There are so many kid-friendly places to see in Los Angeles, where do you begin? As the second-largest metropolitan region in the United States, LA offers families more activities and experiences than many little nations, but that does not mean they are all worth the time.
Sure, you might invest a week at Disneyland; however, that's not truly what the city is everything about. Take some tips from the locals and see Los Angeles County as they do: Full of vibrant cultural chances, art, incredible outside areas, and yes, even public transportation.
The weather in LA also indicates that a household holiday deserves the trek at any time of year. The city is a dream for kiddos who enjoy running and play outdoors in the sunlight. And even in places that are designed for kids-- like Griffith Park or the children's garden at the Huntington Library-- grownups will find plenty to stimulate their interest.
Whether you're age two or 62, behold, the 30 finest destinations in Los Angeles for families and kids.
1. Descanso Gardens
Filled with lily ponds, roses, and leafy trees, Descanso Gardens lets kids wander free and check out the natural world.
Don't miss the Enchanted Railway, daily storytimes, and the family-friendly concerts in the summer.
2. Kidspace Kid's Museum
With 3.5 acres of interactive exhibits consisting of an indoor imagination workshop, an ant nest climbing structure, and an interactive greenhouse, the Kidspace Kid's Museum is one of the top locations for LA kiddos.
Don't miss the outdoor Arroyo Adventure location, where children can learn about ecosystems by climbing a huge hawk's nest, building dams, and exploring a mud kitchen area.
Pro tip: Bring a change of clothing, towel, and water shoes; things can get unpleasant.
3. Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
Hop on the free shuttle bus from the Gold Line and head to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden for stunning mini-hikes and a range of hands-on activities.
Kids will enjoy the roaming peacocks, bookworms storytime, and the family experience classes regularly offered monthly.
4. Griffith Park
Griffith Park has something for everyone, whether it's hiking to the Hollywood Sign, checking out the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, browsing the sky at the Griffith Observatory, or taking a ride on the historical merry-go-round. However, one of our favorite things to do is to take the kids to the Griffith Park Pony Rides, where for $5 a trip, kids can select from the sluggish, medium, or quick ponies.
Griffith Park also boasts three different train rides:
A larger engine operated at the Griffith Park & Southern Railway
A smaller train rolling out of the Travel Town railroad
The LA Zoo Choo Choo train
Pro tip: Regional parents flock to Trails Coffee shop for picnic-style seating in the shade and a lot of pastries and sandwiches.
5. TreePeople
Located on 45 acres of Goldwater Canyon Park in the Santa Monica mountains, TreePeople offers nature tracks and experiential education with the goal of teaching kids environmental stewardship.
Daily admission is totally free; however, check the website for special events like moonlight hikes, group dog walks, and native plant classes.
6. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
The Huntington consists of a comprehensive library of rare books, 3 different art galleries, and a botanical garden covering more than 120 acres. Kids will like checking out the desert, Japanese, increased, and Chinese gardens.
A conservatory provides middle-school-age trainees displays on botany, but for the kids (2 to 7 years of age), the Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden is not to miss.
Kids can splash in the water, explore a fog grotto, climb through a prism tunnel, and even dance in a circular rainbow room.
Pro tip: Bring a swimwear or modification of clothing to make the most of all the enjoyable.
7. El Capitan Theatre
Households love the old El Capitan Theatre, a flashing example of the movie theater that opened in 1926 on Hollywood Boulevard.
Beyond hosting "Tiny Kid Tuesdays" for parents with toddlers, the Disney-operated theater likewise includes something extra to any film experience. Anticipate to see familiar characters, live singing, and the pleased faces of kids as confetti and streamers fall from the ceiling.
8. Time Travel Mart
Older kids will get a bang out of the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a time travel-themed retailer with the slogan, "Whenever you are, we're already then."
Run by 826, the founders of the Superhero Supply store in Brooklyn and the Pirate Supply Company in San Francisco, the Echo Park variation offers humorous presents from the past, present, and future.
