldwide. Get off the grid and discover hidden nooks around the city. Or get creative and leave a cache of your own.
