Los Angeles, located in Southern California is the center of film
and television industry in the United States. Many of the big television and
movie studios offer behind-the-scene tours to tourists. Visitors also flock to
Hollywood Blvd and the Chinese Theater to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Aside
from the typical tourist sites many visitors expect to see on a visit to the LA
area, there are lots of other family friendly activities for everyone to enjoy.
If you are looking for a place to beat the heat and for the
kiddos to run around, check out Descanso Gardens located in
La Canada Flintridge. The park is full of lily pads, roses and leafy trees. In
the summers you won’t want to miss the Enchanted Railroad, daily story times,
and family-friendly concerts.
Kidspace
Children’s Museum in Pasadena has over 3.5 acres of interactive
exhibits including an indoor imagination workshop, ant colony climbing structure,
and an interactive greenhouse. You may want to bring a change of clothes, a
towel and water shoes as things can get messy.
Griffith Park
in Los Angeles has something for everyone. You can hike to the Hollywood Sign
from here, visit the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, or search the sky
at the Griffith Observatory. The park also offers pony rides for $3, and three
different train rides, a larger locomotive, a smaller train, and the L.A. Zoo
train.
- The Los Angeles Zoo and
Botanical Gardens is a 133- acre zoo founded in 1966 and owned by
the city. It is home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, amphibians and
reptiles.
- The Griffith
Observatory offers a planetarium, exhibits, and public telescopes,
plus amazing views of the Hollywood Sign. The Observatory is closed on Mondays.
The El Capitan
Theater located on Hollywood Blvd in L.A. hosts Tiny Tot Tuesdays,
and the theater adds something to every film experience with appearances by
Disney cast members, live singing and streamers and confetti.
The worlds most famous ice age fossil site, The La Brea Tar Pits
is located in the Miracle Mile District. There is a museum, a 3D film and
excavator tours of the tar pits are available.
One of the city’s best accessible playgrounds is Aidan’s
Place at Westwood Recreation Center. Kids of all abilities can play
in a sand castle, ride a zip line, and enjoy a play airplane cockpit. The
playground also has a series of misters, but on the hottest days go early or
late in the day as there is not much shade.
Long Beach is home to the Aquarium of the Pacific. The
aquarium has more than 11,000 animals in more than 50 exhibits. Kids can get up
close with a penguin, touch a shark in the Shark Lagoon, or feed the lorikeets.
For the ultimate Hollywood experience head to Universal
Studios Hollywood which has theme park rides, shows, a working movie
studio as well as restaurants and shops. You can also take a tour of the
backlot and legendary Studio Tour.
Disneyland,
the first theme park in the Disney family, and the only theme park construction
overseen by Walt Disney himself is located just southeast of L.A. in Anaheim
and across the way from Disney
California Adventure Park. The area also has three resort hotels and
a Downtown Disney District.
Located on what was once a working berry farm in Buena Park, Knott’s Berry Farm
is the oldest theme park in Southern California. It is also far less expensive
than Hollywood Studios and Disneyland, especially when tickets are purchased
online in advance for a specific date. The park consists of 4 themed areas and
has special seasonal events throughout the year.
Professional Sports Teams- The Los Angeles area has eleven
professional sports teams. For game tickets visit the team website or a
reputable ticket broker.
Los
Angeles Angels- Professional baseball team based in Anaheim, regular
season runs late March through the end of September. Public tours are available
of Angel
Stadium are available March- September.
Los
Angeles Dodgers-Professional baseball team, regular season runs late
March through the end of September. A variety of tour options are available of Dodger
Stadium.
Los
Angeles Chargers- Professional football team based in Carson,
regular season runs September through December. Team will be moving to a new
stadium in Inglewood in 2020.
Los Angeles
Rams- Professional football team based in Carson, regular season
runs September through December. Team will be moving to a new stadium in
Inglewood in 2020.
Los
Angeles Lakers- Professional basketball team, regular season runs
from mid-October through early April.
Los
Angeles Clippers- Professional basketball team, regular season runs
from mid-October through early April.
Los
Angeles Sparks- Professional women’s basketball team, regular season
runs mid-May though mid-August.
Anaheim
Ducks- Professional hockey team, regular season runs from October
through early-April.
Los
Angeles Kings- Professional hockey team, regular season runs from
October through early-April.
Los
Angeles Galaxy- Professional soccer team, regular season runs from
March through October.
Los Angeles
Football Club- Professional soccer team, regular season runs from
March through October.
Family Friendly Restaurants
Lemon
Tree Kids and Family Restaurant- Serving Korean-Italian dishes in
L.A. This establishment has an indoor kids’ play space with a merry-go-round
and other attractions.
Grand
Central Market- Located in a century-old market in Downtown L.A.
When you arrive check out what the market offers before heading to the food
vendor stalls. The vendors occupy more than 30,000 square feet of space with so
many options to choose from including PB&J, pizza, tacos, chocolate, ice
cream, Asian cuisine, bbq, deli, falafel and more.
Pizzana-
The couple behind Sprinkles cupcakes in partnership with Actor Chris O’Donnell
opened this Brentwood pizzeria. The Neapolitan pizza gets rave reviews for it’s
very light dough. Families enjoy sharing a pizza, salad, and antipasti. Save
room for dessert!
Engine
Co. No 28- The restaurant is housed in a 1912 firehouse. There is a
special kids menu and tons of firehouse memorabilia.
Giggles
’n Hugs- This establishment serves quality organic food and has a
2,000 square foot play space that the kids will love. Activities include
karaoke, face painting, and crafts. In the evenings they have puppet shows,
concerts, and magic shows. Two locations in the L.A. area, one in Glendale and
the other is in Topanga.
Opaque- Located in Santa
Monica, this restaurant is better suited for older children. Diners are guided
into the restaurant by a blind waiter and seated at a table. Once seated,
guests are brought the food that they ordered in the preparation area before
entering the dining area. The experience leads to intense conversation, and
lots of laughter as people try to find their food, drink and their mouths in
the dark.
Golden
Road Brewing- Something for both parents and kids! There is plenty
of indoor/outdoor seating and games to keep everyone happy. Parents love the
selection of local brews and kids love the simple kids’ menu with a choice
between a burger, grilled cheese or penne pasta. Four locations in California,
and three of which are in the L.A. area including Downtown L.A., Glendale and
Anaheim.
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