Free weekly line dancing returns to Center Plaza, with a Halloween-themed edition on 

October 28!

Santa Monica Place invites locals and visitors to kick up their heels with Western Wednesday, a free weekly line dancing experience in Center Plaza throughout October. Professional instructors lead lessons for beginners and seasoned dancers alike, with complimentary giveaways available while supplies last.

Guests can make a night of it with pre-dance happy hour at Santa Monica Place restaurants. LouLou Restaurant offers Golden Hour from 3–6 p.m., with special cocktail prices and a complimentary bite with the first drink; The Cheesecake Factory offers discounted drinks and bites in its bar area from 4–6 p.m.; and Curious Palate offers discounted craft beer and wine.

Western Wednesday attendees can receive 20% off at Tenshoppe when they shop on the day of the event. The offer is valid only on Western Wednesdays.

The final October edition will have a Halloween-themed Western Wednesday on October 28. Guests are encouraged to come in costume and dance the night away. The guest with the best Halloween costume will receive a $50 gift card to Tenshoppe.

WHEN

Wednesdays in October 2026, 6–8 p.m.

Halloween dress-up edition: Wednesday, October 28, 6–8 p.m.

WHERE

Santa Monica Place | Center Plaza, Level 1

395 Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA 90401

MORE INFORMATION

Admission is free. For event updates, visit SantaMonicaPlace.com/events.

Credit: Santa Monica Place.

Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and Brand Library & Art Center unveiled the fall 2026 lineup for Hyper SoCal, the regional initiative redefining how audiences experience Southern California’s creative ecosystem. The fall roster mobilizes a new grouping of partner venues to deliver innovative exhibitions, site-specific installations, and interdisciplinary programs.

Conceived at Glendale’s historic Brand Library & Art Center, Hyper SoCal acts as a connector for Southern California’s art scene, offering cultural journeys with an interactive map of local art venues. This season invites art lovers and explorers alike to step off the beaten path and discover everything from kinetic light works in transit terminals to thought-provoking contemporary showcases in municipal and non-profit galleries.

“Hyper SoCal captures the collaborative energy that makes Southern California a epicenter for creativity,” says Director of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Lessa Pelayo-Lozada. “By showcasing these spaces, we are lowering barriers and connecting diverse communities directly with the artists shaping our region’s culture.”

“This fall is all about the thrill of discovery,” adds GLAC Exhibition Coordinator and Hyper SoCal Founder Stephanie Sherwood. “We want people to be on the lookout for art in completely unexpected contexts, whether it’s experiencing a public art installation at LAX or discovering a hidden gem of a gallery downtown. It’s an invitation to hit the road and experience the unbelievable depth of SoCal’s creative talent firsthand.”

A sample list of featured exhibitions and programs opening fall 2026 is included below. A complete list of partner institutions and programs can be found at BrandLibrary.org/Hyper-SoCal.

• LAX Art Program
  LAX Gateway’s Kinetic Light Installation
  Now on view through January 2027
• Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery
  Susan Silton: Diving into the Wreck
  September 3 – November 22, 2026
• Art Share L.A.
  Unfolding Light
  October 2, 2026 – January 2, 2027
• Experimentally Structured Museum of Art (ESMoA)
  Experience 72: SCRIPT
  October 3, 2026 – March 13, 2027
• OCC: Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion
  Bad Marks
  October 5, 2026 – November 25, 2026
• 18th Street Arts Center
  Revival_Revival
  Special Event: November 8, 2026 | 1:00 PM
• Velaslavasay Panorama
  Florence in Ruin: An Excavation
  November 13 – December 19, 2026

• ReflectSpace
  Gerald Clarke
  December 19, 2026 – April 3, 2027

About Library, Arts & Culture

Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission, which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT). For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at 818-548-2021 or via email at LibraryInfo@glendaleca.gov.

