Los Angeles and California, in general, are well-known for Hollywood, Disneyland and numerous other theme parks, but a trip to LA can be so much more than that for families. There are simply hundreds of other places to visits and things to do which are just as enjoyable and often far less costly (or even free). The trick is knowing where to look. The weather in LA is so good that you can visit at any time of year and still take advantage of the great outdoors for a family picnic and some nature exploration. Here are ten kid-friendly places to visit in Los Angeles, which are a little more off the beaten track.
- Kidspace Children’s Museum
The Kidspace Children’s Museum is a range of interactive exhibits across 3.5 acres, perfect for kids who want to learn about the ecosystem. The museum features the indoor imagination workshop, the interactive greenhouse, and the ant colony climbing structure to the outdoor Arroyo Adventure area with a mud kitchen, giant’s hawk nest, and a dam building area.
- See a Basketball Game
There’s nothing quite like the excitement and tension of a sports match, so why not take the kids to see an NBA basketball game while you’re in LA? Cheer on your favorite team, enjoy some tasty snacks and refreshments, and enjoy the show. Visit TicketSales.com for NBA basketball games coming up.
- Descanso Gardens
The Descanso Gardens are a peaceful retreat with stunning gardens, an Enchanted Railroad, story time sessions. In the summer there are family-friendly concerts, and in the winter you can experience the Enchanted Forest of Light and all its illuminations amidst roses, leafy trees, and lily ponds.
- Griffith Park
Griffith Park is packed full of great family destinations including the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Griffith Observatory, hiking to the Hollywood Sign, a historic merry-go-round, train rides Griffith Park Pony Rides.
- Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
There’s a free shuttle from the Gold Line which takes you to the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden. You can either enjoy a mini-hike in the beautiful garden where there are free-roaming peacocks or take part in a family adventure class or story time.
- TreePeople
TreePeople is 45 acres of nature trails and activities designed to educate children about the importance of caring for our environment. It’s located in the Santa Monica Mountains in Goldwater Canyon Park and is free to enter. There are also sometimes special events like group dog walking and moonlight hikes.
- El Capitan Theatre
Take a trip to the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard for the ultimate movie experience. The theater opened in 1926 and adds an extra touch of Hollywood magic to all of its showings from live singing, confetti falling from the ceiling and appearances by Disney cast members. If you have toddlers, head over for Tiny Tot Tuesdays.
- La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
In the Miracle Mile area, you’ll find an ice age fossil site called La Brea Tar Pits. Children can tour the tar pits to see what scientists are digging up, visit the lab where the fossils are analyzed and then visit the exhibits and watch a 3D film about how the fossils came to be there in the first place.
- Aidan’s Place at Westwood Recreation Center
When the weather is warm, you should spend some playtime at Aidan’s Place as the play equipment has cooling misters all around. There are a zipline, a recreated airplane cockpit, and a sandcastle to keep the kids busy for hours.
- The Last Bookstore
If your kids are budding bookworms, you need to visit the Last Bookstore which is like a wonderland for book fans. It’s an incredible visual spectacle with a labyrinth, book tunnel and an area of second-hand books which are arranged by color.
Photo by Vincent Gerbouin from Pexels