Irvine Spectrum Center Play Area

If you’re killing time at the Spectrum and your kids are losing it, this little play area is genuinely a lifesaver. The climbing structure has this tree-with-branches vibe that younger kids go absolutely feral for — good for the 2 to 8 crowd before they outgrow it. Then there’s the splash pad, and those water jets get surprisingly high, so bring a change of clothes unless you enjoy a soggy car ride home. Best part? It’s completely free, which feels almost suspicious given how much everything else at that mall costs.