About the Arts & Culture Commission

The mission of the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission is to enrich human experience, reinforce Glendale’s identity and civic pride through arts and culture, and to recognize the importance of arts to our quality of life and to the local economy. This is accomplished by consciously integrating arts and culture into the daily life of the people of Glendale through urban design, planning, economic development, and education. For more information about the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission see the website: GlendaleArtsAndCulture.org

After thrilling sold-out crowds across Europe, the Hot Wheels Stunt Show is crossing the Atlantic for its first-ever United States tour in 2027, and it’s coming to Long Beach Arena in Long Beach for three shows on March 26-27 and Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for three shows on June 26-27. Produced by Family Entertainment Live in collaboration with Mattel, the show transforms the world’s most iconic die-cast cars into full-size, high-performance machines for a live experience unlike anything fans have seen before. Tickets, Preshow Party information, and additional details can be found at hotwheelsstuntshow.com. For exclusive presale access starting Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 10 a.m., visit https://hwss.hive-pages.com/socal27.

Show times include:

LONG BEACH ARENA

• Friday, March 26, 2027: 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 27, 2027: 12 p.m.
• Saturday, March 27, 2027: 7 p.m.

CRYPTO.COM ARENA

• Saturday, June 26, 2027: 12 p.m.
• Saturday, June 27, 2027: 7 p.m.
• Sunday, June 27, 2027: 2 p.m.

Experience high-speed action and full-throttle excitement as legendary Hot Wheels vehicles are brought to life to perform jaw-dropping stunts. From the all-new 45-foot-tall Super Loop to gravity-defying ramp jumps, drifting, and four-wheel mayhem, it’s next-level family entertainment for fans of all ages. The toys kids have raced across living room floors for generations will now roar in front of them at full scale.

The Hot Wheels Stunt Show features 15 vehicles, headlined by life-size, high-performance Hot Wheels favorites including the GT Scorcher, Rodger Dodger, and the legendary Bone Shaker. These fan favorites are supported by a cast of drifting, ramping, two- and four-wheeling cars, motorbikes, quads, custom stunt vehicles, and an RZR. All are driven by an elite team of professional stunt performers.

“Bringing the Hot Wheels Stunt Show to the United States for the first time is a milestone we’ve been racing toward,” said Ken Hudgens, CEO, Family Entertainment Live. “American fans have grown up with Hot Wheels, and there’s nothing quite like seeing those classic cars you know from the orange track come to life at full size, pulling off real stunts just feet in front of you. We can’t wait to bring that thrill to Long Beach in 2027.”

Designed for the whole family, the Hot Wheels Stunt Show delivers two hours of nonstop action and full-throttle fun with something spectacularly entertaining for every generation. Kids will love the action, parents will appreciate the nostalgic fun, and grandparents will enjoy being part of the thrilling moments and family memories.

Fans can also go behind the scenes with the Preshow Party, which gives guests the chance to get up close to the Hot Wheels vehicles, collect autographs from the drivers, capture photos and selfies, and take part in interactive Hot Wheels activities before the action begins.

Tickets for the Long Beach stop go on sale Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster and the Long Beach Arena ticket office.

Tickets for the Los Angeles stop go on sale Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. on AXS.com.

Tickets are expected to sell quickly. For exclusive presale access starting Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 10 a.m., visit https://hwss.hive-pages.com/socal27.

For tickets, the full 2027 U.S. tour schedule, vehicle lineup, and Preshow Party details, visit hotwheelsstuntshow.com and follow @HotWheelsStuntShow on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

The Hot Wheels Stunt Show tour is a partnership between Mattel, Inc. and Raycom-Legacy Content Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Family Entertainment Holdings, LLC.

The Jewel City Concert Series returns this fall with five consecutive Saturdays of free live music on the Artsakh Paseo, located at 127 Artsakh Avenue in Glendale’s Downtown Arts & Entertainment District. From September 26 through October 24, the community is invited to gather at 5:00 PM each Saturday for an eclectic mix of performances that reflect Glendale’s creative spirit and cultural diversity.

“The Jewel City Concert Series is part of our ongoing commitment to enliven the Artsakh Paseo and create meaningful cultural experiences in Downtown Glendale,” said Director of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, Lessa Pelayo-Lozada. “The series highlights the creative talent and diversity within our community, bringing people together through music in a setting that feels uniquely Glendale.”

Presented by the City of Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department and sponsored by the Arts &Culture Commission through funding from the Urban Art Program, the series brings neighbors, families and friends together for a casual evening of live music in the heart of the city. Each concert turns Artsakh Paseo into a welcoming outdoor space where people can unwind, connect and enjoy the rhythm of the city. 

