Los Rios Historical District is a perfect cultural adventure for any day of the week. Most people, with kids, know of it as the street you take to get to Zoomars, but it is so much more.

As the oldest neighborhood in California, it is filled with unique homes from the early 1800's. Some of these homes have been turned into shops (clothing, garden, salons, restaurants, etc...), which gives you, and your kids, the opportunity to see the inside.

Martin was particularly interested in the garden shop because it allowed us to go through the home AND into the backyard.

I really enjoyed the Montanez Adobe as it had a jail cell in the back, which I will be sure to request as a must need for our next home.

As you may know by now, we are big fans of Scavenger hunts, and Los Rios Historical District is the PERFECT PLACE to enhance the experience with one.

Here is a list of some ideas to have your children look for.

- Chuggga' Chooo Chooo... Watch a train go through the station.

- Stand inside the jailhouse behind Montanez Adobes

- Chirp like a bird at the oversized birdcage at the O'Niell Museum - Pryor house (this is a beautiful home, but the museum has very limited hours)

- Find the horse saddle at the Los Rios playground

- Find an old photo of Los Rios District (hint: at the Los Rios St. entrance to the parking lot and playground)

- Feed a bunny rabbit at Zoomars

- I'm a Little Teapot.. can you find me?

Most of all, ENJOY! Some kids find the best way to end this adventure is at Zoomars, but we don't care much for petting zoos, so we walked over to the Mission San Juan Capistrano and watched the tower bells ring on the hour.

One Sky One World

For more information about San Juan Capistrano http://www.sanjuancapistrano.org/index.aspx?page=1