Review #962
2026-028…read more
With the upcoming 3-day weekend, I needed something to keep my 10 YO occupied besides the screen & found the Bella Terra Kids Club: Valentine's Day Sweet Stroll on Eventbrite. It's a fun 90-min. walk through the open air mall with activities such as arts & craft, storytime, etc.
Upon arrival, I was worried about finding The Green to check-in with less than 10-mins. before the event kick-off, but we saw this long time of parents with children & just followed along. We shuffled along for about 20-mins. until we were scanned in, picked up a cute pink Bella Terra tote & a map of all the participating businesses. There were 36, of which we were able to collect sweet treats from 30. It was barely 15-mins. in & Dog Haus was already out. Maybe because they were near the epicenter? But others like its neighbor, Pinot's Palette, Princess Bride Diamonds, Philz Coffee, still had goodies in their bowls. The furthest trek was out to Fogo de Chão, Luna Grill, Snooze, an A.M. Eatery.
M got hungry mid-stroll & I was fortunate enough to find a TGTG surprise bag at Nekter Juice Bar (refer to Review #963) for a quick pit stop. Most of the children participants look to be toddlers or in daycare, I didn't see too many older kids like mine. If we didn't have that rest break, I think we could have finished the stroll by 12:30 PM; he was there for the goodies, not the activities. We went over by 30-mins. & was still lucky to receive a sweet treat from the remaining participants, & received a l'il extra from some since the event was over. Whoohoo! M missed out from Buffalo Wild Wings, Dog Haus (ran out after 15-mins.), Flecha, Golf Bar (doesn't seem like they were open), Kabuki, Tutu School.
When M walked out of Tutu School, Nightingale (refer to Review #961), American & Thai fusion cafe, wasn't on the Sweets Stroll map, but we were invited in for their complimentary sweets... a beautiful spread of cookies, mini muffins & donuts, Ferocher chocolates. It's my kinda eats; with such hospitality, I definitely plan to come back with the fam for brunch/lunch! Since I parked near Barnes & Nobles (refer to Review #964), we closed out the afternoon with a couple of bargain books (got the 2nd one at 50% off) at the B&N, Jr. section.
Most mall kids club hold events during the week & the Sweets Stroll was on a Monday, & our school district happens to be off. I think I've taken my kids once or twice to these events when they were toddlers, but they were modest in comparison to Sweets Stroll's scale/grandness: business participants, goodies, & activities. Since I'm not a regular & I don't have much to compare with, I can totally be wrong about these kids club events. My son came home with a bagful of treats, & I discovered a few places that I'm looking forward to dine at.
The Huntington Center originally had 4 2-story anchor stores: Barker Brothers (furniture store), JCPenney (department store with auto service center), Montgomery Ward (department store with auto service center), & The Broadway (converted to Macy's); I've been here a few times when I was studying at CSULB. Since 2006, Bella Terra opened as a lifestyle center that's anchored by Barnes & Noble, Cinemark Theaters, Costco, Kohl's, & Whole Foods. The mall's architecture is Tuscan-/Mediterranean-inspired with beautiful archways & structures, & fountains in the village-like complex. It's been a couple of decades since I've been here so I'm looking at them with fresh eyes.
Thank you so much Bella Terra for entertaining my kid! I'm definitely looking forward to returning in the near future... particularly to dine here!