This year’s lineup includes:

• String Harmonies | Saturday, September 26
  Armenian
  
• The Prairie Moons | Saturday, October 3

Western Swing/Honky-Tonk

• Voz Bohemia | Saturday, October 10
  Bolero
  
• YOUNGTONES | Saturday, October 17
  Soul/Retro-Pop

• Rootful | Saturday, October 24
  Reggae, Latin and Funk

Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early to explore the surrounding district and support local businesses before the music begins. All performances are free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs, as seating is not provided. Performances run approximately 60 minutes without intermission.

About Library, Arts & Culture

Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create. The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT). For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at 818-548-2021 or via email at LibraryInfo@glendaleca.gov.

About the Arts & Culture Commission

The mission of the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission is to enrich the human experience, reinforce Glendale’s identity and civic pride through arts and culture, and to recognize the importance of arts to our quality of life and to the local economy. This is accomplished by consciously integrating arts and culture into the daily life of the people of Glendale through urban design, planning, economic development, and education. For more information about the Glendale Arts & Culture Commission see the website: GlendaleArtsAndCulture.org 

@MyglendaleLAC   #MyglendaleLAC   www.GlendaleLAC.org

About Glendale

Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of almost 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks & facilities, with easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking. Visit GlendaleCA.gov for more information and follow us on social media @MyGlendale.

A family day on the San Diego waterfront sounds simple enough to plan. Pick a few attractions, find somewhere for lunch, walk along the bay, and leave time for the kids to enjoy the water. The trouble usually starts when families try to fit too much into those few hours.

San Diego’s waterfront covers a lot of ground, and places that look close together on a vacation map do not always belong in the same day’s itinerary. Once you account for parking, walking, meals, attraction times, and the occasional tired child, a packed schedule can turn what should be a relaxing day by the bay into a constant rush from one stop to the next.

Families tend to have a better time when they choose one part of the waterfront and give themselves room to enjoy it. Around downtown, that might mean visiting one major attraction, spending time outside along the Embarcadero, stopping for lunch, and getting onto the bay in the afternoon. On another day, you could forget downtown entirely and head to Mission Bay for swimming, paddling, parks, and a much more recreational experience.

There is plenty for children to notice along the way. Boats move constantly through the harbor, aircraft approach the nearby airport, enormous ships sit along the waterfront, and grassy parks provide somewhere to run around when everyone needs a break from structured sightseeing. Parents get the views they came for without having to drag the family through an endless list of attractions.

Choose One Part of the Waterfront Before You Start

San Diego Bay has a long and varied waterfront. The Port of San Diego manages 34 miles of waterfront around the bay, including 23 public parks spread across several communities. The downtown Embarcadero is the section many visitors know best, but it represents only part of what surrounds the water.

For a family visiting San Diego for the first time, the Embarcadero is usually one of the easiest places to begin. Several major attractions are concentrated nearby, the bay is always in view, and you can mix indoor sightseeing with outdoor time without spending half the day moving the car.

Before leaving the hotel, decide which attraction matters most to your family. That should be the anchor for the day. Everything else can be planned around its location rather than choosing several attractions first and then trying to connect them.

The ages and interests of your children should influence that decision. Some kids can happily spend several hours exploring a museum, while younger children may be ready for fresh air after an hour. Teenagers may care less about playgrounds and more about interesting food, photographs, boats, or getting onto the water. A realistic plan takes those differences into account instead of assuming the whole family will want to move at the same pace.

Start With Your Biggest Attraction While Everyone Has Energy

If you are staying around the downtown waterfront, morning is a sensible time for the most structured part of the day.

The USS Midway Museum and the Maritime Museum of San Diego are two of the best known attractions along this stretch of the harbor. Families interested in ships, aircraft, naval history, or maritime history could spend a substantial amount of time at either one. Trying to give both a thorough visit on the same day, especially with younger children, can make the morning feel rushed.

Choose the one that best matches your family’s interests and let the visit take as long as it needs to take. If everyone finishes earlier than expected, you have gained free time rather than created a problem.

There is also plenty to see outside the museums. Walking along the Embarcadero puts children close to an active harbor where sightseeing vessels, working boats, recreational craft, and historic ships all share the waterfront. Even the walk between stops has enough movement to hold a child’s attention for a while.

Once the museum visit is over, the rest of the day can be much looser. Lunch, a park break, time on the bay, or an easy walk can follow without another long indoor visit immediately afterward.

