Whether you live nearby, across the country, or on the other side of the world, LA is a great place to travel with your family. Sure, it’s known for being a celebrity hotspot with a larger-than-life vibe, but it’s also one of the best kid-friendly travel destinations in the country.
Even for us locals, there’s never a shortage of things to do in LA with kids. There are mega-popular activities, like Disneyland and the Legoland and Universal Studio theme parks, but there’s so much more to Los Angeles than the big-name attractions.
Our family still has plenty left to discover, but there are several things I recommend to others every chance I get. So, today I’m sharing a round-up of things you can do in Los Angeles with kids.
10 Family Things To Do In Los Angeles
Kidspace Children’s Museum
The Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena is consistently mentioned among the best places to visit with kids in Los Angeles. It’s a fantastic option for families with kids 10 or younger. There are more than 40 indoor and outdoor exhibits offering a ton of activities for your kids to enjoy. They can climb, splash, make music, and so much more. Visiting Kispace is arguably the best thing to do with young kids in LA.
Also, if you’re traveling with babies or toddlers, be sure to check out my baby travel essentials and toddler travel essentials.
Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
Let me start by saying Griffith Park is massive. It’s like the West Coast’s Central Park. Within Griffith Park you’ll find numerous family-friendly attractions like the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Travel Town Museum, and Shane’s Inspiration Playground. But one of my favorite things to do in Griffith Park with my kids is to visit Griffith Observatory.
With space-themed exhibits and a mesmerizing planetarium, the Observatory has something for every member of your family to enjoy.
Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA)
We visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts (LACMA) for the first time nearly a decade ago and I still recommend it to families visiting LA. If you’re looking for an educational activity that’s anything but boring, I urge you to check it out. As you explore the massive museum, you’ll discover more than 150,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of art. You never know what will catch your (or your child’s) eye!
You can read more about our first visit to LACMA here.
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Just a five-minute walk from LACMA is another top-rated, kid-friendly attraction, the La Brea Tar Pits. There you’ll find the only active urban fossil dig site in the world, which means there is truly no other place on Earth like this!
Bring the whole family and watch as fossils are carved out of the asphalt in real-time, or get a glimpse at how each discovery is prepared in the see-through Fossil Lab. And, of course, there are jaw-dropping exhibits featuring mammoths, saber-tooth tigers, mastodons, and so much more.
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Beach is worth visiting on its own, but Pacific Park is the real attraction for families. Although Pacific Park is small compared to the other theme parks in the area, it’s a landmark that’s worth experiencing as a family. It has 13 rides, including a roller coaster and Ferris wheel, and plenty of sweet treats.
Hike to the Hollywood Sign
A trip to LA wouldn’t be complete without seeing the world-famous Hollywood sign. You can catch glimpses of it from all over the city, but if you’re up for a couple of hours of moderate exercise, I recommend taking your family on one of the hiking trails that lead to the sign on Mount Lee. Plus, you never know who you might see on the trail!
There are various trails to choose from, but the Bush Canyon Trail via Canyon Drive is one of the best for families with kids.
Aquarium of the Pacific
If you’re feeling up to a drive to Long Beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific is worth every minute of traffic you encounter. With more than 100 exhibits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. If I had to guess, I would say their favorites would be the shark lagoon and sea otter habitat. But those are just two of the many mesmerizing things to see at the aquarium.
Grand Central Market
If you’re looking for a unique place to grab a bite to eat, head to downtown LA and visit Grand Central Market. The gigantic marketplace is lined with stalls offering everything from raw oysters to ice cream. It’s a great place to visit with older kids but doesn’t cater as well to little ones. It can get pretty packed and navigating a stroller through the market is cumbersome, to say the least. I highly recommend visiting if you have older children, especially if they’re open to trying new and different foods.
Venice Beach
Venice Beach is quintessential LA. It’s eclectic, entertaining, and full of energy. You can soak up the sun on the beach, spot performers on the boardwalk, watch skaters at the skatepark, enjoy a stroll along the Canals, or do some shopping on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. It can get pretty crowded, so you’ll want to stick together and keep a close eye on your kiddos, but it’s worth visiting just for the experience.
Los Angeles State Historic Park
If you’re looking for something more laidback, a.k.a. quiet, to do with your kids, consider visiting Los Angeles State Historic Park. LASHP is more of a “make your own fun” kind of activity, but it’s the perfect setting for easy-going family time in LA. Enjoy a picnic, go for a walk, ride bikes, or relax and take in the gorgeous scenery.
There are countless things to do as a family in Los Angeles!
Los Angeles is a fantastic, family-friendly destination with a ton of things to do and see. Whether you’re traveling with teens or a baby, there’s something for everyone in LA!
Before you go, be sure to check out my post on the best airplane snacks so you can start your trip on the right note. Then, head over to the blog for more great reads on family travel and so much more.
