Things to Do in Los Alamitos

Tucked away in a refurbished 1940s barbershop, Studio DeLucca founder Khobe DeLucca and her team of jewelers festoon baubles of recycled silver and gold with gems sourced from artisans and fair-labor suppliers. Collections of stackable jewelry, such as amethyst bracelets and turquoise-drop necklaces, add a subtle sparkle to wrists and décolletages. Cocktail rings decorate favorite fingers with stones such as ocean jasper and green chrysoprase, and diamond-paved cigar-band rings exhibit old-world craftsmanship that hearkens back to the sparkling sidewalks of ancient Rome. A workshop series teaches novice lapidaries basic techniques to craft their own necklaces, earrings, and enamel jewelry.

For more than a decade, the kilns at Ocean Stained Glass have been firing and finishing glass pieces crafted by both veterans and first-timers. The stained glass play land leads classes that vary in content from fusing techniques and mosaic construction to the pure art of staining glass. It also encourages glassworkers to drop by during open-studio hours, thereby eliminating the need for budding artists to hurl paint buckets and cement blocks at the nearest storefront window. The studio’s resident artists craft custom designs as well, which vary in price based on the materials and complexity of a project.

Fountain Valley Skating celebrates roller-skating as both a family-friendly recreational activity and a sport. During fun-filled open sessions on the spacious rink, families spin around in rented skates to an upbeat soundtrack. Birthday boys and girls celebrate their special days with music, ice cream, and zooming around the rink with all of their friends. Little ones learn to safely move on their wheels during tiny-tot sessions, and adults mingle over coffee and skate to a delightfully old-timey soundtrack of organ music and auto-tuned Franklin Roosevelt speeches.

Fountain Valley Skating fosters creative expression and athletic prowess through its figure-skating classes. Led by title-holding champs, the classes cover how to jump, spin, and balance on roller skates. After burning up to 200 calories per hour on the rink, visitors can take a breather and relax with arcade games.

A shiny fleet of fuel-efficient Sea-Doo GTI watercraft lines the dock of Balboa Water Sports, ready to conquer the California coastline anytime of the year. Savvy staffers help customers become aqueous explorers, renting out gleaming white jet skis, stand-up paddleboards, and other modes of transport. On popular guided rides, sea lions romp on the shore as watercraft skim along past Corona del Mar, Crystal Cove, and Emerald Bay. Tours also stretch as far south as Laguna Beach, where sea riders often spot adolescent dolphins playing mischievous games such as Marco Polo and spin the bottlenose.

The event planners behind QueenVee Entertainment throw themed bashes that immerse partygoers in elaborate experiences. Founded by CEO Joanna Vargas—a producer, dancer, and choreographer who started her career by staging events such as The King of Pop, a dance-tribute show to Michael Jackson—QueenVee has staged past events such as Phenomena, a mash-up of a dance showcase and a fashion show that benefited Dance for Peace Charity. Ongoing events include booze cruises aboard a three-story Grand Romance cruise ship in the style of a 19th-century steamboat, complete with an open-air top deck and a team of acrobatic Mark Twain impersonators. Further amenities entertain the up to 320 passengers, including two full-service bars, a professional DJ playing over a large dance floor, and a professional photographer who posts images on Facebook. Raffle and door prizes reward attendees with keepsakes, and tables and booths offer respite from the dance floor and a private place to run Y2K safety drills.