Looking for family fun in Los Angeles? Thanks to a range of activities like leafy parks, sandy beaches, IMAX theaters, marionettes, famed cars and indie-flared bookstores, there’s something to entertain all ages. Below, take in our sampling of indoor and outdoor kid-friendly venues in L.A.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Books and Cookies
In Santa Monica keep your nose in good literature at the bright, cheery Books and Cookies. Like its name suggests, there’s a fun blend of interactive readings, dress-up clothing, learning toys, dolls, and, of course, books (classic titles like “Goodnight Moon” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”).
For something sweet, snack on delights like fresh chocolate chip cookies. Outside, build with blocks, dance with bubbles, or splash on a water table. Then repeat.
Bob Baker Marionette Theater
In downtown L.A., the legendary Bob Baker Marionette Theater hosts Los Angeles’ longest-running marionette theater with live, cabaret-style performances set to fairy-tale music.
Named after famed puppet master Bob Baker (who once consulted for Disney and produced sequences for “Star Trek”), the beloved venue now ranks as a cultural landmark and also hosts “make-your-own” workshops and screenings from Cinefamily.
Annenberg Community Beach House
Originally developed in the 1920s for Hollywood royalty, the famed nonprofit Annenberg Foundation reopened the Annenberg Community Beach House (and with no membership required).
Lounge by the historic pool, dip your toes in the sand, and later, snack on tacos and hamburgers at the beach café. Kids rally around the splash pad, and the play area has swings. For the older set, there’s also beach volleyball and soccer.
Descanso Gardens
For a spot of nature, the 160-acre Descanso Gardens offers ample respite. With a wealth of California redwoods, junipers, and live oak trees, there are also lily ponds and a lovely rosarium containing thousands of varieties of modern and antique roses.
After running around, kids hop the Enchanted Railroad train (a gift from big Hollywood producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy). Afterward, the on-site restaurant, Farmhouse at Descanso Gardens, serves a glorious farm-to-table menu leveraging sustainably sourced ingredients.
California Science Center
Filled with boundless interactive exhibits, California Science Center lets you peek inside different science “worlds.” Kids can learn about ecosystems across the world, physics, and the science behind emotions. Drop by the large-format IMAX theater to discover the latest in radical science, then take a peek at the famed space shuttle Endeavour that flew from 1992 to 2011.
Petersen Automotive Museum
Zoom, zoom. It’s no secret L.A. is for car lovers. Along Wilshire Boulevard on Museum Row, Petersen Automotive Museum showcases a slice of Hollywood road culture, including the Batmobile, and educates visitors on the rise of cars in Southern California.
Young children love the Discovery Center, where they can get hands-on and race their own model cars on tracks, and a gaming simulator gives older kids a chance to feel like a professional driver (obviously, no keys required).
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