The shop's front boasts its quirky collection, while the back houses the nonprofit tutoring center where 20 to 30 trainees get instruction every day.
9. Echo Park Lake
Found in central Los Angeles with a sensational view of Downtown, Echo Park Lake is a favorite destination for strolling, fishing, and picnicking. However, the very best part is the pedal boats readily available for lease.
For merely $6 per kid and $11 per grownup, you can paddle around the lake for approximately an hour.
10. Los Angeles State Historic Park
After being closed for more than 3 years, this Chinatown park has reopened with an entire makeover. Households will like the brand-new advantages of a $20 million restoration: A pleasant pedestrian walkway, picnic locations, wetlands, a public fruit orchard, and a raised lookout point.
Even much better, the park's likewise included a ranger station and a welcome center with the always-important restrooms.
11. La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
The world's most famous ice age fossil site is conveniently situated in LA's Miracle Mile district.
Kids can take an excavator trip of the tar pits to see what the scientists are digging up, then head into the museum for displays on the Ice Age or a 3D movie demonstrating how animals end up being trapped in tar.
There's also a fossil laboratory where budding scientists can see what happens after fossils are extracted from the tar. Load a picnic and have lunch in the park surrounding the museum, right in the middle of all the tar pit action.
12. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
As the best art museum for kids in the Los Angeles area, LACMA provides on first-class art in a family-friendly environment.
Start in the spacious contemporary art galleries on the second flooring of the Ahmanson structure, burn off energy in the LACMA sculpture garden, see the illuminating Urban Light sculpture, and do not miss out on the Boone Kid's Gallery for painting and storytime.
13. Grand Park
Located in Downtown Los Angeles, between the Music Center and Municipal Government, the 12-acre Grand Park is a city sanctuary complete with fountains, tons of green space and drought-tolerant landscaping, and intense pink benches.
Kids will love the splash pad and the whimsical play area (closer to City Hall) that looks like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.
14. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
The birthplace of Los Angeles has plenty of activities for the whole household. Take a stroll down colorful Olvera Street (and grab some churros); take a step back in time at LA's oldest house, the Avila Adobe; go to the old Plaza Firehouse. Conveniently located across the street from Union Station, the historical site also hosts frequent kid-friendly occasions, from live music to dance efficiencies to the annual Las Posadas festival every December.
15. Angels Flight Train
It does not get any much better than Angels Flight-- a small railway that climbs up and down Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles if you have kids who enjoy old-timey transit.
The two train cars are 116 years of age and are a vital part of a Grand Central Market go to. The short ride expenses $1 each way, or 50 cents with a TAP card.
16. The Los Angeles Public Library
Schedule lovers beware: You may want to stay in the kids' area of the Downtown town library forever. Wander amongst the stacks, enjoy the large wood shelves, gawk at the vibrant California history murals, or select among the many storytimes.
Older kids will like the computer system zone and the young person section that contains a well-curated list of recommendations.
17. The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles
Sometimes kids just want to ride in an elevator, and there's no better place to do it than at this Downtown LA hotel. The round, glass-walled elevators scurry up and down the building's exterior, offering a fantastic view of the city's skyline. The hotel's area station-like interior is also fun to check out.
18. The Last Book shop
As California's biggest utilized and brand-new book and record shop, the two-story Last Bookstore is part of Harry Potter wonderland and part artist loft.
Hit the kid's area on the very first floor and after that take a stroll through the "Labyrinth" on the 2nd flooring, an eccentric area with utilized books organized by color and a very photographable book tunnel.
19. Hauser & Wirth
This recently opened, 116,000-square-foot complex in the Arts District is one of 6 Hauser & Wirth art centers situated all over the world devoted to modern art and contemporary masters.
Parents and kids alike will take pleasure in the art and the fantastic indoor and outdoor areas, and the onsite restaurant is not only kid-friendly, it likewise boasts 12 rare-breed chickens that make sure to thrill the more youthful crowd.
