Best Places To See in Irvine

Pretend City Children's Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization helping all children; pretend City depends on community-based funding & guest support. It is "the world in a nutshell," intended for children to learn how the real world works while engaging their curiosities and imaginations. It is a child-size interconnected city built to support rich educational intentions with great fun, where kids can assume many real-world roles and let their creativity rule. Children can explore interactive exhibits and activities facilitated by their qualified professional staff. Children learn foundational math, reading, and science skills while fostering creativity, curiosity, problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork. It has welcomed well over a million guests into its educational wonderland. Pretend City Children's Museum offers free admission for members and infants to 12 months.

Jack & Shanaz Langson Institute & Museum of California Art is dedicated to both educating children and the general public about the significance of art and preserving the aesthetic beauty of California's cultural heritage. Through its outreach programs, the museum aims to engage and inspire a love for art among young learners and the wider community. The museum hosts three exhibitions per year, in addition to traveling exhibitions, providing a platform to showcase the rich artistic traditions of California. The collection at Langson IMCA comprises over 4,500 works that represent a wide range of genres and mediums. This diverse collection spans from the late 19th century California Impressionism and Plein air painting to Post-War and contemporary art, offering visitors a comprehensive understanding of California's artistic evolution. Preservation and celebration of California art are at the core of the museum's mission.

The Marconi Automotive Museum and Foundation for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Dick & John Marconi in 1994. The building was originally purchased to house the race team when John & Dick were racing full-time. After years of collecting exotic, rare, and classic cars, they donated their multimillion-dollar car collection to the Marconi Foundation for Kids. For almost 30 years, the Marconi Automotive Museum has been used as an event facility and educational center to generate money for children's charities and organizations throughout Orange County. The Marconi collection is home to over 100 vehicles and one of the largest Ferrari collections in North America, as well as Formula 1, Indy, and Vintage race cars. This museum has something for everyone. Visitors can get up close to the cars because none are roped off like other museums. The museum has plenty of parking. They have professional staff who are happy to answer any questions you have. They host fundraisers, toy drives, car events, educational tours, and more to benefit charities.