Build in Time When Nobody Has to Sightsee

Adults can stand beside the bay and admire the view for quite a while. Most children have a shorter relationship with scenic overlooks. They might watch a boat for a minute, ask a question about it, and then immediately start looking for somewhere to move.

That is why the waterfront parks are so useful during a family day.

Embarcadero Marina Park North covers about 8.5 acres and includes open green space, waterfront promenades, picnic tables, restrooms, drinking fountains, bike facilities, and areas where families can simply sit for a while. Embarcadero Marina Park South, near the Convention Center and The Rady Shell, has additional waterfront space along with basketball courts, exercise stations, picnic areas, restrooms, and a fishing pier.

Neither park needs to become another attraction on the itinerary. Children can move around after spending time indoors, parents can sit down or reorganize whatever they are carrying, and everyone gets a break from lines, exhibits, and scheduled activities.

Parents rarely put park time on the itinerary, but an hour with nowhere else to be can make the afternoon much easier. If the kids are happy watching boats or running around on the grass, there is little reason to rush them somewhere else.

Keep Lunch Close to Whatever Comes Next

San Diego has enough good restaurants that it is easy to overthink lunch. On a family waterfront day, location and timing often matter more than finding the most talked about restaurant in town.

If you are staying around the central waterfront, there are options around the Embarcadero and Seaport Village, along with restaurants in nearby downtown areas. Pick somewhere that makes sense for the next part of the day rather than sending everyone across town because a particular restaurant appeared on a travel list.

Try to eat before the children reach the point where every decision becomes difficult. A few snacks in the family bag are useful even when lunch is already planned, especially if you encounter a wait or spend longer than expected at the morning attraction.

Lunch is also a good time to see how everyone is doing before committing to the afternoon plan. If the kids still have plenty of energy, continue with what you had planned. If the morning was tiring, there is nothing wrong with dropping a minor stop and choosing something easier.

Spend Part of the Afternoon on the Bay

After a morning of walking, an afternoon on the water can change the pace without bringing the sightseeing to an end.

From a boat, children still have plenty to watch. The downtown skyline shifts as you move across the bay, sailboats pass in different directions, Coronado sits across the water, and larger vessels make the scale of the harbor much easier to understand. Parents also get a chance to sit down for a while instead of leading the family through another long walking route.

The right outing depends on your children. Before booking, check the trip length, departure location, restroom situation, shade, food and drink rules, and any age requirements that may apply. Those practical details can matter much more to a family than how many landmarks appear on a tour description.

Families comparing options for a san diego bay tour may come across local operators such as Tiki Time Bay Tours, which runs public and private outings on San Diego Bay. Its current FAQ also lists discounted rates for children. It is one of several ways to get onto the bay, so compare the length, schedule, departure point, and current policies of different trips before deciding which one suits your family.

A boat trip often works well after lunch, especially if the morning involves a lot of walking. Once you are back on land, you can see how much energy everyone has left before making any further plans.

Give Kids Something to Look For

San Diego Bay already provides plenty of entertainment if children know where to direct their attention.

Young kids can count sailboats, watch for seabirds, look for aircraft approaching San Diego International Airport, or see how many different kinds of boats they can identify. Older children might become interested in the Navy presence, historic ships, commercial activity around the harbor, or how different the skyline looks from various points along the water.

You do not need to turn this into a formal scavenger hunt. Ask which boat looks fastest, see who spots the Coronado Bridge first, or let the kids guess where a vessel might be heading. A few simple questions can keep children interested without turning the walk into another organized activity.

Decide Whether Coronado Belongs in This Day

Coronado is close enough to downtown that visitors often assume they should automatically add it to a waterfront itinerary. Sometimes that works beautifully. Sometimes it creates an extra journey that the family did not really need.

The ferry is one way to cross San Diego Bay without driving across the bridge, and the waterfront around Coronado Ferry Landing provides views back toward downtown. Coronado Tidelands Park is another useful family stop, with open waterfront space, a playground, a small beach, picnic areas, and a scenic bike path that runs along the waterfront.

If your family wants to explore Coronado’s beaches, shops, restaurants, and other attractions properly, consider giving the island its own half day or longer. There is little advantage in racing across the bay simply to say you visited.

