Whether it’s a day at the beach, a family hike, a fascinating museum tour, or the excitement of a theme park, finding kid-friendly things to do in LA is always an adventure. Los Angeles is full of fun things to do with your family, and thanks to the mild southern California climate, you can enjoy many of the city’s outdoor attractions all year-round.
Here are some of the best kid-friendly things to do in LA with your family the next time you visit Los Angeles:
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The world-famous Santa Monica Pier is one of L.A.’s most recognizable landmarks and is full of kid-friendly things to do in LA. The classic amusement park rides and carnival games at Pacific Park will keep everyone in the family entertained. Be sure to take a ride on the 130-foot high Pacific Wheel to experience breathtaking panoramic views of Los Angeles.
The Heal the Bay Aquarium is a great place to learn about local marine life. Tucked just under the carousel building near the pier entrance, the aquarium has over 100 local species on exhibit. Kids will love hands-on activities like the touch tanks and sea star feedings, and proceeds help support Heal the Bay’s conservation efforts in Santa Monica Bay.
And, of course, the pier sits right on the Santa Monica Beach so you can walk down and stick your toes in the sand, go for a swim, or stretch out on your beach towel and catch some rays. There are plenty of spots to stop for a great photo op as you walk around the pier, such as the historic Route 66 “End of the Trail” sign.
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With 150 acres of old-growth trees, lily ponds, flower gardens, and lush green lawns just begging you to sit down for a picnic, Descanso Gardens is a magical place where kids can use their senses to explore and discover the natural world. Young children will delight in storytime in the garden, and the whole family will love the Enchanted Railroad. The calendar of events at Descanso also includes guided nature walks, outdoor art classes, and musical performances, which means you can always go back to it as one of your go-to kid-friendly things to do in LA.
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Part museum, part excavation site, the La Brea Tar Pits offers a glimpse into the Ice Age with live bubbling pits of asphalt and exhibits of the fossils paleontologists have found in them. Live excavations are ongoing as the fossils of Ice Age animals, plants and insects continue bubbling to the surface. Mammoths, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, and other prehistoric species once called this area home.
Take a closer look at the Observation Pit, get the inside story on the Excavator Tour, or pack a lunch and enjoy a sunny afternoon in Hancock Park and playground nestled around the museum and tar pits.
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Griffith Park is like a playground in the middle of the city that’s filled with kid-friendly things to do in LA. The Griffith Observatory sits high in the Hollywood Hills, offering stunning views of Los Angeles, and is full of activities the whole family will enjoy.
Explore the exhibits and look through a telescope in the Observatory building or check out a show in the planetarium. After exploring the outer reaches of the galaxy, grab a bite at the Café at the End of the Universe. From the Observatory, hit the trail and take a hike to the Hollywood sign.
One of the park’s oldest and most famous attractions is the iconic Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round. The carousel was built in 1926 and features 68 elaborately decorated horses and an organ. Fun fact: Walt Disney used to take his children to the merry-go-round every weekend and said he was inspired to create Disneyland after seeing how much families enjoyed gathering there.
Since 1948, the Griffith Park Pony Ride has been a favorite destination for families visiting the park. The equestrian center offers pony and wagon rides for children of all ages, as well as a petting zoo.
Last but not least, the Griffith Park Train Rides operates two tracks in the park where passengers can ride on miniature reproductions of classic American trains of the 20th Century. The Griffith Park & Southern Railroad travels over one mile of track, across a bridge, through a forest, and the Old Western Town.
The Travel Town Railroad loops twice around the Travel Town Museum – an outdoor exhibit of locomotives and passenger cars that you can explore after the ride.
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From the studio tour to the rides to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, kids (and grown-ups) of all ages will love seeing their favorite characters and fictional places from film and television come to life at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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While not technically within the borders of Los Angeles County, Disneyland is just a short drive down the freeway from the City of Angels, so it’s definitely one of the best kid-friendly things to do in LA Year. The atmosphere in the Disneyland and California Adventure parks is unparalleled, and the restaurants, shops, and hotels in the Disneyland resort all cater to families. A visit to Disneyland with the family will make memories that last a lifetime.
Ready to start exploring the city? A Day in L.A. Tours will take care of driving, parking, and mapping the route so all you have to do is take in the sights and enjoy the day with your family on our Los Angeles tours. Our tour guides’ stories entertain kids and adults alike between tour stops, keeping the dreaded “are we there yet?!” cries from the backseat at bay.