By Jackie Santana
Friendly Hiller Correspondent
The holidays are officially here. And with gas pricing soaring daily, we have compiled our top five family friendly activities in Whittier on the cheap.
1. Murphy Ranch Park, 16200 Las Cumbres Drive, Whittier, CA 90603. Get ready to sweat off some of those December and new year’s meals. Did you know? Murphy Ranch Park spans 48 acres of wilderness. Put on your comfortable shoes for this trail, and don’t forget to put your dogs on a leash. Admission and parking are free.
2. College Hills Stairs, Historic District, is located off Ridge Road and Philadelphia Street. Many locals have never heard of these stairs. But these stairs were designed and planned back in the 1920s to connect the streets. These stairs are public and are a little hidden as their location is in a residential area. Enjoy the stairs and get your steps in this season. Admission is free.
3. Parnell Storybook Zoo, 15390 Lambert Road, Whittier, CA 90604. This adorable viewing zoo has a variety of animals and birds to enjoy. The miniature horses are crowd favorites. They also have goats and a few other cute animals. We find this zoo to be great for smaller children between the ages of 1-5, but let’s not forget we are all kids at heart and it’s open to all. Come for an hour, bring a picnic basket and enjoy an afternoon at the park. The zoo is open daily except for Thursdays, as it’s the animals’ rest day. Admission is free.
4. Scotty’s Flowers, 10250 Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90603. This Whittier business has been a staple for many, many years in the Whittier community. They sell flowers, but most locals know them for their yummy shaved ice treats. For $1.50, you can get some delicious shaved ice. In the last few months, they have added boba, teas and cold drinks to their lineup. They are cash only, but for $5, you can get a few yummy treats.
5. Uptown Whittier on Friday nights. We can’t forget all the restaurants, breweries and great night activities in Uptown Whittier on a Friday night. There are shops and great places to eat. You can grab a taco, a slice of pizza, or have fine dining. Whatever you are craving. Taking the kids with you, no problem. You can grab dinner and a movie and be home by 9 p.m. before bedtime. Parking is accessible on the streets, and paid parking is also available.
If you have Whittier activities, places or food we must try, please share via email at friendlyhillswhittier@gmail.com