Families with a lighter schedule can make Coronado part of the waterfront day, particularly if the ferry itself appeals to the children. Those with a museum, lunch, and a longer boat outing already planned may be happier enjoying the view of Coronado from across the bay and saving the island for another day.

Mission Bay Is a Different Kind of Family Day

San Diego Bay and Mission Bay can sound interchangeable when you are planning from home, but they make for very different family days.

San Diego Bay works especially well for sightseeing. The downtown waterfront, historic ships, harbor activity, Coronado views, and boat outings can all become part of the same day.

Mission Bay is much more recreation focused. Mission Bay Park covers more than 4,200 acres, with roughly equal amounts of land and water and about 27 miles of shoreline. The area has designated swimming areas, beaches, playgrounds, walking and cycling routes, boat docks, launching facilities, and opportunities for boating and other water activities.

Families whose children would rather swim, paddle, ride bikes, play outside, or spend several hours around a beach may prefer Mission Bay to a day of downtown sightseeing.

There is no reason to force both bays into the same itinerary. If you have several days in San Diego, treating them as separate experiences gives everyone more time to enjoy what each area does well. One day can focus on the harbor and city waterfront, while another can be reserved for swimming, paddling, parks, and outdoor recreation around Mission Bay.

Local Tips for a Smoother Family Waterfront Day

A little planning can prevent many of the small frustrations that make sightseeing with children harder than it needs to be. These are the details worth sorting out before you head toward the water:

• Stay in one general area for several hours. Jumping between the Embarcadero, Mission Bay, Point Loma, and Coronado may look manageable on a map, but parking and travel time quickly add up. Group nearby activities together and save another part of the waterfront for a different day.
• Choose the attraction that matters most. If the family really wants to visit the USS Midway or spend time on the bay, make that the priority. Keep the rest flexible enough that dropping one smaller stop does not ruin the day.
• Use parks as actual breaks. Do not fill every open hour with another attraction. A waterfront park gives children space to move and adults somewhere to sit without leaving the area.
• Check your boat departure point before choosing lunch. San Diego’s waterfront stretches farther than many first time visitors expect. Eating near the next activity can save an unnecessary drive or a rushed walk later.
• Keep the final few hours flexible. Late afternoon is usually when families discover how much energy everyone really has left. Leave yourself the option of a park, an easy walk, an early dinner, or simply heading back to the hotel.
• Check current information on the morning of your visit. Attraction hours, boat schedules, waterfront events, parking conditions, and park access can change. A quick check before leaving can save a frustrating detour later.

Good planning should make the day easier, not make the itinerary stricter. If something is going well, give it another half hour. If everyone is tired, move on or call it a day.

Pack for Several Hours Beside the Water

San Diego’s reputation for pleasant weather can make visitors surprisingly casual about preparing for a long day outdoors. Conditions near the water deserve a little more thought.

Sunscreen, hats, drinking water, and comfortable walking shoes are sensible basics. A light layer is also worth carrying, particularly if you will be on a boat or staying around the waterfront later in the day. The temperature may feel comfortable when you leave the hotel, but breeze and shade can make conditions feel different beside the bay.

Parents of younger children may want to pack a simple change of clothes. Drinks spill, children find water when you least expect them to, and an extra shirt or pair of shorts takes up far less space than dealing with an uncomfortable child for the rest of the afternoon.

At the same time, avoid carrying more than you realistically need. Large family bags become annoying when you are walking between attractions, boarding boats, managing a stroller, or trying to keep track of several children. Pack for the likely problems rather than every possible problem.

Think About Parking Before Everyone Is in the Car

Parking rarely makes the exciting part of a vacation plan, but it can have an outsized effect on a family day.

If most of your activities are around the Embarcadero, parking once and exploring the area on foot may be easier than repeatedly returning to the car. Paid parking is available around portions of the waterfront, including near Embarcadero Marina Park North and South, although families should check current rates, hours, and restrictions before relying on a particular lot.

Think about where you will finish the day too. A parking space that feels perfectly convenient in the morning can seem considerably farther away after several hours of walking with a tired child. If you are bringing a stroller, look at the route between parking, your main attraction, lunch, and any boat departure point before you arrive. Cutting out an unnecessary walk can make a noticeable difference later in the afternoon.

