And the fun thing is, the rides don’t stop once you arrive. Start your family fun day at the Great Park big orange balloon then head straight to Irvine Spectrum Center where you can ride the Giant Wheel and explore many kid-focused shops and restaurants.
Come visit the Great Park Balloon on your trip to the Irvine Station. They’ll love flying ride 400 feet about the surrounding landscape. This iconic attraction is an amazing aerial observation deck with an unmatched 360º view that spans 40 miles on a clear day.
Balloon flight details
For up-to-date flight information and weather-related availability, call the Visitors Center at 949-724-6247 or visit the website.
Be sure to sign the online waiver the day of your trip!
Hours and cost
Rides are free, sponsored by FivePoint.
Monday–Wednesday: Closed
Thursday–Friday: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; 7 p.m.–10 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; 7 p.m.–10 p.m.
Getting here from the station
The Great Park Balloon is just under 5 miles from the Irvine Station. You can use Lyft or Uber for the short ride to the balloon.
Come bring your kids to the one center in Orange County that has a unique collection of shops, restaurants and entertainment certain to get your kids attention, including an IMAX Theater, Giant Wheel, and carousel.
The following is a taste of what you’ll find. Visit the Irvine Spectrum Center website for more.
Kid-friendly fun
Torpedo Comics
Journeys
The Game Chest
Dave & Busters
Giant Wheel
Carousel
Delicious treats
Hello Kitty Café
Somi Somi
Cold Stone Creamery
Afters Ice Cream
Rocket Fizz Soda Pop
Duffs Cakemix
Chocolate Bash
Dining
California Pizza Kitchen
Pieology Pizzeria
The Melt
Cheesecake Factory
Wood Ranch BBQ
The Irvine Station is located in the Spectrum area of Irvine and is the busiest station in Orange County, serving over a million commuters annually. The Irvine Station is currently served by Amtrak, Metrolink, as well as being a hub for express, local and rail-feeder bus services.
We always suggest when planning your adventure to check the Metrolink train schedule to the Irvine Station. Both the Orange Line and Inland Empire-Orange County Line serves this station.