Not feeling a sit-down meal? Bring your own lunch and picnic in the garden.
20. CicLAvia
Drop everything and take the kiddos to this vibrant car-free street celebration if you occur to be in Los Angeles throughout a CicLAvia event.
Working with the city, CicLAvia momentarily opens streets to all Angelenos to bike, walk, skate, dance, and play. Free to the general public, it's a giant, family-friendly celebration that turns streets into parks.
21. Nature Museum of Los Angeles County
This nature museum impresses with more than 35 million things, some as old as 4.5 billion years. However, while the exhibitions are sensational and the dinosaurs are massive, the museum also provides on the little things, like small chairs for tiny people.
Have a look at the turning exhibits, and don't miss out on the Nature Laboratory, a hands-on science lab with live animals and touchable specimens suitable for kiddos of any age.
22. California African American Museum
Located on the eastern end of Exposition Park, near Downtown, the California African American Museum intends to display under-represented artists of color. Ever-changing exhibits give kids a taste of the arts, and a robust household program hosts mixed-media workshops for any ages on choose weekends.
23. California Science Center
Kids will like the IMAX theater and the rotating shows at the California Science Center; however, the genuine draw is the space shuttle Endeavour on display in the Samuel Oschin Structure.
The museum remains in the process of building Endeavour a brand-new house, but in the meantime, you can still see the NASA shuttle that took a trip to space 25 times in between 1992 and 2011.
Keep in mind that timed appointments are needed to see Endeavour on weekends, vacations, and high presence weeks.
24. Tongva Park
Santa Monica's $42.3 million Tongva Park opened in 2013 to rave evaluations, specifically given the 6.2-acre park's spectacular change from the car park to the perfect outside area.
Created by James Corner Field Operations, individuals behind New York's High Line, the park boasts 18-foot observation decks, winding pathways, rolling hills, and extensive lawns.
Do not miss the playground and splash pad in the southeast quadrant of the park.
25. Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Run by the nonprofit Heal the Bay, this under-the-radar fish tank on the Santa Monica Pier is house to 100 species of marine animals and plants.
Kids rave about the interactive exhibitions, the mesmerizing "moon jellies," and watching fish tank personnel feed the horn and swell sharks.
26. Discovery Cube Los Angeles
Initially built as an expansion of the much-loved but long gone Children's Museum of Los Angeles, this substantial, kid-oriented science center finally opened in 2014. It features a broad array of routine displays and momentary exhibitions where kids can take a virtual helicopter tour or hop aboard a Zamboni maker.
27. Fish tank of the Pacific
With more than 11,000 animals in more than 50 displays, the Pacific's Aquarium provides method more than a couple of fish in a tank. Kids can get up close with a penguin, touch over 150 sharks in Shark Lagoon, and feed vibrant birds in the Lorikeet forest.
Pro suggestion: Consider booking an area in the Animal Encounters to feed a sea lion or other creatures.
28. Battleship USS Iowa Museum
As the West Coast's only battleship open to the general public, the USS Iowa Museum lets kids check out the maritime history in an interactive method. Kid-friendly tours show all the exhibits on board, and a must-do scavenger hunt is an emphasis.
29. Kid's Book World
Adults and kids alike will love this comfortable book shop with more than 80,000 titles and loads of fascinating stuffed animals and educational toys. Discover your way utilizing the handy age-appropriate sections and inspect the website for story hours.
30. Cabrillo Marine Fish Tank
This family-friendly marine life center isn't too called the Pacific's Fishtank, but it's still got plenty to use-- beginning with $5 admission for adults and $1 for kids. The fish tank focuses explicitly on local marine life and houses several shows on Southern California's oceans in its Frank Gehry-designed building. Personnel likewise use complimentary directed tidepool strolls on weekends at close-by Cabrillo Beach.