Let Different Ages Have Different Versions of the Same Day

A four year old, a teenager, and a grandparent are unlikely to enjoy the waterfront in exactly the same way.

A younger child may be fascinated by boats pulling away from a dock while a teenager cares more about taking photographs or finding somewhere interesting to eat. Parents may want time to appreciate the skyline, while grandparents traveling with the family may prefer regular opportunities to sit down.

The San Diego waterfront works well for this kind of mixed group because activities do not have to be complicated. Some family members can spend longer inside a museum while others enjoy a nearby park. Everyone can meet for lunch and spend the next part of the day together.

Pay attention when something unexpectedly catches a child’s interest. If they want to spend another fifteen minutes watching boats or looking at a historic ship from the promenade, there is usually no reason to hurry them along simply because another minor stop appears on the itinerary.

Make Late Afternoon the Easiest Part of the Day

By late afternoon, even a well planned family day can start to lose momentum. Children are tired, adults have been making decisions for hours, and another major attraction may suddenly sound much less appealing than it did that morning.

Leave this part of the day relatively open.

Seaport Village can be an easy place to walk around if the family still wants to stay near the water. A park works if the kids need room to move. You can find a snack, sit somewhere with a view, head toward an early dinner, or return to the hotel if everyone has had enough.

If the family still has plenty of energy, you can always keep exploring. Leaving an hour or two open simply means you can make that decision based on how everyone feels rather than a schedule you created before the trip.

Children also tend to remember unexpected parts of a vacation. It might be the huge ship they stood beside, a bird diving into the water, a boat moving through the harbor, an ice cream near the waterfront, or half an hour spent playing outside. Leaving some space in the day gives those moments a chance to happen.

Leave a Little of the Waterfront for Next Time

There is enough around San Diego Bay to fill several family outings, and trying to cover all of it in one day usually means spending less time enjoying each place.

For a first visit, one good attraction, some unhurried time along the waterfront, lunch, and an afternoon activity can already make a full day. If Coronado feels like too much, save it. If the kids would rather stay at the park than make another stop, stay at the park. Mission Bay can have its own day instead of becoming another destination to squeeze in before dinner.

By the time you leave, the family may remember only a handful of things clearly. That is fine. A favorite ship, an afternoon on the bay, the view across to Coronado, or an unexpected hour watching boats can say more about a day in San Diego than a long list of attractions everyone was too tired to enjoy.

Students currently enrolled in a community college, undergraduate, masters, or PhD program in Southern California are invited to apply for the 2027 cohort of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Community, Equity, Learning, and Persistence (CELP) Scholar Program. The program provides both individual networking opportunities and community building events for students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields related to the ocean. 

Applications are now open and are due by 5:00 p.m. on October 20, 2026. Recipients will each receive $10,000 to support their continued persistence in the field. Throughout the year, CELP Scholars are invited to participate in Aquarium programs to explore career paths, engage in professional development sessions facilitated by alumni, join a growing community of scholars who gather online and in-person, receive a quarterly e-newsletter, and present at the annual Scholar Symposium in fall 2027. 

“Our CELP Scholars get to lean on the Aquarium to meet professionals, gain skills, and explore new aspects of marine science,” said Jennie Dean, vice president of conservation and policy. “Not only are they exploring individual interests, CELP Scholars contribute to a supportive community of peers who celebrate and encourage each other. It is truly inspiring to see the scholars grow and learn from us and each other.” 

The Aquarium’s CELP Scholar Program seeks to broaden participation in marine sciences, help more students find their own community in STEM, and support students’ persistence in the field. With this program, the Aquarium looks to bring a greater variety of lived experiences to the challenge of ensuring a healthy and sustainable ocean for everyone. “Being a part of CELP has lifted my confidence in myself as a person and as a future scientist. I hope to apply the experiences, perspectives, and other learning goals to my life,” said Elias Zamora, CELP Scholar Program alum. 

The Aquarium plans to announce the 2027 cohort of CELP Scholars in March 2027. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a Southern California school through December 2027 and commit to active participation in the program. An information session will be held virtually on September 29, 2026, and will be recorded for those unable to attend and available to view online. For additional information about eligibility and the application process or to apply, please visit the CELP Scholars webpage. Students who identify as a member of groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM, marine science, and conservation fields are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants of any race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, disability, or veteran status are welcome. 

The CELP Scholar Program is supported by contributions. For the 2026 Long Beach Gives campaign, the Aquarium is fundraising for the CELP Scholar Program with support from an anonymous donor who will be matching donations up to $10,000. The public can have their impact doubled by giving online September 17-24 on their website here. Donations are also accepted year-round on the giving page here.

AQUARIUM:  The non-profit Aquarium of the Pacific is dedicated to world-class conservation, outstanding animal welfare, and connecting people to nature through more than 12,000 animals and one hundred exhibits including Jelly Dreamscapes. In addition to its public education programs for all ages, the Aquarium is involved in numerous conservation efforts, including breeding endangered animals for release, rehabilitating rescued species, community science programs, and more. The Aquarium is home to the only sea turtle rehabilitation program in Greater Los Angeles. To make a donation to help support the Aquarium, please visit the donation webpage. To visit, reservations are required and can be made at aquariumofpacific.org or by calling (562) 590-3100.

Credit: The Aquarium of the Pacific.

For 35 years, KIDS FIRST! has helped parents and educators navigate youth media. From honest reviews to red-carpet interviews by our 65 youth reporters, we empower families to make informed media choices.

To celebrate our official 35th Anniversary on September 26, we’re giving back to the supporters who make our mission possible.

Donate by September 26 for 35th Anniversary Perks:

·         Donate Any Amount: Automatically enters you into our Grand Sweepstakes!

·         Donate $25 or More: Unlocks exclusive KIDS FIRST! supporter rewards plus your sweepstakes entries.

·         Anniversary Early Bird Incentive: Give by September 26 to join our special 35th Anniversary Celebration list! (Campaign runs through October 17).

Sweepstakes Prizes Include:

·         Grand Prize: A trip for two to Portugal!

·         Featured Prize: An afternoon visit with legendary ventriloquist Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop.

·         Plus: Additional runner-up prizes and rewards!

 Donate Before Sept 26 & Enter the Sweepstakes

No purchase or donation necessary to enter or win. A donation does not increase your chances of winning. Campaign ends October 17. See Official Rules for free entry details.

Credit: KIDS FIRST!

Approximately 653 critically endangered southern mountain yellow-legged frogs (Rana muscosa) were recently released into their native California mountain region habitat by staff from the Aquarium of the Pacific, Los Angeles Zoo, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Of the 653 frogs that were released, 394 were headstarted at the Aquarium of the Pacific, marking the Aquarium’s largest release of this species. The tadpoles were produced at the Los Angeles Zoo’s southern mountain-yellow legged frog breeding program and transferred to the Aquarium of the Pacific, where animal care staff reared them through metamorphosis to froglets and frogs. This release brings the total number of this species that the Aquarium has helped rear and release to 1,032.

“We have been looking forward to releasing this cohort of frogs back into the wild,” said Erin Lundy, the Aquarium’s conservation initiatives manager. “The more frogs there are in their native habitat, the more of a chance we have to increase their survival.”

Southern mountain yellow-legged frogs are native to the San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto mountains. They are a medium-sized amphibian, measuring between 1.5 and 3.25 inches on average. Adult frogs are a mix of brown and yellow coloring, but can also be gray, red, or greenish brown. They usually have dark spots or splotches that can look like lichen or moss and help the frog camouflage. The belly and underside of its back legs and sometimes front legs are yellow or light orange, which lends itself to the frog’s common name, “yellow-legged.”

In response to the 2020 Bobcat Fire, which burned most of the remaining habitat for the endangered southern mountain yellow-legged frog, the Aquarium of the Pacific joined efforts with local zoos and government agencies to rescue southern mountain yellow-legged frogs and aid in their recovery. Partners include the United States Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) who help monitor and oversee releases, and the Los Angeles Zoo, which successfully breeds the frogs to produce offspring for release into the wild.

The rescue program is designed to bolster populations in the wild in an effort to save this species from extinction. The Aquarium serves as a nursery to care for and raise tadpoles into frogs and froglets until they are ready for release, which typically takes one to two years. To help southern mountain yellow-legged frogs recover, the public can support this conservation effort by staying on marked trails and paths, respecting signs announcing off-limits areas when visiting local mountains, and reducing your carbon footprint.

Credit: The Aquarium of the Pacific.